[bigjoe]

Would it be possible to hunt deer with a 30 30 loaded with a 110gr bullet with 10.5 grains of unique? what if a heaver cast bullet was used?

 

[roverboy]

I don't see a problem in the woods at close range. I've not used it, but many deer have been killed with
.30 cal. Carbines. That power level would be about in that area. Normally .30 Carbines are loaded with slower powder, but your load might be ok. I would use a space filler over the powder.

 

[Chief RID]

Hunt on brother. Put that bullet in his ear and you won't have to look for him.

 

[TMan]

Would it be possible to hunt deer with a 30 30 loaded with a 110gr bullet with 10.5 grains of unique? what if a heaver cast bullet was used?

It's possible to hunt grizzlies with that load. The question is would it be a good idea.

Guessing you need a load for an existing rifle, to get a small or new hunter going, you might want to add a bit more "go" to that load, and look at something like a 130gr Speer FP, loaded at the middle of the spectrum. The heavier cast bullet has some merit, but bullet weight is a significant contributor to recoil. My Whelen still has a fair amount of recoil with a 210gr BT Cast bullet over a full case of Trail Boss. More than I thought it would (way less than a top end jacketed load).

In any case, the 110's, used at short distance, on a standing deer, would probably be fine, the cast bullet even better.

 

[FatAlbert]

Out of old Lyman cast bullet book. It dose not list a 110gr cast bullet in 30-30 but it dose in 300Savage which is about 5%larger case. It lists the Savage at 2000fps w/110gr cast w/10gr of Unique. In the 30-30 w/ 10gr of Unique a 155gr is 1350 and a 165 is 1340fps.

 

[Farrier Matt]

I tried some Trail Boss in one of my 243s. 15 gr under a 100 gr bullet. i was impressed. They were accurate and the report was like a 22 mag, recoil was too. Id shoot a deer with them at 40 or 50 yards. I also think theyd make a great turkey load.

 

[Cheezywan]

I like to think that I could take a Iowa white tail with a sling shot bigjoe? I sure would use a stone heavier than 110 grains if I were to do so though!

Think near 38 special energy for a "minimum" to be reasonable.

Can be "done" with less from a good hunter.

Cheezywan

 

[Cat Medic]

A 170gr cast bullet with 11grs of Unique is a mild shooting very accurate in my 336 Marlin.
It is also good deer medicine out to 100 yds, and a fantastic plinkin round for the grand kids.

Pat

 

[huffmanite]

Friend asked me to reload some 30-30 ammo for him to plink with, so to speak. I used 150 grain Berry plated FN 30-30 bullets and as I remember 8 grains of IMR Trail Boss powder, which probably had velocity of around 1100 fps. Guy said he was surprised by how mild recoil and report was....thought they shot pretty good.

Neat thing about Trail Boss, its not case sensitive, so don't need fillers and you can use jacketed bullets with it too. Matter of fact, IMR/Hodgdon, says with Trail Boss you can fill a case to base of jacketed bullet and not go over any SAAMI pressure limits on a cartridge. I frequently use Trail Boss in my rifles with both cast and jacketed bullets, especially my older centerfire rifles, such as my 7x57 and 43 Spanish Remington Rolling Blocks.

 

[Davers]

Would it be possible to hunt deer with a 30 30 loaded with a 110gr bullet with 10.5 grains of unique? what if a heaver cast bullet was used?

I don't think so. Atleast I wouldn't use anything loaded that light.

 

[GMFWoodchuck]

I came here half expecting someone looking for reduced loads for their 300 RUM. For deer, just use standard loads with the 30-30. It's "reduced" enough as it is without any reduction.

 

[al_sway]

I use Lee 150 grain with gas check and 4198, to get a velocity of 1800 fps, or so. It is mild in the recoil department due to the reduced velocity and the reduced amount of powder. It will also go through a deer quite easily at 75 yards, as I have proved to my satisfaction. I am not sure that a 110 grain bullet would do the same.

 

[broom_jm]

As a kid I remember shooting a 30/30 with standard 170gr loads, from a Model '94 and the hard, factory recoil pad. It kicked a heckuvalot more than my 22, that's for sure! Many lever actions have too much drop, both heel n' comb, plus they tend to have a poor recoil pad, if any. All of this contributes to the felt recoil being significant...at least for impressionable young shoulders.

If your gun is so designed, consider a quality recoil pad, and then take a look at these loads, from Hodgdon.

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Youth Loads.pdf

Therein you will find 2 loads for the 30/30 that will not only create a lot less recoil, but still be effective at ranges of ~150 yards, with good shot placement. My wife used the 30-'06 load from that list of Hodgdon "Youth" loads to harvest a young doe in Michigan, just over a week ago. The deer was at 50 yards or so and dropped in its tracks from the 125gr Ballistic Tip at ~2600fps.

 

[Rocky Raab]

Well, a favorite fun/plinking load for the 30-30 is 10.0 Unique under the 100-gr Speer half-jacket Plinker bullet. It is accurate, has almost zero recoil and is poison on game up to coyotes and badgers.

But I wouldn't use it on deer. At all. For deer, the loads that broom_jm quotes are fabulous. If you are restricted to flattip bullets, consider a cast 150 to 170 gas checked bullet over 16.0 of 2400. I get 1900 fps from that and it is accurate, too.

 

[Lynn]

The 30-30 is one of my favorite cartridges to load light loads for, maybe because my trapper is my favorite rifle. Looking back at my notes I had vary good results loading a 110 grain Remington soft point (carbine bullet) over 33.5 gr. of 4895. As far as cast bullets I load a 120 gr Lee and Lyman's 311291 with a varity of powders including red dot, Power Pistol, Unique, and lately Trail Boss (or about anything that burns ). As far as a hunting load with 110 gr. I would keep the velocity up.