Deer beware 30-30AI is ready.

[1Shot]

Here is my T/C Contender with a 14" SS Shilen barrel made by Match Grade Machines (MGM) in 30-30AI. It has a Weaver 2.5-8X28 scope.

Here is the way it shoots from 100 yards. The first shot was slightly to the left and the next three were in the ragged hole and like most often happens when you look through the spotting scope and see a good group you pull the fifth shot. I got on the trigger a little and pulled the fifth out to the left. I cranked the scope up 3 clicks and will practice a little more before deer season but I think deer better beware of the 30-30AI.

Cases were WW, 33 grs IMR 4198, Wolf LR primer, 125 gr Nosler ballistic tip, muzzle velocity average 2670 fps

 

[SJB358]

1Shot, that is an awesome pistol and GREAT shooting! That 30/30AI is smoking those like BT's out there! Very awesome, that should flatten deer. Scotty

 

[Guy Miner]

That should be GREAT come deer season!

And now you know why I like three-shot groups... :grin: You guys should see my one-shot groups - now those are Tight!

 

[JD338]

Nice rig! That 30-30AI is an impressive round. If you can, post a picture of the 30-30 AI along side a 30-30 Win.

JD338

 

[1Shot]

Here is a 30-30Win on the left and the 30-30AI on the right. You can load 3 to 4 more grains of powder in the AI depending on the powder used. You can pretty well equal what a 30-30 WIn rifle will do with a 20 to 22" barrel in a 14" barrel with the 30-30AI.

 

[JD338]

Thanks 1Shot.

The 30-30 AI intrigues me.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Looks pretty cool! That BT on top of the AI looks deadly! Scotty

 

[longwinters]

Lookin good. How are you going to hunt with it?

Long

 

[1Shot]

I hunt in East NC over fields or on a long road between two cut overs. I hunt out of shooting houses. My favorite stand is on the road between two cut overs. I can shoot around 120 yards one direction and 140 the other. I have used a contender in two different calibers to take deer from this stand in years past. One a wildcat 6mm-225 14" and the other a 357 Mag 10". I usually have the contender set up on a board that I screwed down to the shooting rail on the 120 yards side on sand bags and have my rifle set up on the other side. You have to shoot pretty fast because deer don't stay out in the road long as they cross from bedding area to feeding area. Out in the fields I would limit my shooting to 200 yards with the 30-30AI. I would crank my scope up to shoot 2" high at 100 yards so It would be less than 2" low at 200 yards.

 

[JD338]

1Shot,

What bullet weight are you shooting and what is the velocity?

JD338

 

[Larry in SD]

Nice looking rig and good shooting. The .30-30AI is a very underrated cartridge, especially in single shots were Spitzer Bullets can be utilized.

Several years ago I had an old 14" .30 Herrett (1 in 14" Twist T/C Factory Barrel) rechambered to .30-30AI by SSK Industries. That barrel would hold 3/4" 5 shot groups at 100 yards with 125gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips pushed by either H or IMR 4198 so consistantly it was scary. I had a 2x7x32mm Burris LER Handgun Scope on it with a Weaver Base and 3 Burris Zee Rings.

My longest shot was a smallish 4x4 Whitetail Buck at 276 yards (lasered). The buck was quartering towards me at a sharp angle (sharper angle than I thought). I hit the buck behind the near side shoulder and the bullet exited through the meaty portion of the off side rear ham leaving about a 1" hole through the ham. The buck never took a step but was still breathing when I got to him.

My youngest daughter (when she was a senior in high school) used the .30-30 AI Contender to take a really nice doe at 200 yards. It was a perfect broadside shot and the doe dropped in her tracks.

Good luck with the .30-30 AI Contender. I am sure it will do everything you ask it to do.

Larry

 

[1Shot]

JD338: All the data is in my opening post.

 

[JD338]

I missed it, thanks.

JD338

 

[onesonek]

That'll Work!!!!! :wink:
Dave

 

[nomosendero]

Looking good!! I also use the BT, but I use the 150 Grain at just over 2400fps. Took a Doe Antelope @ 187 yds. She went down right now!!