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ammo for win 94 30-30

17K views 22 replies 11 participants last post by  BarkBuster20 
#1 ·
Hi, I need some advice on ammo for a pre-64 win 30-30. I usually hunt white tail with a rem 7mm but cant this year because of some medical issues (at least not the 2nd day - thing gets to **** heavy). So I went to Cabelas and asked what was my best bang for my buck in dropping a whitetail with a 30-30 iron sights. He recommended the Hornady160gr FTX LEVERevolution. When I brought it home on the back side of the box it say "new bullet design may require a newer magazine follower to provide best possible functioning of the last round out of the magazine." Ok so a couple questions for those with more wisdom in this field then me...Is this ammo safe with this gun? What do they mean by new Magazine follower? Is that a gunsmith job? Lastly, if all of the above is good news does anyone have any experience with the ammo...is it good ammo for woodland hunting (125 yards max)...Thanks for the help. Sorry for the novel. T
 
#2 ·
Yes, the Hornady round is a good product. But it was found that in some rifles the last round would not feed correctly due to the magazine plug. I've used them on and off since they first came out and really, for the ranges like you're talking here, I'd rather opt for the standard stuff from Winchester or Remington ... 150 gr. or 170 gr. It's a lot less expensive and still is as effective as when it was introduced in 1895.
 
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#3 · (Edited)
While it is sorta pricey to practice with, you'll still need to put a few rounds downrange to see where it connects in your gun.
Put simply, go to the range put 3 rounds inthe mag tube, and cycle them thru the action, firing the last round. If it works, then you have NOTHING to do to your Winchester.:cool:
My '68 Winnie cycles them fine, but honestly, my gun prefers the simple Remington or Winchester 170 grain ammo for the 30-30 when it comes to accuracy. 160's LE are flyers. The Leverevolution may reach farther, but that's not an issue in the N/E hardwood.
 
#4 ·
To answer your most important question: Yes, the Leverevolution ammo will be safe and effective in your pre-64 30/30. This ammo basically turns a 175-yard maximum range cartridge into one that is capable of 225 yards, for a well-practiced shooter. If your shots are typically around 100 yards, the LE ammo offers no real advantages, but by the same token, there is nothing "bad" about it.
 
#5 ·
In my opinion, the Hornady L/E stuff is a great choice. I've fired it in 30/30, .308ME, .35 Rem, .444, 45-70 & .450 Marlin and it shot very well in all the rifles. The pressure is well within specs on all chamberings. The remark about the follower means that the pointed tip of the L/E FTX rounds may get twisted sideways a bit inside the tube. This could cause a problem when that FIRST round gets chambered in the magazine. Because it might be tilted slightly it can cause a jam when that bullet is getting chambered (as in unloading). This problem has occurred in my Marlin .444. The follower is the round flat piece that the first bullet's tip rests against when it's inserted into the magazine. The new follower (for Marlins anyway) is dimpled which makes the tip, thus bullet, remain absolutely straight in the magazine tube.

Be advised, all this info is based on my knowledge of the Marlin 336, .444 & 1895 rifles and I have not read if the same type problem has ever arisen in the m94. A cheap fix for this possible problem is to always load a flat tipped bullet first into the magazine. The problem only occurs with the FTX bullet resting against an old follower. This is what I now do with my Marlin .444. I hope that helped clear things up for you.
 
#6 ·
Thank you for the help but I have to admit I'm a little confused. Put three rounds in and chamber one...when discharging spent first round, second round might jam or any subsequent round might jam? I like the idea of using a winchester round first but just wanted some clarification if possible. Again, either way thanks for the insights. T
 
#14 ·
Sorry to not be clear enough..ONLY the last round might jam (the last round is the FIRST round into the magazine). And as I already stated, along with others here as well, it is likely not a problem in a M94. The problem seems to be with the idiot who sold you the ammo. OOPS, maybe I shouldn't have said that.... yeah, right!:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Perhaps the 170gr Rem CL would work just as well for your needs...:D:D:D:D:D
 
#7 ·
I would go with a standard round nosed bullet, such as the 150-170 grain corelokt, they are the perfect bullet for what you want. If you really wanna use winchester ammo, get some 150 grain ''super X'' round nosed bullets, i have had good results with this bullet on deer as well. The LE ammo is not going to offer you any type of advantage for your application, maybe even some disadvantages ( i have my doubts whether or not LE ammo will expand as nicely at low velocitys as the corelokt, or simular round nosed bullet).
 
