Author Topic: Your thoughts on the .30-30 Winchester? (Read 5644 times)

PeterCartwright · « **Reply #60 on:** June 23, 2006, 06:40:13 PM »

Wasn't it Warren Page who called the .30-30 a "balanced cartridge", meaning that its velocity was well matched with traditional cup/lead bullet design? I watched that last year when my son took his first deer with a NEF Handi-rifle using cheap, Rem. Core Loct ammo (150 gr.). The large bodied deer was slightly quartering toward him at a measured 90 yards. The shot hit a bit high on the near shoulder and exited behind the far shoulder. So far as I could tell, the deer didn't even twitch. It merely dropped in its tracks. More significantly, that "bargain" bullet went through the near scapula and made mincemeat of both lungs before leaving a modest but thoroughly adaquate (read leaky) exit wound.

I honestly don't know what more one could ask of a rifle/bullet combination.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #61 on:** June 26, 2006, 07:23:12 AM »

Quote from: 30-30man

…The bullets are around $10 for the cheap stuff ( that will work) and they are dead reliable. Most people don't believe me but most of the Marlins I have owned are dead eye accurate. Most of my Marlins group less than 1 inch to 1.5 at a hundred so I really can't tell a difference in accuracy than from my bolt guns. …

Don’t know what the WW 170g Power point ammo costs me, but I’m thinking around $12 per box. Its wicked accurate in my Marlin – 4 of 5 shots in 0.75” last time I checked.

I was at the range yesterday shooting the WW 170g ammo and some handloads. The targets were clay pigeons at 200 yards and steel gongs at 300 yards. The wind was gusting crosswise, as usual, which made the pigeons at 200 a challenge, but the steel gongs at 300 were hit almost every time.

I was also shooting the .308 and 7mm Mag but have to love the low recoil of the .30-30.

30-30man · « **Reply #62 on:** June 26, 2006, 01:37:46 PM »

Recently I've been using Winchester 150 grain hollow points. They are the most accurate thing I've found for my 336 Marlin. They are devastating on deer and will almost split a coyote in half. I'd like to find an accurate off the shelf load that didn't waste as much meat. Any ideas in 150 grain? Thanks in advance....

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #63 on:** June 26, 2006, 05:43:42 PM »

Quote from: 30-30man

Recently I've been using Winchester 150 grain hollow points. They are the most accurate thing I've found for my 336 Marlin. They are devastating on deer and will almost split a coyote in half. I'd like to find an accurate off the shelf load that didn't waste as much meat. Any ideas in 150 grain? Thanks in advance....

I'd use 170g loads - fast enough to reach out as far as you need and still expand reliably, not fast enough to tear them apart under normal circumstances. Then I would put them behind the shoulder.

Slamfire · « **Reply #64 on:** June 26, 2006, 07:27:40 PM »

Before I left CA a 12 year old girl used a .30-30 to take the State record Tule Elk. She was forced to shoot the 800+ lb animal twice, he was blockin' the path of another elk that was tryin' to git away.

rickt300 · « **Reply #65 on:** June 29, 2006, 06:44:32 AM »

My experience llast fall using the 30-30 170 grain Remington corelokt, I felt the bullets were not giving enough expansion. I cleaned and skinned five deer shot with a marlin 30-30 using the mentioned load. I also helped follow up three of them. That expansion from the hollow point load would have made recovery much quicker. People are going overboard on penetration these days, wound channel width is also important.

woodswatcher · « **Reply #66 on:** July 16, 2006, 09:47:28 PM »

i beg to differ on expansion...and the use of hollowpoints..on game.

i firmly believe that hollow points have NO USE on medium and large game.
i work with GSW daily and have been an avid hunter all my life, i've seen just about everything involving the bad end of a gun that is possible.

the hydrostatic shock wave of a highpower rifle is what will do the damage to internal organs..it has nothing to do with the type of point of the bullet. the shock wave with be the same regardless.

penetration for entry and exit holes from ANY SHOT ANGLE is crucial for the recovery of game. the animal will die from internal injuries regardless, whether the blood fills the chest cavity or leaks unto the ground.

unless a CNS injury has occurred with the shot, all animals will have the capability to RUN..
if you dont have adequate penetration for an exit wound..and the chest cavity is filling up..you wont have any really soogd blood trail for say 40-50 yards, until the blood has filled the cavity to the bullet hole and can leak out..

now..on a substandard shot..or a simply from the only possible shot that could be taken..you might have to shoot thru the digestive system, bone and hide.. all energy should be expended on exiting..not expanding.

the more internal tissue that is blown out..and kept from plugging the exit or entry wound..the better chances of game recovery.

Brithunter · « **Reply #67 on:** July 21, 2006, 03:28:13 AM »

Hmmm well as is normal in shooting there is a differeing of opinions here. I have tried the Winchester factory 150 grain loads both HP and Silver Tip and both are inaccurate in my rifle, or rather should I say not accurate enough in my rifle, they shoot groups of about 2 1/2"-3 1/2" but handloads shoot under and 1". My rifle is a bolt action so I use 130 Grn spire points to good effect and the mauser type magazine allows ths safely

also the rifle has a 6x42mm scope fitted.

