vaslugger

Thinking of buying my 8 year old son a 30-30 Marlin to hunt with next year.Just wondering how many on here shoot for shoulder shots using a 30-30 and what type of results did you have with it.Also what ammo were you using for hunting and how did it perform?I use to use one for about 8 years but always shot lung shots but not any more as I need to slow them down real quick or flat out drop them there where they stand due to the thick mountains I hunt so a lever is essential for a fast shot if needed and to keep them from running onto posted property.I use a Marlin 45-70 so I like my lever actions.Thanks Alot! Mike

kodiakhuntmaster

My first deer rifle was a Marlin 30-30. My father always told me to shoot for the shoulder, and I always did and never had a problem with it. Deer always dropped dead in their tracks. I shot the Winchester 150 grain Power Point ammo. Then again, I always hunted thick woods and the furthest shot I ever took on a deer with that set up was around 80 yards, so I don't know how well it would do on a big buck at 100+ yards.

The 30-30 is a great deer rifle and I still use mine every year from time to time.

Pygmy

Any 30-30 factory load designed for deer hunting ( which includes almost all of them except the Rem Xcellerator) will drop ANY whitetail, mule deer, or blacktail on this continent with a solid shoulder shot...

We're talking DEER here, not moose or elk, although many moose and elk have dropped to shoulder shots from the 30-30 also , and they are a LOT bigger than deer..

RugerM77.270

Same here. Take a look at the Hornady LeverEvolution bullets, I have dropped deer with them and corelokts.

timbercruiser

One of my grandsons got a 30-30 Marlin for Christmas and I helped sight it in a few days ago. I did not like the rifle, especially for a youngster. Very clumbsy, awkward to load, shootand handle for me, much less a youngster. I would highly recommend getting a bolt action .243 or a breech load .243 for a youngster, with a nice scope. Find a Marlin and shoot it a few times yourself before you go that route for a youngster......

Jasonlester

I haven't shot alot with my 30-30 marlin. But I did notice while hunting with it holding the lever would cause it to open from time to time. It was a bit annoying. However, if a younger kid treats it like a single shot it probably will be fine. Meaning not worrying about the follow up shot until later. I do this with my daughter with my shotgun.

It's been a while since I've shot my 30-30 but alot of deer have fallen to that round. I cannot use a rifle here so the Shotgun gets all the woods time.

Leafrivermac

My 30/30 is practically the only rifle I use for deer hunting. For me it would be hard to find a better rifle. I don't go for the shoulder shots with it but it should do well on the shoulder at reasonable range with the right round.
I use the Corelokt and the Leverevolution . . . .I won't speak for the Leverevolution for a shoulder shot as I hav'nt been using them long enough to know whether they would hold up to penetrate both shoulders or not. I know that the Corelokt will.
Actually, this is the first yr that I have been using the Leverevolution but so far I am well pleased with the round. I've killed three with it this yr . . .it seems to fragment causing a lot of damage when going for a lung shot. . . .Still, I may go back to the Corelokt. The beauty of these two rounds in my rifle tho is that they bot zero the same.

vapredhunter

I got my son a NEF handi rifle in 270 and its great,,easy to use very accurate,he kills deer with it.his first was when he was 11

Rebel Hog

Same thoughts here!

Soup du Jour

30-30 is the only gun I have ever used for deer hunting for the last 22 years. I have shot countless deer in the shoulders and have never had a problem. A few years ago I changed from Remington to Hornady and I have not looked back. The Hornady shells allow me to shoot farther and still have very good knock down power. The gun does take a little time to get use to but I think it is a very safe and effective gun. In a couple of years when my son comes of age he will be using it for his deer rifle. Just my two cents.