THE .30-30 IS A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE 200-YARD, LIGHT BIG-GAME CARTRIDGE WHEN USED IN A SCOPE-SIGHTED RIFLE. IT' S AN OFTEN REPEATED FACT, BUT MORE BIG GAME IS SHOT UNDER 200 YDS. THAN OVER. WE' VE KNOWN THE .30-30 TO PERFORM WELL ON DEER, BLACK BEAR, ANTELOPE, ELK, AND MOOSE, AND YOU CAN' T ASK FOR MUCH MORE THAN THAT FROM ANY CARTRIDGE.

.30-30 AMMUNITION HAS VASTLY IMPROVED OVER THE PAST 100 YRS. CONVENTIONAL LOADS MAY HAVE THROWN A 160 GR. SOFT POINT AT 1970 FPS, BUT TAKE A LOOK AT WINCHESTER' S NEW 150 GR. POWER POINT, WHICH LAUNCHES LEAD AT A HIGHLY INCREASED 2,405 FPS. WHEN ZEROED AT 100 YDS, THIS BULLET IS ONLY 3.5" LOW AT 200, DEFINITELY FLAT ENOUGH FOR DEER. FURTHERMORE, IT STILL YEILDS ABOUT 1,000 FT. LBS. OF ENERGY AT THIS DISTANCE. ADDITIONALLY, PMC OFFERS A WICKED 150 GR. STARFIRE HOLLOW POINT, WHICH ACHIEVES 2,308 FPS, AND FEDERAL A 170 GR. NOSLER PARTITION AT 2,175 FPS. THESE DEFINITELY MAKE THE .30-30 A HIGH POWER RIFLE. -- THESE VELOCITIES ARE FROM A 24" BARREL, BUT LOSE VERY LITTLE STEAM WHEN COMPARED TO A 20" BARREL.

MY .30-30 IS MY FAVORITE DEER/BLACK BEAR RIFLE. SURE I HAVE OTHERS THAT FILL THE TAB NICELY (7MAG, 30-06, 45-70, ETC.), BUT THEIR EXTRA NOISE/RECOIL/MUZZLE FLASH/WEIGHT ARE NOT NECESSARY FOR DEER HUNTING.