If you are hunting in areas that 95% of your shots are 100 yards or less you can not get more bang for the buck than a 30-30 lever action. They are inexpensive, the ammo is inexpensive and with the proper load it has more than enough knock down power. Here is a fact, more deer have been killed with a 30-30 than any other caliber! Now if you are taking long shots on a regular basis I will withhold my opinion, because I do not have much experience in that type of hunting.
The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club