.30-30 for deer hunting!

Originally Posted By: coyote killa IMO they are lightweight and very quick handling rifles which are excellent if you hunt timber areas where a quick handling rifle is a great asset. They also have a certain cool factor given the history of the rifle and the looks. If you've never hunted with one, you're missing out on something IMO. A great, truly American, legendary rifle that still seems to works just fine.

Yep..........
 
I've put more than a few deer in the freezer with a .22, but would I call it my deer rifle, nope.

.30-30 has never been my cup of tea, my first deer rifle was a .243 so flat shooting rifles is all I've ever been interested in. Growing up I had a friend who used a .30-30, and another that had a .300 Savage that was somewhat better but not for me either. I wouldn't doubt but they still use those rifles.

I don't care what religion a person subscribes to, and it makes me no nevermind what rifle they want to use either. There's a whole lot of people that like .30-30's. It has a lot to do with what they started using.

Now for someone new to hunting or specifically deer hunting would a .30-30 be what is a recommended go to first deer rifle? I don't think so, there are way too many better cartridges that would offer more versatility and range.
 
I guess it would just depend on terrain/woods that they hunt.

LOTS of 30-30s in the thick Michigan woods here. For that application, they work right well.

In more open terrain, I agree that there are better choices.....
 
Originally Posted By: RePeteDidn't they even make a couple of bolt guns in 30/30?
Remmy's 788, and Ruger IIRC.
What a great old round!

Savave made a bolt 30/30 ,I think.
 
Flat shooting is relative terminology, the Jordan buck was killed with an 1892 Winchester in .25-20. Comparatively the .30WCF is a very flat shooter. The reference to new hunters or beginning hunters, using maximum point blank range, the .30WCF is at no disadvantage.
 
Originally Posted By: woodguruI've put more than a few deer in the freezer with a .22, but would I call it my deer rifle, nope.

Is the .22 legal for deer hunting in California woodrot???



Originally Posted By: woodguruNow for someone new to hunting or specifically deer hunting would a .30-30 be what is a recommended go to first deer rifle? I don't think so, there are way too many better cartridges that would offer more versatility and range.

Totally dependent upon where you're hunting first and foremost; there's nothing wrong with the 30-30 in many scenarios. People hunt with black powder and archery equipment, and their limitations are far greater than that of the 30-30. Likewise, most first gun deer hunters aren't going to be shooting anything at considerable distance. They typically lack the confidence to shoot at much over a hundred yards, unless someone is sitting there coaching them.

Would I recommend the 30-30 for a first gun? In many settings, such as the woodlands found over much of the Southeast, I personally would say the 30-30 is very much suitable as a first gun. Especially with Hornady's new 30-30 ammunition. With a gunsafe full of more versatile, flatter shooting rifles, I frequently opt for the 30-30 to hunt with, because it's well suited to the environment I hunt.
 
...Hey, GC, that's one I haven't heard before: "The Indian is more important than the arrow". I may have to utilize that, myself.

And, you are correct, in that Savage at one time built a pump action 30-30, the Model 170. A neat little rifle, and very accurate. Years ago,(late 70's or early 80's) Jim Carmichael, of Outdoor Life, ran a test of various 30-30 rifles, and the 170 was a VERY accurate performer with Federal ammo. I had one, and wish I still had it.

As far as accuracy, about 10 years ago, I was at the local range doing some shooting. I had fired several rounds from 2 or 3 different rifles, when a couple of friends showed up.

I told them I was about done, just a couple more rounds. I then asked them if they had ever thought of the 30-30 as a 300-yard rifle. "Are you kidding"? I said "Here, watch this".

I was shooting a Marlin 30AS lever action, with a 4-power scope, and my 150grain handloads. At 300 yards, there was a clay pigeon sitting against a clay-bank backstop. At the shot, the clay pigeon exploded! Needless to say, they were impressed!!

What I didn't tell them was that I had already fired 10 or 12 rounds through that rifle, and I knew where it was hitting at that distance. The top of the thick section of the vertical crosshair was a perfect aimimg point and it worked perfectly. I also didn't tell them that I might not be able to do it again. Later, I could get close, but never quite another perfect hit.
 
I like people who put down the old time guns that are only "Brush Guns" and say there are better newer guns out there in this day and age that are better than an ole 30-30. I have run alot of rounds through a Marlin 336 30-30 and have taken a few deer with this gun, and I am from the school of thought that anyone who shoots alot with one gun is someone I would not bet against in a shooting event.

Sure I also shoot and hunt with a 30-06, and a 444Marlin lever for deer, along with dragging the little 30-30 along but We ALWAYS fill all our deer tags in the 3 states we deer hunt in every year. P.S. The little 30-30 even goes out to Wyoming and brings home deer. Thank you for your time on this issue,----Riflemann
 
If you cant hit a deer at 175 with a 30-30, stop looking at the caliber and start looking in the mirror. Odds are you'll find your problem
smile.gif


And a 22 is a poaching rifle around here, not a deer rifle.
smile.gif
smile.gif
 
The biggest decline in using the 30-30 class cartridges was the decline in passing down the knowledge to hunt close to your quarry. When constantly finding ourselves out of range of our quarry we buy longer range guns/cartridges because that is easier to do than finding the time and knowledge to hunt game closer.

People found a spear easier than the club an arrow easier than a spear a black powder rifle easier than an arrow a center fire easier than a black powder rifle a magnum easier than well you get the picture..

Some get a thrill from taking game at 300+ yards and some get a thrill fooling and taking game from the minimal range. If you fall in the latter then the 30-30 class cartridges are perfect.
 
As many have said, it ain't the cartridge it is the shooter and his/her experience with said rifle. I have been using my Savage 170 pump 30-30 for 30 years and never had to shoot a deer more than once with it. For the past 15 years it has been my back up rifle on hunting tips in case something goes wrong with my primary rifle. There are arguably better choices than the 30-30 but it will still get the job done.
 
Ya, sneaking up on a herd of goats when I can see for 50 miles in every direction is all kinds of challenging. Having something with some reach to it is pretty nice.

I used to carry my 444 with irons and my 30-06 with 4-12 when I was elk hunting, along with my sidearm. You would go from 0 visibility to 10 miles visibility constantly. Having 90% of the possible ranges constantly covered opened up a lot of opportunities.
 
Back
Top