Why is .30-30 not used in bolt actions?

[ocabj]

I only recently bought my first 30-30, and it's was technically only a 14" barrel for my G2 Contender pistol.

I think the 30-30 cartridge is fine cartridge for short range knock down power (and that's why I'm using it for silhouette).

Basically, the reason why you don't see 30-30 in bolt guns is because of history. The 30-30 designed in the era of lever guns.

I think putting into a bolt action doesn't make sense from a commercial standpoint. After bolt actions became common, there was already a 30 caliber cartridge to fit the commercial market: .30-06.

For a commercial manufacturer to mass produce a bolt action factory rifle in 30-30 isn't the most feasible thing to do. Again, there's nothing wrong with the 30-30, but there are already other cartridges that are more popular that will fit the bill. I'm sure some people will buy one, but I doubt there is enough demand to warrant a manufacturer to tool up for it. And if someone wanted a 30-30 in a bolt gun that bad, I'm sure they could get a barrel chambered in 30-30 for their favorite action.

 

[Cosmoline]

The .30/30 has in fact been chambered in everything from custom drillings to bolt actions. Some have been better sellers than others. But the .30/30 and Win '94 combination have simply been too perfect for any other form to outmatch over the century. And as was pointed out, there are more powerful cartridges available for the bolt actions.

 

[Surefire]

I understand that there are .30-06 and .308s, etc., but IMO the .30-30 offers light recoil (if a good recoil padd is used) and good stopping power (for hunting) out to 100 yards. I cannot think of a bolt action .30 caliber round that also offers this--every .30 cal round I've tried designed for bolt-actions has relatively sharp recoil. Controllable, yes, but not necessarily comfortbable for newbie rifle shooters. I've never gotten use to a lot of recoil on my shoulders--probably because most of my life I've been a handgun shooter exclusively.

I've finally decided that I'd like to branch out more and include shotguns and rifles in my shooting more often.

 

[Cosmoline]

There are many bolt actions which offer lighter recoil, though most of them are in the 6.5mm to 7mm range not .30 caliber. When you can use spitzer shaped bullets with a higher SD and BC, you simply don't need to make them as wide. As far as recoil, the bolt action equivalent to a .30-30 is a 6.5 Swedish Mauser or 7mm08.

 

[mustanger98]

arizona:

mustanger said:

"If I hold it with my hand under the forearm like the design calls for, it does very well."

I have not heard of this...please go into more detail. Perhaps understanding exactly what you mean by "your hand under the forearm" will help with my accuracy.

Is there a certain way you place your hand..a certain area?

It's not a certain way of placing the hand so much as you have to support the rifle under the forward wood because of the way the rifle is built. Try supporting with your offhand under the receiver and there's something about the tube magazine and barrel and the way they're held together that'll allow the rifle to group all over the place more like a shotgun's pattern. But support it with your offhand under the forward wood and, provided you're steady and do your part, the rifle will do very well.

It seems every type of rifle has some intricacy or something of it's design that dictates it be handled a little different. This detail is my experience with the repeating Winchesters.