Author Topic: Your thoughts on the .30-30 Winchester? (Read 5646 times)

canuck444 · « **Reply #30 on:** May 04, 2006, 10:07:31 AM »

Just a thought, but maybe a 30-30 is the wrong gun for you if you are able to get 7 shots off at a deer without it moving out of range or site. If you had a muzzle loader it might have laid down and died from the first shot while you were reloading, with a different repeater you may have only been able to get 3 shots off, either way ruining a lot less meat.

Harold50 · « **Reply #31 on:** May 04, 2006, 02:26:02 PM »

A dear friend of mine has a Win94 30-30 that he's embarrassed to bring out. He has some fine rifles now but as a young man all he could afford was one of those 1970s clunkers from which the fake blueing would wear away and show the bronze-colored metal of the receiver at the feedport.

It has accounted for a dozen or so deer and it is his back-up rifle today.

I was with him on a hunt in 1979 (we had both been married about five years and had no money) in which he shot three deer within 10 seconds (all legal) between thirty-five and sixty yards away. The last one was a confused buck heading in the wrong direction. Used four shells in all.

He practiced often with 22s.

In practiced hands no better rifle/cartridge exists when the deer are close and moving.

Harold

Slamfire · « **Reply #32 on:** May 04, 2006, 05:54:57 PM »

My .30-30 doesn't hold 7 rounds, so I have to be a bit more careful just where the bullets land. :roll:

jim21 · « **Reply #33 on:** May 07, 2006, 04:47:08 PM »

Ok,let it be known when I shot that deer and when we skined it out there
was 2holes in the neck,1hole in the heart area,the rest were all over the
side.I thought at the end there was something wrong with that gun,so I just wanted to kill that damm ole deer.I did'nt care where I shot. :cry:

steve66 · « **Reply #34 on:** May 07, 2006, 05:09:20 PM »

2 in the neck and 1 in the heart.

he was dead just hadnt gone down yet. bear are even worse for that than deer

Brithunter · « **Reply #35 on:** May 08, 2006, 10:27:55 AM »

Hmmm the problem there is that no one knows which one was the first shot and where it landed nor which was the last. Shooting wildly like that it could have been the last shot that got the heart area :oops: although doubtful.

azmike · « **Reply #36 on:** May 08, 2006, 12:21:19 PM »

Quote from: steve66

2 in the neck and 1 in the heart.

he was dead just hadnt gone down yet. bear are even worse for that than deer

Exactly. In the fall 2002 bear season, I spotted a small black bear (turned out to be only about 275 pounds) on a hillside clearcut at about 350 yards. He was heading for the trees, so I found a solid rest, relaxed, and hit him with one round from my 7mm Remington Magnum. Guess what? He stood there and stared at me. I quickly sent another one his way and missed clean (slammed the trigger on that round). About 10 seconds later he fell over dead. The first shot went clean through, tearing a large furrow through his heart.

Yet by some opinions here, I should be claiming the 7mm Remmy is an inadequate black bear cartridge. Sometimes things just don't happen in the field the way they say they should in the hunting rags or ballistics tables.

Cement Man · « **Reply #37 on:** May 09, 2006, 07:52:56 AM »

In .30 caliber I have killed deer with my 30/30, .308, and .30-06's. For whitetail hunting I choose more by which gun I prefer and what scope is on it, because I have had good success with all three. I think the 30/30 is a great deer cartridge, more overshadowed by the relevancy of opined comparison than its real attributes and ability to disrupt a deer's anatomy. The 30/30 has been around for a long time, in many cases it was a youngster's first deer rifle until he "graduated" to something more powerful. And while the 30/30 has been around there have been a zillion newer cartridges introduced that were faster, flatter, and what all. Meanwhile the 30/30 has continued to pile up a lot of venison. All I know is that the deer I have shot with a 30/30 were just as surely dead as any I shot with any other cartridge, and I have never lost a one.
I have friends who are experienced hunters and good shots that often talk about how they like their game to die in a split second and hit the ground like a ton of bricks (my words) and indicate their suspicion, or lack of confidence in something like the 30/30 as compared to their .25-06, or 7 mag, etc. that just "knocks 'em over" on the spot. If you shoot a deer through the heart, and just destroy that heart, it is not uncommon for that deer to run 75 yards +/- before piling up stone dead. Actually, they were "dead" before they even started to run. What more could you ask of the cartridge? I am mostly a heart - lung shooter who waits for my shot. I think if you never want the animal to move after you shoot it, you have to compromise the nervous system - which you can do with a 30/30 as well. The longest shot I have made on a whitetail was 165 yards, which was a one-shot (heart) kill. I have confidence in the 30/30 - pick your shot, use the right bullet, put it where it belongs. Like a guy once told me when I first started hunting - " A gut shot deer with a .460 is still a gut shot deer."

jpstrait · « **Reply #38 on:** May 12, 2006, 07:30:26 AM »

I've shot deer with a 30-30 and .270, they all went down the same. Just takes patience for a good shot, bullet placement and keeping those nerves in check. Shooting paper targets on a bench never really compares to sitting in a stand in an awkward position, cold, half asleep and trying to thread the needle through brush at what might be your only chance at a deer for the season for some of us. It's all practice, practice and shot placement, I think any round .243 and up is a good deer round if you practice.

