Why Do some guys bad mouth the .30-30?
- Thread starter blgoode
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There`s nothing wrong with a 30-30.You just have to consider it`s strengths and weaknesses(just like any other caliber)Personally,I have taken countless deer along with fox coyote and other small game with the 30-30.The 336 is a good rifle,and hornadys Leverloution ammo makes it even better,good luck.
Sniper4Life
Member
If you are hunting in brush, and the most you will be shooting is 150yds max. It is a great caliber but after that it just drops to much for lack of aredynamics. I had a bolt 30-30 that I sold, I handloaded 168 sierra matchkings in it and hit tin cans at 300 but with a lever gun you try that............
:banghead:
:banghead:Steve Wynn
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The 30-30 is terribly underated....especially in a T-C Contender/Encore. It is extremely accurate if you do a bit of experimenting. Back in the late 70's early 80's I consistantly got 4-6 inch groups at 200 meters shooting IHMSA silhouettes.
Steve
Steve
The_Shootist
Member
Dunno
But I bet many a grizzy bear rug had some 30-30 origins to it.....you know, back in prehistoric times like the late 1800's before they ever heard of any of ultra magnums.
But I bet many a grizzy bear rug had some 30-30 origins to it.....you know, back in prehistoric times like the late 1800's before they ever heard of any of ultra magnums.
MCgunner
Member
Ain't nothin' wrong with the world's most successful deer caliber. 
With the new "leverlution" stuff, it's a 300 yard deer/black bear rifle. And, the rifles can be amazingly accurate considering the design of lever guns, hunting accurate anyway. It's an accurate caliber. I had a Savage M340 bolt gun that would shoot 1 MOA with a wide variety of loads fed it. I shoot it in my Contender and took a spike with it a little over a week ago. I've got a bit of a history with the caliber. I don't know how you could have the history with it that I have and knock the caliber and the Marlin 336 and Winchester 94 are the definition of "deer rifle" for an awful lot of folks. They are light, handy, accurate enough, and fast to the eye and on the reload.
We have an old boy in our gun club down here that was once an Inuit "Indian agent" in Alaska after he served in WW2. He said the Inuits there used .30-30 for everything they took and they hunted for food. I guess it beat spears, eh? He says they just knew where to shoot 'em. Back then, if a general store had ammo, they had .30-30. Little has changed in that regard I reckon.
Can't go wrong with a .308, either. That's the caliber my favorite hunting rifle is chambered for.
With the new "leverlution" stuff, it's a 300 yard deer/black bear rifle. And, the rifles can be amazingly accurate considering the design of lever guns, hunting accurate anyway. It's an accurate caliber. I had a Savage M340 bolt gun that would shoot 1 MOA with a wide variety of loads fed it. I shoot it in my Contender and took a spike with it a little over a week ago. I've got a bit of a history with the caliber. I don't know how you could have the history with it that I have and knock the caliber and the Marlin 336 and Winchester 94 are the definition of "deer rifle" for an awful lot of folks. They are light, handy, accurate enough, and fast to the eye and on the reload.We have an old boy in our gun club down here that was once an Inuit "Indian agent" in Alaska after he served in WW2. He said the Inuits there used .30-30 for everything they took and they hunted for food. I guess it beat spears, eh? He says they just knew where to shoot 'em. Back then, if a general store had ammo, they had .30-30. Little has changed in that regard I reckon.
Can't go wrong with a .308, either. That's the caliber my favorite hunting rifle is chambered for.
Froggy
Member
Hear, hear! Improved ballistics has really helped that old workhorse get some range. But most deer are taken at pretty short ranges, especially over there in NC, I'll wager. I hunted down in the Piedmont area of the state for many years with an iron-sighted .30-30 and it gave a pretty good account of itself.
Decisions, decisions! Either way you go, you'll be happy. You've already put your finger on the real question.... which one to get first?
My first deer rifle was a .30-30.... the second one was a .308. I still have both of them.
Skywarp
member
It's an OK round as long as you realise its limits.
A scout 308 with a LER scope would be a fun project and an amazing shooter.
A scout 308 with a LER scope would be a fun project and an amazing shooter.
