30-30 for elk?

northslope nimrod · 09-06-2005, 10:41 AM

I hunt elk in thick, steep country. I like carrying my lightweight 30-30. I am looking at buying another lever gun that will accept a scope. Sticking just with lever guns....what is the best caliber and why? I want pretty good energy and accuracy out to 200 yards. The 45-70 seems poor at 200 yards. (if better hand loads can be made..let me know) The .35 Remingto also seems to die out fast. The best cartidge I have found is the .444 Marlin. Can someone talk me into sticking with the 30-30? Or talk me into buying a .444 Marlin. (Note: I would buy a .308 or other long range caliber...but many lever guns in .308 are discontinued and the Browning BLR series are just as cumbersome as my Rem. 700 30-06)

moosehunter21 · 09-06-2005, 11:14 AM

Buy the .444 marlin,they are a superior brush gun and have good balistics out to 200 yards.

wyomingtrapper · 09-06-2005, 01:00 PM

I killed one elk with a 30-30 and my granddad killed alot of moose with them. You need to consider the energy the bullet will have at a given distance (see a ballistics chart). I would think that the bullet would be loosing achunck of energy and dropping significantly as well at 200 yards. The bull I killed was bedded at the time and I was 65 yards from him. The caliber isn't a problem, it is just knowing both your effective shooting range for accuracy's sake and effective range for the energy needed to bring a large animal down. When I took the 30-30 after elk, I committed myself to staying within 125 yards for a shot. It probably would have done the trick a bit further out, but that was a range I felt confident in--between the caliber/energy and my accuracy with open sights. I've heard good things about the .444

Colorado Bob · 09-06-2005, 03:36 PM

I would pass on the 30/30 for elk even in the dark timber. You should look for a Savage 99 in 308. You'll have to look in pawn shops or on the used gun rack-----they have not been made in years. IMO & many others it's the best lever action out there.

BareBack Jack · 09-06-2005, 04:32 PM

If you want a lever gun for elk,look to the 450 Marlin.The Marlin 1895MR with the 22 inch barrel would suite you just fine.

If not I would say go with the Savage 99 308 or the BLR(they are not that cumbersome.)
BBJ

bigbulls · 09-06-2005, 08:32 PM

My vote goes to the .444 Marlin. I have one myslef and it is a powerhouse. Not quite a 450 marlin in terms of energy delivered but is more than enough gun to handle anything you would want to shoot with it.

My opinion of the 99 isn't nearly as high as the others here. I don't like them at all. Triggers are terrible, actions are not exactly smooth, and they are by far the hardest to take apart and give a thorough cleaning. The only thing they have over other levers is that they fire high pressure cartridges with spitzer type bullets. I think they are one of the ugliest guns ever made. If I wanted a lever rifle to fire a spitzer bullet I would buy a BLR.

In fact my other choice would be a BLR chambered in the 358 Winchester.

TomFromTheShade · 09-06-2005, 09:56 PM

The 45-70 is one of the finest big game hunting calibers on the planet. I would get the Marlin 1895 Guide gun in 45-70 and put a nice 2-7x scope on it. After you do that I would go to Garrett Cartridges' website and order some ammunition! If this doesn't convince you to get a 45-70 I don't know what will!

www.GarrettCartridges.com

bigbulls · 09-06-2005, 10:36 PM

Tom, Garrets are definetly bad arse loads but Buffalo Bore loads the same weight bullets at even higher velocities.

Garretts 350 grain weldcore soft point is listed at 2000 fps
Buffalo Bores 350 grain jacketed flat nose is listed at 2150 fps

Garretts 420 grain cast hammerhead is listed at 1850fos
Buffalo bore 430 grain hard cast bullets is listed at 1925 fps

Their 500 grain bullets are about identacle at 1600 & 1625 fps

Unless you needed a tungsten solid bullet the Buffalo Bore cartridges are the more powerful loadings.They also happend to load some of the best 444 Marlin loads available.

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#4570

wahunterinrok · 09-07-2005, 08:16 AM

my first hunting rifle was a BLR in 243. It is one quick handling little gun....

TomFromTheShade · 09-07-2005, 09:41 AM

Hey BigBulls,

Those bullets look like good stuff, but not knowing anyone who has used the buffalo bore personally, I am still going to recommend the Garrett. The Garret Bullets are designed to expand little and smash every bone and muscle that it hits. It is extremely destructive, so shot placements is critical, but if you run into a bear the Garrett Solid is the round that will shoot through him from nostrils to bung hole.