30-30 vs 12 Ga. (Slug)

[entropy]

It simplified the trigger group, as there was no requirement for a disconnector. Semi autos by definition had to have one, later pump designs often had them, as in the case of the 870, which utilizes the same trigger housing as the 11-48, the 58, 1100, and 11-87, just without a feed operated carrier latch.

 

[MacAR]

30-30 is in a death spiral here- no one buys it because it's too rare/expensive and no store stocks it because no one is buying it.

I find that strange, for no other reason than it's so common in my part of the world. There are certainly places that I wouldn't expect the 30-30 to be a common caliber (Prairie states come to mind) but I would've thought anywhere else in America it would be common as 30-06 or 270. The ammo is a lot more expensive now than before 2019, but that's the same with everything it seems.

Mac

 

[N555]

Old, not obsolete.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

12 Gauge wins here just because it's actually available.

Today, I can walk into any local store that sells ammo and find 12 Gauge. No local store has .30-30 on the shelf, except (occasionally) Walmart.

To be fair, there's not that much to hunt in these parts with a rifle except hogs and most folks use an AR of some flavor just because of the price/availability.

.30-30 is in a death spiral here- no one buys it because it's too rare/expensive and no store stocks it because no one is buying it.

Not sure where you live, Nightlord, I am in Michigan. 12 gauge, both slug and 00 Buck, and .30-30 can be had almost anywhere that sells ammunition. In towns in northern Michigan where there is good hunting land, you can buy either in gas stations and party stores.

 

[Mosin77]

I seldom think of .30-30 as my first choice because the problem is, if I’m hunting something closer in with iron sights I have more interesting choices. My Winchester ‘73 clone in 44-40, or a muzzleloader, or one of my 7.62x39 guns. Even a .45-70.

If I’m hunting at range I want to use something with longer legs.

.30-30 is a really great round but it’s really ideal for the terrain east of the Mississippi, and a lot of our firearms culture now is driven by the game and distances of the west.

 

[Appalachiannative]

Where I'm from (up in the Applchn Mountains), deer, bear, and wild hawgs are taken with 30-30s and .35 Rem lever actions.

Shotgun slugs are often used in states where the land is flat -- i.e. not my turf. Yet, I do have a Rem 870, one of its barrels being rifled with rifle sights. I was dumbfounded as to how accurate that puppy is with sabot slugs -- 3" or less 5-shot group at 200 yards-ish (paced distance; was up on the side of a mountain where a semi-level area was available to sight-in; rare that!).

A .35 Rem cartridge (in a Marlin lever) using 200 or 220 gr bullets with drop an animal where it stands. Known kith and kin who hunted with the .35 Rem in a lever rifle. Understand that we're talking under 250 yards, of course. Up in the mountains, there's RARELY a long shot.

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I know what you mean. Hunting in these pretty green hills and hollers you don't end up taking many shots longer than 50 or 60 yards. My papa hunts bear and deer with a .30-30 most of the time and a .280 Remington rest of the time

 

[GRIZ22]

50 yds or less 12 ga. Past that 30-30.

 

[JDeere]

That 30-30 I shot my first deer with 60 years ago has been in the safe since only for that reason. I have a 12 gauge coach gun with buck I keep around just because. Other than that obsolete in my book.

As far as 30-30 ammo availability, tons of it on the shelves of Academy when other calibers were slim pickings. Now days even more but shelves are full of all kinds as of today...

 

[Armored farmer]

I grew up thinking that the 30-30 was lame because that's what I read in the gun rags as a boy.
I found out the truth when I bought a pristine 336 at a farm machinery auction.
A great cartridge for an iron-sighted rifle
....even better with a scope.

 

[WisBorn]

Original question?
12 gauge 870 pump shotgun with foster slugs or model 94 30-30 for defense.

Home defense 12 gauge.
Wilderness defense 12 gauge.
Hunting 30-30.

 

[WisBorn]

I would like to add. The popularity of the AR15 would make it the hands down choice for a defense rifle.

I love lever action rifles and I am not a semiautomatic fan. But realistically for a defense tool the AR15 is a better choice in a defense rifle.
With the surge in AR type rifles since 2004 it is probably found in more homes than a 30-30 lever action.

I personally will stick with the 12 gauge for my defense long gun.

 

[KyJim]

I live in an urban area, so it’s 12 gauge with buckshot for home defense. Less over penetration than my 30-30. And I can’t imagine needing more range than a shotgun has for home defense.