The first caliber of rifle that was purchased for me (by my Dad)was a 30-30 in a Win Lever action..
Shot a few deer with it...And when I got older it was passed down to my brother and I was forced to by my own rifle..
That was 25 yrs ago..
The cal.. is a good it shoots sortof flat ,and you can fire repeatedly
and has mild recoil...
However so does the short action .308 in a lever...You get all that plus
a cal. that is inherently accurate..That the cal. if I was to purchase a lever action..
I think with the super premium bullets out there now, hunters and shooters that are looking for the milder recoil cal. of guns are passing on the 30-30 and favoring the .243 .308 7mm-08...
Shoot flatter and are more versitle..