Some guns seem to like the 170 Gr. Factory loads, seems like the 150 Gr. tests are impressive, too. What do you like for target or the hunt?

John

I use the Federal Nosler Partition 170 grain load for hunting.

As for casual shooting, anything that'll chamber. My various 30-30s seem to prefer 170 grain bullets, but any commercial load will do, although the Remington stuff doesn't seem to group as well as others.

The Remington 150 and Winchester Silvertip 150 rounds seem to be popular among hunters, too.

My son was going to use 170 grain ammo in his 30/30. But we let the gun make the final decision. I don't know why, but that 30/30 loved Federal 150 grain loads. It made a 3 shot group at 150 yards that measured 3/4 of an inch, with that load! A 10 shot group, same ammo, measured 1 1/4 inch, still at 150 yards! I never thought a lever gun could shoot that well. Needless to say, he abandoned the 170 grain plan and went with this guns preference, Federal 150 grainers.

obviously different barrel makers have a big part of
the differences. My sons 336 is really partial to
170 grn, My win 94 will shoot anything.

There may be a decided accuracy preference for one weight or the other (or for one brand over the ohters). Hard to make a blanket statement about performance unless you are comparing the same bullet type in two weights...Sivertip 150 vs. Silvertip 170 would be valid, but copmparing a Rem. load to a Federal load wouldn't be so much about bullet weight as it would be about bullet construction.

Shooting ****etail deer, there isn't much to choose between the two weights....but given a choice, nearly always go with the heavier weight and a bit more penetration.

My winchester 94, built in '69 prefers the Remington 170's over the 150 grain bullets.
I was able to get ahold of some handloaded lead 190's that really shoot well from mine also. They are loaded with Dry creek bullets, and 3031.
My dad's 94, built in the 50's some time prefers 150's.....go figgure. :confused:

My opinion is to go to your favorite rifle range and let the gun decide which bullet weight, which factory loading company, and/ or which hand load, it likes the best.

Not enough difference in ballistics to get excited about. But those 30-30 lever guns are capable of 1 minute accuracy, but you have to work for it.

We often get all lathered up about which bullet our gun prefers. I do too. Mine likes 150s in factory and reloads.

BUT...1.5" groups vs. 2.5" groups are not significantly different in the field. I'll fiddle with groups, bullets, loads, etc. 10 months out of the year but right now it matters not.

Whatever my gun is sighted in for today is the "go to" ammo. It's time to go hunting. ;-)

Add my vote to let your gun decide which bullet isbest.
Personally,I prefer the 170 grain bullet,only because it produced satisfactory results on game,and equal results on the range.I never tried the 150 grain bullet on game.I expect that it would do just fine,also.
Frank

150's work good on pa deer. In theory they have a flatter trajectory, but its the 30-30 we are talkig about. 170's kill deer too, go with what the gun likes or whats cheaper.