Good question.

1. Size.
With a sling, it makes for easy walks through thick brush. The barrel is no taller than the top of my head when slung across my back.

2. Caliber at short range.
In my opinion, it is better to have at least .30 caliber in the woods when you know your shots are going to be close. I would rather have the .30 than a .223, .243 or even my .270 when I can' t even see 100yds.

3. Velocity.
That' s right, I said velocity. Somewhere, someplace somebody came up with the 1,000 ft. lbs. of energy rule for minimum deer taking medicine. The 30-30 takes that 1,000 out to about 165 or so yards which is way farther than I need when I am trying to ambush a buck in the woods.
Another reason for the velocity advantage with the 30-30 is that it' s velocity is perfect for just about any bullet. Even the dreaded core-lokt performs perfectly at 30-30 speed, even at close range.

4. It shoots where I aim it.
I honestly don' t think I can miss when I shoot the Marlin.

So, if you ask me, if you are a woods hunter, I would say that there is no better gun. I think you would have to go to a .35 remington, .444 marlin, or a 45-70 government to even put up a good argument against the 30-30 for the type of hunting I mostly do.

C. Davis

C. Davis, you' ve given the best argument for the 30-30 yet!
I still don' t buy it though!!!!!
For the hunting you do, the 30-30 will suffice. However, having a .270, .308, 30-06 would be far better, if you happen to see a shooter at a longer range.
From your post, you seem to be a reasonable person. I' m sure you will admit that the 30-30 is NOT a novice' s. nor a kid' s gun! And really being honest, for someone out buying an " ALL-AROUND DEER gun, would you really recommend a 30-30?

Frank,
For the type of hunting I do, I will go as far to say that it is the best gun.
That being said, you are right, I am limited to that type of hunting if I want to get all the benefits that I talked about in my post. I just happen to hunt that way most of the time, and I grab the Marlin every time without giving it much thought.
I think I had a nightmare one time about having to be limited to one gun, and which one it would be. My answer would be 30-30 marlin, and .270 bolt action, and my .50 cal. Hawken... I just refuse to be limited to one.

Now, If I were to recommend one gun for someone who could stand to only have one, I would tell them that they could get by with a .270 for all of their Whitetail needs.

Living in the great state of Texas as I do, offers a wide variety of whitetail hunting. I every now and then get to make it over to the hill country in Llano county, and under those circumstances the Marlin goes along for moral support, but the .270 gets to do all the work.

Frank, I know you know were Kountze Texas is. That is where I live. I drive to Beaumont to work every day. You should drive up sometime and see my 10 point I shot last year on our land off of Hwy.326 between Kountze and Sour Lake. Just got him back from the taxedermist. He was no match for the Marlin at 15 yards away.

C. Davis

I don,t think anyone here is recommending the 30-30 as the perfect all around deer gun. Yes I am one of the supporters of the 30-30 for deer who dares to use something else at times. Anyone who doubts that thousands of head have been killed by GOOD hunters using a 30-30 had better get some more school-housing. As I said earlier if you can,t shoot or can,t limit yourself to the range it was intended for then don,t use the damn thing . For anyone else it is a good deer hunting tool when used properly. There is nothing I would rather carry in the dense woods or heavy cedar cover than the light fast handling lever action 30-30. When hunting open country like our prarie deer hunting where the average shot is 175 -250 yards I use the 6.5 mauser or the 257 Roberts with 100 grain barnes X bullets.

C. Davis, sure I know where Kountze is! We go through there on our way to the deer camp all the time! There are some really good hunting spots between Sour Lake and Kountze. I have hunted on two good places just north of you. One was Village Mills, good deer, too many poachers! The other place was between Wildwood and Warren, that was a great East Tex lease! Just that nothing lasts forever! We ended up losing the place. We' ll have to get together sometime!

I HAVE A WINCHESTER MODLE 94 AE BLACKSHADOW W/ A 24INCH BARREL I HAVE SHOT DEER OUT TO 250YARDS AND BLEW UP A WOODCHUCK AT 300 YRADS. I AM 21 AND I' VE BEEN USING A 30-30 SINCE I STARTED DEER HUNTING 8 YEARS AGO, THE 30-30 IS THE ONLY DEER GUN FOR ME ALL THOSE 30-06,270,7MM R NOTHING BUT THUNDER MAKERS IN THE DEER WOODS.
PAT

Fits the profile to a " T" .

Has talent, got it as a kid, has been empowered by it, never had anything else, and.... its the best.

This is the kind of BS that causes wounded deer.

With a drop of probably over 20 inches that would be some fine shooting!

Fine shooting or youthful stupidity?