Has anyone deer hunted with the Federal Power Shok 125 grain Jacketed Hollow Point in their sweet 14 30 30 contender. I was looking for factory ammo that might make a good deer load and was wondering if anyone has used it on whitetail out to about 150 yards.

If the barrel is a true 14", without a muzzle brake, you might be able to squeeze 2300 fps MV which would be running 1641 @ 150 yards according to my reference. You might want to email Federal and ask what the minimum velocity is that bullet will work at.

for Bookends, I got ~2150fps with 150gn handloads and 2500fps with 110gn handloads in a 14" barrel. Both of those are at Max load. I've got velocities from some factory leverloution loads at home and seem to recall they were just a little slower ~ 2050-2100 but they were 140gn I believe and my contender did not like them. .

I looked at using the Barnes TSX-FN 150 gn designed for the 30-30 win (also available as factory load from lots of folks) and my max range with handloads was ~150 yards limited by full bullet expansion. Buffalo Bore loads the same bullet (Buffalo Bore Ammunition #: 28B/20) and with their published velocities from 20" to 16" barrels, I think you would be at ~2150+ fps with a 14" barrel which should give you 150 yards.

X2 on calling Federal for bullet performance specs.

Is the 125 NBT a better ideal?

Can you find it in a factory load? The increased BC would help over traditional FN 30-30 loads. Those things are so explosive I'm sure you would get good function at that range even at pistol velocities. You would probably be going slow enough that the core wouldn't separate from the body and particle creation would be reduced compared to the data gathered by the MN DNR.

I am not sure if you can get it in a factory load or not. I will do some digging and find out. I could always reload it.

If you are reloading, I might suggest looking at some of the bullets designed specifically for (or used commonly in) the 300 Blackout as they are designed to function well at lower velocities and are generally a little lighter then traditional 30-30 bullets so velocity and terminal performance are usually not an issue in a 30-30 handgun.

I'm sure there are other offerings (hornady has one i know) out there but I'm familiar with the Barnes versions. I've been very happy with the Barns TAC-TX 110 gn version (#30321, at 2500fps, should expand fully at ranges beyond 400 yards and hits deer hard). They also have a 120gn version (#30320) that I've never used as it is new this year and I have a good stock of the lighter ones (doing it again, I might use the heavier bullet as I worry about close shots and stripping peddles of the bullet). Both are suppose to reliably double in diameter at velocities above 1450fps.

Check out some of the youtube video's of people demoing the bullet in milk jugs, pig and deer with factory loads in their 300 BOs