Henry Rifle Forums

Poll question above

I wouldn't vote cause I can't say that I would like to see it, but I would think it great for someone who is into 30-30s and wants to take that cartridge to it's ultimate ability (accuracy, etc).

I would probably have bought my recent BBS in .30-30 if they offered it in a big loop and carbine configuration. It’s weird they don’t! This is obviously the opposite to what you are after, but I hunt in terrain where 50-75 yards is more common than 150+. The short length of the Carbine is very appealing to me.

As for the .30-30 as a long range cartridge, I’m not an expert, but I don’t think it’s highly regarded for much past 250 yards. That’s not exactly long range territory. Maybe with a different barrel it could be? I’m not a ballistics guru by any stretch, and I did NOT stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, so take my opinion with many grains of salt.

but I don’t think it’s highly regarded for much past 250 yards.

Subtract about 50-75 off that and you will be about right.

But I don't understand why? It shoots the same projectile as the .308?

I always thought factory ammo was a joke cause it's used in guns 100 years old, but with handloading why couldn't this round be made to perform?

But I don't understand why? It shoots the same projectile as the .308?

Only in diameter. A spire point is a way different 'animal' than a FN 30-30 projectile.
Also the .308 case has close to double the powder capacity as a 30-30 case.

but with handloading why couldn't this round be made to perform?

It can - to a degree. The Sierra 125 grain HP bullet really improves the performance of the 30-30 - in a handload. Factory stuff is intentionally 'neutered' since the Mfgs. know it may be used in older rifles.

It's the case.
Not just the size as ME mentions but the case can't standup to the higher pressures.
From what I have been able to learn, even I f you modified a 30-30 leveraction to cycle cartridges 2.7+ inches long and modify the case shoulder so the case will hold more powder the pressures will expand the case causing a stuck cases and lever.

There are a couple mods that have been done to improve the 30-30 - the Ackley Improved is one and the 444/.308 which essentially became the .307 Winchester.
The mod 94 action is pretty strong and can handle much more pressure than a standard 30-30 load but most of this is specialty stuff I wouldn't mess with. Besides I typically load to LOWER velocities than factory for ease of shooting and economy.

Mistered wrote:There are a couple mods that have been done to improve the 30-30 - the Ackley Improved is one and the 444/.308 which essentially became the .307 Winchester.
The mod 94 action is pretty strong and can handle much more pressure than a standard 30-30 load but most of this is specialty stuff I wouldn't mess with. Besides I typically load to LOWER velocities than factory for ease of shooting and economy.

Perfect examples.
Marlin 444, Marlin 308express, and Marlin 1895 in 45-70 rifles are all based on the Marlin 336 (so are most of HRA's leveractions).
All the above calibers reach pressures higher than 30-30's near or over 40,000 CUP.

So again it's not the action of the 30-30. It's the case.

There is an article . On t e Hodgdon sight about maximum rifle pressures and how to measure them.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloadi ... le-reloads

Here is an excerpt:

Lower pressure rounds, like the .30-30 Winchester, usually yield maximum pressures at .0003"-.0004" expansion. Modern cartridges, like the .223 Remington, will show maximum pressure at .0004"-.0005", while .308 Winchester, .270 Winchester, etc., typically yield .0005"-.0006" expansion at max pressure. Magnums, like the .300 Winchester Magnum, show maximums at .0006”-.0007” expansion, and should be measured on the belt.

Ojaileveraction, interesting to read this info about using the .30-30, even though I've never reloaded. Always something different to learn. Still think that since the .30-30 caliber is pretty darn tried and true as a deer-hunting round, at the range it is designed for, and I would take it as is. I had a Henry .30-30 for a short time, until Henry took it back a few years ago with the popping-open lever issue. Nice lever-action rifle.

