30/30 vs 243 recoil

two-dogs said:
hey, how are ya? Small world indeed! I guess you know Bev, she's so sweet! And Rick at Instead Auto Body? I prolly saw you at the chilly cook off night! How did Gary make out with all them doggies he has/had? He's quite the song writer/singer/dancer:)! Met him a few years back while ice fishing on Gull Lake.
Click to expand...

Yes, I sure do know Bev and Rick, lol! I haven't gone to the chili cook off, and don't think I know any Gary's.
 
two-dogs said:
OP, my oldest Jr just said he might have a gem for your 12 yr old daughter. It's a downsized Savage Light Weight Hunter model 11 in 260 Rem with a nice soft recoil pad. He says the 260 is very similar to that of the 243 for recoil. He bought it new and has has only fired a few rounds. He's not a 100% sure yet, if he will sell it. If he can acquire his brother's Browning Stainless Stalker 260, then he will sell the mod 11. If you are interested we could met and let your daughter fire it, just to get an idea of what it's like. She could also fire Jr's Browning Micro Medallion 243, to get an idea of that one. I imagine you know where the pit at the end of 94 is? A good place to set up. Just let me know any time.

EDIT: Just got home from the small city, went to mail out 2 rifles that sold on the EE today, stopped in at CTA & Walmart to look for some 257 Roberts. Your daughter can try out my Micro Medallion in that cartridge, if she would like to do so. They didn't have any, but I have still some Hornady +P on hand, it would be a wee bit hotter than the reg stuff, but the Bob is in no way a tooth loosener! We have a trip to Cabelas planned very soon to get an Archery bow set up for my grand-daughter for Christmas. I'll get some reg 257 ammo on that trip.
Click to expand...

I'd love to meet up and let her fire a couple rifles some time. I assume you're referring to the large pit by the power lines? That is a good place to shoot.
 
Thanks again for all the good advice. We'll be sure to wear good hearing protection, it's important for safety and a big help for marksmanship. I will be looking for some type of bolt action for smaller shooters, in 243. Time for a trip to the gun store to handle some youth rifles, lol!
 
stovepipe699 said:
Yes, I sure do know Bev and Rick, lol! I haven't gone to the chili cook off, and don't think I know any Gary's.
Click to expand...

if ya been around for awhile ya'll should know toe tapp'en/sing'en Mr. C with all the dogs! Yep, that's the pit, but I see it's starting to look like a dumping grounds! Sad, but I guess it's bound to be! Gee whiz, the garbage dump is just a stones throw from there, but of coarse folks gotta pay to dump there! Yep, just let me know when you and your daughter want to go.
 
I like the 30-30 but for me it's not a go to rifle. If she is only going to hunt whitetail deer then a 243 is a good choice. If she thinks that she may be interested in elk or moose then a 7mm08 wold be a better choice. The 7mm08 managed recoil loads are the first loads to sight in the rifle with. And she can get used to the kick with the reduced loads. Ear protection is a must for new shooters as the sound is one of the factors that can contribute to flinching. Out in the field not too many use ear protection - but it's good to use if one is set up in a blind and has time to put them on.
 
The handloader is in a position to maximize the versatility of any centerfire cartridge, including the .30/30. The most practical way to reduce recoil is to reduce bullet weight. In practical terms, a 7-08 (7X57, .280, 7 magnum) or a .30/30 (.308, .30/06, .300 magnum) can be handloaded to drive bullets weighing 125-130 gr to about 2600 fps. Recoil will be mild, and trajectory and terminal performance is suitable for deer sized game out to 300 yards.
 
I've always been partial to the 6.5x55, it punches way above it's weight class with low recoil.

It's what I started with and started my son on as well.

I just bought a zastava 6.5x55 from a member here that I'm setting up as my dedicated deer rifle.

My dad left his 30-06 to my son when he passed and I'll be loading some reduced loads for him until he's comfortable with full power.

As was stated above, hand loading opens up a lot of options and you're missing out if you don't do it.
 
07blackwater said:
I've always been partial to the 6.5x55, it punches way above it's weight class with low recoil.

It's what I started with and started my son on as well.

I just bought a zastava 6.5x55 from a member here that I'm setting up as my dedicated deer rifle.

My dad left his 30-06 to my son when he passed and I'll be loading some reduced loads for him until he's comfortable with full power.

As was stated above, hand loading opens up a lot of options and you're missing out if you don't do it.
Click to expand...

x 2 on this. I download my daughters 8 x 57 to decent levels for shootability too
 
WeatherdoG said:
I've seen a few people share a similar view, I wonder why that is? What is wrong with the 30-30 for new hunters/shooters? Actual curiosity, not being a donkey...
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with a .30/30... it is usually more of a "platform" thing... ie. most .30/30's are going to be 94's or 336's with iron sights, making them an under 150 yard proposition and perhaps WAY under 150 yards in the hands of a new shooter. Many other cartridges are going to be available in a bolt action conducive to scoping. Of course, you might find a bolt action .30/30 (340 or 788 etc...), or a single shot (No.1 etc...), but they are few and far between. There are better and more efficient cartridges to start out with. Having said this, 35+ years ago, I started with a 94 and buckhorns and shot five deer in under five minutes on my first morning deer hunting... so it's not like a .30/30 is a "wrong" choice... just not the "best" choice, for example; .257 Roberts, .260 Rem, 6.5X55, 7X57, 7mm-08 are all good mild cartridges, readily available in bolt action rifles and excellent for deer sized game. As has been pointed out... if you are a reloader you can load the .30/30 up a bit (LVR) and any of the others down a bit to achieve your own balance of recoil/energy.
 
My son shot his first deer with a 243. My buddy's daughter shot her first deer with a 257 roberts this fall. Both easy handled the recoil and clean kills. My daughter shot her first deer with my 7 Mag because she liked that gun, she shot it like a pro as well, but definately an exception.
 
WeatherdoG said:
I've seen a few people share a similar view, I wonder why that is? What is wrong with the 30-30 for new hunters/shooters? Actual curiosity, not being a donkey...
Click to expand...

Why start them with a cartridge that lacks flexibility? Sure it works in the woods at closer ranges, but it is a terrible choice if the open fields where the shots may be longer. Better to start a new hunter off with a cartridge that is suitable for all hunting conditions, and will still be used by the hunter for years to come? As well, the 30-30 rifles most often chosen ,are lever actions, which handle recoil very poorly.
 
stubblejumper said:
Why start them with a cartridge that lacks flexibility? Sure it works in the woods at closer ranges, but it is a terrible choice if the open fields where the shots may be longer. Better to start a new hunter off with a cartridge that is suitable for all hunting conditions, and will still be used by the hunter for years to come? As well, the 30-30 rifles most often chosen ,are lever actions, which handle recoil very poorly.
Click to expand...
Every time I shoot my savage 99c in 308, my fingers got cut by the handling which moves back to hit my hand. To me, it is bolt action all the way.
 
30-30 love is definitely more about an easy packing rifle than the calibre.

If I'm walking slashes or hunting fields and sloughs I definitely prefer a flatter shooting round.

Humping it through the thick bush I like to pack a lever action with open sights.

I have 444 marlin, 357 puma and model 94 winchester. Which I carry depends on what I'm hunting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom