Taking elk with 30-30?

In Oregon while in high school I shot elk with a very early 30-30 with iron sights and was always able to drop them with one placed shot:dancingbanana: . I have take most big game with the same 30-30 except griz. With newer more powerful cartridges today should be no problem at all. But I would have to say range is limited as far as diminishing energy goes. The rifle still hits paper at 250 with iron sights today.
 
.30.30 with a 150 grain Federal factory round nose

75 yds front chest shot, one lung left the building, he walked 30 feet back in the direction that he came and went clunk.

Oh, that was with a Marlin 336cs made in 1951
 
I'd like to thank you guys for your input and comments. Its obvious this 100 year old rifle and cartridge definately has the potential to deliver killing power for deer, elk and moose then and now. All that realy matters is the 30-30 range limitations and how good of a shot you are in directing the bullet to a vital spot. Again thank you for your input
 
The only animal I've ever shot and not recovered was a moose shot with a 30.30. The shot knocked him down from 50 yards he then struggled to his feet took two steps into the bush and I never saw him again, even though I seached the rest of the day and came back with a dog the next day. So from my perspective the 30.30 sucks. I guess it depends on your personal experiences. :(
 
My_Ram said:
The only animal I've ever shot and not recovered was a moose shot with a 30.30. The shot knocked him down from 50 yards he then struggled to his feet took two steps into the bush and I never saw him again, even though I seached the rest of the day and came back with a dog the next day. So from my perspective the 30.30 sucks. I guess it depends on your personal experiences. :(
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A few years back I hunted with a guy that did the same thing on a calf moose with a 30-06. We tracked it for days, never got it.
Shot placement is everything.
 
I just bought a Marlin 30-30 (coming next week I hope) I also ordered some Hornady LEVERevolution ammo for it. I plan to use it for deer, bear and whatever. I doubt if I will ever get on an elk hunt, at least not while at my current job/location.

I know a guy who shoots alot of Elk with a .222








OK, they are farmed Elk, shot at close range, right behind the ear.
 
My_Ram said:
The only animal I've ever shot and not recovered was a moose shot with a 30.30. The shot knocked him down from 50 yards he then struggled to his feet took two steps into the bush and I never saw him again, even though I seached the rest of the day and came back with a dog the next day. So from my perspective the 30.30 sucks. I guess it depends on your personal experiences. :(
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I never had a problem with a single shot 30/30, but I know lots of people that have lost animals , some with smaller calibers, some with larger.
I watched a guy a few years ago put one round into a deer and watch it limp away towards the bush.
The other fella with him dropped it.

This was from a distance that I saw this happen, but I know for a fact the first hunter was using a repeater.
Golf shot!:eek:
One must be prepared to finish the critter , not one shot and watch.

I'm not saying that is what happened to you, but it is one of thing that can happen.
a 30/30 is fine , but I always used 170 grain bullets, and kept my ranges short.
As far as a "better" rifle goes, there was none IMHO.
The break action came apart, went into my pack, and I carried my .22 , which is used a heckuva lot more by a trapper than a heavy caliber rifle !

Cat
 
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snowshoe said:
My Ram, don't blame the gun. The gun is a tool and you didn't use it properly.
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True enough, I was a rookie at the time. I shouldn't have shot the moose on the shoulder, but that was the advise I was given at the time. Still if I would have shot it on the shoulder with my .300 mag or one of my .338's I think I would have broke both shoulders and the moose would not have got back up. I also chased it into the bush immediately instead of letting it lie down and die. Found a couple large puddles where it lay down and bled but I was hot on it's heels. So you are right, I could have done alot of things better/diferently including using an adequate caliber. Obviously if I would have shot through the lungs a 30.30 would have done a great job from 50 yds, but if the angle was steep or if I just got excited and shot to far forward into the shoulder a 30.30 doesn't leave as much room for error. I think the other problem 20 years ago was the factory bullets, I don't remember the brand I was using but it was probably what ever was cheapest because I was hunting to feed my four kids and times were tough. I am convinced that the bullet blew up on the shoulder so maybe a better bullet would have also done the job, since now I have a large selection of firearms to choose from, I would never again hunt something the size of a moose with a 30.30 because I can choose from several that I feel are better suited.
 
I own a 30-30 but have never shot an animal with it. I inherited it from my father who shot scads of animals with it.
To a greater degree I think it's the operator and not the weapon which will dictate puting an animal on the ground in a humane manner. Knowing the limitations of the weapon and having the self dicipline to pass on high risk to wound shots will provide table fare meat for the family.
Granted our fore fathers used a 30-30 to harvest millions of animals but things have changed. The increase in larger and greater numbers of clear cuts, which enhance habitat, makes the chance of a longer shot more of a reality. A rifle with a few more legs might be the order of the day if a person hunts open areas.
As far as a bush gun goes, 100 yds or less, in the hands of a proficient shooter and a good hunter it is a great rifle/caliber.
Having said that, 30-06 rules.
 
Super Scout said:
I'm working on an article and would like to hear from those who have taken an elk or moose with a 30-30 Winchester.
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yea know the last guy that was working on a "Article" screwed a bunch of CGN folks and there families hardcore as I recall !
 
Brutus said:
The Silvertip 150 grain bullet (old style) was devastating in it's effect on the deer's chest.
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yea, but there's a VAST difference between a deer and an elk or moose- they're a much 'TOUGHER ' animal- certain schools of thought say that a 308 -180's aren't even enough- 30-06/180 minimum, with preferences leaning towards the 338
 
Agreed...
to a degree, where you hit them, and at what range is even more important.

For example I had a acquaintance in Calgary and for 17 years he guided in the Flathead Range of the Rockies for elk and grizzly, on horseback, and all he ever used was a 30-30 carbine.

He scoffed at my suggestion for any larger or more powerful rifles.

Who was I to judge him, at the time I was considered just a carpetbagger from the East. Hank however had a wilderness cattle-ranch upbringing, firearms were part of the log cabin furniture, and this was his area of expertise.

He never felt undergunned, in his own words.
 
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Mumptia said:
................:bsFlag: ........................:D
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Is it going to be time to break out the :popCorn: again. Do I smell a calibre war starting again? I vote for the .270 :evil:

As for the original question, the .30-30 is an adequet cartridge for most big game. I'll repeat again; shot placement & range are always important.

George
 
30-30

My_Ram said:
The only animal I've ever shot and not recovered was a moose shot with a 30.30. The shot knocked him down from 50 yards he then struggled to his feet took two steps into the bush and I never saw him again, even though I seached the rest of the day and came back with a dog the next day. So from my perspective the 30.30 sucks. I guess it depends on your personal experiences. :(
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You obviously didn't hit the moose in the lungs. Most of us know a moose hit in the lungs, with any rifle, will not immediatly fall down. But when they drop, they stay down.
I knew an old timer who had shot 30 moose during the depression (meat for several families-nothing wasted). All were shot with a 30-30. I asked him how many he had wounded that had got away. He thought for a while, then stated he couldn't remember shooting any that got away.
 
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