30.-.30 Leverevolution 160 grain. Anybody take a deer with this?

[mannyrock]

 
Dear Guys,
 
   I was snooping around in some ballistics charts yesterday, and was very surprised to see that the Hornaday LeverEvolution round for the .30-30 with its 160 grain bullet virtually duplicates the energy ballistics of the .300 Savage with a 150 grain bullet.  At least that's what it shows on paper.
 
  Has any body taken a deer with  this LeverEvolution round in .30-30?  How'd it do?
 
 
Thanks, Mannyrock

[tacklebury]

Saw this earlier in the season...
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,244070.msg1099404371.html#msg1099404371

[chickenlittle]

I took a doe with that load a couple years ago. My father took one this year. Both were broadside lung shots at 40-60 yards. In both cases, the bullet worked as expected.

[Capt Gary]

Works great here in VA. My vintage 1974 Marlin 336 groups them very well.
Give'm a try.

[yellowtail3]

I shot two with that bullet this year. First was a spike at about 90 yards, on Thanksgiving Day (appropriate!). Heart shot. 2nd was a great nine-pointer at about fifty, but things went wrong and it took three shots, but that's only because I flubbed the first one and took a couple more as he ran off (hitting him once) and then a finisher. Grateful to have recovered the deer. One pic of spike, two of 9pt.

My 336 groups better with the Hornady ammo than anything else I've tried, though any of them will do for deer. I'm going to keep using the Hornadys, unless I learn how to reload.

[JPShelton]

I shot one this year with the 160 gr. LE out of my Marlin 336 in .30-30.  Not much of a test, as the buck had a nice rack but was kind of scraggly and thin, going maybe 115 lbs on the hoof, and the range wasn't more than 50 yards.  Complete pass through on a double-lung shot that turned the chest cavity into goo.
 
My 336 shoots the Federal 170 gr. load commonly sold at Walmart better than anything, but my handload using the 160 gr. LE is accurate enough, shooting all four shots into clusters of 1 1/2" or less at 100 yards.
 
JP

[AtlLaw]

the range wasn't more than 50 yards.  Complete pass through on a double-lung shot that turned the chest cavity into goo.

I had the same results in a similar situation from my Marlin Texan.  Pretty good sized exit hole. 

[cwlongshot]

I don't use factory ammo, but I have shot two deer with his same bullet in my hand loads. Actually my buddie shot one and I shot the other but both with my loading.

Both deer went a short distance after shooting both where calm but moving animals. My bullet struck high shoulder at about 15 yards and only pieces exited. My buddies was nearly head on again no exit but not suprised.

I will use it again but will steer clear of big bones if possible

CW

[WesinND]

I shot a big bodied 7 point this year.  It was a high double lung shot at about 50 yards, and he went about 30 yards and piled up.  The bullet completely passed through.  I'm going to use it again next year. 
 
Wes
 

[336SC]

Not a 30-30 FTX kill but I shot a doe with my one Win Model 94 in .32 Win Special using the 165gr factory load which chronographed
at 2300fps out of my rifle.  Tracked her in fresh snow and when she stopped and looked back to see what was on her trail I sent a 165gr
FTX through both shoulders.  At 80yds the exit hole was the size of a 50 cent piece.  No bullet fragments anywhere in the meat.  She
dropped at the shot and her tail wiggled twice.  I also took a very large doe with a handloaded 200gr FTX from my 7600 pump in 35
Remington.  I +P+ loaded them to 2400fps.  DRT also and did find one tiny piece of jacket in the heart when cleaning it to cook.  I know I'll continue using them.   Plan to try one of my 30-30's with the FTX factory loads this coming deer season.
336SC

[oldhunter]

Took a nice doe with my Marlin 30-30 and Leverevolution ammo a couple years ago.  One shot, she jumped twice and piled up less than 25 yards away.  Last fall I shot a 4 point at 50-60 yards with Rossi 92 .357 using 140gr Leverevolution ammo.  Same result with double lung and large exit wound.  Good stuff by Hornady.
 
oldhunter