Lever action .30-30 for elk?

[Dirty Tiger]

I know this is a very popular DEER rifle but how do you guys feel about using it for ELK?

[John Y Cannuck]

Never done it myself, but I understand it works well, if your close enough. Woods ranges at best.

[Dand]

I never shot any elk but I shot one moose with a 30-30.  Over 100 yards too but I lucked out and hit the back bone.  The two I've shot since with my 300 mag didn't go down so quick.  But really, I was 16 yrs old and lucky.  Probably a lot of elk have been killed with a 30-30 but if you can possibly arrange to have a gun with more punch, you might be better off - 270, 308 or 30-06 are more powerful and might make hitting easier and a more humane kill.

[Sixgun]

A few years ago I went to my Great Uncle Albert's 100th birthday party which was put on by his surviving children, at his home.  There were several old family photo albums on the kitchen table and I sat down and looked at them.  About every 4 or 5 pages there would be a picture of Uncle Albert posing with a 6 point bull elk and a model 94 winchester carbine.  

I asked Uncle Albert if that was a 30-30 in the photos.  He confirmed that it was and he shot an even dozen elk with that gun before he bought a Remington, Slide Action in 30-06.  He said that the old 30-30 killed them just as dead and he liked it better because it was easier to pack on a horse and light to carry.  He got the 30-06 because he said that his eyes got bad and he needed a scope to shoot with.

Uncle Albert grew up when the 30-30 was about as good as it got.  If you lived in a rural area in the west, everyone had a 30-30 and they worked pretty good.  There wern't as many gun writers around and most of the farm boys didn't get a chance to read gun magazines anyway so they didn't have anyone to tell them that a 30-30 couldn't do the job.  

Sixgun

[dawei]

I know this is a very popular DEER rifle but how do you guys feel about using it for ELK?

It's more of how you shoot than what you shoot. Are there better guns than the 30/30 for elk? Sure. Let me further state that an elk hit in the right place; (heart, lungs, spine, etc), with a 30/30 doesn't go far. The 30/30 has a lot going for it; ammo is avilable everywhere, it's light, soft recoiling, & accurate.

Here in the Pacific Northwest I hunt Blacktail Deer & Roosevelt Elk; shots are usually close (<150yds) and fast. I use two rifles; both Marlins, a 30/30 for deer & a 444 for elk. As I get older (55 next month); the miles longer, & the hills steeper, I use the 30/30 more & more. For Elk I use Federal Premium 170gr Nosler Partition Soft Points (#P3030D). They will do the job if I do mine.

[snowdog]

I've taken 3 Elk with  my model 94.   170 grn rem corelocks.  I reload
  now  and agree with the above poster about using the Nosler bullets.

       I was just a naive guy from Michigan,  and asked if I wanted to
  go Elk hunting,  while stationed  out of Ft. Lewis.  I was ribbed a bit
  for taking  the 30-30.  but  that first year I got a spike, with it.
    2 years later I shot a 3x3 with the 30-30.    the next year I got
  another spike.   then I got into archery.

   the 30-30 works ok  if shots are under 100 yards.  Yes,  there are
 quite a few better choices.  but  hunting the Olympic Peninsula, its
 thick and nasty.  the 30-30 was so easy to carry thru it.  I would
 use it again in a heartbeat.

[dawei]

I've taken 3 Elk with  my model 94.   170 grn rem corelocks.  I reload now  and agree with the above poster about using the Nosler bullets.

I was just a naive guy from Michigan,  and asked if I wanted to go Elk hunting,  while stationed  out of Ft. Lewis.  I was ribbed a bit for taking  the 30-30.  But  that first year I got a spike, with it. 2 years later I shot a 3x3 with the 30-30.    the next year I got another spike.   then I got into archery.

The 30-30 works ok  if shots are under 100 yards.  Yes,  there are quite a few better choices.  But  hunting the Olympic Peninsula, its thick and nasty.  The 30-30 was so easy to carry thru it.  I would use it again in a heartbeat.

Sounds like you were tramping all over Matheny Ridge (GMU 618) like I was. :-D  A lot of the old timers (70+) I know hunt with 30/30's, 32 WS. & 35 Rem. They CONSISTANTLY get elk when others do not.    :roll:  :roll:  :roll:
BTW............  Send me a PM & I'll tell you about some good archery opportunities in GMU 501.

[snowdog]

thanks dawei!!  Always interested in better areas,  as you know this state
really doesn't make hunting a high prioity !

 Check your PM.

