.30 carbine

[SwordRapier]

I live in Utah and may re-start hunting deer and elk. I am curious is a 30 carbine out of an M1 going to get the job done? Probably a stupid question but I don't know much about rifles.

According to Federal ammo the .30 carbine is good for small game but I have no idea what they basis federal uses to make that claim.

 

[vanfunk]

I live in Utah and may re-start hunting deer and elk. I am curious is a 30 carbine out of an M1 going to get the job done?

In short, no. There are much, much better choices available for big game. You can't go far wrong with a basic .30-06 bolt action rifle, like a Remington 700 or Savage 112, and a decent scope.

vanfunk

 

[USSR]

Elk, definately no. I would have no problem with whitetails inside of 50 yards like we hunt them here in the NE, but as previously stated, there are much better choices.

Don

 

[SaxonPig]

This should cover it.

Hunting with the 223, or 30 carbine, etc.

52. The vast majority of experienced hunters would agree that the 223 Remington and the 30 Carbine calibers are too light for hunting big game. Certainly both have been used to kill deer, but that doesn’t make them a good choice. There is a rumor that a poacher once killed an elephant with a 22. Does that make the 22 an elephant gun? Just because a particular caliber WILL kill a particular animal doesn’t mean it should be accepted as a good choice for hunting that animal. The same can be said for any instance of using too small a gun for the job, like a 44 Magnum for rhinos. Big gun, but not big enough.


I would add that I once lived in Utah and was stunned by how big elk are in person. On TV or in photos you don't realize how massive they are. I think the 30C is woefully inadequate for deer and would be insane for an elk caliber.

 

[Maverick223]

I believe the 30 Carbine is fine for short range whitetail, but very inadequate for elk or even large deer. Look for a bare minimum of .30-30, and preferably a .30-06+. You need to look at the other M1 to get the job done (joking, it is way too heavy and unwieldy IMO).

 

[Dr_2_B]

Funny, my fondness for the 30 carbine makes me want to say yes. But no. 30-06 would be hard to beat.

 

[SwordRapier]

That's sort of what I thought. I didn't expect a positive answer.

 

[tju1973]

Would you hunt with a .32 SW Long? That is what you more or less have with the .30 carbine, although it should do better in a carbine than out of a pistol..I may try a whitetail up close-- under 50 yards-- way under, but no elk hunting with it...My dad and I did take a few yotes with his Inland though, but again, that was usually around 50 yards or less...

 

[nathan]

If in close range , that .30 carbine in the right spot can kill a moose or elk. Shoot the head.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

If in close range , that .30 carbine in the right spot can kill a moose or elk. Shoot the head.

Great, just what the world needs, other moose with it's jaw or eye shot out.

 

[natman]

Would you hunt with a .32 SW Long? That is what you more or less have with the .30 carbine, although it should do better in a carbine than out of a pistol..

It does considerably better than a 32 S&W, which launches a 100 grain bullet at about 700 fps. An M1 Carbine propels a 110 grain bullet 1900 fps, a 1200 fps difference.

That said, it's still not powerful enough for practical deer hunting, much less elk.

 

[amd6547]

If the deer is one you would attempt at reasonable range with a 357mag handgun, the 30 carbine should do fine. Elk, no way.

 

[X-Rap]

If in close range , that .30 carbine in the right spot can kill a moose or elk. Shoot the head.

Great, just what the world needs, other moose with it's jaw or eye shot out.
__________________

Out of those two quotes I'll go along with the guy who lives with them.

 

[CZguy]

If the deer is one you would attempt at reasonable range with a 357mag handgun, the 30 carbine should do fine.

On paper the ballistics do look adequate (just)................but real world experience has taught me otherwise.

 

[X-Rap]

The .30cab is best at a pest shooter and expensive plinker. From a Blackhawk they are the most painful handgun round I have ever shot as far as the sound goes.

 

[Maverick223]

The .30cab is best at a pest shooter and expensive plinker.

I disagree, the cartridge is much more capable than many believe. It has sufficient power for small deer, and makes a great HD round. That said, there is nothing you can do to make it a moose or elk rifle.

 

[X-Rap]

Yes at short range it will fall into any number of handgun calibers that can take a deer if need be. I would say it falls at the low end of useable as a hunting round much like the 25,32,and 380 does for defence.
It may be simplistic on my part but I try to segregate calibers as to their best use, if nothing else it is a realistic way to view suitability, at least to me.

 

[Maverick223]

I would say it falls at the low end of useable as a hunting round much like the 25,32,and 380 does for defence.

I will agree with that, but not your choice of "defense rounds". I believe that the .25ACP is completely unsuitable for defensive applications...the .32 is alright, the .380 is pretty good (I carry one), but the .30 Carbine is staggering in comparison, and therefore makes a great defensive round (when in a HD capacity, due to the size of available guns). Lets look at the numbers:

25ACP: 50gr @ 750fps = 65ft/lb
32ACP: 60gr @ 975fps = 125ft/lb
380ACP: 90gr @ 1000fps = 200ft/lb (Note: Hyper Velocity .22lr can match this)

Now the .30 Carbine: 110gr @ 2000fps = 875ft/lb

Make mine the last one.

 

[USSR]

If the deer is one you would attempt at reasonable range with a 357mag handgun, the 30 carbine should do fine.

I've killed several deer with a .357 handgun; they ain't that hard to kill.

Don

 

[Art Eatman]

Enuf. This is another of those threads about the M1 Carbine which have shown up numerous times.