What a fun gun! Hard to believe that thing is only leathal for deer out to 200 yards the way that thing sounded (the smack) and the puff of smoke coming off a granite boulder at about 350 yards. Very happy I bought it, can't wait to get it to the range and shoot from a bench and see what I can do at 100 yards.

Metro

Lethal to 200yds.? No, the 30-30 is lethal to whatever range/distance the bullet travels.
Probably on the order of a mile or more, depending upon the angle of the shot.
However, when it comes to deer or any big game hunting the object is to kill in the
"cleanest"/quickest manner possible. I suggest you take a look at some ballistic tables.
Most folk with experience would recommend a minimum energy level of 1000ft./lbs -
that's terminal ballistics required for a reasonable expectation of a clean kill on deer size game. The 30-30 is just at the level at a range of approx. 200yds. Various factors come into play here including velocity, energy, trajectory of the bullet, and bullet expansion.

Yes, the 30-30 can be lethal out past 200yds., but it's best used within that range for
good results. Personally, I'd limit the range to approx. 150yds with the 30-30. Remember, the object is a clean, quick kill. We don't want gut shot deer around, suffering a slow, painful, death. Nor broken legs, etc., left to starve in the coming winter
months.

1000 ft lbs. thats good to know, thanks Virginia. By all means I am an ethical hunter and would never want to leave a deer to get away mamed only to suffer a slow death. I do have a .308 for the longer range stuff, I was just surprised today at the impact the 30-30 seemed to have out at the 300-350 mark. I am going to shoot this rifle with just the open sights so I'll be keeping the shots at just over 100 yards at the most. I live in southern California but plan to be moving to east Texas within the next year which is how I justified buying this rifle, east Texas deer hunting is close range shooting plus I hear that it's mandatory for hunters to have a 30-30 lever action in Texas! 8&gt

Metro

The 30-30 will kill deer cleanly out to 250 yards. The trick it good shot placement at that range. The trajectory of the 30-30 makes that a little tough. I have seen folks with many years of expierence with the 30-30 hit deer well out to about 250yards. I am not one of them. With a good scope Maybe. Its a good 150 yard gun.