30-30 is a good brush gun, but ever notice the people that are recommending them also mention something to the effect of "....out to 150 yards...." Nowadays there's plenty of options in guns and ammo where you can use one that can be a good brush gun, as far as mobility because you shouldn't shoot through brush with any gun, IMO, or hit a deer out to 400 yards. If you got a 30-06 in a Browning BLR, you could do it all at every game animal in North America. I just sold my 330A Marlin 30-30. It killed every deer I ever shot with it, and none traveled farther than 25 yards once shot, but none ever acted shot afterwards either. My buddy who bought it is 2 for 2 with it as well and he said to me, "I thought I missed, neither acted shot," but neither traveled more than 50 yards once shot. I just think that there is so many options these days that a person can just skip the trusty 30-30. I know I plan on buying my son a 243 as his first weapon, after that he can inherit my 30-06 and pass them on down the line to his kids.