30-30 has probably wounded more game than any other cartridge. Followed closely by the .243.
I would beg to differ based on observation not opinion. I have observed hundreds of shooters at sight in days and other events prior to hunting seasons. I find there are four types of shooter/hunters. Those who can shoot will shoot any cartridge/rifle combination well. Those who can't shoot (unfortunately the majority of hunters) most often will most often be overgunned with some gawd aweful magnum they are afraid of. Then there are the once a year shooters who have a 30-30, 30-06 or some other rifle that their father or uncle, etc., used. The last group will be youngsters or women with little shooting experience who often have a 30-30 or .243 because they can handle the rifle and the recoil.
It is my observation that the second group, the gawd aweful magnum shooters, are the worst offenders when it probably comes to wounding game. They believe the magnum, if they hit the deer/elk anywhere, will kill it immediately. They believe, because the gun rags say so, that they really can make 400+ yard shots so they really do blaze away at game that far away. Since the rifle knocks the snot out of them they have it "bore sighted" by the local Wal-Mart clerk so they are "zeroed". Or if they are "on paper at 100 yards that "is close enough". The fact is 99% of them do not practice with their rifles at all (a couple of the other groups don't really either) particularly from hunting shooting positions. Many don't practice because they spent $100,000+ on the 4WD PU and 5th wheel trailer and bitch about the cost of the magnum ammo. Most of them not only have the biggest baddest rifle but they must have the biggest baddest scope on it because that's what the gun/hunting rags write about or it's to impress their buddies.
So what am I saying? 99% of all big game are shot on the short side of 200 yards with 80% of those shot on the short side of 100 yards. Survey after survey prove this regardless of whehter the huning is done in thick eastern and western coastal forests or the "wide open spaces" of the west. Since this thread revolves around the 30-30, a deer cartridge, a 300 RUM with a 4.5x14X scope and $30+ daollara box of premium ammo is hardly needed to kill deer.
Most deer hunters would be far better served with a rifle combination that they could learn to shoot, and shoot well. That is where the 30-30 in various types of rifles is so popular with the once a year deer hunter; it is entirely capable and deadly on deer within 200 yards. It is easy to shoot for those who don't shoot that often. It doesn't knock the snot out of you when you shoot it. You can shoot a lot more 30-30s (read that practice) for the same amount of money that magnum ammo costs. But primarily because hunters who don't shoot that often can shoot it better because it does not knock the snot out of them (read that; more accurately) they will, in fact, wound less game with it.
At sighting in days it is most often the magnum shooter who quickly demonstrates he has no idea how to shoot. Then after some instruction they manage to close their eyes and jerk the trigger through 10-15 shots. Then, and I don't know how many countless times, I've had one of the magnum shooters ask me to finish sighting in his rifle because he was flinching so bad he couldn't keep it on a very large target at 100 yards from the bench. He was usually complaing about the cost of the box of ammo he wasn't hitting anything with by this time also. Usually I tell them to rack the magnum to let the barrel cool and suggest they take a few "practice" shots with my 6.5 or .308 an occasionally a M94 in 30-30. I get them to relax and coach them through marksmanship fundelmentals and have them dry fire a few shots to control the trigger jerk. Then I have them shoot my rifle. I've not had any miss the target or not shoot a deer killing 3 shot group. The all see the light and say they'd be better off with a smaller rifle but their egoes (usually larger than the magnums they shoot) get in the way. I end up zeroing their rifle (for me not them) and they are off hunting. Sometimes they don't really care that their rifle is not zeroed and they go hunting anyways.
On the other hand I've had numerous men with the family 30-30 sit down and say they've not fired it since they got their deer the year before. Most are attentive when I talk them through basic marksmanship. I generally find the rifles are zeroed and they keep 5 shots in a 6" bull at 100 yards. Many shoot some very good groups with the iron sights on the M94s and M336s. Many will end up shooting one or two boxes of ammo practicing from standing, kneeling and sitting positions. No egoes there, they say thank you and head out hunting.
The best to teach are the woman and youngsters. I usually have dad go get some coffe or something and find a very attentive and willing to learn shooter. They listen and do as they are told. They shoot their 30-30s and 243s quite well and I seriously doubt they are the ones who wound the game.
Just some of my observations.
Larry Gibson
