What is it about the good old 30-30 ?

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Isobar1999

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Ok today I realized that no matter how many rifles I have , I always seem to grab my 30-30 lever gun when I need a gun for “whatever”.
Today made me realize it’s a great whatever gun , went to do some scouting for spring bear , didn’t intend on needing to shoot anything but didn’t want to become lunch for a critter either , 30-30 in the truck.
Went out cutting wood earlier this winter with a buddy, 30-30 in the truck.
Take the mrs and kids winter camping by the river , 30-30 in the truck.
Quick run to the store for milk and bread, 30-30 in the truck.
Well not quite that last one but you get my drift right lol
If I’m going out to target shoot then I take along whatever I want to shoot , but if I need a gun to come along for the ride for that just-in-case-whatever scenario then that 30-30 literally jumps in the truck all on its own !
So if you’re a 30-30 fan , in your opinion what is it about a 30-30 lever gun that makes it so useful for anything and (pretty much) everything ?
 
It's a cartridge that will do a lot of things well, and is easy to shoot. Typically it's found in handy firearms. And it's not hard to make a .30-30 shoot adequately accurately.

If I have one bucket-list rifle, it's an 1885-style falling block with a lightweight barrel in .30-30 or .30-30 Ackley. I reckon that would do for the rest of my deer hunting career, seeing as I've never shot a deer past 175 yards.
 
By today's standards, the 30-30 is a rather anemic round, most often chambered in a lever action
that many claim are quite inaccurate.

Of course, the truth is, the 30-30 has been killing game reliably for well over 100 years, and those lever
actions just feel great in the hand. Accuracy? plenty for the effective range of the 30-30.

I have 2 of them, and don't see me getting rid of them anytime soon. Shot a whitetail buck 2 years
ago with my carbine. 80 yards or so, 170 grain handload.....DRT. Could not ask for more.Dave.
 
I think it's the guns that it generally comes in. Ballistically it's nothing special, but there is a certain appeal to a classic lever action. The only reason I want a 30-30 is because it's the quintessential Winchester 94 cartridge choice.
 
Imo the 30 30 and the model 94 are made for each other.
At the cabin fencing or trapping Beaver in the spring or doing almost anything the 30 30 is never far away.
Small,light easy to carry.
It may not be the best choice for the job at hand but it will do it all like it has been for well over 100 years
 
There's nothing special at all about the 30-30 cartridge (sentiments and emotions aside), there are easily a dozen 30 Cal cartridges that will do everything it will do and much more, it's the guns in which it was typically loaded that are special to me, i.e. Lever Guns.
 
Andy said:
There's nothing special at all about the 30-30 cartridge (sentiments and emotions aside), there are easily a dozen 30 Cal cartridges that will do everything it will do and much more, it's the guns in which it was typically loaded that are special to me, i.e. Lever Guns.
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Not only that, but there is a lot of history that goes with those rifles and cartridge that gives much appeal to shooters/owners. I get that.

I've owned a few over the years, but never did hunt with them much. I always wanted to have a rifle in hand that could handle more range if the opportunity presented itself. A 94 with rec. would be next to useless at the edge of a large clear cut or down a power line. My low power scoped 760 carbine was a better compromise for a bush gun and longer shooting.
 
I started out with a Win 94 on deer and shot a couple dozen before I largely switched to bolt action hunting rifles....when I pick up a 94 it just feels right and brings back lots of good memories and positive Ju-Ju.
 
I never cared for the Winchester 94 but I like the look of the straight stock, I owned a Canadian Centennial model my Son has it now and it is junk, I had a Marlin Texan that I liked for a few years but it seldom left the safe so I sold it. Marlin has a bit of history as well but they don't make a commemorative every time someone has a picnic. I also had a Handi Rifle in 30 30 that I lent to a Nephew a few years ago, my son and I were using the Handi if we had a Doe draw just to add some sport. I have never shot a deer past 175 yards but I deer hunt in some open country so a long shot is always a possibility. I would never scope a 30 30 lever but I had a 4X on the Handi. There is some appeal to lever 30 30 but I am more of a bolt action guy so I will probably never buy another.
 
For me it's the ideal truck/carry gun. Balances perfectly in the hand for bush carry, slips behind the seat of the truck with ease, relatively small and lightweight. No charging or bolt handle sticking out to snag on anything. What more could you ask for?
I believe it's more accurate than most shooters would like to admit. I guess I'm referring more to the rifle than the calibre, but a lever in 30-30 will do just about anything you'd need within 100-150 yards.
 
The .30/30 is a "hunter's" cartridge. You actually have to get within reasonable range. If you can fill your freezer consistently with a .30/30, that means you have skills as an actual hunter. I've known a couple of old timers who fit this bill and they did it without optics.
 
I like the 30/30, but only in a bolt action , break action or falling block- I detest lever actions with tube mags and levers with detachable mags, except for maybe the Win88.
But that is just me, lots of people like them.
Cat
 
nomad 68 said:
The .30/30 is a "hunter's" cartridge. You actually have to get within reasonable range. If you can fill your freezer consistently with a .30/30, that means you have skills as an actual hunter. I've known a couple of old timers who fit this bill and they did it without optics.
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Except that there have been lots of Hail Marys with the 30-30, so if more deer have been killed with the 30-30 than anything else, then there are probably more deer wounded with the 30-30 than anything else.

Better yet, use a rifle in 38 Special, or 22 Magnum, or etc.

Going further along with this an "actual hunter" uses a bow, and a "actual actual hunter" uses a spear.............. ;)
 
Milt Dale said:
I never cared for the Winchester 94 but I like the look of the straight stock, I owned a Canadian Centennial model my Son has it now and it is junk, I had a Marlin Texan that I liked for a few years but it seldom left the safe so I sold it. Marlin has a bit of history as well but they don't make a commemorative every time someone has a picnic. I also had a Handi Rifle in 30 30 that I lent to a Nephew a few years ago, my son and I were using the Handi if we had a Doe draw just to add some sport. I have never shot a deer past 175 yards but I deer hunt in some open country so a long shot is always a possibility. I would never scope a 30 30 lever but I had a 4X on the Handi. There is some appeal to lever 30 30 but I am more of a bolt action guy so I will probably never buy another.
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My only 30-30 at present is an H&R Handi-Rifle that's a real tack driver. I was hoping to get my mule deer buck last fall with it but had the 35 Whelen out the day the opportunity presented itself but I'm sure the 30-30 would of handled the job just fine.
 
I really think for myself it’s a combination of the nostalgia and handiness of a lever gun as well as the general capability of the 30-30 cartridge. For me personally I find that there’s no better feeling than stalking through thick timber with a lever gun. I also find there’s no better feeling that hunting a wide open clear cut with an old 30-06 Mauser action rifle , preferably with an old school leupold or weaver fixed magnification scope.
For me I guess those things put me in the moment with what I’m doing. I get just as much enjoyment out of what I use as how I use it.
I think for myself I’ve honestly got to a point in my life where I get the most enjoyment from just being out there and doing it. I don’t really worry about having the latest and greatest (not that there’s anything wrong with that , more power to you if that’s how you roll !)
The gun I bring along seems to help put me into the mindset of the type of hunting I’ll do that day.
Overall though the 30-30 just plain old fits most any situation I personally need a rifle for. I also like to challenge myself more these days stalking/still hunting in thick timber so the lever gun fits that role perfectly.
But mostly I think it’s just because a nice lever action rifle matches up with my Stetson hat perfectly lololol
 
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