Best 30-30 Ammo to Buy for Hunting, Target Shooting, and Defense
In some of my fondest memories, I have my dad’s 30-30 lever-action rifle in my hands. I shot my first deer with that gun, and have spent many good, long hours firing it at the range.
But that rifle has also come with its frustrations – primarily due to some of the unreliable ammo I've encountered over the years. That has caused me to compile the following list of my favorite rounds for various situations. You'll discover most of it below, or you can browse our full 30-30 ammo selection to see all available options.
Top Recommended 30-30 Ammo
| Best 30-30 Ammo | |
|---|---|
| Best for General Hunting | Hornady LEVERevolution 160 Grain FTX |
| Best for Deer Hunting | Federal HammerDown 150 Grain Bonded SP |
| Best for Bear Hunting | Remington Core-Lokt 170 Grain HP |
| Best for Target Shooting | Prvi Partizan 170 Grain FSP |
| Best for Self-Defense | Nosler 150 Grain Ballistic Tip |
Best 30-30 Ammo for Hunting - Hornady LEVERevolution 160 Grain FTX
Hornady 30-30 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 160 Grain FTX Ammunition
79 In stock now
Specs
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Type: Flex Tip Technology (FTX)
- Bullet Weight: 160 Grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 2,400 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 2,046 ft-lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trusted Brand | Costly |
| Accurate | |
| Dependable | |
| State-of-the-art bullet technology |
Why I Chose It
Hornady LEVERevolution 160 grain FTX is the best 30-30 ammo I’ve ever used for hunting. It’s manufactured by a trusted brand, ridiculously accurate, and goes boom every time.
It showcases some of the latest bullet technology and has the stopping power needed to bring down any deer-sized game within 200 yards.
The FTX bullet owes much of its impressive accuracy to its polymer tip. That same tip is supple enough to prevent ignition of the primer it touches inside the tubular magazine of a lever-action rifle.
I’ve never had a malfunction with Hornady LEVERevolution – something I can’t say about much of the soft-point ammo I’ve tested over the years. It’s been perfectly dependable in all my rifle hunting situations.
The biggest drawback is the price. Since Hornady implements some of the latest advancements in bullet technology, these rounds are not cheap. If you’re on a tight budget, you should keep reading for some less expensive options.
Hornady LEVERevolution is the best 30-30 hunting ammo I’ve used over the years. It’s accurate.
Best 30-30 Ammo for Deer Hunting - Federal HammerDown 150 Grain Bonded SP
Federal HammerDown 30-30 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 150 Grain Bonded SP Ammunition
Out of stock
Specs
- Case: Nickel-Plated Brass
- Bullet Type: Bonded Soft Point
- Bullet Weight: 150 Grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 2,390 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 1,902 ft-lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trusted Brand | Occasional jams |
| Designed for lever-action rifles | |
| Reliable | |
| Accurate |
Why I Chose It
I’ve hunted with Federal 30-30 ammo for many years because it’s reliable, accurate, and has proven itself in the field. Federal HammerDown 150 grain bonded SP gives deer hunters the edge we need while hunting with our beloved 30-30 lever-action rifles.
The 150 grain bonded soft point bullet conserves plenty of the momentum it needs in order to ethically kill deer downrange, and is relatively accurate out to 200 yards. I’ve never had a deer run far after a well-placed shot, nor have I ever had a failure to fire.
I have, however, experienced the occasional jam while firing soft point bullets. This ammo’s nickel plating does help its brass cases cycle smoothly, but its soft point bullets can still catch and jam. That can be frustrating if you need a quick follow-up shot, but it’s never cost me a deer.
Overall, Federal HammerDown is a solid option for deer hunting that is less expensive than Hornady LEVERevolution.
Best 30-30 Ammo for Bear Hunting/Defense - Remington 170 Grain Core-Lokt HP
Remington 30-30 Ammo - 200 Rounds of 170 Grain HP Ammunition
Out of stock
Specs
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Type: Hollow Point (HP)
- Bullet Weight: 170 Grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 2,200 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 1,827 ft-lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trusted Brand | Arching trajectory |
| Hard hitting | |
| Reasonably accurate | |
| Reliable |
Why I Chose It
Remington Core-Lokt 170 grain HP is some of the best bear hunting 30-30 ammo you can buy because it’s designed to bring down tough big animals. The 170 grain bullet carries plenty of energy downrange, guaranteeing ample stopping power for dropping a black bear within ~150 yards. The Core-Lokt bullet’s locked-together core and jacket ensure sufficiently deep penetration through a bear’s thick fur, bone, and sinew for an ethical kill.
