I'm afraid my response will be a little stronger than the prior three! I have a Win 94 30-30, it was my dad's and it was the first "high power" rifle I ever shot! With that said it has kept its position in my gun safe only as a family heirloom - it hasn't been fired in over 20 years. Why? Because in my humble opinion a 30-30 is a pathetic cartridge which has probably injured more game in history than any other - not fit for hunting much more than tiny deer in the brush or coyotes that aren't smart enough to stay more than 150 yards away.

In my case, friend or not, no one is hunting elk with a 30-30 in my camp! Doesn't matter what grain or type of bullet or type of rifle - no way. He can borrow my .30-06 backup rifle if he wants but that is about the minimum. We've got a responsibility to the elk to "use enough gun." If someone is buying a rifle "just for elk" they shouldn't stop at .270 - step it up a notch - go 7mmMag/30-06 or beyond.

Deer at 250 lb. versus Elk at 600 lbs. is like the difference between high school football and the NFL - come on - gear up! This isn't Bambi popping.

EKM

Good judgment comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!

Edited by - ELKampMaster on 01/23/2003 10:36:43