Before you laugh at the 30-30. I watched a hunting show last night. He went hunting for Moose in Alaska with a lever action open sight sighted 30-30.

Found a mature bull moose. when the Moose was hit it swayed to the left, stumbled and piled up. It didn't go 10 yds.

His next target was a Grizzly with the same gun. He ran out of time, before he could get one, but will keep trying.

I've killed plenty of elk with a 30-30 back in the 60's.

Do I recommend it? No, most hunters want to just take long shots with magnums.