Capabilities of a 30-30

popcan said:
Don't be silly, wolves can't use a 30-30.






.

BTW, I met someone you should talk to ... she thinks she was a wolf in her previous life...... seriously...... I mean it.....
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Where is she? Where is she?
Did you ever get my book?
 
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.
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Agree...first and foremost....Being aware of the rifle's abilities. The 30-30 was never intended to be a long range rifle....short, compact, designed to be carried in a scabbard or through thick brush. Sure, a 300WM will have more reach,...but I still take my Model 94 for deer, bear, and anything else.
 
By request
13589moose3_2005.jpg
 
Story for the pic
I was on a narrows leading to what we refer to as "the island". One of the guys passed me, and headed for the far end.
A short time later I heard a moose trotting towards me from his direction. I came over the hill behind me, and passed below me in the small ravine. At first I thought "cow" as I could see no horn, the leaves were still on the trees. But at 85 yards out, I finally saw horn, and took the shot. He dropped instantly, with a Unnngh.
By the time I got there, he was dead, and a poke in the eye confirmed that.
I never lost sight of him on my approach.
The bullet entered his back, close to his spine, crossed the lungs, and buried itself in the offside front shoulder. I estimated the penetration at 17to 18 inches.
The load was a grain or two under max, and was a Hornady interlock. (Surprise, no premium bullet)
The off side shoulder had a bloodshot section about 4 to 5 inches across, when we quartered it in camp. Even the magnum guys in camp were impressed.
On return to the area the following year I was surprised to find a sapling, maybe an inch thick broken off with a clear bullet hole, close to where the moose had been.
Did my bullet do that? or did it happen during the deer hunt? Can't say for sure.
Certainly, it is roughly in line with where my shot would have been.

Now my personal note of caution.
If you intend to use the 30-30 for game such as Moose or Elk, don't take stupid shots.
Right behind the shoulder is where you want to be.
 
30-30 was my first gun and I still love it today although I now only use it manly in the bush where I have no chance at a long range shot. Best shot was a white tail at 275 yards (paced). he droped right on the spot. If I remember right, because someone called BS on me when I told this story before, I believe the bullet still has 800 ft/lbs at that range. I think they say 900 ft/lbs for an ethical kill but Some earlier in this thread put up a good argument with the force off an arrow at 20 yards only being 75 ft/lbs. 30-30 is the gun that won the west! I have a lot of respect for that caliber. although I would keep shots within 200 yards with factory loads. I am impressed with the new lever revolution bullets but haven't tried them out and longer ranges. Very impressive bullet by the way with only a slight mark up in price from the average.
 
And before the 30-30, the 44-40 was 'the thing' when it came to hunting....I suppose its just the way of things when calibers get 'old'. The factor of course like everyone else is saying is distances. The farther out you go, the less effective ol' 30WCF is. I have always used 30-30, and 32 Win Special for hunting deer and would do it with moose when the time comes. I just started using 38-55 this year, which is also considered a good bear round still.

Its not like deer have armoured up any in the last 150 years....:p
 
Bittermansbro said:
And before the 30-30, the 44-40 was 'the thing' when it came to hunting....I suppose its just the way of things when calibers get 'old'. The factor of course like everyone else is saying is distances. The farther out you go, the less effective ol' 30WCF is. I have always used 30-30, and 32 Win Special for hunting deer and would do it with moose when the time comes. I just started using 38-55 this year, which is also considered a good bear round still.

Its not like deer have armoured up any in the last 150 years....:p
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How true on the popularity of certain cartridges, and the displacement of older less flatter trajectory rounds/rifles.
As a matter of fact when my mother was just a young girl growing up in Labrador, the popularity of new fangled 30-30 rifles/carbines, removed the 44-40 longarms to the back of the rifle rack.
These otherwise useful arms were not discarded though. When and if the primary hunter of the family bought a 30-30 or 303 british or 303 savage, the 44-40s were sometimes left in remote area hunting/trapping cabins stored beside the stove, or left home while the men were away hunting, to take care of hungry polar bears or errant sleg dogs.
Mother remembers her mother shooting at a polar bear who wanted into the cabin, via the ceiling.
The 44-40 carbine was put to good use.
It's not in anyone's memory now if the bear was killed, or most likely just driven off.

Nothing was thrown away, unless totally beyond repair then.
 
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.

I am calling :bsFlag: LOL!!! Definetly one of the funniest stories ever told.
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If I was hunting bear or moose, particularly bear I would probably use some thing a little heavier but that being said, my dad shot a fairly large bear with his 30-30. The first shot broke his front shoulder and he sat on his arse bawling. The second shot was a head shot. I have shot two smaller bear with the same rifle. They are a fine gun to carry.
 
The 30.30 of my grandfather put moose,deer and bear on the table.
The 30.30 of my father did the same.
Mine does the same.

With the advancement of ballistics and materials and bullets and so on, development of calibers and optics, it is agreed that the 30.30 has fallen to the side as a preferred hunter of large game. But do not discredit its capabilities, it earned its spot well and has been a proven go-to rifle for many, for many years.
 
M37-1.jpg


Capable of 260 yards with 150 grain winchester silvertip. (high sight-in)

The 22nd of November 2005, Cold Lake Petroleum Oilfields area, one shot needed only.
This Winchester Carbine was passed on to me from my father.
It was his first deer rifle he purchased new in Canada, year of 1966, from the CFB Shearwater Canex.
This rifle was made in 1956.
 
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