Hornady 30 Cal 160gr FTX (308 Marlin Express)

Hornady 30 Cal 160gr FTX (308 Marlin Express)

The Hornady 30 Cal 160gr FTX is designed specifically for the .308 Marlin Express cartridge, offering hunters a powerful and accurate projectile for lever-action rifles. This bullet component features Hornady’s innovative FTX (Flex Tip eXpanding) design, combining a polymer tip and a thin jacket to ensure reliable expansion even at moderate velocities. Weighing 160 gr and measuring .308 inches in diameter, it provides controlled expansion and retained energy ideal for big-game applications.

The 30 Cal 160gr FTX utilizes a tapered jacket and polymer tip that compresses upon impact, initiating expansion even at velocities around 2,200–2,300 fps typical of .308 Marlin Express rounds. This design promotes rapid mushrooming while retaining enough weight to reach vital organs. As a result, hunters experience deep penetration, consistent wound channels, and effective knockdown capability on deer-sized game.

Featuring a boat-tail profile and secant ogive, this FTX bullet maintains a high G1 ballistic coefficient—approximately 0.365—ensuring flatter trajectory and reduced wind drift compared to typical lever‑gun ammo. The bullet’s geometry supports reliable feeding and cycling in .308 Marlin Express lever-action platforms equipped with tubular magazines, while optimizing ballistic performance at extended ranges beyond 250 yards.

Handloaders appreciate the consistency of the 30 Cal 160gr FTX: precision-machined tips, uniform bearing surface, and concentric alignment all contribute to predictable accuracy. The bullet is compatible with moderate twist rates (commonly 1:10), and its overall length supports standard seating depths for use in tubular magazines. While specifically engineered for .308 Marlin Express, it will also perform well in other .308-caliber lever-action or bolt-action rifles with similar pressure profiles.

The Hornady 30 Cal 160gr FTX is sold as bullet components only, without brass, powder, or primers. These bullets are manufactured in Hornady’s Grand Island, Nebraska facility under strict quality controls. For hunters pursuing deer, hogs, and similar-sized game with lever-action rifles, the 160gr FTX offers reliable expansion, accuracy, and terminal performance in a component tailored to the .308 Marlin Express cartridge.

Overall, the Hornady 30 Cal 160gr FTX bullet component combines aerodynamic efficiency, soft-tipped expansion, and consistent manufacturing quality. It stands as a top-tier option for handloaders seeking a lever-gun-specific hunting bullet that delivers performance and reliability on medium game.