My 30-378 got it's first kill since I got it, one of my bro's shot a nice 4X4 at 115 yds. Little bit way too much gun, but a clean kill. Buck was quartering away, bullet entered about halfway down the ribs, bout 4 or 5 inches back of the shoulder. Anyway, it was a a Speer HotCor 180 grain bullet with 111.5grns of Retumbo chasing it @3350fps because I didn't get a load developed in time for season. Not a great plan since Speer doesn't recommend those bullets for use over 3000fps. The entrance side had severe tissue damage, in a 6-8 inch radius of the wound, the front half of both lungs was missing, and Very surprisingly, the jacket of the bullet was caught in the muscle behind the shoulder blade on the other side. IT weighed 26.3grns. that is less than 15% weight retention. Not thrilled with that performance, but Speer doesn't recommend use at that velocity anyway. The result was great for Whitetail deer, but I'd still be tracking an elk.
First kill with a 30-378 handload
- Thread starter jtoews80
- Start date
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
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Well I'm glad your big rifle was up to the task! :grin: Now load up some 200 grain Partitions and/or Accubonds for that beast! :grin:
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,296
- 3,044
Congrats on the buck be you need a 200 gr AB ot PT with about 109 gr of Retumbo....Work up to this BTW.
- Thread starter
- #5
I would like to try some Accubonds, I prefer the plastic tips mostly because they are so easy to get a uniform seating depth+/- 0.0005" or so according to my digital caliper, more than likely +/- 0.001" on a mechanical cailper, but nonetheless. I would have worked up a load, but had not time. I had about 30 rounds with the Speer bullets left and they seemed to shoot alright. I also had a heavier load 200grn sgk with 100.0 grns of magnum that shoots very well. I have 2 boxes of these as well, that's about 1.5lbs of powder. I have not had problems with the core separating on the sierra bullets, but have only used them on whitetail and never @ velocities greater than 3000fps or ranges under 200yds. If I get a draw for elk next year I will load up some noslers for it, hopefully by then I'll have the new manual with all the ramshot powders in it :grin: Really like loading that stuff, beats the heck out of fighting back and forth to get the charge right on. I have a really good load for my 308 and my 264 with B-tips, but the 308 had a target scope and shade on it.
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,296
- 3,044
Sounds good!
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,207
- 8,512
jtoews80
Congratulations on your buck.
I agree with the others, work up a load with either the 200 gr AB or PT and don't look back. You will have a load suitable from mice to moose.
JD338
Congratulations on your buck.
I agree with the others, work up a load with either the 200 gr AB or PT and don't look back. You will have a load suitable from mice to moose.
JD338