I’ve found these rounds to be reasonably accurate, though their heavier bullets’ trajectory isn’t as flat as those of lighter loads. The farther you are from your target, the more calculations it requires to remain accurate. (This isn’t a giant problem, since the 30-30 isn’t intended for long-range shooting anyway.)
Remington Core-Lokt ammo has always proven reliable in the field, and these rounds’ hollow points are less likely to jam than soft points. That makes them more trustworthy when quick follow-up shots are needed.
Remington Core-Lokt 170 grain HP is what I would take into the woods when hunting black bears. It packs a punch, is reasonably accurate, and hasn’t failed me yet.
Best 30-30 Ammo for Target Shooting - Prvi Partizan 170 Grain FSP
Prvi Partizan 30-30 Ammo - 200 Rounds of 170 Grain FSP Ammunition
Out of stock
Specs
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Type: Flat Soft Point (FSP)
- Bullet Weight: 170 Grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 2,182 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 1,797 ft-lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reasonably priced | Jams may occur |
| Can double as hunting/defense ammo | Less flat trajectory than lighter bullets |
| Reliable |
Why I Chose It
When I’m target shooting, I want inexpensive yet reliable ammo. These two qualities don’t always coincide – but with Prvi Partizan 170 grain FSP, they do.
I’ve always had good luck with Prvi Partizan ammo. It goes back when I need it to and cycles well. The flat tip on the soft point bullet may cause more jams to occur than a more aerodynamic profile might have, though that’s seldom the case.
The 170 grain bullet‘s trajectory arches more steeply than lighter ones. If you want to push the 30-30 to its limits in terms of distance, you’ll need to make some serious adjustments to compensate for this round’s exaggerated bullet drop.
Whether you want to ring steel or punch holes in paper, Prvi Partizan 170 grain FSP reasonably priced and versatile ammo will treat you right. These rounds can also serve well for hunting or defense rounds in a pinch. That makes them a worthwhile addition to any prepper’s stockpile.
Best 30-30 Ammo for Self-Defense - Nosler 150 Grain Ballistic Tip
Nosler 30-30 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 150 Grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Ammunition
74 In stock now
Specs
- Case: Brass
- Bullet Type: Ballistic Tip
- Bullet Weight: 150 Grains
- Muzzle Velocity: 2,100 fps
- Muzzle Energy: 1,469 ft-lbs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Trusted brand | Risk of over-penetration |
| Accurate | Expensive |
| Reliable | |
| Plenty of stopping power |
Why I Chose It
I’m not a big proponent of using a rifle for self-defense when another option is available. If a 30-30 happens to be your only choice, use it. Just be aware that it is more likely to over-penetrate your target and walls, which can jeopardize your loved ones and other innocent bystanders.
With that out of the way, Nosler 150 grain Ballistic Tip ammo would be my top choice for home defense. It’s reliable, accurate, and has plenty of stopping power to quickly neutralize a threat.
Nosler is known for producing high-quality bullets. Their Ballistic Tip projectile owes its excellent accuracy to its sleek and deformation-resistant polymer tip, as well as its ballistically engineered boat tail Solid Base. That latter feature acts as a platform that helps drive wider and more rapid outward expansion. The bullet’s tapered jacket similarly promotes consistent terminal ballistics following low- and high-velocity impact alike.
After its capacity for over-penetration, this ammo’s biggest con is its price tag. It’s much more expensive per round than my top choice for target ammo, which is to be expected of premium hunting rounds.
Parting Shots: Best 30-30 Ammo
The best 30-30 ammo depends on your specific needs, but Hornady LEVERevolution 160 Grain FTX is an excellent choice for most applications.
If that doesn’t work for you, then don’t worry. We have plenty of other options (including bulk) at Ammo.com!
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