SSN Vet
Member
upgrades to my 336C....
I'm shopping around for a Williams Foolproof or a Lyman...
and...
a limbsaver......
I need to lengthen the LOP an inch or so....and....in all honesty...not being a big rifle guy...it bites a little more than I care for.
How does the 30-30 kick compare to say a Rem 700 in 30-06?
I'm shopping around for a Williams Foolproof or a Lyman...
and...
a limbsaver......
I need to lengthen the LOP an inch or so....and....in all honesty...not being a big rifle guy...it bites a little more than I care for.
How does the 30-30 kick compare to say a Rem 700 in 30-06?
rangerruck
Member
because it is basically the first , oldest , most ancient of smokeless, self contained rounds, and so many others are cooler, faster , etc. But they do the job , they do it very well, and they do it in a sleek , fun, inexpensive package, especially the winnys, they are so smooth , and sleek, and light. Allthough if you are a leftie, the marlin is deff better for ejection. and yes, the leverevolution rounds will add about 100 meters to your shooting fun.
Someone above mentioned grizzly bears. I don't know if I'd put quite that much faith into a 30-30, but for 200 yards and in, its a pretty damn good deer and black bear gun.
And besides there's just something very cool and very American about a levergun.
And besides there's just something very cool and very American about a levergun.
crackerjack
Member
The 30/30 is a very good mediun range gun with less recoil than a 700 30/06. I pad my 30/06s but don't find the 30/30 needs it. Lever evloution(sp) is a significent improvement for added range and accuracy in my 336. In NC it is perceived by many as out dated under powered round but that is not limited to 30/30 . There is nothing in NC that I would feel under gunned with 30/30 at a reasonable range adjusted to animal weight. I think far too many suscribe to the theory that mags can offset poor shot placement. If you haven't try lever evluotion (sp) I encourage you to do so, you might me suprised and hit that soda can at 300 yds with a levergun (don't forget the win 88,Finnwolf, Savage 99). You want go wrong with either caliber and the 308 can do it futher ,establish the range limit you will accept and the $$ you want to spend.
Good Luck & Hope it helps
Good Luck & Hope it helps
db_tanker
Member
There isn't really a magazine that will shine praise upon the old 7.62x51R anymore...too many new fangled thangs out there to kill a critter 10 times deader than that old 30 WCF!
There have been 30-30's in my family for a few generations now. My oldest brother and I have fought over my dads old pre-64 trapper 30 WCF. He owns a 336, but swears that the little trapper is a much better rifle.
I refuse to make the comparison yet as I haven't purchased a 336 or 1894 Marlin, but regardless...with that rifle chambered in a 30-30, you won't have any problems bringing home dinner or a good trophy.
D
There have been 30-30's in my family for a few generations now. My oldest brother and I have fought over my dads old pre-64 trapper 30 WCF. He owns a 336, but swears that the little trapper is a much better rifle.
I refuse to make the comparison yet as I haven't purchased a 336 or 1894 Marlin, but regardless...with that rifle chambered in a 30-30, you won't have any problems bringing home dinner or a good trophy.
D
BobTheTomato
Member
Because its not a 300 super ultra dooper magnum round.
It gets the job done. But this is America land of the 7 bedroom home for the 3 person family and the 500 hp 9 seat SUV for the same family. People dont like things that arent ultra powerful.
It gets the job done. But this is America land of the 7 bedroom home for the 3 person family and the 500 hp 9 seat SUV for the same family. People dont like things that arent ultra powerful.
I guess I'm going to be my opinionated self and voice something else that's going to get me in trouble with the good old fashioned guys. I am of the opinion that the only reason the .30-30 is still around is tradition. Ballistically it's pretty mediocre. It's not cheap anymore, due to it's declining popularity. It hasn't been the number 1 deer slayer for decades, it may not even be a blip on the radar anymore. You can get cartridges that perform better, with a wider choice of guns chambered in it, with more availabilty, and at a better price. I think choosing this cartridge depends on how much value you place on tradition. That is the reason it's treated with reverence. Had it been a recent creation, all these same guys would be telling you how horrible it is. Flame suit on.
need to see everything from both sides too so no flaming from me. The thing I like as a first "Good" Rifle is that I can basically be set for $400 and ready to go. The other rifles I have been looking at are about twice that then you have to buy the scope. I will go that route at a later date but right now I am looking for a "Trunk" gun I can hunt with thats not as mean looking as my AR-15, and I cant really hunt anything with the AR of any size like a Deer.
