re: .30-30 Winchester. Why so unpopular now?

quote:

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Hornady squishy tips are not good bullets. I've yet to see one do what it was supposed to do in .30-30, .35 rem, .444, .357, or .45-70. I see a whole lot of shot deer every year and pay attention to stuff like this. The only people I know still using them are .45-70 and .444 handi rifle shooters, and most of them are unhappy with them.

Hornady squishy tips shouldn't be used at any range. They suck. That said, I don't think any .30-30 load should be used at 200+ yards for a multitude of reasons...

1) Most people shouldn't be taking 200 yard shots with any caliber, much less one that lobs bullets rather than sends them on a rope.

2) Most factory loads are pop gun loads and don't bring much with them past 100 yards. The trajectory and velocity both suffer big time due to the flat/round nose of most bullets. The hornady squishys address this, but they don't do their job when they get where they're going.

3) (looking for trajectory charts)

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The man speaks the truth. Much like the OB's beloved Judge, the Hornady rounds are great marketing ploy. Fact is, they don't carry the velocity to carry much advantage over a good handloaded soft point. Their advantage rests in the fact that most factory ammo is down loaded to be safe in the older rifles they are intended to be used in. But still, they just can't reach the velocities needed to take advantage of the bullet design. Even if they did, Hornady really has a dismal reputation when it comes to bullet performance. Hey, but they do have really cool plastic tips!