airbornekyle1
Member
I want to hunt with it mainly but what animals is it good for? How powerfull actually is the round? What other uses does it have?
HOW MANY USES DOES A 30-30 have
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Ohen Cepel
Member
It's the 3rd most popular round in American right now (via ammo sales numbers).
Great deer round, also enough gun for most smaller stuff of course. Fun enough to shoot since it's not going to beat you up much.
Not a varmit gun though. Also, makes for a pretty good truck gun in that it's rather PC looking (compared to an SKS let's say).
It's not the state of the art fancy cartridge of the day. However, it's a capable cartridge when understood and used correctly. ie: deer at under 200m or so.
Great deer round, also enough gun for most smaller stuff of course. Fun enough to shoot since it's not going to beat you up much.
Not a varmit gun though. Also, makes for a pretty good truck gun in that it's rather PC looking (compared to an SKS let's say).
It's not the state of the art fancy cartridge of the day. However, it's a capable cartridge when understood and used correctly. ie: deer at under 200m or so.
mustanger98
Member
Good deer round, but no telling how many black bear, cougars, coyotes, foxes, and dogs (wild or stray) and a lot of other things have been killed with it over time. Believe it or not, it's a pretty versatile rifle/cartridge considering how short the list of available loadings is. I've heard some opinions that while .30-30 is considered a little light for elk, there's probably been a bunch of 'em killed from short range with it using 170grSPs. I haven't tried it, but hey, hit 'em in the vitals and they're going down, even if you do have to track 'em a short ways. Within reasonable range 170grainers'll turn a deer's heart and lungs to mush. (I know Elmer Keith didn't like .30caliber anything for elk, but back then, all they had was pretty much equivalent to what we call "cowboy load" now and that's not enough power for much of anything.)
FWIW, my club has a lead match coming up April 3rd. I'm planning to shoot my Win.'94 .30-30 in it (100yds on paper) with Ultramax's 165gr LFPs. (Think: "cowboy load" like I just mentioned.) They do as well accuracywise as the 150gr hunting loads I stoke it with for deer. I have a Lyman #2 tang sight on mine, which for match use is good because I'll be shooting against Sharps buffalo rifles. Having shot mine on paper, claybirds, and steel plate at 100yds, I know it'll do it.
I hope this helps give a wider picture of what a .30-30's good for.
FWIW, my club has a lead match coming up April 3rd. I'm planning to shoot my Win.'94 .30-30 in it (100yds on paper) with Ultramax's 165gr LFPs. (Think: "cowboy load" like I just mentioned.) They do as well accuracywise as the 150gr hunting loads I stoke it with for deer. I have a Lyman #2 tang sight on mine, which for match use is good because I'll be shooting against Sharps buffalo rifles. Having shot mine on paper, claybirds, and steel plate at 100yds, I know it'll do it.
I hope this helps give a wider picture of what a .30-30's good for.
Anything from rabbits to elk, depending on the rifleman.
How many forums did you post this question in anyway?
How many forums did you post this question in anyway?
Preacherman
Member
One of the most versatile and useful cartridges on the market today, and much under-rated by those who should know better. Inside 150-175 yards, it's probably the premier deer-getter in the woods. Also good for anything up to 300-400 pounds at similar ranges. Use the heavier bullets for heavier game.
jefnvk
Member
Not to steal the thread, but what are the first two? I'd imagine .30-06 and either .308 or .270.
LeonCarr
Member
Also does a good job for self-defense or home defense with 125 grain HPs. I saw a picture of a guy that got shot with .30-30 in an autopsy book once. The X-Ray showed what looked like a lead snowstorm in his chest.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
I have used my Winchester 30-30 on everything from groundsquirrels and jackrabbits to several Utah Mule deer and one elk. 110 gr. Speer varmenter for the small stuff and 170 gr jacketed soft point, (flat nose) for the bigger stuff. Not ideal in either application, but when you're a kid, (1976) and it's all you have, It'll get the job done. Fun and cheap to shoot, no gun safe should be without one
Chipperman
Member
How much of a squirrel of rabbit is left afterward?
mustanger98
Member
Depends on where you hit 'em. Head shots with 110grainers wouldn't damage meat. Hit 'em anywhere else and you won't have much meat.
EVIL5LITER
Member
In my opinion a .30-30 is a must own rifle, period. It's got to be one of the most versatile rifles ever made, and if a person had to chose one rifle to use for the rest of his life (the horror!), I would not feel undergunned in any situation with a lever action.
I know you CAN kill an antelope with one.
I always loaded it 'heavy' with 170 gr bullets for hunting.
I always loaded it 'heavy' with 170 gr bullets for hunting.
Vern Humphrey
Member
I used to carry a .30-30 in the saddle boot back on the ranch, and killed a lot of deer, wild dogs, hogs, and so on. Nowadays, I still carry one occasionally -- often with cast bullet loads (160 grain Lee Roundnose, lubed with Liquid Alox and a "starting load" of IMR 3031.) This works well on coyotes, armadillos, dogs, and has taken an occasional squirrel or two.
When my grandad bought a new Win. Model 70 in .270 back in the 40's, it was considered the "big gun" in elk camp. Everybody else used 30-30's.
Redneck Revolver
Member
the 30-30 has about as many uses as duct tape.
Flatfender
Member
RoyG
Member
I have a Marlin 336 I bought in '77. First gun I bought myself. Wouldn't get rid of it for nothing. One like it will be given to my son once he turns 18.
Ohen Cepel
Member
Jef,
Can't find the article now. Was in a new gun mag. Think the 30-06 and .223 beat the 30-30. 270 was either 3rd or 4th. Wouldn't swear to those numbers now though, I'm sure the 30-30 was 3rd though.
Can't find the article now. Was in a new gun mag. Think the 30-06 and .223 beat the 30-30. 270 was either 3rd or 4th. Wouldn't swear to those numbers now though, I'm sure the 30-30 was 3rd though.
carpettbaggerr
Member
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"It can core a apple"
I used some of the 110 gr JHP bullets, they are very destructive on small game. 100 to 120 gr cast bullets at about 1100 to 1200 fps work well, and dont ruin meat. The JHP bullets at that velocity may be OK, I only used them at about 2600 or so fps.
I've shot rabbits with regular 170 gr loads, and they are a bit strenuous on the meat, but not as bad as the 110 gr loads at 2600 fps.
30-30's have been used quite a bit by whites and natives in Canada and Alaska over the last 100 years for general meat guns on moose and down. I think they are a bit light for moose, or elk, but they will do the job if the shot is fairly close and put in the right spot.
Early loads were like cowboy loads? Cowboy loads are usually lead bullets at reduced velocity. The early 30WCF (30-30) loads were 160 to 165 gr jacketed soft point bullets at about 1970 fps velocity. They were used on just about everything from deer up through moose and elk, and seemd to perform about the same as todays loads from all accounts. The modest velocity is somewhat forgiving to the bullets, not tending to fragment them like higher velocity tends to, so they would expand and penetrate decently. This limits range some, but within 200 yards they are not hard to hit with if the shooter is up to it. Some have used them at longer range, but velocity falls off and killing power drops beyond that point. I've plinked with 30-30's out to 300 yards or so, they aren't too hard to whack rocks with at that range, particularly if the gun is sighted a couple inches high at 100 yards and a streamlined (for 30-30) bullet is used. Speer bullets show about 30% flatter trajectory than Hornady bullets of the same weight (170 gr). The Hornady's tend to shoot better groups in my favorite Wincheser tho.
A 30-30 is a decent general purpose utility gun, but I usually hunt with heavier rounds, as this is good grizzly country.
I keep a Winchester carbine in the truck all the time. Good for road hit deer or antelope, etc, and I feel it's a good defense gun. 7 rounds in the magazine, and a belt of cartridges handy (and maybe a few more rounds behind the seat)will take care of about anything besides a full fledged invasion of Canadians.
I've shot rabbits with regular 170 gr loads, and they are a bit strenuous on the meat, but not as bad as the 110 gr loads at 2600 fps.
30-30's have been used quite a bit by whites and natives in Canada and Alaska over the last 100 years for general meat guns on moose and down. I think they are a bit light for moose, or elk, but they will do the job if the shot is fairly close and put in the right spot.
Early loads were like cowboy loads? Cowboy loads are usually lead bullets at reduced velocity. The early 30WCF (30-30) loads were 160 to 165 gr jacketed soft point bullets at about 1970 fps velocity. They were used on just about everything from deer up through moose and elk, and seemd to perform about the same as todays loads from all accounts. The modest velocity is somewhat forgiving to the bullets, not tending to fragment them like higher velocity tends to, so they would expand and penetrate decently. This limits range some, but within 200 yards they are not hard to hit with if the shooter is up to it. Some have used them at longer range, but velocity falls off and killing power drops beyond that point. I've plinked with 30-30's out to 300 yards or so, they aren't too hard to whack rocks with at that range, particularly if the gun is sighted a couple inches high at 100 yards and a streamlined (for 30-30) bullet is used. Speer bullets show about 30% flatter trajectory than Hornady bullets of the same weight (170 gr). The Hornady's tend to shoot better groups in my favorite Wincheser tho.
A 30-30 is a decent general purpose utility gun, but I usually hunt with heavier rounds, as this is good grizzly country.
I keep a Winchester carbine in the truck all the time. Good for road hit deer or antelope, etc, and I feel it's a good defense gun. 7 rounds in the magazine, and a belt of cartridges handy (and maybe a few more rounds behind the seat)will take care of about anything besides a full fledged invasion of Canadians.
mustanger98
Member
The original .30-30 loadings were cast lead, but they found that with the new smokeless powders available at that time and increased speeds, they had serious problems with leading as well as accuracy. That's why they went to jacketed bullets. Early handloading, from what I've heard, would've been most commonly done with cast lead bullets and black powder. Like I said, Elmer Keith said he didn't like .30WCF for his area and intended game. I never said it wouldn't take down an elk with today's heavier loadings. In fact, at short range, I wouldn't be past shooting an elk with mine and 170grainers.
I see you're thinking Canada. Available ammo may have been different between their and the US at back then too. I was watching American Rifleman TV last night- they said the RCMP was using 1886 Winchesters (I think they said .50-95) up into the 1920s. I don't doubt so many used .30-30's though.
Editted to add: I wrote that last paragraph before seeing your location as Wyoming.
Just got in from hog hunting, no luck but I dragged a Marlin 336 30-30 under, over, around, and through some of the worst pine deadfalls I've ever been in, plus up and down bluffs and briar patches so thick I nearly had to crawl. It is an excellent brush gun.
rk
rk
This is the first I've heard of the 30WCF having been factory loaded with a cast lead bullet as it's original load. All information I've seen is that it has always been factory loaded with the JSP bullet from the begining. Where did you hear or read the it was originally a lead load? Not meaning to sound contentious, just curious. Cartridges Of The World only mentiones the 160 gr JSP load as the original load. The 1894 gun was available in 32-40 and 38-55 cal about a year before the 30WCF (30-30) because of problems with barrel steel with the new smokeless loads, but no mention of lead bullets. The 30-40 Krag (and 303 British) was being loaded for a few years before the 30-30, and it was always a jacketed load also as I recall, the 30-30 wasn't the ground breaking cartridge in that respect.
As I recall, the NWMP (later to become the RCMP) used the 1876 model Winchester carbine, with the early type long wood forend like a military musket, in 45-75 cal. Madis in "The Winchester Book" doesn't state how loing they used them in active service that I could find in looking a minute ago. Could well be into the 20's. They later used the model 70 in 308 cal with some modifications.
As I recall, the NWMP (later to become the RCMP) used the 1876 model Winchester carbine, with the early type long wood forend like a military musket, in 45-75 cal. Madis in "The Winchester Book" doesn't state how loing they used them in active service that I could find in looking a minute ago. Could well be into the 20's. They later used the model 70 in 308 cal with some modifications.
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