RE: 30-30 for deer
 

Good CHEAP quick handling rifle? Like a good cheap horse! They ain' t no sech animal!!

RE: 30-30 for deer
 

I' ll second Frizz!!!!
Gets me, is when people tout the 30-30 and in the next breath cut down a .243!
The .243 would be my minimum, albeit a good minimum for deer! It' s better at 100 yards than the crusty old 30-30 is at the muzzle!

RE: 30-30 for deer
 

I have a Savage 7mm mag, and it definitely takes some getting used to if you have never shot a caliber with that much powder before. invest in a good pad for the stock, and just practice with it. After you shoot it for a few boxes you will not want to go back. Also you might not need a 7mm mag if you don' t have any long shots, but since you are probably a big guy like me, since your from " Defensive line" , you probably won' t have any problems with it when you get used to it. You will definitely be more happy with it in the long run than with a 30/30

RE: 30-30 for deer
 

The .30-30 has it' s place.....but remember

When the only tool you have in your tool box is a hammer, every problem you' ll encounter will tend to look like a nail.

Adding a .270 and a .338 Win mag to the tool box enhances the .30-30 a whole lot!!!...hey...it' s your money.

RE: 30-30 for deer
 

Big game has been wounded by every caliber on the planet. There have sure been a lot of 30-30' s made and sold for a gun thtan has nothing going for it except sentiment. It is true though if a guy can,t make a decent shot on big game then he should not use a 30-30. You know what they say since we are talking about tools? A poor workman always finds fault with his tool. When I go after deer I don,t feel one bit limited if I am carring the 30-30 even though I own plenty of cannons as well.

RE: 30-30 for deer
 

I' d stick with the 7mm Rem. Mag. Good luck.

RE: 30-30 for deer
 

The reason more game has been killed with the 30/30 is the same reason more game has been wounded with it. There are more of them and it has been around longer than most other rounds. In its day, it was THE premier elk round because of its trajectory. I will tell you now, the deer, elk, moose whatever are not bigger, tougher, smarter etc. than they were then.

That said, it should be known that I don' t own a 30/30 and never have. I have used some and hunted with people who have killed deer with them. They do work. As for as cheap rifles, some of those lever guns sell for more than the Savage rifle in question. Footballplaya, don' t give up on your Savage just yet, get a pad put on it, practice more etc. You have a way more versatile hunting tool than a 30/30.

KC

RE: 30-30 for deer
 

Yes, it' s cheap. Tell me how many people out there buy 30-30' s for its performance? I will bet none provided they know anything about guns. What you get are people buying them because Grandpa said it was a good cartridge, and he says that because that' s what he heard too. Sure the 30-30 was the flattest shooting cartridge of the day when it came out. Yes game was killed with it. But you can bet that much more game was wounded. We once thought the earth was flat and drilled holes in people' s heads to cure headaches and it was all the rage. Time to ditch the the 30-30 or at least recut the chamber to 30-30 AI.

RE: 30-30 for deer
 

If a man can' t kill a deer with a with a rifle that shoots a peice of metal 2200fps, then he needs some lessons on hunting. 30-30 will work just fine. Remember its range, remember its limitations. I could care less if they get lessons or not. But any good shot when that animal reaches out that front leg to expose that kill zone, and that deer should be found. Your not going to have much trama from shock. I doubt your going to see that animal fly in the air and hit the ground. But be patient and he should run more than 100 yards before laying down to die.

RE: 30-30 for deer
 

Something must be wrong with me. I have never wounded a deer with a 30-30 nor have I had one run more that 10-20 yards. I have owned many 30-30 rifles. Bolt actions, Pumps, single shots, handguns and lever action Marlins and Winchesters. I have several rifles that I consider better deer rifles. The one I reach for most anymore is my 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser. I use the 250-3000 often and the 257 Roberts. I have a 243 but use it only for varmit hunting. This is mainly because it shoots well with light bullets 70,75 & 80 grain. Mine does not shoot 100 grainers very well, at least not the ones I have tried so far. It shoots pretty good with 90 grain Barnes X bullets. Opening day when the deer are pretty tame yet though the old 30-30 often gets the call. I quess if I ever have any of the problems most of you find with the 30-30 I will give it up. Don,t think thats going to happen though.