I don't even think that the .30 cal. is on par with a 30-30! There are many better calibers to use on whitetail deer. So, while you are buying a gun anyway, don't handicap yourself with a poor caliber. Get a good one to start out with and you won't have to be sorry later! A 7MM-08, .308, .270, or a 30-06 would be very good choices among others!Even the lighter calibers such as the .243 on up to the calibers that I mentioned before would be better choices than the .30 cal.!