I was just wondering, what are your alls thoughts on a 30-30, honestly I dont like the round but I know it has taken alot of deer, but to me it seems like its missing something and I cant quite my finger on what it is. I know for bear rhey suggest a .30 caliber bullet, but for some reason I would not feel comfortable taking a 30-30. Am I wrong in thinking this? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
Thoughts on a 30-30
- Thread starter getfoxy
- Start date
yote_hunter_union
New member
I shot a doe friday morning with a 30-30 first time. i was happy with its performance. I shot her at about 75 yards. It wasnt my gun (long story) but I might end up buying one
Ryan /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
Ryan /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
We are talking about a cartridge that is well over one hundred years old and they still sell thousands of boxes of ammo for it by every major manufacture, so it must have something going for it. I have seen several bears taken with the round and not a single one hardly twitched, just fell out of the tree dead. It surprises me that guys in one breath will tell someone that they wouldn't use it for hunting anything, and in the next tell someone how effective their 44. mag is. The old thutty- thutty is what it is, a one hundred yard and closer brush gun that has been getting the job done for over one hundred years, and without doubt will for no telling how long.
ColoradoOsprey
New member
LeverEvolution
Hornady's new ammo duplicates 308 ballistics and gives you a soft pointed tip to be able to load in a tube mag.
My prefrence has always been Speer Grand Slam. They sure seem to hit hard under 150 yards and stay together giving a deep penetration.
I wouldn't hesitate to use one on an (lower 48 states)american black bear, keeping the shot under 100 yards.
I have quite a few lever guns and my personal choice for bears is the 45-70 with a 405 grain Barnes X. My handloads are almost a duplicate to the 458 Win Mag.
Hornady's new ammo duplicates 308 ballistics and gives you a soft pointed tip to be able to load in a tube mag.
My prefrence has always been Speer Grand Slam. They sure seem to hit hard under 150 yards and stay together giving a deep penetration.
I wouldn't hesitate to use one on an (lower 48 states)american black bear, keeping the shot under 100 yards.
I have quite a few lever guns and my personal choice for bears is the 45-70 with a 405 grain Barnes X. My handloads are almost a duplicate to the 458 Win Mag.
I know an old guy that was born and raised in Wyoming. We had talked hunting a few times and he told me of the deer, elk, antelope and bears that he had taken over the years. One day I asked him what kind of rifle he used for the various animals. He said he's only owned one rifle and used it for everything. It was a 30-30! This old guy has killed more game than I've ever seen.
It can be loaded to shoot very accurately. I use one for long range competitions in CAS. It is fast and accurate!!
The 30/30 ballistics is certainly adequate for elk and deer.
It may lack some of the hydro static shock that the faster calibers have, but I have known fellows who have lost elk with their .270's. I know of lots of deer and elk being killed with the 30/30. I personally have taken 3 deer and two elk with muzzleloaders and they are certainly not in the class of the 30/30.
It has lots of advantages as a saddle gun too. Leveractions are my choice for any brushy situations, and I would carry one in 30/30 and not feel undergunned.
I also have two 45/70's lever guns that I would opt for in big bear country, however.
The 30/30 ballistics is certainly adequate for elk and deer.
It may lack some of the hydro static shock that the faster calibers have, but I have known fellows who have lost elk with their .270's. I know of lots of deer and elk being killed with the 30/30. I personally have taken 3 deer and two elk with muzzleloaders and they are certainly not in the class of the 30/30.
It has lots of advantages as a saddle gun too. Leveractions are my choice for any brushy situations, and I would carry one in 30/30 and not feel undergunned.
I also have two 45/70's lever guns that I would opt for in big bear country, however.
Colorado Pete
New member
Within its performance envelope, it works. Period. Try to take it outside its envelope (best use is inside 150 yards?) with standard ammo and you may be disappointed. Think of how much of the U.S. is thickly wooded/brushed with sight lines less than 100 yards yet loaded with deer, you know why it still sells so much. It's all you should need in that environment.
Also, the lever rifles have moderate recoil, they (especially the Winchester '94) are short light and handy, and they can be found used fairly cheap all over the place.
Also, the lever rifles have moderate recoil, they (especially the Winchester '94) are short light and handy, and they can be found used fairly cheap all over the place.
mark shubert
New member
The little slab-sided levers are handier to carry than anything short of a pistol, IMO.
