Dear Gents,

This year I want to go back to the basics and, for the first time will be going afield for deer and possibly boar with a .30-30 single shot rifle.

What is the best load for deer up to 100-150 yards? Up to 50-70 yards? Any experience with the new Light Magnum (et al.) loads? How about the PMC Starfire? Federal Bear Claw?

The best accuracy I ever had was years ago with W-W 170 gr Silvertips in a Marlin 336A. But what would be best for Southeastern deer and wild pigs?

Thanks from N.C.

David,

What gun are you going to be using? Just wondering. If I remember most NC deer aren't that large, 80 lbs or so? I'd probably go with 150 grain bullets. Sorry but I haven't bought any 30-30 loaded ammo since Reagan was president so can't help you there.

I will be using a Savage 219B (break-action, hammerless, top lever yet still no Karpatenb�chse!:-) with 26 inch barrel and Pecar 4x21 scope with No. 5 reticle in a modified Stith mount.

Seems recommendations are all over the map as to bullet etc. NC deer can get to be 200 lb live weight although I would think about 130 would be the norm. It�s the pigs I is worried about.

All the factory stuff is just fine for deer, it has all been proven effective over the last 100 or so years..I like the corelokt, Sivlertip, power point and Fed ammo...The enhanced stuff should be great...

You will seldom, if ever, see a 30-30 bullet fail and they all penitrate like the dickens, reckon its that 2200 FPS thats proven itself for centurys?

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

The best factory .30-30 load is the Federal 170gr. Nosler Partition load.