As with any rifle you have to shoot it to find out what it likes and does not like. One day i hope to come across some 170 grain loads and I will see how they shoot as the rifle was supposedly regulated for Winchester 170 grn ammunition. However I have yet to see any for sale

the 30-30 is not the most popular cartridge here in the UK.

S.S. · « **Reply #68 on:** July 31, 2006, 07:58:16 AM »

LOVE IT !
I have a Win 94 "Trapper"
A Win 94 rifle
and a H&R model 158 topper model that has killed more Whitetail
than I care to try and count.
For the 158 I load 150 grain Nosler ballistic tips at 2000 fps.
This Gun/Ctg combination will shoot sub MOA groups at 100 yards.
Now I must say that I do not like to track deer so I shoot to break the
neck rather than through the heart or Lungs. Most hit the ground
and are dead before I get to them. This past year I did not have time to
be quite so precise so behind the shoulder it went. The buck ran about
30 yards and kicked a couple of times, but that was about it.
I load 180 grain round nose softpoints at just under 2000 fps for the other
2 rifles and get excellent results with them. The 180 grainers get some really
good penetration.
I am a real fan of the .30-30 and would not hesitate to take it after most
big game in the U.S.. (Most, not all)

AkRvrrat · « **Reply #69 on:** August 01, 2006, 12:34:16 PM »

In the hands of a skilled shooter and of course the correct bullet the .30-30 can and has killed most all animals that we have in North America. One of my go to rifles is the Win.94 .30-30AI with either Paritions or 180 Hardscast. Have shot Moose, both black and grizzly and Caribou as well.

You must be a hunter and then a shooter to do well with this rifle. Them ittybitty deer can be killed with even the .22 caliber in its various forms. I like to use my .22 mag to take Caribou without messing up the meat and they are a much larger animal.

I know this is an old thread and figured to put my .02 in.

regards,

Sourdough · « **Reply #70 on:** August 03, 2006, 04:49:26 AM »

Every gun has it's nich, the 30-30 just has the biggest nich. All across the south, the north east, parts of the mid-west, and in the pacific northwest. That's a pretty big area, as well as some places in the southwest. If I lived in those areas I wouldn own one and use it. But I live in Alaska one of the few places that it does not have a nich. The 30-30 is great for killing Whitetails, Black Bears, and Hogs.

AkRvrrat · « **Reply #71 on:** August 05, 2006, 10:12:03 AM »

The word "niche" or "nich" is a place for the use of the rifle mentioned? Yes, Sourdough the .30-30 is still used more than you realize and quite successfully used. It is still favored as most shots for the animals we here in the bush shoot at are pretty close. I am a advocate to this day and recommend it highly especially for the up an coming shooters and hunters. I teach shot placement and skills required with our young in being successful.

This caliber of rifle is and has quite a history with our indeginous brothers thru-out the interior. Of course there are many other personally preferred calibers in use. My inventory consists of many proven calibers that I reload with purposeful hardy bullets to do the job. An important requirement of any rifle.

TCBrian · « **Reply #72 on:** August 15, 2006, 07:41:43 PM »

We just recently used a 30-30 marlin for a hog hunt over dogs. It was my wifes hunt and the little marlin fits her well and is very light on recoil. At the very close range of hunting with dogs the 30-30 is almost too powerful. It killed every pig instanly including a 200lb sow. The bullet entered the temple and went all the way through the head and down through the far shoulder blowing out lots of bone and meat. It made me respect the power of the little round even at close range. Her shot was only about 10 yrds away, but it was impressive.

My uncle in Oregon, that has always lived a very modest life has hunted roosevelt elk in the timber for years. He usually bowhunts, but when he took a gun, it was the only one he had, a winchester 30-30 that he killed elk with each time he used it. I surely do not recomend it as an elk round, but for the close timber work with good shot placement, he did just fine.

I think that for a woods deer rifle with decent ammo, the old 30-30 lacks nothing. I personally would use something with more punch, but I will never think a 30-30 is not enough for deer when used at resonable ranges. The feel of a lever action 30-30 makes most bolt guns seem awkward too.

Good shooting,
Brian

Sourdough · « **Reply #73 on:** August 17, 2006, 08:44:11 PM »

The 30-30 is a very nice pistol cartridge, I have taken several Caribou with it, in my Contender. As a rifle cartridge, it is an old, obsolite, black powder cartridge that refuses to die. It probably accounts for more whitetail than any other cartridge every year. I own one, a Marlin 336, I leave it at my Dad's house in Tennessee, to use when I'm back there visiting.

35Rem · « **Reply #74 on:** August 18, 2006, 03:49:56 AM »

The 30-30 was never a blackpowder cartridge.
http://www.1stconnect.com/anozira/SiteTops/weapons/3030faq.htm

Obsloete? Hardly. It is a very effective round. Keep it under 200 yards, which is about as far as MOST people have any business shooting, and it will do just fine.
Used to be pretty effective on people, too. Seems like all the law used to use it.