#8 ·
Guys, he already BOUGHT the LE ammo, so recommending other stuff is fine, but that isn't what he asked. To clear up the confusion, it is only the very last round you try to load from the magazine that "might" give you a little trouble feeding. If you load three in the mag and then lever one into the chamber to hunt with, the 2nd one should load fine, but the third may not. Then again, you can certainly just put three or four in the magazine and work the lever until your gun is empty (without firing) to find out for yourself.

Also, if he's limiting his shots to 125 yards or less, there is no need to worry about "low velocity". The LE bullets start out faster and retain velocity better, so for anything in the OP's normal hunting range, I don't think that is going to be any concern whatsoever. Also, there have been a lot of reports in on this bullet and I have not heard a single one that suggests the bullets fail to deliver excellent terminal performance.
 
#11 ·
So what would prevent him from spending 15 bucks on a box of corelokts? I know its not what he asked, but the terminal performance of LE ammo in .30 cal is suspect, atleast at 30-30 velocitys. TANG reported some time ago that somone he knew had bad terminal results using LE ammo in 30-30 at close range on deer.

Just giving him sound advice, if he wants to use the best ammo for the application at hand.
 
#9 ·
Then again, you can certainly just put three or four in the magazine and work the lever until your gun is empty (without firing) to find out for yourself.
That's basically what i was getting at.
If there is going to be a problem with a follower, it'll be with the very first round inserted in the tubular magazine, or the last round taken out of the gun..... follow????;)
The last round in the mag, or middle rounds will be of no consequence.

I'm seriously gonna say that you won't have issues...Take the gun to the range and just load and cycle some rounds without fireing, just to be sure.
 
#12 ·
guys;

Please don't make this thread go in a different direction from where the OP was heading it.
He simply asked about the warning on the box....not about terminal velocities... not about group sizes, ect.

Please start another thread to discuss the merits of the Lever Evolution ammo, or it's down falls. or, better yet, please feel free to employ the search feature, as the ammo has been discussed previously.
 
#20 ·
Barkbuster & Broom;
See my quote below?

guys;

Please don't make this thread go in a different direction from where the OP was heading it.
He simply asked about the warning on the box....not about terminal velocities... not about group sizes, ect.

Please start another thread to discuss the merits of the Lever Evolution ammo, or it's down falls. or, better yet, please feel free to employ the search feature, as the ammo has been discussed previously.
Consider this the shot across your bow.
Take that discussion to a pm, or start a new thread.
 
#16 ·
Ditto the last post, my two brothers and I each own Win 94's, one considerably older than pre 64 and the other a few years after 64. The 160 leverlution stuff works fine and shoots tight groups in both of their guns with no function problems. You won't know about your gun till you try it. To much worrying and not enough doing. If they don't work go back to the old tried and true RN 150 or 170 gr bullets made by anybody. I'm pretty sure the bugs have been worked out of them by now. The only reason I haven't switched is my considerable supply of the old stuff. Since I do the work on them and sight in their guns I have had some hands on experience with it and like the ammo for 100 yards.
 
#18 ·
That sounds good. Heading out there next week. Thanks for the advice-All of it is much appreicated. Heres the dream answer...have a bonus tag this year...bag first one with Winchester...second with Hornady and compare the old fashion way. It is a dream...the way the wolves have been running down the deer herd probably won't see a thing. But thanks again to all...T
 
#22 ·
Hi, went to range today...winner is...both types of ammo did very well. Winchester 150GR Power-point Super X and Hornady Leverevolution 160 gr FTX had very similiar, good groupings. And, on at least my rifle, no jams with either ammo. Only out 75 yards with irons but was right on...nice little Winchester. Thanks to all. Good luck to those heading out next weekend. T
 
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