OK I'm not trying to use my 30 30 as a 200 yard gun, but I was at the range today verifying my scope at 50 yards shoting some decent one to two inch groups. I am satisfied with what I see and have 4 rounds left so I decide to try some 200 yard shots for the fun of it. I have a fairly small target I brought with me, about 10 inch square with a bullseye in the middle. I check the balistics on the box, federal power shock 150 grains, says 7.5 inches low at 200 yards. I take steady aim with a good rest and take my 4 shots. When I go check the target, no hits at all on paper and the rest ot the back stop is to shot up to tell which holes are new. Now I'm a little frustrated, I feel the balistics on the box of ammo must be off because I was holding at least 7" above the bullseye. I plan on going back with a bigger target at some point and satisfying my curriostiy. Anyone else try 200 yard shots, and what is your holdover? I don't plan on ever trying to take game at that yardage, except maybe a wild hog or coyote but I would like to think I could hit a 10 inch plate that far.
Ambush
200 Yard Shots 30 30
I sight my 20" 30-30 SS for 1/4" high at 25 yards and I'm just over 2.5" low at 200 with a 1 1/2" group using a Leupold 4x scope. That puts me 1.5" high at 50 yards. It gives me a max MPBR of about 2.5" out to 200 yards which is all I use it for.
When trying something I am not too sure of like this, I like to use old blueprints and turn them over. You can have a fairly large taget margin then for seeing exactly where you hit. SOme common large blueprints are 22x36.
The ammo I use is Winchester 150gr HP and I'm getting average 2300fps at the muzzle.
If you have a 20" barrel and using standard 150gr velocity then ballistics should look like this:
Muzzle -1.5", 25yds .25", 50yds 1.54", 100yds 2.63", 150yds 1.39", 175yds -.25", 200yds -2.61"
200yds -2.61" 1624fps with 878lbs of energy.
Quite often at close range, my excited behind the shoulder shot ends up double lunging them because I forget to adjust. The deer are still DRT because this ammo is mean. Usually a 2" exit wound whether lunged or heart shot.
I'll be the first to tell you to chunk 170gr in the trash and use the higher velocity of the 150gr.
Hope this gets you straight. You have to practice them 200 yard shots.
If you have a 20" barrel and using standard 150gr velocity then ballistics should look like this:
Muzzle -1.5", 25yds .25", 50yds 1.54", 100yds 2.63", 150yds 1.39", 175yds -.25", 200yds -2.61"
200yds -2.61" 1624fps with 878lbs of energy.
Quite often at close range, my excited behind the shoulder shot ends up double lunging them because I forget to adjust. The deer are still DRT because this ammo is mean. Usually a 2" exit wound whether lunged or heart shot.
I'll be the first to tell you to chunk 170gr in the trash and use the higher velocity of the 150gr.
Hope this gets you straight. You have to practice them 200 yard shots.
I shoot a Zane Grey 30-30 with the Hornady LR 160gr round and at 2" high at 100yds my rifle put them in at 2"-4" low at 200yds and about 12"-15" low at 300yds If I remember right(My yardage charts are in my rifle case and I'm talking out of memory). I've never shot at a deer at 300yds, but its good to know what my rifle can do. I think the 22" barrel on my ZG helps and the high velocity adds to it.
Trouble with the ballistics on the box is that may be a load that is no longer used in the factory ammo. But they don't have to change the box.
Yes it should perform as advertised but then politicians should not lie.
My advice to any and all is to get into hand loading their own ammo, test it and not regret it.
8 inch paper plate at 100 is minute of buckburger.
My last deer with a hand load was very close to 300yds with a 125 gn Sierra HP and a custom load, zeroed at 100 I held at the the cross hairs 12 inches high and it done what I expected it to do.
Pics target with load info. Looking at my blind from the bullet impact point. Finally the deer with the bullet hole. Do click on the blind pic it is mounted on a 8 ft long trailer and it fills the box.
Yes it should perform as advertised but then politicians should not lie.
My advice to any and all is to get into hand loading their own ammo, test it and not regret it.
8 inch paper plate at 100 is minute of buckburger.
My last deer with a hand load was very close to 300yds with a 125 gn Sierra HP and a custom load, zeroed at 100 I held at the the cross hairs 12 inches high and it done what I expected it to do.