Mark
Mark
Jason_Schmidt
New member
Like alot of others above me have stated the 30-30 is and always will be a effective hunting round if the shots are kept within its limitations. The faithfull model 94 with it's tube full of shells is one of the best brush guns there is,and it doesnt take a genious to figure out why.
Fear the man who only owns one rifle....chances are he knows how to use it!
Fear the man who only owns one rifle....chances are he knows how to use it!
I am 23 years old and up untill this year have taken my
30-30 every time untill this year. I have other calibers (270wsm, 7mm rem mag) but my hunting conditions faver the fast handling, fast firing of the lever gun. Wouldn't sell it for the world.
My dad owns a winchester model 94. The saying goes; "I paid 55 bucks for it with 2 boxes of shells, and still have a box and a half left." I guess he stoped hunting for a few years and has never shot up the old ammo once I came around. Its the only dear gun he owns.
30-30 every time untill this year. I have other calibers (270wsm, 7mm rem mag) but my hunting conditions faver the fast handling, fast firing of the lever gun. Wouldn't sell it for the world.
My dad owns a winchester model 94. The saying goes; "I paid 55 bucks for it with 2 boxes of shells, and still have a box and a half left." I guess he stoped hunting for a few years and has never shot up the old ammo once I came around. Its the only dear gun he owns.
CWeeks
New member
The first gun I ever owned was a model 94 Limited edition John Wayne edition Winchester 30-30. Lining in the open country of Idaho it is worthless. It was very accurate and loved the feel of it in my hands. 150-200 yards is the best you can hope for out of this rifle. It is not a flat rifle at all. But in thickly wooded areas where the paln is to shoot 150 yards or less it would be a perfect gun. I sold this gun 5 years ago and have not looked back.
kshuntercb
New member
As said, nothing fits in your hand as well as a Marlin .30-30 does when walking in the woods. It has also been a great caliber for me to reload as well, very economical. Shot my first deer with the .30-30. It will still be here 100yrs from now for sure.
bama_caine_break
New member
ask the 22 deer and 38 hogs ive taken with my trusty dusty ole 3030 i doubt they care that there are "bigger faster better" chioces out there. for me its personal preference cause i love my lever action carbines and the 3030 was the first rifle i ever bought myself and i will always use it. Ammo makers sell more of it than anything and more game has been taken with a 3030 in america than any other 5 calibers put together so i would say its doin somethin good. sure there are better calibers out there on paper but my friends venison tastes alot better than paper, and as far as the venison around my neck of the woods is concerned, the 30 30 is a cold hard death ray! yall have a good one
Matt
Matt
Ras53
New member
Quote:
Within its performance envelope, it works. Period. Try to take it outside its envelope (best use is inside 150 yards?) with standard ammo and you may be disappointed.
I think this is accurate. When most people talk about the 30/30, they're thinking lever action guns. In that case the Hornady Leverevolution ammo mentioned is a good choice.
However, my 30/30 is a single-shot. With Winchester factory ammo it shoots 1" groups all day long. Since it has no tube magazine I load it with Nosler 125gr Ballistic Tip bullets. This handload will shoot 5/8" groups when I do things right. I've taken deer out to 300 yards and antelope at 230 yards. It did the job, but it won't put them down like a .30-06.
Loaded for a single-shot or a clip-fed bolt-action, the 30/30 can be better than standard factory loads for a lever-action gun. Its a good cartridge, but it still isn't a 30-06 or even a 308 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Within its performance envelope, it works. Period. Try to take it outside its envelope (best use is inside 150 yards?) with standard ammo and you may be disappointed.
I think this is accurate. When most people talk about the 30/30, they're thinking lever action guns. In that case the Hornady Leverevolution ammo mentioned is a good choice.
However, my 30/30 is a single-shot. With Winchester factory ammo it shoots 1" groups all day long. Since it has no tube magazine I load it with Nosler 125gr Ballistic Tip bullets. This handload will shoot 5/8" groups when I do things right. I've taken deer out to 300 yards and antelope at 230 yards. It did the job, but it won't put them down like a .30-06.
Loaded for a single-shot or a clip-fed bolt-action, the 30/30 can be better than standard factory loads for a lever-action gun. Its a good cartridge, but it still isn't a 30-06 or even a 308 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
