Federal power shok vs remington core-lokt

I've been having a heck of time lately trying to buy my usual ammo, which is Remington Core-Lokt 170gr SPFN. Cabela's has been sold out for over a month of all Core-Lokt in .30-30, so I changed my order last night to Federal Power Shok, 8 boxes of 170gr and 5 boxes of 150gr, all SPRN, which they have in stock and can ship right away.

I'm just wondering: I've never used the Federal ammo before. What has your experience been? Is it comparable to the Core-Lokt? I can't imagine that it'd be much different, but I've got to wait and see how my rifle likes it.

What has your experience with the Federal ammo been?

Re: Federal Power Shok vs. Reminton Core-Lokt

I used to use the 150gr core-lokt until I saw the price tag on 170gr federal then I bought up a bunch of boxes ($10.50).
I sighted in my glenfield and my win 94 with the federals, every bit as accurate, hits hard as well.
This December 1st and 2nd I shot a coyote, 7pt, and a doe with this ammo. The coyote had his shoulder shattered and on the 2nd shot his lungs taken out both pass throughs.
The seven pt was hit angling towards me, I shot in front of the left shoulder and exited behind the right shoulder taking out the lungs, piled up after 20 yards.
The doe was running with the seven and I hit her high in the middle of the body hitting the bottom of the spine (broker her back) and taking out her off side lung dropping dead, found the bullet in the hide on that side, here is a pic. In my opinion I think its up to personal choice both work exactly how they are supposed to.

I shot both Remington and Federal many years ago to build a supply of 35 Rem brass. If I recall ,The Federal seemed to be a hotter load in my gun, but I didn't own a chrono at the time. Accuracy was as good with either, but the Federal printed higher at 100 yards.
At this point in time, if I wern't hand loading for my 35 Rem, and were given a choice, I'd shoot the Federal............
Check each manufacturers web site for current load billistics.

Tom
NRA LIFE

Federal shoots fantastic in my 30-30 and 06.. In my humble opinion I like it and Winchester power point just as well and both have killed one shot for me.

I bought the federal 170 gr, as they were $5 a box cheaper than the Remingtons. I haven't shot them yet, but plan on sighting in after Christmas.

My only Rem vs. Fed experience is with 35 Remington 200 grain. The Federal was significantly hotter and stunningly accurate. Never hunted with either one due to the use of Hornady LE.

I shoot win powerpoints, coreloks, and federal 150's and they all hit the same spot in my rifle.

The only reason I started shooting Lever-E in my scoped guns is because of the down range ballistics and boat-tail.

The first three all kill equal (to me) and better than Lever-E out to 125 yards or so. I think Lever-E does a small bit better after that distance. 100 and under (for me) the Lever-E goes right through like a drill and the primary reason I started shooting the shoulder bone.

When I say equal, I'm talking about fold-em-up, knockdown. Otherwise, dead is dead.

If I was shooting a scoped 20" or longer, I'd choose Lever-E. Anything else, I use the other three.

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Johnny Loco dropping a Rhyme Bomb, Like a time Bomb.

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Get down.... Now. Get back up.. HA!HA! LOL

I shoot a lot of Federal ammo(30-30,25-06-7mmWSM,7.62x51)in rifle and it is my favorite even though some of it gets expensive and not worth the price to me.

I just bought 2 boxes of Federal 170 30-30 power shok at Walmart for $11.79/box. PLUS, I get back $5 per box per rebate coupon. It was a few bucks cheaper then Remington and Winchester which I have in my safe anyway. I just wanted to try the Federals in my back yard. "Quein Sabe"....(who knows)

I've found the Federal to group better in a couple of .30-30's I've owned. However, I'm surprised how diffe rent the point of impact is in my 336 between 150 grain CoreLokt, Powerpoint and Federal HiShok. Since I'm currently zeroed for the Rem load I have left it alone and use them. The all group fine for 100 yds and closer deer hunting.

I use the 170 grain Powershock exclusively in my 336.

I have to say that any of the big 3 represent a pretty good buy in factory ammo. The federal comes out at a little less than .23 a round for loaded ammo (I took out $.10 per round for the brass as I sell it by the hundred) that is available pretty much anywhere. i am going to buy 2 boxes each of the Rem, Win and FC brands before the end of the year as all of them have a $5 rebate per box (max 2 boxes). Just make sure you buy them seperately as you need an original register receipt along with the rebate form... I have about 8 boxes of factory stuff in LE, Rem & Win brands sitting on the shelves and see no reason to NOT stock up on the (relatively) cheap.

I reload and have just about that in each round I crank out plus the time. I like reloading but for the 30-30 factory ammo is still a great value.

Be safe and hope all of you have a great New Year
Patty

Halwg said:

I bought the federal 170 gr, as they were $5 a box cheaper than the Remingtons. I haven't shot them yet, but plan on sighting in after Christmas.

+1 !!

looking at the 170 PowerShok recovered bullet, and comparing it to the Winchester 150 PowerPoint I recovered. I think that the Federal bullet is a little under expanded. To add the Winchester PP I recovered traveled the length of the deer. I know the Federal PS did its job, but I would have expected more expansion on deer. It is rated at 2200 fps isn't it? I know that I Chronographed it out of my gun at 2180 before.
The 150 Winchester comes out of my barrel at 2270 fps give or take. So I would have expected the expansion to be similar. The Federal looks a little to tuff for deer to me.

If you would have asked me that a month ago, I would have disagreed with my comment above, but now having a visual of both recovered bullets I would changed me mind.

I know this is a Rem/Federal thread, but to the OP, I would suggest trying the Winchester PP in 150 or 170. I think the bullet construction has proven awesome at 30-30 speeds. It performs as if it were a dare I say it; "Premium Bullet"

Federal PowerShok is awesome, accurate, and dependable. I would not hesitate to use it on anything, but if you are looking to get near Remington Core-Lokt expansion. Then Winchester PP's would be closer if not better IMO to Reminton Core-Lokt performance than would the PowerShok given the above picture of the recovered Federal bullet.

and

A note on the Win 150PP, when the LE's came out I compared them to 170CL, and the 150PP, as that was the stuff I was already using.
In a tough medium, the 150 penetrated the least of the other two, as I expected, but retained more of it's weight percentage wise. That 150PP is a tough bullet, I also never recovered one in a deer.
I believe that the 150CL may perform a tad better on deer, expansion wise.

But they all seem to work good enough. ;D