Capabilities of a 30-30

mikeystew

mikeystew

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Im sure this will be a highly contested subject...
When i was a kid my old man used to hunt deer and moose with his 30-30. he took me on deer hunts, but was always gone for too long moose hunting for me to attend because it was during the school season. Now, that being said it seems as though everyone these days craps on the 30-30 as an underpowered lil' brother of todays large bore rifles. "only good for medium game" some say. "Bounces off the hide of big game" say others. While I've also heard/read stories of people effectively hunting much larger animals such as bear and cariboo with it.
So what's the deal then? Are people resigned to bigger is better? In 100 years will people be saying "that 303 british wouldn't be enough gun for mule deer, ya need a 50bmg AT LEAST!" Or is it as my father, and nearly every other hunter 50-100 years ago believed. That a 30-30 used within it's effective range (under 100m) will effectively kill anything North America has to offer... and then some?
 
I think it's a great cartridge if you respect the distances it should be used at. I wouldn't use it with the intent to hunt moose, but anything up to black bear within a reasonable range.... 150 yards, or so.

(Not saying It couldn't be used, just that I wouldn't)
 
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I agree. The 30-30 is a very capable cartridge that is easy to find at just about every corner store. The rifles are super economically priced (Used) and available in most actions. Firearms purchasing/collecting and hunting folks are from different walks. There's the guy that buys a good old proven, economical iron like the 30-30 lever gun and the guy that maybe buys a 30-06 for a larger horsepower rig then there's guys like me that spend all of their free time chasing the perfect rifle and usually never finding it. Bottom line 30-30's are great multifaceted rifles and they kill stuff reliably at reasonable ranges.
 
I tested the 30-30 quite a bit after I found a great Stevens 325B for boat trips. The 170 grain FP are great penetrators. Bullet action is super at close range. They also stop expanding past 150-175 yards or so.

In the Stevens I use 125 grain Sierras for caribou and they work out to 200+ yards.
 
I'd be willing to be more North American large game has been taken with the 30-30 cartridge in the past 100+ years than any other, if not all others combined. There is nothing wrong with it, and it will drop moose. Yea, a 300 win mag will drop them quicker.....a 338 wm will drop them faster again....then the 50bmg.....23mm anti aircraft......where the hell do you stop ???

Look at history guys. My uncle has been hunting deer, bear and moose with the same Winchester model 94 lever for probably 50 years now, and he never comes home empty handed.
 
I just had this discussion somewhere else...

This weekend (unless the heat screws things up) I am going for Elk and Bear and I am packing a 30/30.

The 30/30 requires a particular hunting style,...you are not going to shoot elk at 300 yrds... but if you like getting up close and personal, stalker type,..30/30 will put any NA animal in the freezer..

As I said in another post, my 30/30 has killed Elk, Moose, Bear, Seal, Walrus, Whale, Jackrabbits,Caribou, coyote, .... some half wit on an internet forum can't change that...
 
jeez, sealhunter, My 30-30 has killed plenty of deer but walrus?? and.........uh...now I don't know about sask flatlands but........uh .........I don't think it's legal to shoot whales out here in B.C>.

Back on topic

The good old 30-30/30wcf has worked just fine for the last hundred or so years and will keep working for at least another hundred years.
 
A true Story --> mine

A long time ago I went on a moose hunt with a model 94 30-30
150g factory loads and do to having to load and un load it all the time so only loaded 5 rounds, and to be safe chamber empty

so went in to the woods did lits of walking saw a moose (75 paced yards)
shot 2 1/2 year old moose
down went moose 25 feet from where first shot fired
5 rounds 7 holes in hide when skined (right through the ribs)
buddy on other side of hill said it sounded like a semi

moose steak, moose roast, and moose on the BBQ:)


if i had to walk 5- 10 miles it is what i would carry:D
 
:rolleyes:Lordy.

Of course bigger is better! And for Pete's sake, this is CGN! Don't be carrying on about your ballistic inadequacies here. It's embarrassing to the rest of us "real" men.

Ammo at every corner store? WTF kind of gunnut would be caught muttering words like that? Gunnutz either don't care what ammo costs ('cept bulk .22;)) or we make our own!

Go back to your closets with your sissy 30-30s!

Or do you need a hug first?
 
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Im not knocking bow hunters in any way here... but i find it strange how some people will put down a 30-30 for being inhumane for large game, but so many people hunt moose etc...with a bow. if you compare foot lbs btwn a 30-30 and an arrow it looks like this; an arrow at 300fps with a 420 grain arrow delivers a whopping 78 ft lbs of energy at 20 yds. Granted it slices things up on its way through if you dont hit bone.
A 170 grain bullet from a 30-30 going btwn 2200-1890 fps delivers about 1850-1350 ft lbs of energy within 100 yds. Am i missing something here? I know arrows have killing power, it has been proven, although it seems blood trailing is common. but if the point is to simply kill the animal i think i'd be pickin up my 30- before a bow if a moose wandered into my backyard. Unless i fancied going for a long walk for tough meat. Just my opinion, Not pickin a fight here.
 
30-30 kills because of low impact speed, bullet doesn't violently expand and decelerate.

take a box of Winchester power point 150gr 30-30 and a box of
150 gr 7mag power points and let me know which one penetrates further.

hint . . . .you will be suprised
 
blacksmithden said:
I'd be willing to be more North American large game has been taken with the 30-30 cartridge in the past 100+ years than any other, if not all others combined. There is nothing wrong with it, and it will drop moose. Yea, a 300 win mag will drop them quicker.....a 338 wm will drop them faster again....then the 50bmg.....23mm anti aircraft......where the hell do you stop ???

Look at history guys. My uncle has been hunting deer, bear and moose with the same Winchester model 94 lever for probably 50 years now, and he never comes home empty handed.
Click to expand...

I don't know about that the good old tree oh tree would put up some good numbers too I would guess.
 
TBMH said:
I still wanna know about this walrus and whale...............
Click to expand...

Well, it was like this. It was about 10 pm and I was heading out into the parking lot to my car. I was just about there when this baluga steps out from behind a truck, points a fish at me and tells me he wants my wallet. I got past him (belugas aren't very fast on land) and got my trusty win 94 truck gun out and plugged him 7 or 8 times. Put a cork in his blowhole for good measure.

P.S. My local gun store/mens hideout had a neat old article about the game taken and guns used in an area in one season over 1939 I think. 30/30 was the top ranking gun or something like that for elk. 30-06 came second or third. Goes to show you.
 
H Wally said:
Well, it was like this. It was about 10 pm and I was heading out into the parking lot to my car. I was just about there when this baluga steps out from behind a truck, points a fish at me and tells me he wants my wallet. I got past him (belugas aren't very fast on land) and got my trusty win 94 truck gun out and plugged him 7 or 8 times. Put a cork in his blowhole for good measure.
Click to expand...

..............And the funniest thing I've read on CGN.:bigHug:
 
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