Bolt action 30-30

[7887mm08]

So I just added a rem 788 in 30-30 to my collection. Being a bolt action I can safely shoot pointy bullets. My question is: Can you shoot any 30 cal. bullet? I notice .307 and .308 sizes .
What do you recommend? This will be used for eastern deer hunting 150 yds tops.
Thanks
Gary

 

[nicholst55]

Ideally, you should slug the bore with a soft lead slug and then measure the slug. Select the bullets accordingly. Otherwise, I would just shoot .308" bullets. There are way more choices in that dimension than there are in .307".

 

[stacy]

So I just added a rem 788 in 30-30 to my collection. Being a bolt action I can safely shoot pointy bullets. My question is: Can you shoot any 30 cal. bullet? I notice .307 and .308 sizes .
What do you recommend? This will be used for eastern deer hunting 150 yds tops.
Thanks
Gary

SELL IT TOO ME I LL LET KNOW WHAT IT WILL SHOOT

 

[K22]

The bullets marketed for the 30-30 are designed for hunting purposes to expand at the lower velocities of this cartridge. Also the flat point design is for use in tubular magazines.

If you're just paper punching then this is not an issue using standard 308 bullets in the 30-30. Since you rifle is a bolt action, pointed bullet do not present a safety issue.

 

[BronzeArcher]

Had a Contender rifle some years back that I loaded 125 grain Ballistic Tips in. At 2500 fps, accurate and great for deer.

 

[7887mm08]

SELL IT TOO ME I LL LET KNOW WHAT IT WILL SHOOT

Took me 10 years to find this one! (acceptable condition and price) I now have 8 of the 9 calibers, 44 mag is last and the hardest to find. I do have leads on 2 locally, after the new year I will pursue them.
The bullets marked 30-30 are also all round nose, and I want to take advantage of a pointed bullet.

 

[dolek]

Use any pointy .308 you want ,just be sure the bullet will perform at 30-30 velocities .

 

[stacy]

Took me 10 years to find this one! (acceptable condition and price) I now have 8 of the 9 calibers, 44 mag is last and the hardest to find. I do have leads on 2 locally, after the new year I will pursue them.
The bullets marked 30-30 are also all round nose, and I want to take advantage of a pointed bullet.

LET ME KNOW IF ONE IS A 30/30 THATS FOR SALE

 

[Bill K]

stick with .308's

 

[Tommie]

I have two 30-30 788’s. No real bullet limitations. I’ve run 168 grain HPBT without problem. The magazine length is the same as the .308 Win magazine. Pointed bullets look a little strange in a 30-30 case but it works. Float the barrel and with a little load workup you be well inside of 1 MOA.

 

[7887mm08]

Well from the sounds of things, it looks like normal .308 sized bullets are going to work fine.
I have some sierra and hornady 150 and 165 gr cup & core bullets on the shelf already. (game kings and interlocks)
Looks like dies and brass are next on the wish list.
Thanks all and happy Thanksgiving to those that celebrate it.
Gary

 

[Fast14riot]

My mother collected 788s and at one point owned them all. Pretty much all she has left now is a 6rem and triple deuce. She shot light weigh .308 bullets in her 30-30 with no problems. I liked it better than the savage 340 in 3030 my dad had.

 

[Tommie]

My mother collected 788s and at one point owned them all. Pretty much all she has left now is a 6rem and triple deuce. She shot light weigh .308 bullets in her 30-30 with no problems. I liked it better than the savage 340 in 3030 my dad had.

Very cool mom!

 

[Tommie]

Well from the sounds of things, it looks like normal .308 sized bullets are going to work fine.
I have some sierra and hornady 150 and 165 gr cup & core bullets on the shelf already. (game kings and interlocks)
Looks like dies and brass are next on the wish list.
Thanks all and happy Thanksgiving to those that celebrate it.
Gary

Yep. Those 150 grainers will work great. No need for any fancy bullets at 30-30 velocity.

 

[2506]

If deer hunting run either the 125 Nosler BT or Sierra 125 in the 2500 to 2700 fps speed and watch them drop in their tracks. I prefer the Nosler BT myself but both work well. I have killed around 100 deer with 125 BT in various calibers. It is my main deer bullet in my T/C Contender 14" barrel 30-30AI running it 2670 fps with is about as fast as the normal 30-30 rifle can push it. It kills them like lightening struck them and usually exits. The 125 BT is not a varmint bullet it is a light game bullet. I have shot a few of those 788s in various calibers over the years. I was very impressed with the accuracy of all of them but the triggers are a bit heavy for me. I have a buddy that got a custom built rifle made on the 788 action that is chambered in 7mm American. Basically the 7-30 waters. I can't remember if it has a after market trigger or the old trigger was reworked but it is about 2 lb and that rifle is a bug hole shooter. I just happen to think that you may want to try a bullet that has come out lately that I have heard has great on game results. Speer makes a Gold Dot 150 gr bonded bullet designed for the 300 Black Out and people are running it in 30-30s with awesome results on game.

 

[stacy]

YEA THE 44 MAG ARE HARD TO FIND!!!!!!

 

[Longtrain]

I had a 788, 30-30 back in the early 70’s. Besides deer hunting, I shot Speer 110 Grain JHP over a bunch of IMR3031, with a manual Lee Loader kit and sent many woodchucks to the great beyond. Most were hayfield shots under 100 yards, occasionally a bit farther. Shot great, sold it somewhere at sometime, can’t remember where and when. ;-)

 

[butchlambert]

Remember a human blond or brown hair measures .003" to .005". So how much difference is the .307" against the .308"? The mod 788 has a .308" groove diameter.

 

[Kurz]

I'm aware that you want to use pointed bullets because this is a bolt action rifle. But I think you should also consider factory loaded flat points as well especially considering the 150 yards you're using.

Remington makes:

30-30 Winchester 170 Grain Core-Lokt Soft Point ammunition.

I've used this ammunition on and off for the last 20 years in 3 rifles, it is extremely accurate when tested and hunted with.

 

[jonbearman]

I had a minty 788 in 44 mag. I traded it for a Hungarian Ak which remains unfired. I really wish I hadn't done it but the guy was almost in tears when I brought it over so I traded it to him. I had 2 others in 22-250 and .222 which was a sweet shooter but they are all gone now and all I have is a load of 700's but I always liked the 788. Make sure you always full length size as those receivers tend to distort slightly and in some cases if you neck size the bolt may not close. If you get sick of it let me know. Does yours have a walnut stock or birch.