Pointed Sierra bullet in 30-30 cartridge

[t.r.]

This speedy little bullet flattens trajectory nicely. Sierra designed jacket thickness as a varmint bullet for 30-06 velocities. But loaded to 30-30 velocity it behaves just like a good big game bullet. Excellent mushrooming and penetration was achieved with pronghorn antelope shot at approx 200 yards or so.

Please do not load up a tube magazine with these pointed cartridges. It could be a fatal mistake. But loaded one at a time, there is no danger of chain fire.

Good shooting to you.
TR

[mikld]

I've got a single shot 30-30 (Handi-rifle) that I've been looking for a load to use. Thanks! Any info on a heavier spire point bullet; 150 -170 gr.or so, for 30-30 velocities?

[Old Savage]

Check the Sierra manual under the specific bullet and it will tell you how low a velocity they are designed to perform at. GameKings are more lightly built than ProHunters according to Sierra.

[Bear 45/70]

One in the pipe and ONE in the tube, only. But if you can shoot, why would you need more?

[pokey]

i make similar cartridges for my son's savage 340 bolt and
for an old 99 i have. i load them a little lighter as well.
doesn't seem to change the trajectory much though.

[flatnose]

I use the Hornady 168hpbt in my 30-30 94 winchester. Single shot of course. No other bullet I have tried will match its accuracy in this rifle.

[jd45]

flatnose, how does it expand on game, or do you not use it as a hunting load, just target? I'm curious, jd45

[flatnose]

jd45,
I just shoot paper. The barrel on my 94 is a full octagon 26'', with 1 in 10 twist. I was experimenting, and thought what the heck and tried the hornady over a near max charge of win748. I played with the seating depth a little as well. I realise I am not taking full advantage of the bullet BC, due to the lower velocity of my load, but there is a marked accuracy gain over anything else I have come across. Mybe the boattail helps, maybe the bullet is of better quality than others, maybe it shoots better because it is less affected by wind drift, but I do like boattail hollowpoints they always seem to perform better than the standard bullets in most cases that I have tried.
I have not shot any game with them, but I cannot see why they would not perform well on deer. I read up on a couple of articles where hunters have used hpbt's on deer, and the results were the same as any other bullet. I dont know about using them on pig or boar. Maybe they would expand too quick and lack penetration. I cant speak from actual experience.
From memory I think most 94's in 30-30 use a 1 in 12 twist. It may be worth trying a hpbt in a lighter weight. Somewhere around a 145 to 155grn. These bullets really make the 30-30 come alive. I have tried the mil spec bullets in 147grn, and found them to be poor for accuracy. I guess it depends on the manufacturer. Try some Hornady's, Sierras, or lapau's. Good thing about 30 cals....good selection of bullets.

[jd45]

I have read that HPBTs are preferred in target rifles as, for some reason, they work better. However, I don't own a .30-cal. rifle. My Marlin 336A is chambered in .35 Remington,........as I said, I was curious, & thanx. jd45

[JustaJeepGuy]

That's an old box in that photo. Does Sierra still make the same bullet?