Recently I needed to downgrade optics a bit and was looking for something that offered good performance without breaking the bank. So, after reading a few reviews and talking with the tech at Hawke Optics, I decided to try the new endurance 30 WA 2-10x50 with illuminated dot reticle. What sealed the deal was when Doug at Cameraland NY put them on a super sale.

So far, I really can't complain, especially for the sale price of $380. Two nights ago, I took a coyote around midnight. I needed the aid of a shooting light, but the illuminated dot stood out well and made the shot a breeze. This morning around 5:30, another coyote presented itself in the moonlight. Contrasted against parched summer grass and a shadowed backdrop, the 180-yard coyote stood out well enough that I didn't even need the shooting light. The dot in the Hawke scope is a tad bright for my liking, but I can't argue with the results as I was easily able to make the shot.

Anyway, I placed the dot on the shoulder of the quartering coyote and touched the trigger of the 30-30, sending a 125 grain Ballistic Tip on its way. It flew true, coursed through the coyote and exited near the hip, leaving a rather gruesome wound with entrails hanging out. Suffice to say, the coyote was dead in its tracks.

This is the 13th coyote since the end of last October. And they are just sniped from the house. I "think" we may have an over-population problem...

As to the coyote from 2 nights ago, he was quartering away and headed slightly downhill. The 125 grain Ballistic Tip took him about 4 inches behind the shoulder, ranged through the center of the neck and exited the side of the face, hence the lack of a photo. I could hide the gruesome exit on today's coyote, but there was no getting around the gore factor of the other. I guess you could say this particular load is NOT fur-friendly.

Keep working on those coyotes, you are doing good.

Bobby
I to have found the Hawke line of scopes recently and I'm impressed ..when Doug has them on his sale price , they are a good deal,and seem to be of decent quality..
I've bought two now and have no complaints.
I've always been a Leupold fan and still am today but for the $ , those Hawke scopes are hard to beat ...

I like that 125 ballistic tip bullet for coyotes in 30/30 , how would it work in my contender with 14 inch barrel ?

Bob

Bob-It will do fine in a 14" barrel. One bullet that expands at even lower velocities than the BT is the Barnes 120 grain TAC-TX AAC bullet for the Blackout. It will open on soft tissue down to 1500 fps. Now if Barnes would just apply this same technology to a few of their other bullets...





bullet below taken from a brute of a boar (nearly exited)



taken from a coyote shot head-on in the chest (made it to hip):

Very good ad for Barnes!

Bobby
Thanks , I'll order some of those Barnes 120's. Have you got a load worked up for the 14 inch contender ...? That bullet should perform on whitetail as well ..?
Bob

Yes, it would work very well on whitetail.

The two 30-30 barrels that I shot the 120 Barnes in have been 23 and 24". The 23" showed a preference for Re-7 while the 24" barrel likes H4895. H4895 makes for a compressed load, and I use a drop tube. But it shoots phenomenally well -- in the 0.5 range with monotonous regularity.

With minimal data out there for the Barnes in the 30-30, I used data for 125 grain bullets (primarily from the Nosler manual).

Also, both barrels produced right at 2600 fps with their respective loads.

Also, with the Barnes, all of my shots on hogs and coyotes have been instant kills, including a lung shot on a 190 pound boar -- a shot that generally results in a short run after impact.

I had switched back to the Noslers when the Barnes became hard to find (those dog-gone .300 BO shooters ha ha ) I have a box here now and may give them a go again one day.

Midway has the Barnes bullets now - I just ordered some ..

Hope to achieve 2100-2200 with that super 14 barrel ..

Several powders will safely & easily get you to the 2300 fps mark with this bullet in your 14" barrel. It should do exceptionally well on deer for you.

I hope it shoots as well for you as it has for me in a .300 Savage barrel and the 2 30-30s.

I'm a bit late here Bob, but years ago Bobby got me started on 125 grain BTs in my 13" .30-30 AI. I've shot a number of deer (whitetails and mule deer), pronghorn, and hogs, and so far the only thing to stop the little BTs was a 50 pound hog that I shot through the shoulders. The bullet was perfectly expanded on the far side hide. I've had complete pass-throughs on everything else, including a pronghorn I center punched in the chest as he looked at me. He was high on the front and the bullet exited about mid-back, taking a sizable chunk of spine along with it.