307 Winchester direction

[xdmalder]

So I have a rechambered Marlin 336 in 307 Win. I have lengthened the action so it can cycle bullets up to 2.690 inches. I'm using the 160 grain Hornady FTX bullet for the 308 Marlin Express. I'm also pushing it 2775 fps at muzzle. No extraction issues at all. Very smooth. Not sure if I am happy with the results of this bullet. I may be pushing it too fast. I'll try slowing it down and see if results on deer are better but I want a pass thru. I have rifles dedicated for short range work in cast. Anyone hunting with cast out to 250 to 300 yards with good results. And what kind of terminal damage can I expect from a 30 cal cast point. The cast bullet I'm looking at is a NOE Ranch Dog 180 grain FP.

[petroid]

Can't see how you'd go wrong with the NOE bullet. Why are you worried about your current load? You seem to be pushing it about 100+fps faster than factory loads in the 308 Marlin Express. That's pretty impressive out of the 307 cartridge. Are you worried if the bullet will stay together?

[xdmalder]

My wife just shot a deer with it and it did not stay together. It did the job but no pass through. And it didn't hit a major bone. She clipped it low through the sternum and got part of one lung. The bullet is rated for 2800 fps but if I'm gonna stay with that bullet gonna slow down to 308 ME velocity. I know they will perform at that level. I like FTX bullets in the 30-30. They have always performed well. But when I pushed the 30-30 Ftx bullet last year to 2600 fps in the 307 it also didn't have a pass thru at 80 yards.

What kind of realistic range does anyone think I can get out of the NOE boolit. And any suggestions of alloys? Also I can get it in a cup point/hollow point. Is it worth going that route or better to just stick with FP. That's what I run in my 45-70(FP) and am happy with their performance.

[petroid]

I'm no expert but my 2 cents is to stick with FN. Hollow point at close to those velocities would likely grenade unless really tough alloy. Probably COWW would be good alloy to start. Softer could rupture and harder could be too brittle. Add a little tin if needed for mold fillout. I shot some 170 Lee FN into water jugs at just under 2000 fps and got good expansion but some fragmenting. Alloy was 50/50 COWW/pure. At 2500ish my bullets would disintegrate from expansion. And remember, a FN bullet hits harder than a spitzer. Expansion is not always required/desired. The impact shock can be devastating.

[petroid]

And I agree on pushing the FTX bullets too hard. They are designed for specific velocity ranges that will be produced from specific cartridges. I'm impressed with your 307 velocities but it definitely sounds like the bullet is overextended.

As for range of the FN bullets, it's dependent on your marksmanship and familiarity of your load. FN bullets from a 30-30 are quite potent at 200plus yards if you know the drop. If you're above 2000fps and inside 150 yards and sighted in 1-2" high at 100 you're good to go.

[xdmalder]

What kind of wounds does a flat point out of a 30 cal gun with say a .225" meplat running around 2400 fps produce?

[petroid]

Lee C309-170F 50/50 COWW/Pb. Alox lubed. Cu gator check. 300 AAC Blackout. Approx 1900 fps. 30 yard shot

Entrance
151859
Exit. Shattered opposite leg
151860
Ribs removed showing heart ripped apart
151861
I don't have the pics anymore, but the tissue trauma was pretty significant.

Bullet recovered from water jugs. Passed through three milk jugs. Stopped in fourth. A fragment exited the fourth jug.
151862

This was an ~80lb button buck at close range, but I am going to use this same load for the rest of the season. For next year, I think I'm going to harden the alloy a little to prevent the bullet from losing any weight. Hopefully I can still get some expansion.

[runfiverun]

the ftx is too soft for your velocity.
use the interlock, 2750 fps is perfect for it's construction.
you should see a bullet sized hole at entrance and a 50-cent to silver dollar sized hole at exit.
don't fall for their sst or tipped bonded stuff either.
just use the plain ol interlock it is better constructed and slower at expanding.
cheaper too.

[xdmalder]

I should probably even ask if there is an advantage to running cast in a 307 vs a 30-30 if I shouldn't be shooting over 2200 fps with cast.

[onceabull]

Well,just for starters.you can get a heavier boolit(like the RCBS 20-180) to 2200+ with the 307 W..in addition to the Interlock recommended by runfiverun, the 307 does good work with the 165 Speer Mag-plus,if they are still making that one.. Onceabull

[petroid]

You CAN push cast fast but it takes some work to get there accurately. On the other hand, you can easily load a heavy 180gr cast bullet in a 307 and get much better velocity than a 30-30 could and should be accurate. If you don't want to worry about the trials of shooting cast, use the jacketed bullets. I like to cast and load and it's a fun hobby for me. I still shoot jacketed bullets, too

[xdmalder]

Another bullet I'm looking at is the Nosler 168 grain bonded performance bullet. But there are zero reviews on that bullet so looms like I'll have to be the first. It is rated down to 1600 fps which is scarey slow for a jacketed bullet to still be performing especially since it has no max limit.

[Landy]

Another bullet I'm looking at is the Nosler 168 grain bonded performance bullet. But there are zero reviews on that bullet so looms like I'll have to be the first. It is rated down to 1600 fps which is scarey slow for a jacketed bullet to still be performing especially since it has no max limit.

Also from Nosler, if you don't want to be a bullet tester, the 170 Partition has been utterly reliable for about a half of a century.

Your issue is that you're well into pointy bullet velocities but still need a flat point for the tube.

