.30-30 ammo recommendation

[Angus]

As a bow hunter for the last 20+ years I haven't bought any rifle ammo since about 1990 but recently picked up a Thompson Contender with a 14" barrel and am considering deer hunting with it. I picked up a box of Federal 150gr. just to go punch some paper with but after looking at all the new options in ammo since the last time I bought it when you basically decided between Remington, Federal or Winchester and that was about it, all the options now are somewhat overwhelming. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

[Biggerhammer]

Choose your bullet preference for the game to be taken, then purchase the factory ammo that suites your bullet selection.

[h20hunter]

Hornady Leverlution (sp?).....perfect choice.

[Maligator]

I use Federal Vital Shock 30-30 ammo with 170gr Partitions. Very good medicine for just about anything in range of the rifle 

[Machias]

I love the Hornady LEVERevolutions.  My boys hunted with the .30-.30 and those rounds killed alot of deer.

[C-Money]

The Lever evalutions were very accurate for me, next choice was the Federal blue box ammo.

[sticky]

I love the Hornady LEVERevolutions.  My boys hunted with the .30-.30 and those rounds killed alot of deer.

Good choice.

[CP]

If the Fed 150 is accurate in it, I’d stick with that.  It’s cheap, quality ammo and has taken millions of deer, quite possibly more than any other round ever made. 

I’m not impressed with the LEVERevolution, it’s not as accurate as the cheap stuff in my rifle anyway.

[LEN]

Since you are shooting a 14" barrel a lighter bullet maybe in order. I hand load 130 gr spire points for deer in a 10" 30-30 contender and get rifle like accuracy and by selecting powder can get good speed out of the short barrel. So point being a 200 yard shot is really stretching the barrel for most pistol shooters so the 130 gr does great.

LEN

[Biggerhammer]

If the Fed 150 is accurate in it, I’d stick with that.  It’s cheap, quality ammo and has taken millions of deer, quite possibly more than any other round ever made. 

I’m not impressed with the LEVERevolution, it’s not as accurate as the cheap stuff in my rifle anyway.

Factory Remington Core-Lokt will hold that title until the end of time.

[Austrian Hunter]

I use Hornedy Leverlution 150grain.  I worked perfectly with my last years bear, ok it was a 10 yard shot but it still worked 

[biggfish]

I've always used 170 grain Remington core-lokt, its affordable and reliable and has a good mushroom on impact.