My first "Deer" rifle.

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TASimpson

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I have wanted a deer hunting rifle for a long time and had been mentioning it to my father-in-law. I had come close to buying a 30-30 but he assured me he had plenty of guns I could barrow when I came to his house for deer season. Low and behold he bought me this rifle for Christmas.

Its a Savage model 111 30-06 with a Simmons scope. It has the accu-trigger which I am a little cautious about messing with until I am more accustom to this rifle.

I shot two deer with it before season was out and boy did it feel nice to drop one at the edge of the wood line rather than have to wait for it to come within shotgun range of the stand.

Before this the only rifle I was familiar with shooting was a AR-15 .223 with an EOTECH optic. WHAT A DIFFERENCE IN KICK!!! Anyway, I would like to one day get a good brush gun (don't know about 30-30 anymore, they say its under powered) but I'm sure this will meet my needs for a while.

I would like to hear some thoughts, advice, good ammo, troubles, basically any thing you have to say about this rifle and caliber (good&bad).
 

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Welcome!
A good brush gun might be one of the Marlin lever actions in 45-70, 444 Marlin, the 1895M in 450 Marlin is an excellent rig.

Also the Marlin Express rifles in 308 or the hammer 338 Marlin is superb!

I like the 338MXLR(stainless with a 24" Bbl) or the 338 MX(20" blued), and one of the guide guns in 450 Marlin 1895M(18 1/2" Bbl. blued).
 
Very nice setup, especially for a first deer rifle! While I'm not a Savage expert, the .30-06 is a classic cartridge, and Savages have a great reputation for out-of-the-box accuracy. You'll just have to test a variety of ammo to find out which your gun likes best, but anything from 150 grain to 200 grain will do fine for deer. I'd opt for 150 or 165 grainers, personally. But you have lots of options, which expand greatly if you get into reloading.

The .30-30 is also a classic cartridge, and lever actions make great brush guns. In my opinion, anyone who thinks the .30-30 is underpowered for this application doesn't know what he or she is talking about. The .30-30 is a great deer round.

That said, if you want a fast-handling brush gun that shares ammo with your Savage, take a look at the Remington 7600 carbine in .30-06. It, too, is a great brush gun.

But enjoy the Savage. If you do your part, you may find that it's all you need for deer hunting--that you don't need a dedicated brush gun.
 
30-30 isn't underpowered, just keep them within a range that you are comfortable with. Any of the carbine levers make great brush guns. The 30-30 would probably be the lightest on the recoil and your wallet. Just watch for them to show up used, should be able to get one in decent shape for 200ish (people seem to be holding onto them more nowadays)

Congrats on the 06, its a bit much for deer, but it does the trick everytime and I love hitting them with mine.
 
That's a fine rifle, chambered for a fine round, with a crappy scope that'll work for now; but I'd save up some cash and buy a better scope. JMHO.
 
The rifles are good. If the scope is the one that came on it as a package, you're gonna want to upgrade most likely. They're pretty mediocre. A Leupold VX-II 3-9 should only set you back about $250, and will last a lifetime.

As for the .30-30 as a brush gun, it's fine. It's ~150 yard deer cartridge. It is probably responsibe for dropping more bambis than any other cartridge, and will continue to serve that purpose for the forseeable future for a great many hunters. It's just not a good round out here in the Western states, where that big buck may be 400 yards or more and not stalkable. This is .25-06 country, with the expansive praires and the rocky mountains.
 
What you have is fine and will last you an lifetime. It will take deer in the brush or the on the plains. Just remember to use your outdoor skills to get close for a shot and then practice enough to be able to make your shot. Which it sounds like you do. Congrats on a good father-in-law and 2 nice deer.
ll
 
You know, when I thought "deer rifle" and "brush gun" I automatically thought leaver-action 30-30. Thats why I was going to buy one. At around $200ish used I still will.

My father-in-law got me this because he said I would not have to worry as much about knock down power at even the longest distance of any of his stands. "If you can see it, and hit it, you will kill it" I think were his exact words.

After skinning one out I can see the power of the round its self. I hit too far forward in the shoulders and tore them both up (its a shame because my wife makes a fine roast out of them). I still don't know how the animal ran anywhere with splintered bones and hamburger for legs but we did have to look for it because it did not drop, it stumbled and ran into the under growth.

Needles to say, I was thankful for and pleased with the rifle.
 