But also wanted to note (if I haven't missed "seeing" it before), that your current avatar looks really cool.
PT7

Ojaileveraction wrote:There is an article . On t e Hodgdon sight about maximum rifle pressures and how to measure them.
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloadi ... le-reloads

Here is an excerpt:

Lower pressure rounds, like the .30-30 Winchester, usually yield maximum pressures at .0003"-.0004" expansion. Modern cartridges, like the .223 Remington, will show maximum pressure at .0004"-.0005", while .308 Winchester, .270 Winchester, etc., typically yield .0005"-.0006" expansion at max pressure. Magnums, like the .300 Winchester Magnum, show maximums at .0006”-.0007” expansion, and should be measured on the belt.

Was at a gun show today and saw a Savage 99 in 30-30 Winchester. Didn't know 30-30 was an option in the 99 but it might be an alternative for someone looking for a non - tube feed lever in .30-30.

Has anyone here ever experimented with the LeveRevolution round in 30-30? Accuracy? Distance? Expansion?

Seems like if it delivers on those three things to a decent degree that tube-fed would be okay, but with a bullet with better ballistics.

ESquared wrote:Has anyone here ever experimented with the LeveRevolution round in 30-30? Accuracy? Distance? Expansion?

Seems like if it delivers on those three things to a decent degree that tube-fed would be okay, but with a bullet with better ballistics.

I have not tried in my Henry. But, I have with my Marlin. They shot pretty straight and tight at 25 yards. But when I shot at 100 yards, the group opened and landed high to the right. It was a windy day. So, I think the wind had an affect. However, I was shooting Winchester Power Points as well. The Power Points was not as tight at 25 yards (more likely, due to me). But, they shot straighter at 100 yards even with a westwardly wind (shooting in a southernly direction).

That's Hornady's claim. Seems like a reasonable one. I have no complaints having used the .45 colt caliber version. The .30-30 caliber isn't available in the LGS. The online price is high even without shipping, so not on my radar to try.

Have shot the lever evolution loads in a variety of Marlins. Some shot the Hornady loads quite well and some shot them, poorly (and that is being kind). That inconsistency caused me to stop buying them and shooting them in my Marlins, not to mention they are pricey for a 30-30 load. Based on my experience, I would say you'll need to shoot them in your individual Henry and see for yourself.

My opinion of the LeverEvolution ammo is it is an answer to a problem that does not exist. It was designed for hunting and while it might show some advantages for this I do not believe there are enough to overcome the additional cost and potential poor accuracy in a particular rifle.
The the 30-30 has 'built in' limitations by virtue of the design of the rifle it was ORIGINALLY made for and most understand this and work within those parameters instead of trying to eek out a little more distance with questionable ammo.
Pick (or reload) a round that shoots well in your rifle and practice at the distance you plan to use it for and you will be ahead in both money and satisfaction.
As a 'rule of thumb' I say hunt with a 30-30 as you would a muzzleloader (given relative effective distance comparison) and leave it at that.
As I have said before the 30-30 can be improved (if one reloads) and if not probably the best compromise for store bought ammo is loads with the 125 grain FP or HP for flattest shooting and velocity for hunting.
Some may not agree with the 125 grain as a hunting bullet but given it's velocity increase and shot placement it is very effective on deer size game.

Great discussion, thanks to all of you, as always. I'm not a reloader, but the 125 gr FP/HP recommendation is interesting and valuable, even though I don't even own a 30-30. Just something to file away for the future (you never know!).

Sounds like the LeveRevolution is to much of a wild hair to mess with.

when our sons first started hunting we gave them each a Ruger M77 308 .... we had the stocks cut down an a very good recoil pad installed ... to help lesson recoil and provide them flat shooting bullets we loaded 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips .... they hunted with those 125's for well over 10 years and there is no doubt as to their capability for taking down deer

Love the lever evolution in my old marlin, the FTX projectile is available as a component to reload yourself and most of what I shoot is reloads
Sighted 3" high at 100 they shot 14" low at 330y for me and produced a 4" group.
Working up a load with the FTX I averaged better than Moa across all the loads tested, worst were around 1.5" best less than 3/4" at 100.
They have worked well on smaller deer and hogs for me here in Aus, have shot a few around the 200y mark and performed well. I wouldn't hesitate to take a shot to 300y using them with a good steady rest and range estimation. With a 3" max rise and fall they do give you a point blank range of 225y or a little more.