New 30-30 Ammo: Anyone Tested it Yet?

[Dinny]

Hornady has a couple of new 30-30 loadings. Has anyone tried either of them in their Handis?


http://www.hornady.com/store/30-30-Win-140-gr-monoflex-Leverevolution/


Looks like this one is just the FTX with a different colored tip (Made specifically for Zombies ). All the numbers match...


http://www.hornady.com/store/30-30-Win-160-gr-Z-MAX/




Thanks, Dinny

[demented]

 I tried one box od the 140's, good accuracy, chrono'd about 150 fps slower from my Handi than advertised from a 24".   Since I reload and since I'm not using a lever rifle, I can and did load Nosler Ballistic Tips for lots less money that did a good job for me this deer season, matching the velocity and accuracy of the Hornady stuff was childs play.   For a non reloader, I'd highly recommend the 140's.

[ratdog]

i have loaded 100 rnds of 100 grn plinkers that are shooting real nice 1/2 to 2''  groups real well i shoot those in my winchester lever gun my handi i loaded up some 110 spitzers havent shot any of them yet.made a mistake put one of those in my winhcester jammed it up had to take gun apart but i sure learned a good lesson the bullets are way to long if set up for a handi gun. first win lever gun i have owned in 30-30 cal i dont buy factory ammo just components.may try some evolutinon bullets to try.

[Deerhunter#1]

Dinny I havent tried the 140 but I have shot the factory and self loaded ftx 160 grain in my handi and by far is the most accurate ammo shot through it.

[Dinny]

Dinny I havent tried the 140 but I have shot the factory and self loaded ftx 160 grain in my handi and by far is the most accurate ammo shot through it.

I agree about the accuracy with the factory 160gr LE ammo. Mine shoots into a boring 3/4" at 100yds. I still have two boxes sitting in reserve for that rare occasion when I don't have any ammo loaded.


Thanks, Dinny

[Deerhunter#1]

One thing I noticed with them is the pressure was real high as the primers were real flat. I am reloading them and am using 35a grains instead of 35.5 as advertised and accurate is good and the primers look better.

[tacklebury]

Thanks for the posting Dinny.  I'd say it's a big step up from the FTX personally. 

Constructed of gilding metal, MonoFlex bullets won’t ever separate, and when recovered, retain 95+% of their original weight. Deep penetration. High weight retention. Unbeatable power.

Jacket separation was the biggest problem I was having with occasional FTX's and why I don't hunt them.  I may have to try some of the monoflex loose bullets in my loads. 
http://www.hornady.com/store/45-Cal-.458-250-GR-MONOFLEX/

[carbineman]

I think it is the LeverEvolution powder that makes the loadings accurate. I handload the 170 grain Sierra flatnose exactly as the Hodgdon website indicates for the LE powder and the 170 grain Sierra bullet and all thru the loading progression the accuracy was less than on inch per two shot groups.
 
Don't know about the Flex Tip bullet, but the 170 Sierra are a great whitetail killing bullet. The Hodgdon website gives all the loading info for both flex tip bullets.

[Dinny]

The Hodgdon website gives all the loading info for both flex tip bullets.

Yep, here it is. They don't have info for the 140s yet, not sure if they will either. 


http://www.hornady.com/support/downloads/load-data




Thanks, Dinny

[Deerhunter#1]

I hate this 30-30morning talk my pa season opens tomorrow but I am heading out on Wednesday so I am going to the range tomorrow to dial it in a little better with the 160kids xtc and leverrevolution powder. Just a note I have opened a case and weight the powder and it is 35.5 grains just as they have listed on the bottle.

[Winter Hawk]

Not meaning to flame anyone, but what is the point of using the FTX or other cartridges in the Handi Rifle?  Their whole reason for being is to allow the lever action folks to shoot pointy bullets so they have a little more range.  The Handi can use about any spitzer type bullet made, so you don't need to pay more for the soft tips.  To each his own, but I can think of better things to spend my money on.

If I were out of ammo somewhere of course and had to buy factory stuff, I might gravitate to these cartridges.  On the other hand, the longest shot I ever made to kill a deer paced out at 130 yards and a flat or round nosed bullet would have worked just as well as the Hornady 150 gr. spire point I had loaded up with....

-WH-

[quickdtoo]

If a fella only shoots factory ammo, the LE ammo is the only spitzer option. 

Tim

[Deerhunter#1]

Winterhawk
Those bullets are designed to open at 30-30the velocities. Don't get me wrong there are other spritzes that if reloaded will work but as pointed out if using factory ammo that is the option

[Dinny]

I got a box of the Hornady 140gr Monoflex LE 30-30 ammo today. Alpine Gun Range/Shop near Arlington, TX has it in stock. I'll try to get the Handi to the range sometime in the next week or so and provide a range report. If it's half as accurate as the 160gr FTX, I'll take it!




Thanks, Dinny

[jem44357]

I got a box of the Hornady 140gr Monoflex LE 30-30 ammo today. Alpine Gun Range/Shop near Arlington, TX has it in stock. I'll try to get the Handi to the range sometime in the next week or so and provide a range report. If it's half as accurate as the 160gr FTX, I'll take it!




Thanks, Dinny

Diggin' up bones...
 
Dinny,
 
What were your results with the 140's. I am considering using these in my super 14 Contender>
 
Jim

[tomtomz]

I think it is the LeverEvolution powder that makes the loadings accurate. I handload the 170 grain Sierra flatnose exactly as the Hodgdon website indicates for the LE powder and the 170 grain Sierra bullet and all thru the loading progression the accuracy was less than on inch per two shot groups.

