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.