Shawnee
member
Hi Razorburn...
LOL! Nobody's going to flame you, RB - because, in large part, you are absolutely correct. Lots of "thutty-thuttys" are sold mostly because of Tradition. And there isn't a thing wrong with that - as many Colt SSA owners and 57 Chevy owners and Bed & Breakfast owners etc. will assure us.
And fact is - the lever gun in 30-30 it isn't a bad tradition at all. It's "mediocre ballisitics" are only mediocre to people who hunt with the numbers. Large numbers of deer still fall to it every year.
And perhaps I need my flame suit for saying this...
I've had the opportunity to observe the shooting of lots of riflemen/deerhunters - as in hundreds of them - and many, many of them should never take a shot at a live animal beyond 30-30 range under hunting conditions and I don'ty care what magnum they have or which 80x scope they have or how much they paid for it or how well they have memorized the ballisitics tables and drop charts or how many small groups they can shoot off the bench or how "bad" their rig looks or whether their name is Alvin York IV, or anything else.
An Thass a Fac, Jac.
Local opinions may vary.
LOL! Nobody's going to flame you, RB - because, in large part, you are absolutely correct. Lots of "thutty-thuttys" are sold mostly because of Tradition. And there isn't a thing wrong with that - as many Colt SSA owners and 57 Chevy owners and Bed & Breakfast owners etc. will assure us.
And fact is - the lever gun in 30-30 it isn't a bad tradition at all. It's "mediocre ballisitics" are only mediocre to people who hunt with the numbers. Large numbers of deer still fall to it every year.
And perhaps I need my flame suit for saying this...
I've had the opportunity to observe the shooting of lots of riflemen/deerhunters - as in hundreds of them - and many, many of them should never take a shot at a live animal beyond 30-30 range under hunting conditions and I don'ty care what magnum they have or which 80x scope they have or how much they paid for it or how well they have memorized the ballisitics tables and drop charts or how many small groups they can shoot off the bench or how "bad" their rig looks or whether their name is Alvin York IV, or anything else.
An Thass a Fac, Jac.
Local opinions may vary.
tuck2
Member
I have an old 30 W.C.F. (30-30) saddle ring 94 Winchester. With 150 Gr bullets its good for deer out to about 150 Yds.but my 99 Savage 308 Win with 165 Gr bullet hand loads will get em at longer ranges.
db_tanker
Member
last time I checked you can get four flavors of 30-30 at Wally World here locally for under 15 dollars a box. can do the same at Academy with 5 diffrent flavors.
Do that with the super duper short action utra max magnums...
hell, some of those boxes of ammo run pretty close to what I have paid for a RIFLE!
which is why I now reload.
D
Do that with the super duper short action utra max magnums...
hell, some of those boxes of ammo run pretty close to what I have paid for a RIFLE!
which is why I now reload.
D
MCgunner
Member
I'm convinced that every rifle round that comes on the market now days is redundant, just marketed to boost sales. I mean, you just HAVE to use the latest and greatest short magnum. You are inadequately armed with a normal old .30-06 or .30-30 or .308 or what not.
Well, I don't even keep up with all the short magnums. I used to be on top of every development in firearms and some of 'em had merit, like the short action light rifle craze that beget the short magnums in the first place. I love my little M7 Remington, light and handy. But, that's a rifle, not a caliber. Everything that needed doing got done as far as calibers in North America are concerned IMHO. I ain't interested. I have reams of ballistic charts for my firearms and have compared the latest and greatest and know my limits afield and frankly, my .308 will kill anything I wanna kill to my range limits shy of 400 yards. Yeah, my 7 mag is a little flatter and lays down one heck of a lot more energy out at range, but I hunt nothing bigger than deer and hogs. I could live without that 7 mag, but I thought I was going elk hunting when I bought it and the biggest caliber I had at the time was a .257 Roberts, so it was a good purchase at the time.