[Range Finder]

Shooter's:

I've never done it myself but I've read of many who have.  In his book entitled THE HUNTING RIFLE O'Connor tells of a meat hunter who used his 30-30 to take elk, mountain sheep, and grizzly bears.  The old guy told O'Connor that he felt he wasn't doing good if he didn't take 18 or 19 elk with a box of 30-30 cartridges.

The .35 Rem was also considered a good elk rifle as well as a moose rifle.  There is a guy on the Marlin Owner's 336 Forum who lives in B.C. Canada who has taken moose with his 30-30 and has upgraded to a .35 Remington because he feels that it kills better.  I personally feel the .35 Rem is adequate for moose and elk if used within the limitations of the rifle and shooter.  In fact, I plan on using my .35 Remington on moose this year should I draw a permit. I'll be using 220 gr speer flat points at around 2200 FPS muzzle velocity.  Either rifle will do the job if the riflemen puts the bullet where it belongs and uses the proper bullet, in the case of the 30-30 that would be 170 gr Nosler Partition.

Regards,   :-)

Range Finder

[baileys buddy]

Tiger

     I've used a 30-30 mod 94 for hunting whitetail in Wisconsin, and on three mule deer hunts in North Dakota.  Sure, I took some razzing from the know it all high intensity rifle shooters(hunters?).  It suits me and my kind of hunting just fine.  Powerful enough, light , easy to pack,   and besides, hunting is more than shooting from 300 yds.  Get close, stalk, use your skills.  To me, thats what is all about.  Most guys I know are shooting at elk in the timber anyway, not at long distances, most are within 100 yds, certainly an easy shot with open sights on a 94.  Happy hunting!

mothernatureson

[Bob/FLA]

I used to hunt with a guy in Wyoming that killed his elk every year with a 30-30.  Hasn't gone through a box of bullets yet...one shot-one kill.  He hunts heavy doghair timber and seldom has a shot further than 50 yards.  

When I lived in Wyoming, I used my son's 30-30 to take more game than any other gun I've owned.  I once took 3 deer in a matter of 15 seconds with it!  Had a pocket full of tags and handload cast bullets.  

Good luck!
Bob

[Lloyd Smale]

well its amazing that no self appointed ballistics experts have chimed in here and said that you would be undergunned. I live in an area where the win 94 is still king of the woods. Ill laugh at a man who says it wont take game cleanly. Theres been a serious pile of dead dear at our camp that have fallen to them. Like was said earlier its the man wielding the sword not the sword itself that determines what is capable of killing in the field. I wouldnt be afraid to hunt any animal under 1000lb with a 3030 if the conditions allowed for it and id say that doubly for a .35 rem.

[williek]

The post from the bow hunter says it all.
I hunted with a bow for years, and if you do your part within the range of your weapon, the animal dies and you are successful.  
If you try to extend the range of any weapon beyond reasonable limits you set the stage for the horror stories that non-users of that weapon like to tell around the campfire.
I grew up with the .30-30 and if it were the weapon I had available to use for elk I would use it. (150 yds. lung shots.  Any animal shot through both lungs is a dead animal, regardless of the weapon used)
I feel it is more important to be aware of the limitations of the hunter than of the weapon.
They all work, and work well if used skillfully.
williek

[Coyote Hunter]

Nothing wrong with the .30-30 provided you use suitable bullets and place them properly.

First elk I ever saw was taken with a .30-30 and factory ammo of some sort.  Just got my first .30-30 and am currently working up loads for it, Speer 130 and 150's and Nosler 170g Partitions.  The Partition or a Barnes 150g XFN would probably be my choice for elk.

[LDThornton]

For those interested I've read many times that there have been more deer KILLED with a 30-30 than any other cartridge. Sure there are other cartridges out there that might do the job as well but you don't have to spend a fortune on a rifle to put meat on the table. A Marlin 30-30, Winchester 30-30, or Savage 99 in 30-30 caliber (if you can afford one these days) will get the job done nicely.

[willysjeep134]

Ya know, I've wondered the same thing often. The 30-30 was once the bar none big game cartridge, I don't see why it can't do now what it did then. I wouldn't hesitate to try and kill a moose or elk with a 30-30, but I would put in a lot of pre season practice too. Man, now I feel like loading up a box of ammo and doing some plinking.

