I have always liked the 30-30. A lot of people say it isn't a good deer cartridge. The specifications are not so hot compared to the more modern cartridges. But they are not so hot for the 7x57 either and I think everything from a little dik dik to elephant has been killed with it.

I can remember filling out camp hunting rosters when I first starting hunting (a requirement in PA when a certain number of hunters hunted together). We usually had 25 people (maximum allowed) and drove the side hills for deer. There were usually 23 30-30's, a 270 in model 54 Winchester, and a 250-3000 in a model 99 Savage. All the 30-30's were in a model 94 except one which was a Sears bolt action (made by Savage). The rosters required name,address, phone number, rifle model and caliber. All deer killed had to be marked on the roster.

At that time none of the rifles had a scope.

I have shot a lot of deer with the 30-30. I can honestly say I never hit a deer with that caliber and not have it fall to the ground. Some got up but I was always able to get it. I even hit one in the foot one day and still knocked it off its feet. Probably the reason the 30-30 kills so well is there are no bad bullets made for them. They have a lot of lead exposed which gives a lot of expansion.

I still have around eight model 94's in 30-30 and one in a 99 Savage. I used to have over 20 in that caliber. As for killing power the largest bull elk I ever shot was from New Mexico and I used a 170 grain bullet at around fifty or 60 yards. It was a 6x6 and just dropped when hit.

Strangely, I have never owned a 336 but have used some of my friends. Overall I think it is a better rifle then the 94. One of these days I'll get one.