Want to know if anyone has used the Barnes 150X (the 3030 XFN bullet, not Spitzers) in their 30-30 or 30-30AckImp and what their experiences have been. Any load data (especially in a Marlin 20" barrel) w/chronographed velocities would be appreciated.

Deke.

Deke,
I have not reloaded the Barnes X in either cartridge. I have shot and hunted with the 150 grain PMC Starfire in the standard .30-30. I could not have asked for better performance on our light deer.
I have chronographed them in the Marlin prior to converting it to Improved but I am not sure where the information is. I remember them going across the screens at just over 2,000 fps. I did not recover any of these from deer!

Slim,

Did the PMC Starfire use the Barnes 150XFN bullet, what ranges, what sized deer, how was the deer hit (entry/exit location, etc.)?

Deke

I would like to test them on deer and elk, I am sure they will out penitrate any other bullet out there as monolithics do that...Guess I need to get some and load up a bunch of them and give them a try....but I bet I can get better that 2000 out of them

Hi
If it would do well on elk,wouldn't it do well for bear defens in my savage 24 backed by a 12g berenneke?
regards
danny

Ray,

Based on Barnes load data, 2282fps is possible. I will say that with other cartridges that I have loaded the Barnes in, I am doing well to get within 50fps of what they claim. With that being the case, 2232fps is smoking with this bullet. I will be shooting these out of a 3030AckImp in a 24" barrel which I hope will get me somewhere between 2500-2700fps.

Deke.

I've loaded them for a friend who's used them for about 4 years. He uses a Marlin 30-30. He usually takes about 2 deer per season at ranges of 30 yds to 150 yds. Never recovered one yet. They were the best shooting bullet his gun has ever seen. He easily shoots 1-1/4" groups at 100 yds. Several have been under an inch. During testing we found a few in the dirt at the backstop and they had perfect mushrooms, long shanks (this bullet is long) and about 90-100% wt retention.

NOW that being said I just had to download some for my 30-06. It shot them very accurately. I shot a smallish whitetail buck at about 80 yds broadside. The bullet hit behind the shoulder and made a turn straight down and out the sternem. Some tracking and I did catch him and finish him. So....he shoots about 7-8 deer with perfect performance and I get this wierd one. Haven't experimented with them in the 'o6 since. My shot was a slight down hill angle. I can't explain it--maybe a pedal or two sheared and made the bullet change directions. It might not happen again in a 1000 shots. These were some of the first XFN bullets for 30-30 and they had a huge gaping hollow point with a very thin jacket around the hollow point. Later boxes of the same bullet had a smaller hollow point and thicker jacket around the hollow point.

I still think the bullet is great and would be a great penetrator and performance enhancer for the good old 30-30.
BUT as long as it is I think they could easily make a more proportionate bullet at about 130 grains---then make it a tsx!!

I've also loaded the big brother to the 30-30 xfn in my 45-70. Just looking at one of these coated with ms moly sitting in a nicket case is a great site to behold. I haven't taken any game with the combo but have no doubts you would NOT want another deer standing behin the one you are shooting at. It is very accurate in my 45-70 marlin but leaves behind alot of copper.

One last comment about the 30-30 bullet. At least with our dies and brass it was a very tight seat and fit. I later bought a lyman "M" die that made it much easier to get a better feel when seating.

Hope some of this jabbering helps a little--it just a synopsis of my experience.

Kracky,
I agree with the 130 gr. bullet, but it might not shoot (stabilize) well in a Win. barrel at that weight, perhaps thats why Barnes didn't go that route..but on the other hand a 130 gr. should be about the same length as a conventional 150 gr.