Here is one for you....

[corbanzo]

The 30-06 and the .30-30, undoubtedly the most popular and abundant rifles in US history. 

Their inception was only 11 years apart (30-30 first)

So my question, what rifle has killed more game in the last 100 years?  I can tell you that up here it is the .30-06 by far, but we don't have a whole lot in the way of deer hunters, with who it's more popular.

[Sourdough]

The old 30-30 has taken more deer, than all the others combined I understand.  At least that's what I've been told.  I do know that back in Tennessee, Texas, and Maryland, where I have hunted a lot everyone carries a 30-30.  Now out in New Mexico, it was an even split between the 30-30 and the 30-06.  It also seems most young GIs coming here to Alaska has a 30-30, and they think they are ready to go out Moose hunting with Grandpa's old gun.

[dukkillr]

Way more 30-06 here in the wide open midwest.  I would doubt the 30-30 is even in the top 5 around here.

[Luckyducker]

Had a good 30/30 Levergun when I left Missouri, but when I got out here on the open prairie I had no further use for it cause it was too good for a doorstop.  Sold the Marlin and bought a Remington in 06.  I have shot deer with two different 06's at distances that would boggle the mind of most woods hunters. Ha Ha  Now I have neither of them as they became gifts to a Son and Daughter, but I sure like the easy accuracy of this cartridge.

[jvs]

When I was young, the .30-30 was the go to gun when a teen first started out.  And it was usually borrowed.  It was either a .30-30 or a 12 gauge with rifled slugs that just about every kid started with around here.  My first deer was taken with a borrowed .30-30.  But when it was time for me to spend my own money for a new rifle, I chose the .35 Remington.

Whether this practice would account for a high success rate amongst rookie hunters is up to the stories told of going out for the first few times.   It would also show why so many .30-30's were sold in the first place.

In the State where I live, alot of opportunities were never long distance.  I think the .30-06 is more appropriate in places where mountains are almost non existant, or, what we call - 'ridge to ridge' hunting.

The lowly .30-30 is by far the most inexpensive round to shoot, and it is still effective enough to use every day...  Just like alot of kids were taught when they started hunting.  A lesson that is soon lost in pursuit of perfection.

Why a .30-30 isn't used more often today is a mystery.  Maybe because it is so bland.  It surely is plenty enough for deer.

Not many .30-30's see the light of day today any more.  Most are hidden in the dark confines of the gun collections.   Only to come out when a  'neice' or 'nephew' needs a sporting arm.

[corbanzo]

I personally have one shot borrowed 30-30's, and that was down in Arizona, I dont think I know anyone who owns one in Alaska..., well, I'm sure I do, but they've never had it out - I've never shot one up here.

I grew up on the 30-06, being as my father grew up in Alaska also, and was raised on the .30-06, and I'm sure that my kids are going to be raised on the .30-06 also.  Of course it is more out of necessity, like sourdough was saying. 

I would still like to get a lever 30-30 for hunting blacktails in the bush in southeast.

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Hmmm....last 100 years.  I would have to say it would be the 30-30.  Nowadays, except for the NorthEast and the Upper Great Lakes, I don't think many still use the 30-30.  Those places where it is still kinda' popular, a lot of people switched to the .35Rem.  Now if you ask about the last 50 years, I would guess the .30-06 would blow the .30-30 out of the water with the number of deer killed.

Jim

[SHOOTALL]

Although they were invented 11 years apart one must consider the 30/30 was made for hunters from the start , the 30-06 was a war gun , and most hunters had little if any knowledge of bolt action rifles until the came home from WW-1 , which gives the 30/30 a head start , couple that with the depression , lack of ways to let people know about new arms en mass and the style of hunting had to change from filling the meat locker to trophy, so it may have been well into the 50's before a larger number of hunters went to the 30-06 ( and yes i know the mod. 95 was made in 30-06 but carry that gun all day ) anyway it would seem the 30/30 would have the advantage over the 30-06 simply due to the fact it has had more time to do it ! that does not take into account production numbers of either , but Winchester alone produced a remarkable number of 30/30's in its day !  one other point if you were on a budget the 30/30 has always ment valure at a lower cost !

[jvs]

Even though it was quite a few years ago, when I first went hunting Whitetails, I was lectured to use not less than a 30 caliber for deer, and I was handed a .30-30.  It is one thing that still comes to mind.  I think that because this state has alot of hills, the milder 30 calibers were most popular.   I remember being told that hunting around here with a 30-06 is too much power.  And considering that a 75 yard shot is a LONG shot, they were right !  I have yet to shoot a deer at more than 50 yards, because of the local Terrain.

I had relatives that used .308's, .30-06's and .35's, nothing smaller.  I guess it was Family Tradition, more than anything else to go 30 or bigger in a high powered rifle.  But they were also of the Generation that came back from WWII in Europe and the Pacific, had grown up with guns propped in the corner somewhere, and had a full understanding of firearms.

From my perspective of things, in the 30 calibers the .30-30 probably took more deer until the late 1950's or the 1960's, after that the .30-06 rules. 

Overall....    I would guess     .30-30.

Lately, I would think that any caliber but the 30 class is the champion deer getter.

 

[Ratltrap]

I don't know the answer. Seems most of us accept the notion that more big game has been killed with the 30-30 than the 30-06. I'm sure that was the case before the 1950s, but if you factor in what's happened since then I can't decide which is the right answer or how anyone would prove it one way or the other. Deer limits are certainly liberal in many areas where a 30-30 would be most useful. On the other hand, if you look at ammo sales since the '50s a lot more 30-06 ammo is fired each year in this country than 30-30. When you factor in that there are many more hunters today than there ever were before the 1950s and that big game is generally more abundant now than from the beginning of the smokeless powder era through the 1950s, who knows.

Personally, I've killed at least 30x more game with an '06 than with a 30-30.

[Sourdough]

I do a lot of hunting in the hills of Tennessee, Maryland, and Virginia.  I also visit relatives in Georgia, Alabama, and Texas.  All hunt with a 30-30.  Their shots are usually 40 yards or less.  They feel anything bigger is being overgunned and unneccessary.