On a side note, last deer season I took a shot at a deer that was broad side about 30 yards away with a Marlin 375 win. I hit him but because of BAD shot placement I ended up tracking him for 2 hours and never did find him. Does that make the 375 win. a bad round? No! All my fault, let my nerves get in the way, maybe the shot was too easy. Guess what, I'll be practicing with that gun this summer and I'll try again in the fall, keeping those nerves in check.

qajaq59 · « **Reply #39 on:** May 12, 2006, 10:23:25 AM »

I can't say I would shoot wood chucks at 400 yards with my Win 30-30. But if a hog gets within 75 yards of me and I can line up on his head, he's going to be guest of honor at a nice barbecue.

thruthestorm · « **Reply #40 on:** May 31, 2006, 01:21:01 PM »

When I was a kid the .30-30 was "the deer rifle." My dad and uncles killed deer with their .30-30's without any problem - most of the time one shot was needed and they rarely traveled far. I have two .30-30's - a 94 and an ancient Savage 340A bolt action [recently purchased]. The 94 is a youth ranger model with a 16 1/2" barrel that has taken deer and a boar of 215 lbs. The new Nosler partition bullets move the .30-30 up a notch in my opinion to about .308 in performance. Not a bad comparison.

Gregory · « **Reply #41 on:** May 31, 2006, 03:17:59 PM »

Quote from: jim21

Ok,let it be known when I shot that deer and when we skined it out there
was 2holes in the neck,1hole in the heart area,the rest were all over the
side.I thought at the end there was something wrong with that gun,so I just wanted to kill that damm ole deer.I did'nt care where I shot. :cry:

The important question is...where was the first shot located? Once a deer gets it's adrenaline going they can be hard to put down.
Here's my tale of woe from last year, and not a story I'm proud of by the way.
I took a nice 8 pt on opening day with a single shot from my TC Contender pistol in 357 Max, classic broadside tight behind the shoulder at 30 yds. and he dropped within 20 yds. I've had similiar performance from that gun in several previous seasons.
Second day of the season I was out to fill my antlerless tag. Mid morning I was out in an open field and saw a group of five does headed toward me, I hunkered down and got set for a shot off of my monopod. Lead doe stopped about 40 yds out when she spotted me. She offered a quartering to me shot, not my favorite shot at all but I was confident and took the shot. I hit her a bit far back, and she ran off with the group. She made 170 yds out in the open field and dropped. So I sit and watch for 10 min waiting for her to expire. She made several attempts to get up but couldn't stay on her feet. So I decide to end this, and approach. At about 150 yds she stands and I fire at her and she goes down again (don't think I even hit her with this shot). I move closer and fire again from closer range and see a hit in the chest. She is still struggling to get up. Moving a few more steps closer I fire again with the same result, chest hit, she's still struggling. I repeat this one more time. Five shots fired so far and last one I am close enough to see steam escape from her chest cavity when the bullet hits. She is still alive! Last round I have with me I put into her head from point blank range to end the affair. Five of my six round fired hit the deer, four of the five in the vitals. Based on my prevoius experience with the 357 Maximum I wouldn't call it an inadequate cartridge but that doe made me feel like I was shooting a BB gun. And I'm convinced it was all due to my poor first shot.

30-30man · « **Reply #42 on:** June 02, 2006, 02:56:12 PM »

I only use a 30-30 mainly because I shoot it better than any of my other hard kicking rifles I own. The 30-30 will kill anything I hunt at the ranges most of us can shoot. If most of us are honest, we all can not shoot over 200 yards and be acurate on a consistent basis. The biggest magnum is not much good if you're flenching and way off target. It's not the gun that's important, it's how you shoot it that counts. I take a lot of jeering from my friends but most of them flinch with the 30-06 and the 270's they all own. My .002

longwinters · « **Reply #43 on:** June 02, 2006, 04:55:11 PM »

Do 30-30's come with a clip? 7 shots?

Long

DavOh · « **Reply #44 on:** June 05, 2006, 08:05:58 AM »

I had originally written this big rebuttal to beemanbme(something there of)....

But it doesnt matter.... the .30-30 is a great cartridge that really does fit the vast majority of deer hunting... That being shots inside 150yds, in the woods...

in the hands of acapable hunter, the .30-30 is at home in most if not all medium game hunting in the Continental US.... Even out west.

Given the choice of rifles between a .30-30 Marlin, and anything bigger than a .308win, and its the .30-30 for me.

jrnsuz · « **Reply #45 on:** June 06, 2006, 06:13:23 AM »

in my less than humble opinion, the .30-.30 is the ultimate whitetail round.

now let me qualify that. all my deer hunting has been in the mid-west( Illinois and Ohio as a kid, Missouri now). first deer was at 247 paces across an Illinois corn field with a 30-06. all others in the woods or brush at less than a hundred ( usually way less ). i've used 30-06, 30-40 Krag and 30-30. no contest.

30-30 in Marlin 336 is the best thing going.

lisa1lacy2 · « **Reply #46 on:** June 07, 2006, 05:41:34 AM »

I killed my biggist buck with a 30-30 and after that just had to get a mag havent beet it yet maybe I need to drag out the 30-30 :eek:

dharvey · « **Reply #47 on:** June 14, 2006, 05:19:18 PM »

Quote from: jim21

Ok,let it be known when I shot that deer and when we skined it out there
was 2holes in the neck,1hole in the heart area,the rest were all over the
side.I thought at the end there was something wrong with that gun,so I just wanted to kill that damm ole deer.I did'nt care where I shot. :cry:

Jim.. You took all the ribbing and abuse with style. Many of us have similar stories but don't have the nads to tell it... :grin:

As for me, killed my first deer at the age of 14 with a Mod. 94 30-30 and several more since. Sold the gun to my best friend for a song and moved up to a "better" gun when I was 17 and wish to this day I had hung onto it...

dharvey · « **Reply #48 on:** June 14, 2006, 05:21:49 PM »

Quote from: longwinters

Do 30-30's come with a clip? 7 shots?

Long

It's been a while, but if I recall, my Mod. 94 held 6 in the tube and one in the barrel for a total of 7...

China Fleet Sailor · « **Reply #49 on:** June 18, 2006, 03:35:27 AM »

Quote from: beemanbeme

30-30 has probably wounded more game than any other cartridge. Followed closely by the .243.

It stands to reason that this is true. But, 30-30 fans, don't get so worked up about it. It doesn't mean the cartridge doesn't work. It just means that millions of M1894/M94s in this chambering have been sold since 1895 and have gone hunting with all different kinds of people. As the most popular deer rifle ever it's sure to have killed more game, missed more game, and wounded more game than anything else you're likely to think of.

In the hands of an experienced hunter it's an elk rifle if you get close enough and use a 170 grain bullet. In the hands of an inexperienced kid on his first hunt using a borrowed rifle it's just as likely to miss or wound as anything else.

Now, whoever started this thread asked for thoughts on the 30-30. Here are mine. I think the 30-30 in a M94 is a handy combination that is all you really need for deer in a lot of circumstances. I still have the same one I used on my first deer hunt and I don't plan on getting rid of it. But it isn't all that versatile and it isn't the ultimate .30 caliber cartridge. If you're going to travel and hunt other things besides deer in varying circumstances a scoped 30-06 will suit you better. I've used mine on deer and hogs in California, deer and caribou in Alaska, and Red Stag and Fallow Buck in New Zealand. If I had to choose only one rifle to use for the rest of my life it'd be the 30-06 and not the 30-30. If you can't kill it with a 30-06 it's time to step up to a bigger bullet and not a faster one.

nomosendero · « **Reply #50 on:** June 18, 2006, 07:43:57 AM »

I have read the responses & also the personal hangups that some felt they
had the opportunity to throw in, but Idaho_Hick described the round better
than I could have ever done.

Quote from: Idaho_Hick

I've always thought the 30-30 was a bit like an ugly woman that cooks real well - I have one (30-30 that is) and enjoy playing with it. Very practical.

And the 30-30 can give good surprises in a pinch & some ugly Women can
as well!!!!

bud340 · « **Reply #51 on:** June 18, 2006, 03:05:39 PM »

Quote

exactly when i got my moose i had a shot at him at 200 yards. i knew my -06 would get the job done but i called him in to 15 yards. it was alot more fun seeing the moose at 15 yards then it was at 200

Very good Steve, next time just for fun put your rifle across your sholders, let him see you, and then walk up to him and shoot. I can't get closer than 50 ft.. Give it a try and let me know how you make out. bud340can on your forum.

