.30-30 Winchester Ammo
.30-30 Winchester ammo for lever-action rifles — the classic American deer cartridge. Tube magazine bullet requirements explained, LeverEvolution vs classic loads, and effective range.
Price History
Best Prices Now
$/rd = listed price + estimated shipping. Sorted by true cost.
| Product | $/rd | |
|---|---|---|
| 200 Round Case – 30-30 Win 150 Grain Soft Point Prvi Partizan Ammo – PP30301 Best 150gr · Soft Point | $1.10 | Buy → |
| 200 Round Case – 30-30 Win 150 Grain Winchester Deer Season XP Extreme Point Ammo – X3030DS 150gr · Extreme Point | $1.40 | Buy → |
| 200 Round Case – 30-30 Winchester Power Point Soft Point 170 Grain Ammo – X30303 170gr · soft point | $1.40 | Buy → |
| 200 Round Case – 30-30 Winchester Power Point SP 150 Grain Ammo – X30306 150gr · soft point | $1.40 | Buy → |
| 200 Round Case – 30-30 Win 150 Grain Hollow Point Winchester Super-X Ammo – X30301 150gr · hollow point | $1.40 | Buy → |
| Freedom Munitions 30-30 Winchester Ammo- 170 Gr Flat Point (FP), 20 rounds, New 170gr · Flat Point | $1.81 | Buy → |
| 20 Round Box – 30-30 Win 170 Grain Soft Point Prvi Partizan Ammo – PP30302 170gr · soft point | $1.90 | Buy → |
| 20 Round Box – 30-30 Win 150 Grain Soft Point Prvi Partizan Ammo – PP30301 150gr · soft point | $1.90 | Buy → |
| Precision One - 30-30 Win - 150 Grain - RNSP - 20 Rounds 150gr · RNSP | $2.00 | Buy → |
| 30-30 Win – HSM 165 Grain Round Nose Flat Point – 20 Rounds 165gr · Round Nose Flat Point · brass | $2.05 | Buy → |
| Precision One - 30-30 Win - 170 Grain - FPSP - 20 Rounds 170gr · FPSP | $2.15 | Buy → |
| 30-30 – Hornady Subsonic 175 Grain SUB-X – 20 Rounds 175gr · SUB-X · polymer | $2.15 | Buy → |
| 20 Round Box – 30-30 Win 150 Grain Winchester Deer Season XP Extreme Point Ammo – X3030DS 150gr · Extreme Point | $2.25 | Buy → |
| 20 Round Box – 30-30 Win Power Point Winchester SP 150 Grain Ammo – X30306 150gr · Power Point | $2.25 | Buy → |
| 20 Round Box – 30-30 Winchester Power Point Soft Point 170 Grain Ammo – X30303 170gr · soft point | $2.25 | Buy → |
| 20 Round Box – 30-30 Win 150 Grain Winchester Ballistic Silvertip Ammo – SBST3030 150gr · Ballistic Silvertip | $2.25 | Buy → |
| 20 Round Box – 30-30 Win 150 Grain Hollow Point Winchester Super-X Ammo – X30301 150gr · hollow point | $2.25 | Buy → |
| 30-30 – Hornady Lever Evolution 160 Grain FTX – 20 Rounds 160gr · FTX | $2.33 | Buy → |
| Armscor - 30-30 - 170 Grain - FP - 20 Rounds 170gr · FP | $2.35 | Buy → |
| 30-30 Win – HSM Game King 170 Grain Flat Soft Point – 20 Rounds 170gr · flat soft point · brass | $2.60 | Buy → |
Best .30-30 Winchester by Use Case
Deer Hunting (Timber)
150gr or 170gr flat-point soft points are what this cartridge was built for. Remington Core-Lokt 170gr SP, Winchester Super-X 170gr FP, and Federal Power-Shok 150gr SP have taken more white-tailed deer than virtually any other load. Keep shots inside 150 yards in timber — this is the .30-30's wheelhouse. Inside that distance, it's nearly ideal.
- · Remington Core-Lokt 170gr SP
- · Winchester Super-X 170gr FP
- · Federal Power-Shok 150gr SP
Deer Hunting (Open Country)
Hornady LeverEvolution 160gr FTX extends the practical range of the .30-30 to 250+ yards. The polymer flex-tip allows a pointed bullet safe in tube magazines, dramatically improving BC over flat-point loads. If you're hunting any open terrain where shots past 150 yards are possible, LeverEvolution is the load.
- · Hornady LeverEvolution 160gr FTX
Hog Hunting
The .30-30 is a capable hog cartridge inside 150 yards. 170gr flat-point or bonded loads handle the thick hide and heavy bone of big hogs. For night hunts from a feeder stand, the fast-handling lever-action is practical. Remington Core-Lokt 170gr and Federal Fusion 170gr are proven on hogs.
- · Remington Core-Lokt 170gr SP
- · Federal Fusion 170gr SP
- · Winchester Power Point 170gr
Range & Practice
.30-30 range ammo from Federal American Eagle, Winchester USA, or Remington UMC runs $0.55–0.90/round. There's no cheap steel-case equivalent. If you shoot lever-guns regularly, handloading is worthwhile. Flat-point or round-nose bullets only in tube magazines — pointed tips risk chain-ignition under recoil.
- · Federal American Eagle 150gr SP
- · Winchester USA 170gr FP
- · Remington UMC 150gr SP
Common Questions
What is .30-30 Winchester?
.30-30 Winchester (also called .30 WCF — Winchester Center Fire) was introduced in 1895 as the first American sporting cartridge loaded with smokeless powder. It was purpose-built for the Winchester Model 1894 lever-action rifle and became the dominant North American deer hunting cartridge for the next century.
The “30-30” designation originally referred to the .30-caliber bullet and the 30-grain charge of early smokeless powder. Modern loads use different powder weights, but the name stuck.
Over 130 years later, the .30-30 Winchester remains in production, the Winchester Model 1894 is still manufactured, and this cartridge has probably taken more white-tailed deer than any other single round in history — a reasonable estimate is tens of millions of animals.
Why tube magazines require flat-point bullets — and why it matters
This is the most critical technical point about .30-30 ammunition.
In a tube magazine (standard on lever-action rifles), cartridges stack nose-to-primer: the tip of the bullet in front rests directly against the primer of the cartridge behind it. A pointed (spitzer) bullet creates a small contact point that can detonate the primer under recoil — setting off a chain-fire through the magazine.
All traditional .30-30 bullets must be flat-point (FP) or round-nose (RN). Pointed soft points designed for bolt-actions are not safe in .30-30 tube magazines.
The single exception: Hornady LeverEvolution FTX. The polymer flex-tip compresses to a rounded profile under the pressure of stacking, making it safe in tube magazines while providing better aerodynamics in flight.
LeverEvolution vs. classic flat points: what changes
Classic 170gr flat point:
- BC: ~0.252
- 200-yard drop (100yd zero): ~-7.8”
- 200-yard energy: ~1,001 ft-lbs
Hornady LeverEvolution 160gr FTX:
- BC: ~0.330
- 200-yard drop (100yd zero): ~-6.4”
- 200-yard energy: ~1,163 ft-lbs
At 150 yards — typical timber hunting distance — the difference is minor. At 200–250 yards, LeverEvolution is meaningfully flatter and carries more energy. If you’re hunting country where shots might stretch past 150 yards, LeverEvolution is worth the premium.
Effective range: realistic expectations
The .30-30 is not a long-range cartridge. The ballistic coefficient of flat-nose bullets is poor, velocity drops quickly, and the cartridge was designed for timber hunting at moderate range. Practical guidelines:
- Inside 150 yards: The .30-30 is entirely adequate for deer and hogs. Energy, expansion, and accuracy are all sufficient.
- 150–200 yards: Possible with good shot placement; LeverEvolution preferred.
- 200–250 yards: Only with LeverEvolution, ideal conditions, and a solid rest.
- Beyond 250 yards: Choose a different cartridge.
This isn’t a limitation in Eastern timber or Midwestern woodlots where most .30-30 hunting actually happens. It becomes a real constraint in open Western terrain.
Ballistics data
From a 20” barrel:
| Load | Muzzle | 100yd | 150yd | 200yd | Drop @ 200yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 170gr flat point (Core-Lokt) | 2,200 fps / 1,827 ft-lbs | 1,895 fps / 1,356 ft-lbs | 1,748 fps / 1,154 ft-lbs | 1,612 fps / 981 ft-lbs | -7.8” |
| 150gr SP (Power-Shok) | 2,390 fps / 1,902 ft-lbs | 2,018 fps / 1,356 ft-lbs | 1,858 fps / 1,150 ft-lbs | 1,713 fps / 977 ft-lbs | -7.1” |
| 160gr FTX (LeverEvolution) | 2,400 fps / 2,046 ft-lbs | 2,150 fps / 1,640 ft-lbs | 2,030 fps / 1,463 ft-lbs | 1,916 fps / 1,303 ft-lbs | -6.4” |
Brand guide
Remington Core-Lokt 170gr SP — the classic. More deer taken with this load than almost any other. Wide distribution, consistent, affordable. ~$0.75–1.10/rd.
Winchester Super-X 170gr FP — the flat-point standard. Reliable, proven, available everywhere. ~$0.75–1.05/rd.
Hornady LeverEvolution 160gr FTX — the modern upgrade. Only choice for shots past 150 yards. ~$1.05–1.45/rd.
Federal Power-Shok 150gr SP — affordable, reliable, consistent. ~$0.70–1.00/rd.
Federal Fusion 170gr SP — bonded construction for better penetration on tough shots. ~$0.90–1.25/rd.
Federal American Eagle 150gr SP — range and practice load. Clean, reliable. ~$0.55–0.80/rd.
Price guide (2025–2026)
| Category | Good deal | Fair | Overpaying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard SP/FP hunting | $0.65–0.90/rd | $0.90–1.20/rd | $1.40+/rd |
| LeverEvolution FTX | $0.90–1.20/rd | $1.20–1.55/rd | $1.80+/rd |
| Bonded (Federal Fusion) | $0.85–1.15/rd | $1.15–1.50/rd | $1.75+/rd |
Firearms chambered in .30-30 Winchester
- Winchester Model 1894 — the definitive .30-30 rifle; over 7 million produced; still in current production
- Marlin Model 336 — the other classic; now produced by Ruger; 6+1 capacity, 20” barrel
- Henry Classic Lever Action .30-30 — modern production, American-made, brass receiver
- Henry Long Ranger .30-30 — box magazine version, allows pointed bullets
- Mossberg 464 Lever-Action — modern styling, affordable
- Rossi R92 — Brazilian manufacture, good reliability, budget option
What could be better?
- Best price
- $1.10/rd
- Avg tracked
- $1.99/rd
- Products tracked
- 21
- Retailers stocking
- 4
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