[popper]

You can get a LFN to 2400 in 308/307 without much trouble and it will get a pass through with an alloy that will take the pressure. Lower BC will decrease range or increase drop. You won't get much expansion, if any. There is a thread here on the 7mm thor and a deer. Interesting results.

[petroid]

xdmalder, I think you've answered your own question a couple times already. The FTX bullet is (according to Hornady) rated for 2600fps. Slow your load down a bit and you shouldn't have to worry about the bullet disintegrating. 2600 is plenty fast enough for a 160gr bullet to shoot deer out to 300 yards. They aren't that hard to kill, as you know, but we all want to be confident in our equipment. If you want to shoot lead, 150 to 180gr molds/bullets abound and are quite capable. Good Hunting!

[xdmalder]

The 308 ME 160 FTX bullet is rated for 2800 fps but I'm gonna slow down muzzle velocity to 2650 and see what results are like. Gonna try the Nosler Bonded also. See if they are worth it. I don't mind spending money on a hunting bullet if they really really work. I think I will try that 180 NOE as well.

[petroid]

I'm just going by their website. It says 2600fps. Could be a typo. I don't have the catalog handy

30 Cal .308 160 gr FTX® (308 Marlin Express)







Details (http://www.hornady.com/store/#tab1)
Videos (http://www.hornady.com/store/#tab5)

http://www.hornady.com/store/images/T/30396%2030%20Cal%20.308%20160gr%20FTX%20%28Marlin% 20Express%29.jpg


http://www.hornady.com/assets/images/products/bullets/cutouts/bullets-FTX-cutaway.jpg Hornady® FTX® bullets revolutionized lever-gun ballistics, creating a whole new level of performance for these popular firearms. Lever-gun enthusiasts can now harness the accuracy, power and long-range performance of a tipped bullet that's safe to load in tubular magazines.
The patented Flex Tip®, combined with Hornady® pioneered secant ogive design, creates an aerodynamic bullet with a thinner, tapered front section and extended bearing surface for much higher ballistic coefficients. The FTX® flies faster and flatter than traditional lever--gun bullets, resulting in improved accuracy at ranges well beyond what was historically common.
The one-piece high antimony lead core of the FTX® bullet is locked to the jacket with an InterLock® ring, resulting in reliable performance and deep penetration on large or heavy-bodied game animals. Designed to perform at muzzle velocities from 1,600 to 2,600 fps, FTX® bullets are ideal for hunters and shooters looking to give their lever gun new life.

[petroid]

Not trying to start an argument, but they even load their ammo to what they claim is the rated velocity of the bullet

308 Marlin Express 160 gr FTX® LEVERevolution®







Ballistics (http://www.hornady.com/store/#tab1)
Scrapbook (http://www.hornady.com/store/#tab3)

http://www.hornady.com/store/images/P/82733%20308%20Marlin%20Express%20160gr%20FTX.jpg



Test Barrel (24") Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)



Muzzle
100
200
300
400
500


2660/2513
2438/2111
2226/1761
2026/1457
1836/1197
1659/978




Trajectory (inches)


Muzzle
100
200
300
400
500


-1.50
3.00
1.70
-6.70
-23.50
-50.70

[runfiverun]

not an argument at all, they tell you how the bullet is constructed.
'thinner tapered front section' combined with a tip, tells me it expands rapidly and is meant for the lower velocity's most lever guns have.
it would be a pretty good [200yd] 30-30 bullet, not so good at 308/7 velocity's.

if your looking at 250-300 yd shots you want a flatter trajectory in the field, trying to guess drop or holdover will just about guarantee a miss.

[xdmalder]

In the Hornady manual it has them listed from 2000-2800 fps and the 30-30 ftx from 1800-2600 fps. 8th Edition page 104. Which is what I was going by. To me it made sense to change the jacket on the 308 ME from what is used for the 30-30 FTX. And on the 30-30 FTX Web page it has the same info you posted for the 308 ME FTX. Not sure which is correct but there is a conflict. Anyway the deer was at around 150 yards which should of had a impact velocity of around 2500 fps.

[xdmalder]

But I will load it to what the 308 ME is going in book out of a 24" barrel. It only drops the MPBR by like 10-15 feet and that would be just fine as well.

[popper]

SIL got one with Hornady factory 308MX, maybe 50yds. He was sighted @ 100 so hit spine, had to use second shot. No recovered bullet but no lost deer either. Was happy with the results but not his shot. I've loaded 30/30 & 308MX with FTX, even crossed both versions but only shot targets cannular is in different spot, don't know about contruction). Took some FTX, CoreLok & cast RD on my only deer hunt but didn't get a shot. Took 30/30 and 308 carbine.

[TXGunNut]

the ftx is too soft for your velocity.
use the interlock, 2750 fps is perfect for it's construction.
you should see a bullet sized hole at entrance and a 50-cent to silver dollar sized hole at exit.
don't fall for their sst or tipped bonded stuff either.
just use the plain ol interlock it is better constructed and slower at expanding.
cheaper too.


Hornady Interlock an awesome bullet, indeed. Remington CorLokt hard to beat as well. I used Hornady's 3040 165 gr bullet for years in a bolt gun. My brother won't use anything else, especially after harvesting his long-awaited trophy last year. Been loading them for him for years so he can't beat the price, lol.
If I hadn't started casting a few years back I'd still be filling the freezer with a Hornady 3040, lead boolits bring a whole new level of performance and satisfaction to hunting for me.