Anyway, I would like to one day get a good brush gun (don't know about 30-30 anymore, they say its under powered)
Click to expand...

The 30-30 is the perfect brush gun. Brush, by definition, usually limits shooting distance to inside 100 yards. This is where the 30-30 shines the brightest.
 
I would say that the 30-06 you have is one of the best choices for an "All Around" or "One Rifle" that you could possibly get. You can take any game in North America with it. Savage has been gathering quite a following in recent years, especially since they added the accutrigger. I do not personally own one, but from what I have read they are very accurate and very fine rifles. If I were in the market for another rifle, I would have the Savage at or near the top of the list.

In regard to the 30-30... As others have stated. It is not underpowered. They are just not as accurate as a bolt caliber is at distances above 200 yards. This by definition would not affect the use as a brush gun. Your shots won't be that far in the brush anyway. I think it would be a perfect choice, if you really need one. Your Savage that you received at Christmas will work also. Just put the scope down to it's lowest magnification and use it that way. That's what I do.

Awesome job on those 2 deer. I am still waiting to down my first one. I have not been successful yet, but I have only hunted one deer season and one elk season so far, and i had to plan the whole hunt by myself. I don't know what I am doing, so unless I get more help or can go with someone who knows how, I don't expect better results in the near future.

Enjoy that new rifle!

Mikey!
 
You got gifted a versatile caliber. Like said above, the practical of us understand you don't really need any more powerful gun than this for hunting in North America. If your hunting will be short distance and you dislike recoil you can use something as low as Remington's 125 gr. managed recoil loads (spec. for deer). If you want more distance/power, then regular 125 gr.'s, 150's and on up.

Someone would probly recommend a Nikon Prostaff scope at around $125-150 (best value scope), but I'm not familiar with yours you currently own.

You can use whatever ammo you want and find is accurate. If it's only deer, and not elk/moose/bear, then you don't need the premium ammo, as such. As far as a brush gun desire, throw in fat 220 gr. rounds in your gun and you got what I use in heavy timber for bear.
 
Another nice thing about the 30-30 Winchester lever action is that the are light and compact. If you are talking about really thick brush they are great for that. Easy to handle and point, will not break your shoulder to shoot or carry. For open country deer the 30-06 is as good as it gets. Those to cartridges account for more deer than all others combined. I don't have the stats to back that though and lotsa guys will argue thier pet round is better.
 
I apologize about my poor choice of wording in saying the 30-30 was "under powered". Being unexperienced in rifles I had been talking with different hunters at work and regurgitated those words from one guy that insisted I get a .270. In talking with other guys I got every thing thrown at me from 35 Remington to 45-70 and I'm not sure what all of that means. From reading your post I am convinced that 30-30 is a must have oldie-but-goody. I also appreciate the positive feedback on the 30-06.
 
30-30 is great, and I believe 35 remington is just one notch up in power?

I never see 35 remington for sale and 30-30 is cheap and fun, I have a marlin 336c, i highly recommend it
 
I have both the 30-06 and .30-30, hit them in the right spot at 100 yds and the deer drop and don't know the difference. You have a great rifle, now get a good scope. I second the Nikon!
 
Congrats on the new rifle. I've never owned a Savage, but I've heard nothing but good things about them. And you are absolutely right. The .30-30 is an oldie but goodie. Just know it's limitations. It has about the same energy at it's normal 100 yard range as a .300 Win Mag does at 400 yards, where it is often asked to kill.
 
Or hell, any of the levers will work. The 30-30 is a good gun, so is a lever 44mag, 45 colt, 444 marlin, 45/70, or 450 marlin. The big bores will have enough power to down anything in the US, unless its at a zoo. The 30/30 is great for the brush, as are the bigger pistol cartridges. A 454 cassull would also make a dandy brush lever gun.

The main kicker with the 30-30 is availability, lower recoil, and the fact that its cheaper to shoot. I love my 45/70, but its about $1.25 a round, so I don't plink with it, but I do take it into the woods, or on the pigs hunts.

FWIW, once you go big bore, you might not come back.
 
The nice thing about your 30-06 is that you could hunt every big game animal on this continent(and most in africa) and never NEED another rifle. (Want is entirely different :D). I'd suggest getting a better scope when you have some free cash, and practicing at your local range as frequently as you can.

As for the 30-30, if you won't be shooting past 200 yds, it will do just fine.
I'd suggest a Marlin 336, personally.
 
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