S.S. · « **Reply #75 on:** August 18, 2006, 09:41:59 AM »

correct, It was never a Black powder round, It was actually the second smokeless powder sporting round created in the U.S. - The first was a short lived round based on a 45-70 and bottlenecked
For a 30 caliber bullet. I'll bet that was a stout round indeed.

BloomGrad · « **Reply #76 on:** August 18, 2006, 10:14:27 AM »

The .30-30 has been killing deer stone dead for over 110 years.

It'll be doing the same for another 110.

As long as sombody brings back the 94!! And not an overseas copy. I don't think a Chinese or Japanese 94 would float my downhome USA boat.

Winchester without a lever gun! The Duke, Audey, Roy, Hoppy, Chuck, and all the cow punchers are rollin' in graves.

coyote trapper1928 · « **Reply #77 on:** August 23, 2006, 11:14:56 AM »

I would like to see more bullet weights offered in the 30-30 LeverEvolution Ammo. I think it would make a good caliber for Coyote hunting, if the bullet weight was lowered.

T.R. · « **Reply #78 on:** August 28, 2006, 01:47:41 AM »

These images clealry show that the old 30-30 is still effective. Every forum and every small town contains hunters who believe the world of hunting cartridges began with and ended with the 30-06. They are convinced everyone is foolish to consider "lesser" cartridges for serious hunting.

I've been hunting with 30-30 carbines for several decades (on purpose). Trading to a more powerful cartridge has zero appeal for me.
TR

daddywpb · « **Reply #79 on:** August 28, 2006, 10:24:35 PM »

I've had my Marlin 336 30/30 since I was 17. First gun I bought for myself new in 1976. I still have it and it still shoots as good as the day I bought it. Now my wife is hunting with me and she is using it because 30/06 level recoil is too much for her. Great caliber in a great rifle.

Connecticut Yankee · « **Reply #80 on:** September 14, 2006, 05:28:45 PM »

My 14 year old son got his first deer last fall with a 30-30. The 100'th aniversery model Winchester '94 with a 24" octagon barrel and tang sight. Of course he shoots on our club Jr. Rifle Team and is a better shot than I am in that disipline, (I hope he doesn't read this). Deer was coming streight toward us from about 150 yards out, he had the patience to let it come to about 40 yards then put the shot dead center in the chest. Bullet was recovered about 8 inches in front of the rectum. The rifle team competition taught him the patience, and skill to shoot well.
The moral of the story is all about controling emotions and shot placement. I never shot a deer that gave me this much pleasure. It reminded me of my dad when I got my first deer when I was 15. Opening day of deer season in Mass. back in 1965. We both had our deer early that morning and drove by school as the busses were pulling up the let of the other students. My dad said, " I'd drop you off and you won't miss any classes but your hands are a little bloody, so I guess we'll have to go home. That was the only day my parents let me skip school, and the best day of my life up to that point. . The experiance is even better as a parent though.
A Connecticut Yankee, John M.

USMC0332 · « **Reply #81 on:** November 16, 2006, 05:28:48 PM »

There are some of those moments with Dad that remain vivid and never fade. I have several of these treasures, and hope for opportunities to build them with my kids. Great story Yankee!

jwinva · « **Reply #82 on:** November 18, 2006, 01:23:19 PM »

I don't know if I am qualified to comment here since I have only four .30/30s and another on order.The oldest is a 1950's model which killed every deer my Dad ever pointed it toward and one at least one occasion took the head off of a ruffed grouse.Unfortuneately I missed a deer once with it but my son has killed every one he has shot at.The Winchester is still his favorite when the shooting conditions are fast or the weather is bad.170g core-lokts give a bang -flop when in my 336.The NEF is used for emergencies at home because it is simple for the women who don't shoot much to load and fire.The other is an NIB Winchester Centennial which has never been fired.I use my 30/06 for the field stuff but on the mountain a .30/30 is usually my preferance

lefteyedon · « **Reply #83 on:** November 19, 2006, 12:12:46 AM »

I just read this long thread and never once heard the only REAL problem with lever action 30/30 rifles.

THE FACTORY SIGHTS.

Seems everyone focus on the cartridge. There is nothing wrong with the 30-30 cartridge 150 and 170 grn flatnose bullets just plain work. 600 ft pounds (170 grn at 250 yards) will kill a deer if it is placed in the right place.

Drift out the rear sight and replace it with a Williams aperture sight (peep sight) Zero the rifle in about 5" high at 100 yards and you have a 250 yard deer rifle.

Be honest how many deer are taken at ranges over 200 yards?

I think a Marlin Maurader or Winchester 94 trapper with a Williams Aperture using the new soft point bullets would make a dandy deer rifle.

We are the most overgunned hunters in the world. It does not take a 300 rum to kill a mule deer, a 30-06 is overkill for game under 250 pounds. I grew up in Mississippi reading old Elmer Keith thinking I needed a Sledge hammer to kill a fly. A proper flyswatter is all you need to kill a fly.

Gary
Cheyenne