[chw2021]

I recently posted that a friend picked up some 30 carbine surplus; I started wondering if there have been any "updated" loads for this caliber?

Recently, new bullets and factory loads have updated the 45-70 and the 30-30 to new performance and popularity; has anyone tried something similar with the 30 carbine? I really like the light weight and handling of the carbine, but it has no real value as a hunting rifle for anything larger than bunnies. I would like to carry a light gun like this for pig hunting, but at the short (less than 100 yds) ranges the bullet lacks the power to give much confidence.

 

[Clyde]

As far as I know, the only "up dating" done for the 30 carbine is commercial JSP ammo is, or has been, available. There isn't a lot of room on the cartriodge case, and it is already loaded as long as you can put in the magazine, so heavier bullets are pretty much a non-starter. Plus, like a lot of gas-operated guns, both pressure and pressure curve have to be right to cause the gun to function. It is a little picky that way.

I suspect that at ranges under 100 yards, it would do OK on most pigs - but I'd probably load it alternating FMJ and JSP and shoot till the critter fell over.

 

[samamara]

Speer and or hornady make a couple bullets that I have shot in my carbine. 100 or 110 grain plinker half jacket half lead. then there is the varmint bullet 110 grain jacketed bullet with a hollow point. I used to shoot a lot of 110 grain hollow points and the 93 grain fmj from the 7.62x25mm ammo. Some friend gave me a bunch of this stuff so I pulled the bullets and shot them. Some of the remington 125 jacketed soft pointed bullets should work but you have to reduce powder charges. Frank

 

[chw2021]

I will have to look at the 125 gr. bullets. I was just wondering, the carbine is such a nice light rifle; too bad that "it is what it is" for hunting. I am not a reloader, my buddy loads for me, so in the end it will be up to him.

Local pig hunting is a close range thing, wound a pig and you will have to track him through scrub and weeds that make for very limited conditions (less than 10 feet clear vision); not the best idea for tracking a wounded and po'd animal. I want to try to anchor the pig to the spot if at all possible. I do carry a sidearm for close work, but I would not want to have to take a close shot if I can avoid it. Plus, I am becoming lazy in my old age and would try to avoid dragging the critter out thru the woods.

 

[AmmoSgt In Memoriam]

I'm a little confused

30 cal carbine 110 gr soft point 1900 fps = 880 ft pounds

.357 Mag 125 gr JHP 1600 fps = 710 ft pounds hot load

.357 Mag 130 gr JHP 1410 fps = 574 ft pounds typical load

At 100 yards M1 Carbine is still at 600 ft pounds

At 100yards a .357 Mag is , depending on load 400-500 ft pounds..

.357 data based on 4" barrel

M1 Carbine should, according to ballistics, inspire more confidence and be a better game taker on pigs and deer, both up close, and at greater ranges than a .357 Magnum Pistol.

Yes , if hunting, you should use hunting ammo.

I find both my .357's and my M1's both very potent for hunting or personal defense .. of course shot placement will always be the most important factor. I say this based on the fact my brother uses a M1 Carbine for deer hunting quite successfully, and I have friends that use .357 for feral hogs. Personally I use a fullbore , usually one of my milslurps, for deer and the occasional pig, as the terrain here is not as close as the OP's. On the few occasions , line of duty, I have had to use a pistol in self defense, a 45 acp with issue ball ammo was more than enough at about half the energy of either one.

Example of shot placement on a Feral Hog

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugyO7dcF1n8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbJeJ5PVMUM&NR=1&feature=endscreen

Admitedly somewhat lighter bullets and lower velocity than a 30 cal Carbine, but shot placement is the key.

 

[chw2021]

The reason I posted was that I am curious/confused. The 30 carbine @ 110 grain has (to my experience) been called too light for hunting. Admittedly, the lightest round I hunt with is 140 gr. 6.5 x 55, so you see my preference. The reloading manual(s) that I have read show a range of 1350 to 1800 fps with a 110 gr. bullet as a regular loading, My question was slanted toward any increase in powder or bullet type or weight beyond the "usual and customary".
I am not very familiar with this round beyond range shooting and can not sensibly argue the energy numbers you present. I am familiar with the concept of "it looked good on paper" and do not want to bring poor ideas into the field more often than I do; therefor I have accepted the idea that "everyone" knows.

You are about the first person that I have "met" that prefers the 30 carbine as a hunting round; I have bowed to the accepted standard.

 

[AmmoSgt In Memoriam]

The reason I posted was that I am curious/confused. The 30 carbine @ 110 grain has (to my experience) been called too light for hunting. Admittedly, the lightest round I hunt with is 140 gr. 6.5 x 55, so you see my preference. The reloading manual(s) that I have read show a range of 1350 to 1800 fps with a 110 gr. bullet as a regular loading, My question was slanted toward any increase in powder or bullet type or weight beyond the "usual and customary".
I am not very familiar with this round beyond range shooting and can not sensibly argue the energy numbers you present. I am familiar with the concept of "it looked good on paper" and do not want to bring poor ideas into the field more often than I do; therefor I have accepted the idea that "everyone" knows.

You are about the first person that I have "met" that prefers the 30 carbine as a hunting round; I have bowed to the accepted standard.

"Call to light for hunting" by who ? and on what kind of game?

Not Chuck Hawks http://www.chuckhawks.com/30cal.htm

30-06 is concider by some as a "little light" for use on Elephant.

30 cal carbine ammo was tailor made for the one rifle that is chambered for it .. so reloading with most powders results in a nearly full case with little room for a increase.. and being a semi auto with only one acceptable offical load and bullet you need to load real close to the carbine's needs for full function. When you load 30 cal carbine ammo for pistol you have to download it some.. which given the popularity of the 30 cal Blackhawk is why most comercial 30 cal carbine is a little light IMHO.

I never said I prefer it.. if I have a preference it is a 22 long rifle .. simply because I prefer to hunt tasty game animals I can pick up with one hand and carry 5 of them out of the woods at a time with out slowing me down or straining my back. If I have to shoot stuff over 100 pounds , and sometimes you do, to make folks who can't live without venison happy ( even if they do cut it 50/50 with pork more often than not ) I pick an accurate gun with the right ammo that will give me a clean humane kill at whatever range I anticipate I will engage the animal... if the range is more than what the ammo can handle humanely, I refuse the shot.

No rifle and no caliber is good for all hunting situations.. every rifle and every caliber is appropiate for some kind of game at some range if the hunter is accurate enough. Truth be told, I have about 12 prefered calibers for hunting, because game animals come in all sizes and appear over a large span of ranges in a variety of terrain.