6 of 34 .30-30 Win factory loads carry 1,500 ft·lb and expansion velocity for elk; the best reach 100 yd (Hornady LEVERevolution 140 gr MonoFlex). Ranked, with the drop chart for each.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady LEVERevolution 140 gr MonoFlex | 140 | 100 | 2,526 | 524 | yes |
| Federal 150 gr Fusion | 150 | 50 | 2,390 | 443 | yes |
| Federal 170 gr Fusion | 170 | 50 | 2,200 | 517 | yes |
| Federal 170 gr Nosler Partition | 170 | 50 | 2,200 | 416 | yes |
| Hornady LEVERevolution 140 gr MonoFlex | 140 | 50 | 2,465 | 497 | yes |
| Nosler Expansion Tip 150 gr E-Tip | 150 | 50 | 2,250 | 528 | yes |
| Barnes Pioneer 150 gr TSX FN | 150 | not enough | 2,335 | 289 | yes |
| Barnes VOR-TX 150 gr TSX FN | 150 | not enough | 2,335 | 289 | yes |
| Federal 150 gr Barnes TSX | 150 | not enough | 2,220 | 276 | yes |
| Federal 150 gr Trophy Copper | 150 | not enough | 2,300 | 341 | yes |
| Federal Federal Subsonic 170 gr Fusion | 170 | not enough | 1,000 | 228 | yes |
| Hornady LEVERevolution 160 gr FTX | 160 | wrong bullet | 2,400 | 616 | behind the shoulder only |
| Barnes Pioneer 190 gr JHP FN | 190 | wrong bullet | 2,040 | 434 | behind the shoulder only |
| Browning 150 gr Max Point Polymer Tip | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,390 | 345 | behind the shoulder only |
| Browning Silver Series 170 gr Plated Soft Point | 170 | wrong bullet | 2,200 | 385 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 150 gr HammerDown Bonded SP | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,390 | 443 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 150 gr Power-Shok JSP | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,390 | 351 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Federal x Henry Cattleman 150 gr HammerDown Bonded SP | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,390 | 443 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 170 gr Power-Shok JSP | 170 | wrong bullet | 2,200 | 416 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady American Whitetail 150 gr RN InterLock | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,390 | 299 | behind the shoulder only |
| Norma 150 gr Whitetail SP | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,362 | 344 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 150 gr Core-Lokt Soft Point | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,390 | 310 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Core-Lokt Tipped Lever Gun 150 gr | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,390 | 452 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 170 gr Core-Lokt Hollow Point | 170 | wrong bullet | 2,200 | 404 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 170 gr Core-Lokt Soft Point | 170 | wrong bullet | 2,200 | 404 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 150 gr Ballistic Silvertip | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,390 | 375 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 150 gr Power-Point | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,390 | 351 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Deer Season XP 150 gr Extreme Point | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,390 | 345 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Super-X 150 gr Hollow Point | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,390 | 351 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 170 gr Power-Point | 170 | wrong bullet | 2,200 | 385 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester Power-Point 250th Anniversary Edition 170 gr | 170 | wrong bullet | 2,200 | 385 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal Federal Subsonic 170 gr Target Soft Point | 170 | wrong bullet | 1,000 | 214 | behind the shoulder only |
| Hornady Subsonic 175 gr Sub-X | 175 | wrong bullet | 1,050 | 227 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Managed Recoil 125 gr Core-Lokt Soft Point | 125 | wrong bullet | 2,175 | 259 | behind the shoulder only |
1,500 ft·lb is the number most repeated (Guns & Ammo, Backfire); Hawks says 1,200, Boddington floats 2,000. Avoid quick-opening and match bullets. Legal: SD: ≥ .243 and 1,700 ft·lb at muzzle · CO: 1,000 ft·lb at 100 yd, ≥ 85 gr. Floor used: 1,500 ft·lb at impact plus the bullet's published expansion velocity. Orange = a target or varmint bullet (construction, not energy); red = never carries the energy. Sources: www.gunsandammo.com, www.chuckhawks.com, www.petersenshunting.com, regulations.justia.com.