I know this is not an answer to the reasoning of the original posters question as to why the 30-30. Adding my two cents worth , carrying the old 30-30 I use ( it was my fathers who passed in 1995) brings back wonderful memories and that my friend makes a good day. I cherish that old 1949 Marlin RC . Miss you Dad.
why the 3030?
- Thread starter remington308
- Start date
Since a good old thread has been revived, I think it only appropriate to use the quote from the post that started it nearly seven years ago.
It is apparent that the majority of people on here do not realize that the world we live in now is a completely different world than existed prior to WW2, especially in the field of hunting, shooting and wilderness survival. The OP is referring to bush Indian hunters, who were the best hunters, bushmen and above all, they could walk further in a given time than could any white man. I was fortunate enough to have seen wilderness areas in northern BC when it was still populated with bush Indians and many white trappers and prospectors who had spent a lifetime in the bush and all went to the wilderness trading posts for their supplies. The white trappers and prospectors were umpteen degrees better than the modern man in the bush, but they all recognized that Indians could walk further in a day, than they could. White prospectors would spend weeks or months in the bush, either alone or with a partner, without getting to trading post.
Now, why the 30-30? Because it was what the trading posts carried and of course the trading posts stocked 30-30 Winchesters because that was what the hunters wanted. And for some reason, probably just tradition, the 30-30 rifle was always a Model 94 Winchester, as a Marlin would be a rarity in the bush and the ammunition at the posts was always 30-30 with 170 grain bullets. The 30-30 was a great rifle for those superb hunters, because of its light and trim handling qualities and it killed whatever the hunters shot at. One thing not mentioned was the iron sights on the rifles almost never got moved, either by accident or on purpose. Rifles could be many years old and killed hundreds of animals without any sight adjustments.
So why would the hunters of the day even think of getting any other calibre, or type, of rifle?
Bruce
I have learned a lot about cartridges since causing a stir in this thread........ still not a fan, but that's personal bias and I will leave it at that......
But I will say this..... if all of the posts in this thread, this one makes the most sense to me......
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
well %$#@ I just sold my 30 30 to its original owner as he wanted it real bad. all the haters on here are making me want another. its just perfect for some of my short range in the bush stands.
Why not the 30-30? It's just another metal cylinder that holds gunpowder, spits out a bullet and drops moose and under out to 200 yards, usaully in light, handy platforms, what's not to like? One doesn't need a heavy action salmon rod if your trolling for trout.
My older Western and Winchester ammunition boxes give the 30 wcf with a 150 gr. bullet at 2470 fps, the 170 gr, bullet at 2210 fps.. This was no slouch back then and is still a decent cartridge to 150 yds. .
My oldest 1894, in 30 wcf, is from 1897 and still brings'em in tight at 100 yds using the 6 o'clock hold. . These rifles are light, easy to carry and hunting off a saddle horse the 1894 fits right nice in an old leather scabbard without the bulk of a scoped bolt action rifle. .
Yes today I'm mostly using my old Model 70's but would not feel under gunned with my century old Winchester 1894's in 30 wcf.
My oldest 1894, in 30 wcf, is from 1897 and still brings'em in tight at 100 yds using the 6 o'clock hold. . These rifles are light, easy to carry and hunting off a saddle horse the 1894 fits right nice in an old leather scabbard without the bulk of a scoped bolt action rifle. .
Yes today I'm mostly using my old Model 70's but would not feel under gunned with my century old Winchester 1894's in 30 wcf.
My dad (73 soon and still kicking), just handed me his Stoeger uplander as a hand me down for my first born....... he (my first born), is apprenticing now and not able to handle a 12 gauge........ so I got him a single shot 20 for the upland we are chasing and he took his first bird last week......
That uplander is the same gun I carried back in the day when dad taught me (we had little money and my first experience was dad letting me carry the gun at 11).....
I will be personally refinishing the stock set and will be sending the metal out for rebluing as there are a couple of rust spots etc due to long term storage as dad quit hunting after the ice storm of 98......
I will likely put more money and effort into the gun then a new gun would cost...... but it means a lot to me that dads gun lives on..... and that my oldest understands "heritage"
I just bought a Marlin 336C in 30-30. I 'needed' a 30-30 in the stable!
Cheers
Jay
Why the 30-30?
Well it is an Anemic outdated cartridge that has the apparent on-game performance of a 22lr.
(Of course that's usually the opinion of someone that hasn't actually used it on game).
In reality it's a wonderful, inexpensive, low recoil round. It's chambered in handy rifles that carry well, and have stood the test of time. My experience with it on deer sized game has been excellent, and I attribute that to its low velocity / large frontal area bullet.
But, to each their own. I personally have no need for (an under 200y) 30cal rifle shooting a bullet at 3000fps.
Well it is an Anemic outdated cartridge that has the apparent on-game performance of a 22lr.
(Of course that's usually the opinion of someone that hasn't actually used it on game).
In reality it's a wonderful, inexpensive, low recoil round. It's chambered in handy rifles that carry well, and have stood the test of time. My experience with it on deer sized game has been excellent, and I attribute that to its low velocity / large frontal area bullet.
But, to each their own. I personally have no need for (an under 200y) 30cal rifle shooting a bullet at 3000fps.
Have fun with the project and enjoy its future trips afield.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
If it weren't for the Winchester '94 back in the day, the 30-30 might have gone by the wayside. Too many success stories go with this cartridge/rifle combination to deny it's continuing viability both in the field and on the range. It's a beauty.
The old 30-30 got 'er done this thanksgiving weekend on this BC mulie. He was lurking at the top of this slash about 140-150 yards away, the 170 gr power max bonded went through the front of his right shoulder and out through his left armpit, turning the heart and lungs in between into soup. He bucked a couple of times where he was standing and dropped dead. Not much more I could ask for in bullet/cartridge performance.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
The old 30-30 got 'er done this thanksgiving weekend on this BC mulie. He was lurking at the top of this slash about 140-150 yards away, the 170 gr power max bonded went through the front of his right shoulder and out through his left armpit, turning the heart and lungs in between into soup. He bucked a couple of times where he was standing and dropped dead. Not much more I could ask for in bullet/cartridge performance.
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