Looking for loads for 30-30 w/ Hornday 160gr flex tip bullets

[k80skeet]

I am for someone who has used the Hornady 160gr Flex-Tip bullets in a 30-30. And what loads they had any success. Are they crimping them at the canalure Or not . I would appreciate any information. Thanks Russ

 

[CaptainMal]

Been using them since they came out. I have multiple 3030's, including a 24" rifle model. Normally kill at least one deer with it each year, though not this past season as nothing showed when I had one of the 30-30's out. The bullet sure works well by bot expanding and driving through.

As for loads and crimping, I never crimp. I seat my bullets as far out as they will work through the side-loading port and actions of the various Marlin Lever action rifles I own. The cannelure is just above the case mouth. Never saw a bullet move either during shooting or pushing cartridges into the magazine tubes. Measured the next tension in lbs. and it takes near 60 lbs of pressure to move the bullet in the neck after seating.

The past few years I selected one load of LeverRevolution powder that seems to be great in all my rifles. In the long barrel one I get an honest 2,400 fps and the 20" barreled ones do 2,300 fps. What that load is for you would depend on your particular rifle's characteristics. Test in the 34-35.5 gr. of LeverRevolution. Start low and work up watching the results and observing your chronograph.

As for accuracy, I ring steel plates at 300 yards with all my rifles. Have killed deer with the long barreled one to just over 250 yards. 200 yards is the longest I have killed with the 20" barreled ones. For fun I have hit steel plates at 600 yards using the longer barreled one and just a 7X scope. Did some calculations on trajectory and found a spot on the ballistic reticle that matched. With a spotter it can be done - on occasion. Past 300 yards you drop below the 1,000 ft. lbs of energy so I would limit my deer shots to that range maximum. All my rifles shoot 1-2 MOA max. groups with rather lower-powered scopes. The long one has made sub-MOA groups but not on average. It takes some sub and some over MOA to make my claim of 1 MOA groups accurate.

That bullet and LeverRevolution just seem to work well together and certainly extend the effective range of the 30-30 to distances never thought reasonable before.

 

[stacy]

MY 94 WINCHESTER 20'' BARREL LIKES THE 160 FLEX TIP ALSO AND IT SHINES WITH BENCHMARK .625 3 SHOT GROUPS AT 100YDS 200YDS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THIS COMBO

 

[lb-ft]

+2 Leverevolution