Pics target with load info. Looking at my blind from the bullet impact point. Finally the deer with the bullet hole. Do click on the blind pic it is mounted on a 8 ft long trailer and it fills the box.
Attachments
Good shooting Swany, I shot the 125HPFN at the CLAS shoot a couple of times and they worked good on the rams, but havn't shot an animal with em yet. Great to see they still have enough puff left in em at 300.
GUS
GUS
Good job of getting out there and pushing the envelope, keep learning what your rifle can do. I use the Hornady lever ammo 160 gn in my 336 30-30 and can get pretty decent groups, as good or better than my buddy's 308 bolt gun at 200 yds and farther. If you are buying box ammo, I don't think there is anything better for 00 plus yds.
Take Swanny's advice and learn to reload, I started earlier this year and now I am really shooting way more than I ever did. I have barely scratched the surface of learning to reload, but getting starting is not that hard, and it quickly becomes an extension of shooting, our favorite hobby. Good luck.
Take Swanny's advice and learn to reload, I started earlier this year and now I am really shooting way more than I ever did. I have barely scratched the surface of learning to reload, but getting starting is not that hard, and it quickly becomes an extension of shooting, our favorite hobby. Good luck.
you mentioned that you were shooting at 50 yards before trying at 200. My guess is you would be high at 100, and when trying at least your 7 inch holdover, it made you shoot high at 200. Just a guess.
I think you're going to enjoy the experience of pushing your .30-30's range a bit.
If possible, set up generously sized targets at 50, 100, 150 and 200 yards. Shoot from a well-supported position to reduce shooter-induced wobbles & inaccuracy. Take your time, note where you're hitting at those different ranges. This kind of practice can help make you a far more effective rifleman in the field, once you fully understand your rifle's trajectory.
The .30-30 itself is quite competent at 200 yards, or as Swany shows us, even farther! Take a look at some of the different ammo offered anymore as well. Some of it, the Hornady flexy-tip pointed bullet stuff, is specifically intended to help us stretch the effective range of our traditional lever action rifles.
By the way, do you shoot longer ranges with other rifles, or is this your first attempt at longer ranges?
Regards, Guy
If possible, set up generously sized targets at 50, 100, 150 and 200 yards. Shoot from a well-supported position to reduce shooter-induced wobbles & inaccuracy. Take your time, note where you're hitting at those different ranges. This kind of practice can help make you a far more effective rifleman in the field, once you fully understand your rifle's trajectory.
The .30-30 itself is quite competent at 200 yards, or as Swany shows us, even farther! Take a look at some of the different ammo offered anymore as well. Some of it, the Hornady flexy-tip pointed bullet stuff, is specifically intended to help us stretch the effective range of our traditional lever action rifles.
By the way, do you shoot longer ranges with other rifles, or is this your first attempt at longer ranges?
Regards, Guy
Yeah, I've generally used my .30-30 at fairly modest range too. That's where it does excellent work. Fast on target, plenty accurate & powerful enough.
I think you'll find the .30-30 can actually do a pretty decent job at 200 yards.
Regards, Guy
I think you'll find the .30-30 can actually do a pretty decent job at 200 yards.
Regards, Guy
Ambush,
I forgot to add the recommended hold over for the Horady ammo. They have a 140 and 160 grain flex tips specifically for Lever action rifles. Both ballistic are close,
set up your rifle for +3" at 100 yd, that result in a pretty close to 0.10" or almost zero at 200 yds and a -12" drop at 300 yds. I believe that is based on a 22" barrel, my 20" barrel on my 336 still gets pretty close to the same results. I really like my 30-30's and think they are a great caliber. do some goggle for Paco Kelly lever gun 30-30 articles and he has some great stories of long range shooting with a 30-30 lever gun.
I forgot to add the recommended hold over for the Horady ammo. They have a 140 and 160 grain flex tips specifically for Lever action rifles. Both ballistic are close,
set up your rifle for +3" at 100 yd, that result in a pretty close to 0.10" or almost zero at 200 yds and a -12" drop at 300 yds. I believe that is based on a 22" barrel, my 20" barrel on my 336 still gets pretty close to the same results. I really like my 30-30's and think they are a great caliber. do some goggle for Paco Kelly lever gun 30-30 articles and he has some great stories of long range shooting with a 30-30 lever gun.
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