30-30 vs 308 for deer

[T.R.]

I've hunted with both of these cartridges since the early 1970's. Typically the 30-30 appears to hit harder because of efficient energy transfer to the animal. In many kills that I've witnessed, my .308 loaded with 180 grain pointed bullets do not seem to form a mushroom shape as quickly as the much faster 150 grain pointed bullets. In contrast, the 180 grain round nose bullet opens up quickly likely the much faster 150's which is an element of bullet efficiency. But with the old 30-30 cartridge, either 150's or 170's always open up quickly upon impact.

As far as bullet construction is concerned, the 170 grain blunt nosed Power Point is the same as the lighter 150 grain bullet except for a longer shank. Both of these time proven Winchester bullets are efficient at transferring energy to organs and flesh.

TR

 

[X-Rap]

I'll fall into the camp that says there are just to many variables to make any clear conclusions unless you make a direct CNS hit and disconnect the brain from the rest of the body.
I have seen some spectacular bang flops and some short tracking jobs from what appear to be identical hits.
I'd say the same goes for any particular caliber and its resulting blood trail, a few inches in elevation are just as deadly but if high you will see much less blood on the ground.

 

[stiab]

What brand 308 ammo has a flat nose like a 30-30? I haven't seen that around.

I didn't say flat nose, I said round nose. I have two types of Winchester factory 180 grain .308 that have round nose bullets with the same profile as round nose .30-30. These are the W3086 and X3086.

 

[Mantan]

I have traditionally had better results with my .243 than my 30-30 at similar range (50-60 yards) but, I shoot the .243 better, so that doesn't really tell us much.

One factor that may give the 30-30 a perceived advantage in DRT results could be a quicker transfer of energy from its larger flatter meplat.
While it doesn't carry as much energy as a .308, at close range, the flat nose would certainly dump energy more quickly. It could conceivably impart hydrostatic and hydraulic shock more effectively as a result.

I'd still rather have a .308 unless I was walking in the woods.

 

[stringnut]

I have shot around 80 deer with the following calibers. 32 special, 30/06, 45/70, 7x57 Mauser, and new this year 250 Savage. The wife must be close to 30 deer and uses primarily a 250 Savage. Dad , uncles and brother have shot who knows how many amongst them and add the following cartridges. 270, 30/30, 300 Savage, and 348 Winchester. The conclusions I can draw from this is a well hit deer runs or it doesn't. Disrupting the central nervous system or breaking major muscle structure results in a knock down. With alung or heart hit rarely do the deer drop on the spot. As long as you get some expansion , or , have a flat meplat and can go all the thru on a broad side shot it will do the job in less than a hundred yards.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

While I have dropped many deer with a heart-lung hit, I have to say that I have also had them run a bit after such a hit. There is no guarantee.

 

[tactikel]

I hunt in northeastern Wisconsin, typical shots are 40-150 yards- the .30-30 is fine; light, easy recoil. If I had to take longer shots the .308/.30-06 would be my choice. A Whitetail is not hard to kill with a good hit. IMHO east of the Mississippi the .30-30 is fine, west chose the .308.