I shot several of my first elk with an -06 and never had to shoot one twice that was hit right the first time.I used 140's and 180's,corelockts and couldnt tell the differnce in the way they killed,my first elk,a cow,was taken at over 300 yards with a single shot to the front shoulder,never even stood up out of her bed.I still own that -06 and wouldnt hesitate to take it on an elk hunt anywhere.
why would you ever do somthing as ignrorant as taking an inacurate POS like the 30-30?As a sporstman you have a responsability to match your rifle to your game so you can kill it quickly and reliably,30-30 for elk isnt even an option if you know anything about your game,get real!
Nonya, don't look now, but according to Remington's website, their 180 grain Core-lokt soft point from the .30-06 at 300 yards, has 1192 ft/lbs of energy. The 150 Core-lokt .30-30 cartridge has 1296 ft/lbs of energy @ 100 yards, and the 170 Core-lokt in .30-30 has 1355 ft/lbs of energy at 100 yards. That being the case, I wonder, if the .30-30 Winchester is such a POS, and if hunting with one on elk is so unsportsmanlike, why would you shoot a cow at 300 yards with a cartridge, that at that range, has a minimum of 104 ft/lbs less energy than the "POS .30-30"? So from your previous posts, do I infer that by doing so you were unsportsman like in your responsibility to match your rifle to your game, or that you did not know anything about your game? I sincerely doubt that it was either and I'm not trying to pick a fight here, just not sure I can understand your viewpoint with the above facts. It may be you don't prefer a lever action .30-30, or that in your hands it may be inaccurate. But I don't think that it is necessarily a summation judgement on every single lever action thirty-thirty, or it's ability to cleanly disbatch game given a little common sense, limited ranges and reasonable shot presentations.
Energy (ft-lbs)
Cartridge Type Bullet Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
.30-06 Remington® Express® 180 SP CL 2913 2203 1635 1192 859 625
.30-30 Remington® Express® 150 SP CL 1902 1296 858 565 399 316
.30-30 Remington® Express® 170 SP CL 1827 1355 989 720 535 425
ncpreacherboy, should you have the opportunity to purchase another caliber, perhaps a .30-06, or other larger caliber, it may be wise to consider doing so, if this is truly a once in a lifetime hunt. However, if you are willing to accept the limitations of the cartridge and you are willing to wait for the correct shot presentation, AND are willing to go home empty handed, having enjoyed your time chasing the wapiti and having those memories forever, punched tag or not, by all means, carry your .30-30. It does have limitations, it is not a magnum, it is not a super high velocity cartridge, but within reasonable ranges, with a good bullet, and providing you shoot it accurately, it will punch a tag for you, no problem.
As to guides not taking you on a hunt because of your rifle, that may be the case. But most guides would make that decision because carrying that firearm would possibly (and maybe severely) cut down on your chances of shooting a bull and punching your tag. There are good, quality guides, who would be more than happy to see a man, who knew how to shoot, with a firearm he was familiar with, challenge himself and possibly have a hunt of a lifetime.
In summary, hell yes the lowly "thuty-thuty" will still accomplish the job, in a very satisfactory way. Provided that it is carried with a little common sense, patience, and a knowledge of your limitations and acceptance of staying within those bounds.
