We share our top 30-30 Winchester ammo picks for a wide variety of hunts and uses.
The .30-30 Winchester may date back to the 19th century, but it’s just as popular and reliable as modern hunting rounds. It may not have extreme range, but it packs a punch, delivers manageable recoil, and has dropped countless deer, antelope, black bear, hogs, and even elk.
It’s also fired (almost exclusively) from a classic lever-action rifle, one of the most enjoyable ways to shoot a firearm.
Choosing the .30-30 is easy, but selecting the best ammo for your needs can be tough. That’s why we’ve provided our choices for the best .30-30 Winchester ammo. Keep reading to find top selections for deer, target, large game, and more…
Best Overall 30-30 Ammo: Winchester Super-X 150-grain Power-Point
Best for Deer and Medium Game: Remington Core-Lokt 150 SP Ammo
Best for Coyote and Varmint: Federal Power-Shok 125-grain Soft HP
Best for Elk and Large Game: Buffalo Bore 190-grain Jacketed Flat Nose
Best for Long Range: Hornady LEVERevolution 160-grain FTX
Best Low Recoil: Remington Managed Recoil 125-grain Core-Lokt SP
Best Value: Sellier & Bellot 150-grain Soft Point
Best Overall .30-30 Winchester Ammo:
Winchester Super-X 150-grain Power-Point
Bullet weight: 150 grains
Bullet type: Soft point
Muzzle velocity: 2,390 fps
Muzzle energy: 1,902 ft-lbs
Advantages:
- 150-grain bullet is a versatile size for .30-30 ammo
- Soft points are effective for hunting
- High energies from muzzle to 200 yards
Disadvantages:
- Some deer hunters and most big-game hunters will prefer heavier bullets
The Power-Point bullet from Winchester has become a trusted round for deer and big game by offering dependable performance, penetration, and rapid expansion. This cartridge gives you everything you need from a .30-30 Winchester round, while the reasonable price makes it a useful option for target shooting and casual plinking.
This cartridge is so effective thanks to superb downrange ballistics. For instance, at 200 yards the Power-Point bullet is traveling at 1,685 fps and carries an energy of 945 ft-lbs. This makes it one of the best rounds for distance shooting, whether the target is a paper outline or a trophy buck.
Best for Deer and Medium Game Hunting:
Remington Core-Lokt 150 Grain or 170 Grain SP
Bullet weight: 150/170 grains
Bullet type: Flat-nose soft point
Muzzle velocity: 2,390 fps (150 gr.)
Muzzle energy: 1,902 ft-lbs (150 gr.)
Advantages:
- Great combination of speed and power
- Exposed lead tip bordered by a petal-shaped copper jacket which produces reliable, controlled expansion
- Sterling reputation; trusted by hunters for decades
Disadvantages:
- Decades old technology
We won’t go into a ton of details here as we cover all your top 30-3o Win ammo picks for deer hunting in a separate guide. All you need to know is that few hunters have ever blamed their ammo for an unsuccessful hunt when they selected Core-Lokt rounds.
Best .30-30 for Coyote:
Federal Power-Shok 125-grain Soft HP
Bullet weight: 125 grains
Bullet type: Soft point with a hollow tip
Muzzle velocity: 2,570 fps
Muzzle energy: 1,833 ft-lbs
Advantages:
Fast muzzle speeds
Light bullet for pelt management
Affordable price for high-volume shooting
Disadvantages:
- Light bullets are more susceptible to wind drift
When pursuing a coyote with a .30-30 Winchester rifle, you need to downsize the bullet weight. This 125-grain option is among the lightest rounds you can purchase, and it has the superior ballistics and performance specs you need for accurate shot placement.
Coyote hunters are often more concerned about accuracy than downrange power. This light bullet has a muzzle speed of 2,570 fps; combined with an aerodynamic profile, this will give hunters excellent trajectories. However, the lighter bullet can be susceptible to crosswind.
Best for Elk and Large Game:
Buffalo Bore 190-grain Jacketed Flat Nose
Bullet weight: 190
Bullet type: Flat-nose soft point
Muzzle velocity: N/A
Muzzle energy: N/A
Advantages:
- A heavy bullet for large game
- Buffalo Bore is a go-to brand for high-demand shooters
- Jacketed flat nose bullet delivers reliable expansion
Disadvantages:
- One of the hardest recoils you’ll experience from a .30-30 round
Generally speaking, if you are pursuing larger game you’ll need a heavier bullet. For the best .30-30 ammo, it doesn’t get much heavier than this 190-grain round from Buffalo Bore, the go-to name in big-game hunting.
Buffalo Bore says that when this ammo has a muzzle velocity of 2,100 fps, it will maintain over 900 ft-lbs of energy at 300 yards. While the bullet may drop faster than lighter rounds, it will deliver penetration and energy that ensures a fast, humane harvest.
Best for Long Range Shooting:
Hornady LEVERevolution 160-grain FTX
Bullet weight: 160 grain
Bullet type: Polymer-tipped jacketed hollow points
Muzzle velocity: 2,400 fps
Muzzle energy: 2,046 ft-lbs
Advantages:
- Aerodynamic FTX bullet
- Excellent speeds
- Despite the pointed tip, it’s safe to use in tubular magazines
Disadvantages:
- A higher cost than an average .30-30 round
The .30-30 Winchester is not considered a long-range round, but this product from Hornady allows .30-30 users to increase their reach while maintaining effective terminal ballistics.
This cartridge achieves excellent long-range potential thanks to the aerodynamic bullet. The ballistic coefficient or “BC,” (a numerical statement of the bullet’s air resistance) for this round is .330, a high number for the .30-30 cartridge. (For comparison, the BC of the 150-grain InterLock American Whitetail bullet is .186.)
Best .30-30 for Low Recoil:
Remington Managed Recoil 125-grain Core-Lokt SP
Bullet weight: 125 grains
Bullet type: Soft point
Muzzle velocity: 2,175 fps
Muzzle energy: 1,313 ft-lbs
Advantages:
- Low muzzle energy
- Popular and effective Core-Lokt bullets
- Jacketed bullet is easy on the barrel
Disadvantages:
- Lacks long-range potential
While the .30-30 Winchester doesn’t have a reputation as the hardest-hitting round, it can pack a punch, especially if you are unaccustomed to rifle shooting. With these cartridges, you can reduce the impact on your shoulder while enjoying a full day at the range.
They are also effective for hunting, at least within a moderate range. At 100 yards, they are rated for 918 ft-lbs of energy. This power combined with an expanding Core-Lokt bullet ensures effective results on a well-placed shot.
Best Value:
Sellier & Bellot 150-grain Soft Point
Bullet weight: 150 grains
Bullet type: Flat nose jacketed soft point
Muzzle velocity: 2,388 fps
Muzzle energy: 1,899 ft-lbs
Advantages:
- Low price
- Reliable jacketed bullets for high-volume shooting
- Expansion and penetration for hunting
Disadvantages:
- Less aerodynamic than other bullets
“Value” means more than a low price. It means a quality product that exceeds expectations. That’s precisely what you’ll get from these flat-nose jacketed soft point rounds. They are ideal for hunting thanks to an expanding bullet, while the barrel-protecting jacket and low price means they can be used for high-volume target shooting as well.
The jacket in these rounds is made from 90% copper, with zinc strengthening the material for superior hardness on impact. It mushrooms quickly, giving hunters a fast-acting wound on a trophy deer.
