bolt action 30-30

shottyhunter24 · 08-06-2009, 06:54 AM

im a huge fan of the 30-30 round
but i cant seem to find a bolt action version of it i would like the long range reliability of a bolt action
thanks
-mark

bugsNbows · 08-06-2009, 07:25 AM

I'm a little confused...please forgive me. If you want a "long range" bolt action why select the .30-.30? If you want reliability, lever actions are fine. What are you hunting (and at what ranges)?

UncleNorby · 08-06-2009, 07:57 AM

There were some bolts made in 30/30 quite a few years ago (Savage/Stevens and or Mossberg?) Their selling point was that they were safer than lever actions of the day with only a half-**** safety. These guns were more utilitarian than works of art and were fairly cheap. I'm not sure if there are any bolts chambered in 30/30 today.

Loaded properly, the 30/30 is a 200 yd cartridge, but 150-175 is probably more realistic. I really like the 30/30 in a lever with a peep sight. My range is limited by my eyesight and the sight system, and that's about 100 yds for me, which is great with the 30/30. If you don't mind the looks of a scope on a lever, you can get longer range out of the 30/30, but as stated above, it's not really a long range cartridge.

shottyhunter24 · 08-06-2009, 09:45 AM

i am hunting whitetail and i post up my ground blind on a field probably 250 yards give or take 5-10 yards

wolverine72 · 08-06-2009, 10:19 AM

At 200 yards, energy for the .30/30 is about 1,000 ft/lbs. At 300 yards it is about 700 ft/lbs.

It is therefore arguable that the .30/30 is a marginal deer round at 200 yards, and inadequate at 300 yards (using the theory that you need 1,000 ft/lbs minimum for a whitetail kill). Now I understand that this can be argued all day..... but just trying to apply some logic to my thinking....

I use a .30/30 every year to hunt in Michigan, but my shots are 100 yards max... usually 35-70 yards. I do not use it in areas where 200 yard shots are a possibility -- I use my '06 or .270. So if I were to purchase a bolt gun for that purpose, a .30-30 would not be my choice...

popeye2 · 08-06-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shottyhunter24

i am hunting whitetail and i post up my ground blind on a field probably 250 yards give or take 5-10 yards

IMO for the type of hunting your doing you would be much better buying a 308 or something similar, than trying to stretch the range limits on a 30-30.

Although energy is a factor in killing deer, it's not the only one. The trajectory of shooting a 30-30 at 250 yards is more of a rainbow effect. You would have to aim at air over the spine to drop one on target.

skb2706 · 08-06-2009, 11:59 AM

Find a nice .308 Winchester in a bolt rifle. You will more likely have a longer range foundation for a rifle and plenty potent out to 250 yds.

bigbulls · 08-06-2009, 12:13 PM

Just because it is a bolt action rifle does not mean it is a long range gun. The type of rifle makes no difference what so ever in the velocity of the cartridge. A 30-30 is still a 30-30 whether it is in a lever gun, bolt bun, single shot, or what ever.

Take the advice here and get yourself a bolt action 308.

statjunk · 08-06-2009, 12:57 PM

If you want something that doesn't kick that hard and really fits your bill consider the .243 Win. It's an excellent cartridge for what your doing.

As far as the .30-30. I would give it a big thumbs down.

Tom

Ron Duval · 08-06-2009, 02:04 PM

removed by RD