When I was 12 years old my dad got me a Winchester 94 in 30/30. I liked the gun so much I used it for 58 years on mule deer and elk. I never lost an animal, and I hunted every year since getting the gun.
I never took long shots being a still hunter, and I never took anything but double lung shots. I used the 170gr Partition bullet.
The 30/30 in more gun than most guys realize, but you need to be selective in the shots you take.