Topgun 3006

The 30-30 and the bullets that are made for it are not really for game bigger than a good sized deer. The 30-30 has taken more deer than probably any caliber other than possibly the 30-06, but elk is a different story. If he has to use it, the shots should be broadside or slightly quartering away into the lungs at under 100 yards and they need to be prepared for a probable tracking job that could be difficult depending on the terrain where they will be hunting. If it were me, I would have the kid start with the 30-30 on the range and then put him behind the 30-06 and possible start him on the latter with light loads that are available and work him on up to what he can handle comfortably. The old timers have always said that an elk should be hit with 1500 ft/lbs of energy at POI and there are really no 30-30 rounds that will produce that effect at much over 100 yards. Depending on the 30-30 being used it's possible that it might have as much or more recoil effect on the kid than a 30-06 with a proper pad for him. Even a cow elk is much bigger than any deer and they can take a pretty good poke, but if a bullet is put through both lungs they don't go too far. A bull is much bigger and takes even more pop to bring him down. The problem with the 30-30 is getting a bullet through both lungs because if you just get a bullet into one lung an elk can go forever before it dies.