Hey guys, I am hoping to get your opinion on what bullet I should use in my 30-30 for camp protection. Where we go I would suspect that black bear would be the main problem. Any shot would be under 30yds. Would I be better off with the standard 150gr. or 175? Or would a 125gr. hollow point be more effective? I'm not worried about the hide just stopping yogi.
Thanks for your input.
170gr. all the way.
Any of the factory loadings will be fine, no need for guchi bullets they do not go fast enough to justify, super douper controlled expansion types of bullets.
Flat nosed bullet - any weight will do as long is it is 170
I use 32 grains of 3031 with a tight crimp .
Works well, and has been a proven killer on close range blacks in tight quarters.
Cat
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Anytime I figure I've got this long range thing figured out, I just strap into the sling and irons and remind myself that I don't!
I have to agree - 170 grain bullet will be just fine and any of the factory loadings that work well in your gun will do okay. Even a good cast lead bullet would do the job.
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J.S.
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An old son of a gun!
I load 32gr Win 748 under a Hornady 170 FP out of a H+R SS and it shoots MOA all day any day .Has accounted for a big cow moose and several truckloads of deer.Don't see a black bear surviving it either............Harold
Yeah, I have a slug barrel for my Remington 1100 that I used to take camping, but the gun has occasionally failed to eject the empty when hunting geese. Not a big problem when your aiming for birds but I don't want to be jammed up with a bear in front of me. The 30-30 seems to be the best choice for what I have in the cabinet. My Sako 7mm would stop any bear as well but a bolt action rifle with a 3x9 leupold on it maybe isn't the best choice for up close quick shots.
If you own a 12 guage double odd buckshot is a better choice or slug but if you must go with the 30-30 then yeah 170 should work just fine
FWIW, I have never felt undergunned when using my single shot 30/30 for bears when I was younger, but when guiding, I used a SXS with short barrels exclusively when it came to following wounded bears.
Cat
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Anytime I figure I've got this long range thing figured out, I just strap into the sling and irons and remind myself that I don't!
Sounds to me like another example of somebody in dire need of a .45-70!
Close up on things that bite and scratch use enough gun. .30-30 for all it's history is way down my list - and you'd be amazed how fast you can cycle a bolt gun when something's determined to bite back. Just remember to pull the trigger too! There's also a good reason why a lot of African outfitters go into the long grass after wounded nasties armed with a good 12 gauge and not 00, but #1 or so buckshot - more of them, and combined a 2 3/4" shell packs about 2 tons of ME with mid-sized buckshot.
30-30 bear stopper
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