Good luck.

glshop20 · « **Reply #52 on:** June 21, 2006, 04:53:24 AM »

The 30-30 cartridge is actually a pretty accurate round. It is not often thought of as such because it is used most often in lever guns which are generally not as accurate as boltguns and lever guns are often used with factory ammo with round or flat nose bullets(tube mag). A rifle in 30-30 caliber that is capable of using a bullet that is ballistically superior in a well prepared hand load will give very good accuracy. Some guys us this type of bullet as a first shot(in the chamber) and the typical round nose load in the tube for follow up shots. Try some good bullets/handloads and single shoot them from a lever the difference is amazing until the barrel gets hot.

dubber123 · « **Reply #53 on:** June 21, 2006, 06:20:50 AM »

I'm sure you guys have heard many examples of this, but heres another. A few years ago, my brother shot a whitetail 5 times with a .35 Rem at about 60 yds. 1st shot behind the shoulder, not any effect, the deer just milled around, although he regularly practices, this wasn't his usual gun, (dads), and my father had made the comment the day before season how nice it would be to see someone get one more deer with it. Anyways, 1st shot no effect, so he must have missed, right? Keep shooting, 3 more shots, nothing, finally fined down(iron sights) broke the spine. End result, all 5 were good shots, including one that diagonalled the deer full length through the vitals. Sometimes they just don't get that they are dead. Years ago Ross Seyfried said he had seen an 80 lb. goat take a full magazine of .378 Weatherby and walk off to die. Go figure. I like the 30-30 by the way, mostly due to the guns.

30-30man · « **Reply #54 on:** June 21, 2006, 03:58:23 PM »

I think the biggest thing lever guns have for them that make them popular is the price. Where are you going to find a gun with as much machine work, feel, function, accuracy and good looks for 2-$300. The 30-30 sells because Marlin and Winchester were making great guns that most people could afford. 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. I'd post a picture of my groups but I still have the cheesy dial up and it takes too long. I have several high dollar Brownings that are not as accurate. I hope they continue to make the Winchester 94. I hate to see it go. My .002 again..

Kragman71 · « **Reply #55 on:** June 22, 2006, 05:22:31 AM »

Hello,all
I hunt Whitetails in the woods;close up and personal. The average shot is 40-50 yards;longest,150 yards.
I started with the renowned 30'06,and it killed very well.
I felt overgunned,so I switched to a 30/40 Krag. That suited me just fine;even got a one shot kill in an open field at 200 yards.
After fifty years of this,I decided that a 30/30 would have killed all the woodland deer that I got. I know that the 150 yard shot could be had because I stood aside my buddy when he downed a nice spike with one shot at that range.
I have had but 2 shots with my Win '94.One at 100 yards,the other at 60 yards.Both one shot kills.
It is my understanding that the30/30 has as good a record killing whitetails as any other gun.
seven shots at a whitetail says more about the shooter and his choice of BULLET then the cartridge.I once put 2 shots through both lungs ,2 inches apart,of a spike at 40 yards,with a 30'06,and he ran 100 yards.
I am now verry fussy as to the bullet that I use,and believe that it is more important then the caliber.
With the right bullet,you will kill just as many whitetails with the 30/30,as you will with a 357 magnum.
Just long-standing opinion
Frank

Kragman71 · « **Reply #56 on:** June 22, 2006, 05:27:22 AM »

excuse me!
I ment 375 magnum
Frank

tuck2 · « **Reply #57 on:** June 22, 2006, 04:54:27 PM »

With all that has ben said about the 30-30 I think I,ll work up some 150 Gr reloads for my old saddle ring 94 Winchester mfg 1932 for this fall mule deer hunting.

Slamfire · « **Reply #58 on:** June 22, 2006, 07:45:12 PM »

One thing you did right with that bullet proof deer, you kept shooting until he was on the ground. I've had deer get away because I didn't chamber another round. I've even had one get up and run off. If your magazine gets empty refill it before something bad like that happens. :wink:

USMC0332 · « **Reply #59 on:** June 23, 2006, 09:30:56 AM »

I like the way you think SLAM! If I shot at it, I figure I'd better be ready to take another crack at it. I chased a wounded one about 1/2 mile because I took my shot for granted. The next one I hit good and put an extra hole in the boilerroom as it ran away just to be sure. I'd rather waste a bit of meat than lose a wounded deer. I have dumped deer with the 30-30. I am looking forward to my 12 year old daughter getting a chance with a Savage 30-30 bolt gun this fall on her first hunt. For me, I don't feel the need to use a magnum. I will be using a sported 8x57 Turkish Mauser, and a Russian M38 Mosin-Nagant again this fall. The Winchester 30-30 even occasionally makes a trip to the stand .