In my old age, I've settled on my calibers. I'm not enticed by the latest, greatest stuff. I'll probably not buy another rifle, but if I do, it just could be a lever action .30-30 because I don't have one and they're traditional. It's almost like a handgun collection that is missing a 4" .357 Magnum revolver not having a .30-30 lever in my collection. But, truthfully, I love that M7 so much in .308, I doubt I'll ever use anything else in my rifle collection for hunting. That one rifle gets it done for me. They make it in short magnum calibers now. I still prefer the .308. Why would I need more on hogs or deer? Hell, I could elk hunt with the .308, not a bad choice, really, for elk to 300 yards with a Barnes bullet. I don't need no stinkin' short magnums. Considering what I hunt and the ranges I hunt 'em at, an accurate .30-30 is really all I need. My hunting needs were answered in 1894, yet every year the gun rags tell me I need more. Ah, marketing....
Well, I don't even keep up with all the short magnums. I used to be on top of every development in firearms and some of 'em had merit, like the short action light rifle craze that beget the short magnums in the first place. I love my little M7 Remington, light and handy. But, that's a rifle, not a caliber. Everything that needed doing got done as far as calibers in North America are concerned IMHO. I ain't interested. I have reams of ballistic charts for my firearms and have compared the latest and greatest and know my limits afield and frankly, my .308 will kill anything I wanna kill to my range limits shy of 400 yards. Yeah, my 7 mag is a little flatter and lays down one heck of a lot more energy out at range, but I hunt nothing bigger than deer and hogs.
I could live without that 7 mag, but I thought I was going elk hunting when I bought it and the biggest caliber I had at the time was a .257 Roberts, so it was a good purchase at the time.In my old age, I've settled on my calibers. I'm not enticed by the latest, greatest stuff. I'll probably not buy another rifle, but if I do, it just could be a lever action .30-30 because I don't have one and they're traditional. It's almost like a handgun collection that is missing a 4" .357 Magnum revolver not having a .30-30 lever in my collection. But, truthfully, I love that M7 so much in .308, I doubt I'll ever use anything else in my rifle collection for hunting. That one rifle gets it done for me. They make it in short magnum calibers now. I still prefer the .308. Why would I need more on hogs or deer? Hell, I could elk hunt with the .308, not a bad choice, really, for elk to 300 yards with a Barnes bullet. I don't need no stinkin' short magnums. Considering what I hunt and the ranges I hunt 'em at, an accurate .30-30 is really all I need. My hunting needs were answered in 1894, yet every year the gun rags tell me I need more.
Ah, marketing....ID_shooting
Member
I have 3 big-game rifles sitting in my gun cabinet right now. My m70 30-06, my fathers (just handed down this year) m70 338wm, and my first rifle, an m94 30-30.
Up untill my eyes got worse, I had nothing but the 30-30 for big game. I have killed many critters with it and never felt out classed. When I felt I needed to use a scope I started the search for a bolt gun I like. I tried everything from .308 winchester to .300 Win Mag. I think 6 or 7 different rifle/caliber combinations. Was driving the wife nuts swapping out different guns every now and then for a few years. I did finally settle on 30-06 in an m70.
Today, I still shoot the 30-30 but I do hunt with the '06. The 338wm? It sits and collects dust. I have shot it a few times and just do not like it one bit. If it weren't a Factory Custom Shop rifle, I probably would have sold it by now.
Up untill my eyes got worse, I had nothing but the 30-30 for big game. I have killed many critters with it and never felt out classed. When I felt I needed to use a scope I started the search for a bolt gun I like. I tried everything from .308 winchester to .300 Win Mag. I think 6 or 7 different rifle/caliber combinations. Was driving the wife nuts swapping out different guns every now and then for a few years. I did finally settle on 30-06 in an m70.
Today, I still shoot the 30-30 but I do hunt with the '06. The 338wm? It sits and collects dust. I have shot it a few times and just do not like it one bit. If it weren't a Factory Custom Shop rifle, I probably would have sold it by now.
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