You guys are funny, I always wondered what would happen when sombody went against the perverbial grain and questioned you. You're narrow-mindedness has provided myself with "a good giggle" because while accusing me of limiting my horizons you haven't recognized that I've used a 30-30 and had success. I've never wounded an animal with a 30-30 and in that case, I've never wounded an animal at all. It's to each persons own and his ethics. I realize that animals have been wounded with a 30-30, just as could happen with a 375 or with any of the cannons that you prefer, which is why I'm not advocating it for everyone. If you hit an elk in the lungs, whether it be with an arrow or bullet, it doesn't matter the size of hole it will make because the elk is going down humanely.
You're right- I'm 24 years young. But I think we've lost focus here. I've taken hunting seriously since I was of legal age and have been successful at it. I walked around in the woods with my father since I could take my first step. I finally started hunting at the age of 12. Those were the longest 12 years of my life. I just couldn't wait to get out there and hunt. I live from hunting season to hunting season and scout in between. I have been able to hunt for 10 years, taken elk in 10 of them and 10 muley bucks. 8 of the elk were 5 and 6-point bulls ranging from 280 to 330. One of the muleys was number three in the state when I killed it. There's no reason for me to have changed the rifle I used just because others can't hit the mark. I don't hunt with a gun anymore because my state makes me choose rifle or bow and I chose archery because of bugling bulls. I've never had the adrenaline run through my vains like having a bull close enough to touch and ripping out a bone crunching bugle. You guys can have your guns and shoot them at hundreds of yards. I'll stick with a few feet. The bottom line, and the reason I defend a 30-30 is this: If I can shoot elk with an arrow and they go down in less than 20 yards, I think a 30-30 will do the trick. Actually I know it will, I've done it myself. You can keep lugging around your big guns leaning on a small tree and pop of a shot at 300 yards and watch your elk pile up. I'm still picking my bow.
Your vernacular may be impressive but a college education doesn't put elk in your freezer! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>