Reloading: any experience with the Hornady 170gr. FP?

[Tristan]

Anyone have any experience with the Hornady 170 gr. FP projo for the 30-30? I've heard they have a reputation for using harder lead cores, wondering if this is true and if it affects the terminal performace.

Good stuff?

Thanks for your feedback.

- Tristan

[Hobie]

That isn't my experience. But, the bullets have a bigger meplat than others so if they do it balances out. I load all the major cup and core 170 gr. interchangeably in my .30-30s and see no real/practical difference in use.

[Terry Murbach]

THE THIRTY CALIBER 170gr BULLETS FOR THE 30WCF CARTRIDGE WERE PERFECTED WELL OVER EIGHT DECADES AGO AND THERE IS NOT A NICKLES DIFFERENCE IN ANY OF 'EM. DO YOU KNOW WHY??
BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE TO WORK AT THE SAME VELOCITY.
PERHAPS THE BEST ITERATION OF THIS 30WCF 170gr BULLET IN THE MODERN TIMES IS THE SPEER 170gr VERSION AS IT SHOOTS FLATTER THAN ALL OF 'EM, NOTHING ELSE REALLY BEING IN IT'S LEAGUE. AND YET, IT AIN'T NUTTING MORE THAN A SLIGHTLY SLEEKER VERSION OF THE OLD STYLES FROM SILVERTIP ONWARD.

[BigSky56]

Have taken deer, bear and elk with Hdy 170 in 30-30 Ive used 4895,3031 and AA5744 to push them. Recently I picked up some RL15 and a box of Hdy 180 gr RN will play with them to see how they perform in the 30-30. danny

[Tristan]

OK, thanks for the feedback.

Terry, I appreciate that tip on the Speer.

Regards,

Tristan

[Dan 444]

THE THIRTY CALIBER 170gr BULLETS FOR THE 30WCF CARTRIDGE WERE PERFECTED WELL OVER EIGHT DECADES AGO AND THERE IS NOT A NICKLES DIFFERENCE IN ANY OF 'EM. DO YOU KNOW WHY??
BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE TO WORK AT THE SAME VELOCITY.
PERHAPS THE BEST ITERATION OF THIS 30WCF 170gr BULLET IN THE MODERN TIMES IS THE SPEER 170gr VERSION AS IT SHOOTS FLATTER THAN ALL OF 'EM, NOTHING ELSE REALLY BEING IN IT'S LEAGUE. AND YET, IT AIN'T NUTTING MORE THAN A SLIGHTLY SLEEKER VERSION OF THE OLD STYLES FROM SILVERTIP ONWARD.

I fully agree

Dan

[Bigahh]

I use that bullet in my rifles. They work perfectly at 30-30 speeds with good expansion. The Deer do not seem to like them very much though!

[piller]

Not being a gun writer myself, my .30-30 seems to perform well with any task within reason. As far as the bullets, TERRY said it all. (Task within reason is limited to my shooting ability, not the .30-30s capability.)

[Malamute]

OK, thanks for the feedback.

Terry, I appreciate that tip on the Speer.

Regards,

Tristan

If you study the available trajectory information, you come to realize most of the 30-30 leverevolution data was mostly smoke and mirrors. With the Speer150 gr bullets, and with similar sight in ranges and height above bore figures, the difference at 300 yards is about 4".

I used the Hornady 170's for years, and they shot very well, and seemd to work on deer just fine, but when I shot the Speers next to them at longer ranges, the difference was immediately noticable in how much drop and holdover was needed.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I have found the Speer bullets will outrun Sierra and Win. or REM. bullets of the same weight by about 50-60fps on average with all else about the load being the same.
Speer load data also stops short of Hodgdens for the same reason.
The Speer bullets are larger in diameter and build greater pressures. They also shoot quite well in almost every .30-30 rifle I have shot them in.
I am talking about the Speer Hot Core 150 and 170gr.FP bullets here not other .30 caliber designs.