30-30 Winchester Ammo
The .30-30 Winchester is one of the oldest centerfire rifle cartridges still in common production—introduced in 1895 and still selling strong because it does its job exceptionally well. It’s the traditional cartridge of American deer hunting, purpose-built for the ranges most hunters actually encounter: timber, brush, and shots inside 200 yards. We carry .30-30 loads from all major manufacturers including Winchester, Federal, Hornady, and Remington, in both flat-nose and Hornady LEVERevolution flex-tip configurations.
Read our full .30-30 Ammunition Buying Guide ↓
Ballistics and Effective Range
The .30-30 typically launches a 150 or 170-grain bullet at 2,200–2,400 fps—modest by modern standards, but more than adequate for deer, hog, and black bear inside 200 yards. The cartridge drops relatively quickly beyond that range, which is why most experienced hunters treat it as a 150-yard cartridge for clean kills on medium to large game. Hornady’s LEVERevolution line extended effective range to 200–250 yards with a pointed flex-tip bullet safe for tubular magazines.
Flat-Nose vs. LEVERevolution
Traditional .30-30 loads use flat-nose or round-nose bullets because pointed spitzer bullets can detonate primers in tubular magazines under recoil. Winchester Power-Point, Federal Power-Shok, and Remington Core-Lokt are all flat-nose loads that have accounted for a century’s worth of deer. Hornady’s LEVERevolution uses a flexible polymer tip that compresses safely in the magazine but acts like a spitzer in flight, improving the ballistic coefficient and extending effective range. Both are excellent; LEVERevolution is worth it if you’re regularly shooting past 150 yards.
Compatible Rifles
The .30-30 is most commonly associated with the Marlin 336 and Winchester Model 94—two of the best-selling lever actions ever made. The caliber is also chambered in the Henry Steel lever action, Mossberg 464, and Rossi R95. Any of these rifles paired with quality .30-30 ammunition is a capable deer gun for most North American conditions. The Marlin 336 in .30-30 in particular represents one of the best hunting rifle values on the used market.
Hunting Applications
The .30-30 is at its best on whitetail deer, mule deer, hogs, and black bear inside 150 yards. It has taken more deer than any other cartridge in North American history—a statistic that reflects its widespread use rather than a specific performance advantage over modern cartridges. For elk and moose, the .30-30 is marginal and most experienced hunters would choose something larger. In its intended application—medium game in the woods—it remains as effective as it was in 1895.
Pricing and Availability
The .30-30 is one of the most affordable centerfire hunting calibers, typically running $1.50–$2.50 per round for standard loads and $2–$3.50 for Hornady LEVERevolution. It’s widely stocked at nearly every retailer that carries hunting ammunition. Winchester Super-X and Federal Power-Shok are perennial budget choices; Hornady LEVERevolution is the performance upgrade. All load types are available in boxes of 20, and most brands offer 200-round cases for stocking up before hunting season.
Related Pages
If you’re looking for a .30-30 rifle, see our Marlin page for the Marlin 336 and 1895 family, or browse our Henry lever actions for another excellent .30-30 option. Visit our full ammunition page for other hunting calibers.