Just wondering if anyone has tried the .30-30 Buffalo Bore ammo yet or has any thoughts about it?

Haven't tried any of it.

But I hear it's just the cat's meow for hunting moose, elk, grizzly, coastal brown and polar bears.

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I want the load data for the 190 grainer. I already know the bullet.

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I did the math, 190 grain bullet has an 11.7% advantage over the time proven 170 grain. If this is significant then this is the bullet for you.

30-30 has been toppling moose and caribou across Canada for over 100 years. I'm not convinced there is a need for the 190 grain bullet.

I've hand loaded Remington core-lockt 180 grain round nose in 30-30 case and used a draw file to flatten the tip for safety. But this bullet was designed for 300 Savage, .308, and 30-06 velocities. I found that this 180 grain bullet produces very narrow wound channels in deer. Not recommended. In contrast, the 170 grain Power Point by Winchester makes big holes and penetrates deep. This would be my moose choice except I own a dandy .308 rifle already. .308 is perhaps a more reasonable choice for the hunter traveling hundreds of miles for a once in a lifetime moose hunt.

TR

Thanks. I appreciate the reply and all your work on this!

When Savage loaded the 303 Savage it was with the 190 Gr. bullet I believe . They also used a .311 bullet in a 308 bore to raise the pressure .

Remington loade the 303 Savage this way while Winchester used the .308 .

As any 'ol timer who used this round and they will confess it out did the 30/30

I think it sounds like a nice way to boost the old .30-30 a tad, for really big critters.

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MikeG

Again, I appreciate all the info. Has any body here actually used the ammo? So what do you think? Is the concensus that this is or isn't worth the extra bucks? Hate to spend extra money if it isn't really worth it.
Also how would you feel carrying a 30-30 loaded with Buffalo Bore in grizzly country?

First thing tell us what you expect to do with your 30/30 and you might get a better answer .
Never used the ammo, but I would say if you can not get the job done with the 170 gr. bullet , go to a different gun.The cartridge will take a moose @ 60/75 yards with multi hits, where the 308 would make a clean kill with a good bullet past the 100 yard mark.
Trappers use a 30/30 , but if I was in big bear country , I would feel better having something like a 348 W or at least a 45.70 in a Marlin. then having done enough practice , so I could shoot three or four well aimed shots @ close range within a few seconds .

I have my heavy weight bullet- The Lee Cast 170gr - comes out to 179-181gr cast from WW and I run them about 1998 fps! More then enough power for just about anything I'd want to shoot with it! I have no doupt that it would drop anything I'd want to shoot with either!

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Gunnt45/454-One shot ! One kill!

Okay. I am a photographer and I have a Marlin 336W. I own 3 handguns and this rifle and I grew up with guns so I am familiar with them but I don't have the knowledge you guys do concerning what caliber is best in bear country. I don't have the money to get a new rifle and I am planning to be out west shooting pictures of wildlife. So, I am a little concerned about becoming bear poop. I do plan to take some repellant but I am also hoping to maximize my 30-30 so that if I ever need it for defense against bear I could be fairly confident it would do the job. That's where I'm going with this.

Sounds like about the hardest-hitting .30-30 load around. If that's what you are going to carry, then seems reasonable to me.

Good luck - stay out of the food chain

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MikeG

Yep !! Second that !!

You mention that you'll be out West taking photographs, which I presume to mean you will not be hunting, or be there during hunting season? If so, take along the handgun you shoot best with and that can of pepper spray. Carrying a lot of camera gear and a rifle would get very tiresome and the local LEO's might get the idea you're doing more than just being prepared for a bear attack, if you've got a 30/30 slung over your shoulder.

Just my 2 cents worth...

Just a note to all. I ordered some of this Buffalo Bore 30-30 190 grain ammo. At $3 plus per round I couldnt justify target shooting with them to determine impact point. My solution was to reload some 303 Savage 190 grain Silvertips to a velocity of 100 fps less than the Buffalo ammo. I used 2 different rifles, one was a Winchester model 54 bolt action and a Winchester model 1894 carbine made in 1919. Both were sighted dead on at 100 yards with 170 grain ammo. I shot 3 190 grain loads from the 24" barreled Winchester model 54. The 190's hit 2" below and 1 1/2" to the right of the 170 grain loads. All in all useable for large game at ranges to 150 yards without serious resighting of the rifle. The carbine was a different story. The 190's hit 10" below and 3" to the right of the 170 grain loads. When I raised the elevator on the old carbine sight and lowered the slide to the lowest setting the 190's hit 11" high and 3" to the right of the 170 grain loads. If you were to use the 190 grain Buffalo Bores you would need to resight for this load. A very expensive and exclusive setting.

Might be different with iron sights? my '94 30-30 held the same POI from 150 to 170... dont see why it would differ much going to 190. 3$ a round is pretty crazy for 30-30 ammo. might be worth it if your life is depending on it. POI may not be to critical for his app anyway, he shouldnt be pullin the trigger till theres 40 yards or less between him and a giant bear.

I have noticed the same thing with both 150's and 170's. They didnt hit the same place but was only a few inches apart. However the 125 grain Federals hit vast distances from the 150's, and that was only 25 grains difference. Hornaday 160 grain flex tips are very accurate in the 5 30-30's I have tested. Though they hit 4"to 6" above the 150's.

That is interesting, i guess i should do more experimenting, have yet to find a reason to abandon the 170 grainers, although i have had more dramatic field performance with the 150's, wound channel wasnt any better or worse with either or, so the 170 grain corelokts get the nod for me.

Where the bullet is going to land is only one part of the equation. How about the penetration/expansion part?

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Just a thought

What size are those 190 gr. 303 Bullets that you have . Peters where sized to 8 MM as did Savage arms -for their own ammo while Winchester sized them as 308. I would think it could make the difference in siting in.
Savage did this at the start to bump up bullet start up I read until they introduced the 22 High power , from then sized to bore.

Are your bullets old stock or is some one making the old 303 savage bulllet ? Most folk I know use bullets for the 30/30 for the 303 savage as well for the 307 W.
Some reloaders might be intersted in obtaining the 190 gr. bullet for their 303 S .
Happy