[shootrj2003]

Until about 1995 my only big game rifle was my 30-30 Marlin I had ,at odd times bought and sold a couple of others such as a mod. 670 Win..270,a.303 jungle carbine and a 1893 Mexican Mauser in 7 mm Mauser but never knew I needed more power until I read it in a gun magazine.Since then i've accumulated a modest collection of guns but the 30-30 generally gets most of the deer.I truly enjoy the benefits of my collecting efforts but it causes me lots of grief deciding which one to take to the woods.Shootrj2003

[shootrj2003]

Until about 1995 my only big game rifle was my 30-30 Marlin I had ,at odd times bought and sold a couple of others such as a mod. 670 Win..270,a.303 jungle carbine and a 1893 Mexican Mauser in 7 mm Mauser but never knew I needed more power until I read it in a gun magazine.Since then i've accumulated a modest collection of guns but the 30-30 generally gets most of the deer.I truly enjoy the benefits of my collecting efforts but it causes me lots of grief deciding which one to take to the woods.Shootrj2003

[AkRvrrat]

The much discussed about and one of the most useful rifles still is in my parts is the faithful 94 .30-30  It is not because it just handles well or carries easy as much if it is loaded with the "proper" bullets. I suspect my family has used this caliber for more years than I can remember and have successfully taken not only moose and caribou but both species of bear. If any rifle really deserves recognition without question there is no doubt it will be the .30-30 and has been part of the "American dream" for many an individual. My wife has shot enough moose with hers that her .06 MKII with a Timney trigger and tuned loads still rests in the rack. My area in which I live has quite a number of "ready" 94 .30-30's and although there is many other cal. it is still highly favored.

[mikedb]

A 30.30 lever and a 30.06 bolt gun and you have a complete battery of guns for N. American big game.  Anything else is for fun.

[Big Paulie]

Throw in a .22 LR, and a .223 Remington (or .22 Hornet), plus a 12 gauge Remington 870 Pump, and you are covered for absolutely all hunting, large and small.

Big Paulie

[clmautz]

as I'm getting into it now.

Guess what I bought?  

A worn, used, but obviously loved old Winchester Model 94 (circa '72) in 30-30.

I'm going to learn to shoot 200yd ranges with the iron sights, and see where it takes me.

I'm old school, and I'm only 34.  :-)

Don't even get me started on sixguns...  :-)

Chip

[mrlizzzard]

I think 3 million deer were killed with a 30/30,prolly 400,000 elk.
lizzzard

[tommy_tsunami]

Yes, you can definitely kill an elk with a .30-30.  I wouldn't take a 300 yard shot at one, but within reasonable distances, you can.

I prefer "hunting" for animals and getting close anyway.  That's why I like handgun hunting.  I'm sure it's one of the reasons archery hunting is so popular (which I've never tried).

If you want to take a 400 yard shot across a canyon, the .30-30 is not the gun.  But if you're going to get with 100-150 yards, it will do the job just fine.

Here's link to a newspaper article about a young kid killing his first elk with an open sighted .30-30 in Oregon.  Pretty cool!
http://www.bendbulletin.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=14739

[Brasso]

nm

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

I'm not bashing the .30-30 or even questioning the wisdom of choosing one for elk hunting, but I have a practical question.

Can the .30-30 be relied on to punch through the shoulder bone of an elk?

If the answer is "no", this is just something the user needs to take into account when he makes his choice.  Depending on the amount of vacation time you have, you may not get very many "perfect" shots.  A hunter has to decide what amount of challenge he is up for.

To be honest, I don't think my skills are good enough to hunt within the limitations of a .30-30 (for elk anyway).  I've never hunted elk before.  I don't live out West.  And I'd likely only have a week to get 'er done.  I'm not a super-wizbang afficionado, my choice is the .35 Whelen.

I salute those fella's who can score on elk with less technological advantage than me!

[Savage .250]

For me.............something larger like an 06 or 7m/m.  I know lots of Elk have met their match in a 30/30 but  if i`m paying the freight( out of state lic) and all that goes with it  i`m going bigger. Besides i`ve got an 06.
  " The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

[tom barthel]

DEAD IS DEAD.  All depends on a good hit.  Put the bullet where it needs to go and you get meat.  If you have a more powerful rifle and are very good with it you get meat.  I'm new to the .30-30.  If it was the only thing I had, I wouldn't hesitate using it on any target of opportunity.  Hit what you shoot at and don't even consider dissenting opinions.
 
Tom

[BillinOregon]

The .30/30 is a great cartridge -- one of our first smokeless sporting rounds and Teddy R. thought it was a laser -- but to use it humanely today on elk, you need to ask yourself if you can pass on an iffy shot, as the .30/30 has no surplus of power, just enough for a proper presentation. I've killed deer with the .30/30, but not elk. On deer, I used  150g-grain Sierras as fast as I could send them. For elk, I would want at least 170 grains, and better would be those 190-grain Silvertips that Sam Fadala has written about for elk and moose. I have a lot of faith in the killing power of heavy-for-cailber bullets at 2100-2300 fps.