I think VT Hunter has an excellent suggestion. That is using .357 mag pistol ammo for deer. A relative of mine hunts whittailwith a 357 mag using a pistol and has never lost a deer. Another option if you think the 357 is not enough cartridgeis the good old 45 long colt. The loads vary from 255 FT/LBS to 1126 FT/LBS kinetic energy "made by Corbon"and are availble in several lever guns. If you want a bolt action Ruger makes a 77/44bolt using the 44 mag which would be less recoil than the 30/30. At any rate the pistol cartriges above areeffective to 100 yds, cheap, and have less recoil than a 30/30.