As far as the 30-30 velocities go, I am getting 2600 FPS with a 150 grain bullet out of my 7600P in 308, not full 308 velocities but quite a bit better than 30-30 velocities. You are right it is loud when shooting from a covered range bench, you don't notice it in the woods. As far as off hand accuracy, you are right you are not going to be able to shoot with an expeienced off hand shooter with a match rifle, but you can certainly hold your own with a shooter of equal skill shooting a lever action carbine, light weight bolt gun etc. plus these rifles were not meant to be match rifles. As far as para-military fancies, the 308 version uses the same 4 round detachable magazine that the 7600 uses. I don't like the 223 version because of the magazine but apparently a lot of people do. But not because of how it looks but because the magazine is right where I grasp the rifle to carry it. As far as killing a deer, I have shot two with mine so far and both fell where they were shot and upon field dressing the deer, the internal damage was no different than with a longer barreled 308. It depends on where you hunt as to what type of rifle works and what doesn't, would I lay on a bean field with this rifle, no but for hunting in box blinds or tree stands where the shots are limited to 200 yards or so, or for still hunting the rifle is very well suited for the task. Everyone has different likes and dislikes in their firearms, that is what leads to new models coming out is wants not needs, when you get right down to it all we really need to cover all of our hunting needs is a single shot 22 rifle, a 12 gauge pump, a 4" 357 magnum and a bolt action 30-06 now wouldn't that be boring.
