RE: Mild Yet Adequate Deer Rifle
For muzzle blast, use ear protection. Ear plugs at least, maybe something better.
I find the .30-30 kicks uncomfortably. No doubt this is largely due to the low weight of the lever action rifles in which it is commonly chambered (my son's Winchester Model 94) as well as the small and hard butt plate that this recoil is delivered to. I have developed bruises from shooting about 14 rounds of .30-30 at the range! I have a .30-06 that I shoot 180 grain bullets in and have no problem -- shooting this in a 10+ LBS rifle with a recoil pad on the rifle and a bigger butt area to distribute the kick to.
You could wear a special shooting coat with an absorber pad. Alternately, you could put a recoil pad on the .30-30.