All too often people bash the 30-30's abilities as a serious deer hunting rifle. Everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion. And furthermore, an opinion can't be wrong. However, the following are facts, which cannot be disputed:
1) When equiped with a scope, a 30-30 is a definite 200-yard deer rifle. Typical factory 150 gr. loadings are only about 3 1/2 - 4 1/2" low at 200 yds, when zeroed at 150 yds from a 24" barrel. Therefore, if you aim dead center on a deer's side, you will hit it in the heart at 200 yds...a very fatal shot. Typically, 170 gr. loads are only about 1" lower at this distance.
2) 30-30 bullets penetrate very well. A 150 gr 30 caliber bullet has a greater sectional density than a 200 gr 35 caliber bullet. I never hear people say that 200 gr. 35 Remington bullets don't penetrate deeply enough in deer. Having greater sectional density and greater velocity than the 35 Rem, 30-30 bullets in both 150 and 170 gr weight will definitely penetrate deeply enough to kill deer. (NOTE: THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO CREATE ANOTHER 30-30 vs 35 REM DEBATE...BOTH ARE EXCELLENT DEER RIFLES).
3) Inside of 100 yds, it is as good as a 300 Win Mag on deer. Both bullets punch the same size hole, and both will pass through a deer inside of this distance. Sure a 300 Win has more energy, but what good is that energy once it passes through the deer. The 300 Win has much faster velocity, but 30-30 bullets are softer. Therefore, they both will expand almost identically on deer.
4) For those who prefer to hunt with open sights, 99 % of them should never shoot beyond 125 yds. at a deer. There is just too much that can go wrong. A 30-30 shoots flat enough out to 125 yds to hit a tennis ball over this entire distance.
5) Recoil is very mild.
6) 30-30 bullets have become perfect over time. Their jackets are designed to mushroom ideally at 30-30 velocities. Furthermore, with their round-nose designs, they deliver maximum energy on contact.
7) Rifles are light-weight and compact. You don't need a 26" barrel to get the most out of this cartridge. 20" seems perfect. And anything from 16" to 24" will serve you well.
8) Lever-action rifles, the most common 30-30s, are fast for follow-up shots if needed.
9) 99% of the time a deer will fall within 50 yds after being hit with a 30-30. And in many cases it drops deer on the spot like faster, more powerful cartridges.
10) They are easy to reload. And/or factory ammo is available everywhere.
No the 30-30 is not a great grizzly rifle. And yes, there are more versatile cartridges on the market. However, if you are just hunting deer, you should not feel undergunned out to 200 yds.
i agree with what you are saying i have a 30-30 marlin and have had winchesters in the past i killed my first deer when i was 9 years old with one and i am 50 now i have had numerous guns in a lot of cals. but i came back to a 30-30 i have had deer run 1/2 mile after being shot with a 30-06 with a 165 bth and shot through both lungs the longest that i have shot with a 30-30 is about 150 yds and i have killed a lot of bears with it i know people will say that they would not want it for grizzly hunting and i would not hunt something that big with one but i have killed hogs over 500lbs and they did not go far when shot. i still have my other guns so if i wanted to use them i could i just like the gun.
When someone says "deer hunting," I think 30 30 unless I know already they have something else.
Funny about the broo-ha-ha about how powerful handguns can be used for deer, but the ballistics on the 30 30 dwarfs them. I was reading an old article about when the .357 magnum first came out, and some "gun magazine" tyro took it to Alaska to kill a big bear.
We might commit him in my town.
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Mess Chief, Ft Arroyo
"Tucson sweet. Best chili in the Saguaro."
I definately agree with you. The 30-30 is a very popular deer caliber, but some people say its not powerfull enough for bear or mule deer. If you ask me , those kinda people dont know what their talkin about.
I don't think the knock on 30-30 is so much the cartridge, as it is the guns that are chambered for it. I know a guy that has a Savage bolt gun thet post some very impressive groups at 150 yds. It is a rare lever gun that produces any more than just acceptable results, is not the cartridge that shoots bad, it the gun you put it in, most of the time.
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Vegatairian, thats another word for BAD HUNTER
A good hunter will have no trouble bringing home the winter supply of meat with a 30-30 lever gun. Good hunters have been doing it for a 100 years. I have had them in Pumps, Bolts, Lever guns and single shots. I have used bullets from 100 grains to 180 grains. Great little guns.
You are right about 200 yards. But if you are like me, and own a .270, I would use it if I had clear open country like that.
90% of all my hunting is done in the woods, and 90% of the time I am carrying my Marlin 30-30. Someone can talk about 30-30 tragectory all they want, but in woods situations where I can't even see hardly 125 yards, the 30-30 might as well be a laser beam.
C. Davis
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My thoughts on the 30-30