A good friend of mine says he is having good luck with that same powder in his lever rifles in 30-30 and 35REM.
He has both scoped and ready for opening day in November.

A large fraction of the deer in my area have CWD and/or Blue Tongue after a severe drought and stress from it.

[Dinny]

IIRC, the 140gr MFX shot just as well as the 160gr FTX. I didn't have a chance to chrono the load before I left though. Maybe next year.

Thanks, Dinny

[jpshaw]

Since I reload and since I'm not using a lever rifle, I can and did load Nosler Ballistic Tips for lots less money that did a good job for me this deer season, matching the velocity and accuracy of the Hornady stuff was childs play.

What weight Nosler did you use.  I'm looking for a good "Pointed" bullet to load for my Handi that will expand at .30-30 velocities and am partial to the 150 grain loads.

[Dinny]

I would imagine he's referring to the reputable 125gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. The hunting version is noted for it's accuracy and ability to take deer sized game. The 150gr NBT may be too tough to open at 30-30 velocities. I have heard of other that have had great success with 150gr Sierra Gamekings.

Thanks, Dinny

[SHOOTALL]

FWIW , I load 130 gr Hornady bullets in my 308. I load them at the lowest listed load around 2700 FPS listed. My gun is a 20 inch bbl so I feel my loads are under 2700 fps . They work well on deer , my reason for loading them was for my DIL. Now I keep some around as they work well . The same bullet is listed for the 300 savage at around 2500 fps. I would think it would be a good deer round in a 30-30 single shot also.

[quickdtoo]

I'm looking for a good "Pointed" bullet to load for my Handi that will expand at .30-30 velocities and am partial to the 150 grain loads.

From Nosler's FAQs:

Impact Velocities for Reliable Expansion

Partition:
Minimum Impact Velocity for Reliable Expansion- 1800 fps
Maximum Impact Velocity for Reliable Expansion- N/A


Ballistic Tip:
Minimum Impact Velocity for Reliable Expansion- 1600 fps
Maximum Impact Velocity for Reliable Expansion- 3000 fps


AccuBond:
Minimum Impact Velocity for Reliable Expansion- 1800 fps
Maximum Impact Velocity for Reliable Expansion- N/A

http://www.noslerreloading.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1347

[jpshaw]

Ballistic Tip:
Minimum Impact Velocity for Reliable Expansion- 1600 fps
Maximum Impact Velocity for Reliable Expansion- 3000 fps

This Ballistic tip seems like it would be OK at .30-30 velocities.  I'm pushing 150 Speers at 2300 with Reloader 15 so they shouldn't fall under 1600 within normal ranges.  Thanks Quick.

[quickdtoo]

Sierra Infinity says the 150gr NBT will still be doing over 1600fps at 400yds! 

Tim


Trajectory for Nosler .308 dia. 150 gr. Ballistic Tip at 2300 Feet per Second
At an Elevation Angle of: 0 degrees
Ballistic Coefficients of: 0.435   0.435   0.435   0.435   0.435
Velocity Boundaries (Feet per Second) of: 2400   2400   2400   2400
Wind Direction is: 0.0 o'clock and a Wind Velocity of: 0.0 Miles per hour
Wind Components are (Miles per Hour): DownRange: 0.0   Cross Range: 0.0   Vertical: 0.0
Altitude: 0 Feet with a Standard Atmospheric Model.
Temperature: 59 F
Data Printed in English Units
Range   Velocity   Energy   Momentum   Drop   Bullet Path   Wind Drift   Time of Flight
(Yards)   (Ft/Sec)   (Ft/Lbs)   (Lb-Sec)   (inches)   (inches)   (inches)   (Seconds)
0   2300.0   1761.6   1.53   0.0   -1.5   0.0   0.000000000
25   2252.6   1689.8   1.50   -0.21   -0.46   0.0   0.032949811
50   2205.8   1620.3   1.47   -0.84   0.14   0.0   0.066595893
75   2159.5   1553.0   1.44   -1.93   0.3   0.0   0.100959934
100   2113.7   1487.9   1.41   -3.48   0.0   0.0   0.136064344
125   2068.5   1424.9   1.38   -5.51   -0.79   0.0   0.171932207
150   2023.9   1364.1   1.35   -8.05   -2.09   0.0   0.208587310
175   1979.9   1305.4   1.32   -11.12   -3.92   0.0   0.246054208
200   1936.4   1248.7   1.29   -14.75   -6.3   0.0   0.284358273
225   1893.6   1194.1   1.26   -18.96   -9.26   0.0   0.323525674
250   1851.3   1141.4   1.23   -23.77   -12.83   0.0   0.363583284
275   1809.7   1090.7   1.21   -29.21   -17.03   0.0   0.404558530
300   1768.8   1041.9   1.18   -35.32   -21.9   0.0   0.446479236
325   1728.5   995.0   1.15   -42.13   -27.46   0.0   0.489373502
350   1689.0   950.0   1.12   -49.66   -33.74   0.0   0.533269616
375   1650.2   906.9   1.10   -57.95   -40.79   0.0   0.578195871
400   1612.2   865.5   1.07   -67.04   -48.64   0.0   0.624180668

[jpshaw]

Too funny.  With my 69 year old eyes 200 yds is pushing it and thats braced all over my deer stand.  You are a wealth of information though.  Hafta get you to do my taxes this year.