30-30 the #1 deer rifle

missed_another · 07-26-2005, 08:09 AM

for many ,many years it was said that the 30-30 had taken more deer thanall the rest of the calibers put together. do you think this is still true.

bspencer · 07-26-2005, 08:29 AM

id say its still true.......although the .270 is in second place i figure

ButchA · 07-26-2005, 08:46 AM

Agree 100% [8D] Read all the articles on rifles, their history, etc...etc... I have read this statement so many times in different magazines and internet articles {rough quote} "For well over 100 years, the timeless and legendary "thutty-thutty" has taken more deer and filled more freezers than any other caliber."

Hunter06FlKy · 07-26-2005, 09:38 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: bspencer

id say its still true.......although the .270 is in second place i figure

the 30-30has probably killed more deer ... but i would think the 06 would be in second rather than the .270

RedAllison · 07-26-2005, 10:49 AM

From a sales and statistical point of view the 30/06 has taken more big game worldwide than anyother cartridge in history, and yes the "tutty tutty" is given credit for putting the most venison on the table. As many 270s as there are around, the number of 06s is several times greater.

I have been in and around the hunting/fishing retail business here in west TN for 20 years and have seen a steady decline in use and sales of 30/30s. It's not indicative of the cartridges lack of performance or anything negative like that. I just believe it's more a victim of changing tactics like longer range hunting over foodplots, crop fields etc... I also believe the many styles of rifles on the market in basically any caliber has also cut into the 30/30 sales. 20 years ago there typically were only 1-2 basic styles of any particular gun a maker offered and very few youth guns. Now there is a FLOOD of guns of just about any convievable combination or style which makes other options for new shooters coming into the market. I realize in other parts of the country, alot of hunting is still done the exact same way it was done generations previous so the 30/30 continues to do well in those regions.

I'm not saying that the 30/30 is a "youth caliber" tho, don't get me wrong. But realistically an older shooter who already has a 30/30 is less likely to buy a new one and for the above reasons I gave, the sales of new 30/30s is slowing every year. As for ammo sales, you have to consider the number of guns already out there in the venerable old cartridge. I believe Marlin passed Winchester a few years ago in numbers of guns actually produced (336 vs 94) and when you combine the twos overall production since those models inception, I believe the number of guns exceeds the 10 million mark!!!

The top deer calibers (in both annual production numbers and ammo sales) besides the 30/06, 30/30 and 270 are the 308 and of course the 243. I believe the only magnum within sight is of course the 7mm RemMag.

Personally I prefer my 35 too the 30/30, but choices and opinions are like... well you know!

RA

PKnTX · 07-26-2005, 12:07 PM

What Red said sounds realistic to me, especially given
his 1st hand knowledge of the modern sales numbers.
I thinkwhen youtalk about total numbers of deer
killed since the advent of modern cartridges the 30-30
would (from everything I read) be hands down the #1
cartridge. Given it's use during times of subsistence hunting
and no closed season or limits (or ignoring of them) it will
probably take a long time for the "all others combined"
catagory to catch up. Giventhe increase in options,I
suppose it's possibleit never will.

PKnTX

Gundigest · 07-26-2005, 12:26 PM

With all of the newer calibers and options I don't know why anyone would buy a new 30-30 for hunting. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with the 30-30, it has killed countless criders, but in my opinion there are better options. My uncle got his girl friend a new lever action 30-30 for about $200-$250 for deer hunting. She was new to hunting and shooting. I personally would go with a slightly hevier bolt action like a savage or ruger in .260 rem or similar caliber. One of my friends has a Ruger 77 in .260 and it is a very accurate low recoil gun. We have a few older 30-30s and 32 specials and I would shoot a deer with them but I always end uptakeing my 7x57, 30-06 or 300 WSM.

PKnTX · 07-26-2005, 01:22 PM

I use my 30-30 and consider it perfect for me.
There are lots of reasons to buy any particular
caliber. I like a lever action. My shots are <200 yds.
I don't ever want lack of ammo or cost of ammo to
stop me from shooting/plinking/practicing/playing with
my rifle. There will always be other cartridges to
use for specialized situations, but then again there will
always be a place for any proven round.

PKnTX

bspencer · 07-26-2005, 01:26 PM

I have always used a .30 .30 marlin....... it was passed down from my father..... its killed every deer ive ever shot except for one with a bow and two with my 12gauge .....

Ive always said i wanted a new deer rifle mainly for jsut to say i had something else too......

this year I bought me a model 70 7mm WSM and ended up picking up another .30 .30 marlin as well(30 30 is used)....

the prices for the 30 30 around here have jumped up $75 for a new one this year

frizzellr · 07-26-2005, 04:47 PM

Quote:

for many ,many years it was said that the 30-30 had taken more deer thanall the rest of the calibers put together. do you think this is still true.

If you really want to get down to brass tacks, I doubt if a 30-30 will ever come close to the number of deer killed (poached) by the lowly 22 LR.