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Ive got an itch to go deer hunting with my contender. My 10" 30-30 barrel is s my most accurate shooter but I'm wondering how effective it will be on UP Michigan whitetails. I like to hunt in areas where my shots would be less than 80 yards and I'm sure I could put everything in less than 2" at that distance. I haven't chronographed any of my cast boolit loads but expect I am getting 1600 fps with my most accurate boolit. Anyone have any real world experience with the 30-30 pistol on deer?
Don’t have actual real world Contender 30 30 experience, but based on much experience with a 16” Trapper carbine on Adirondack and Central NY whitetails up to 200 pounds you should have no problems using your perimeters. Don’t forget to show us some pictures of you success.
Not a dirty 30 but I've taken lots of white tails with a 16" Contender in .35 Remington, one shot in the boiler room and they go down.
Years ago, but I shot several deer with a 10" Contender .30-30 with cast loads, wheelweights +2% tin alloy, #31141 and 24 grs. of RL7, did the job just fine within the ranges you are talking about.
Shot a big buck 2 years ago at about 70 yds with a MP 311-159 hp at about the same speed (1675 fps) in a 30 Herrett .. Same dia and near same speed so should be a near comparison
Should work just fine for WTails. Last few years I have been carrying my super 14 in 7-30 waters. Have yet to shoot it in the woods yet. That's one dam big holster lol
I’ve taken a few hogs w my 14” .30-30 and the 311041, but not at full power. Actually, I’d be surprised if I was getting 1400fps, and it worked just fine. Your 10” will do just fine as long as the bullet hits the right spot. I actually tend to use my 10” .357 and 10” .44 much more than the 14” .30-30 just for the better balance, and usually shoot them at closer than you’re talking.
Given the evidence I have seen in my terminal ballistics tests (40 yards into soaked, compressed phone books) of 30/30 boolits at a muzzle velocity of 1550 fps with a medium hardness alloy, you are good to go on any deer out to 150 yards. Just hit what you are shooting at.
Yes Sir I've used the 30-30 TC contender for deer, I'm trying my 357Maximum this year, I saw nine this morning and passed on two nice does I did draw a bead on two of them. I still have a lot of season to hunt. With the 30-30 heavy boolits are your friend,I used IMR 3031 ( I think) for practice I used IMR4227( less recoil)Quote:
Originally Posted by historicfirearms
I'm a little tardy catching up on threads... life got in the way recently...
I shot T/C 30/30 14" in IHMSA for several years using cast 165 grain slugs with great success with open sights out to 200 meters.
A duplicate TC with a 2x scope has accounted for numerous critters and is equally effective as my Marlins on deer and pigs.
Longest live critter shot has been maybe 80 yards, always from a solid rest.
A high shoulder shot at the shoulder/spine junction has always resulted in a DRT event for deer and pigs.
At 1850 FPS (+/-), I've used RCBS 165-SIL, Lyman 31141 170 gr., Ranch Dog 165 gr., or SAECO #316 at 160 grains, with no scope adjustments.
All these bullet designs work fine on steel or live targets with proper placement.
I have taken deer, antelope, coyotes, javelina, skunks, coons, squirrels, and prairie dogs with my scoped 14" 30-30 Contender. Not all were with cast, but most were. There's very, very little that it wont do with proper shot placement and proper loads. I'd sure love to take it hog hunting some day...never had the opportunity yet. I killed an elk with the same gun with the 7x30 Waters cartridge/barrel.
HAH!! ShooterAZ summed it up nicely... TC in 30/30 (or 7x30 Waters).... accurate enough prairie dogs, powerful enough for Elk.
Deer appear to be well covered.
Dont have a 30-30 , but I've killed one with my 10" 30 Herrett and that one dropped so fast it left hair floating in the air . 150 Sierras and shot was behind the shoulders . I would like to take one with cast in the Herrett , my shoots the 150 FN lee pretty good .