yes! another poll! .30-30 vs. 7.62x39

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Had both over the years & still do. I like the 30-30 for it's long neck which enables one to load boolits of weights crowding 200 gr. without intruding into the powder space below the neck. The short neck of the 7.62x39 ain't ideal for bullets above 150 gr. for target work, but either one will get the job done on game.

The sleeper match gun in the day was a Remington 788 in 30-30. Fookin' accurate buggers they be, and made for beauty steel slappers on 500 yd rams when re barreled to 35-30 and tossing 300 grainers.

 

[Gatehouse]

I can't imagine a hunting situation where I would be holding a rifle chambered in one of these cartridges and be wishing for the other. But since I prefer bolt actions to lever rifles, I chose 7.62x39

 

[Slamfire]

Consider the Mini-30. OK accuracy like about 2 MOA with the right load. A lot of fun.

 

[sgt.rock]

I voted 30-30 in a lever but my favorite "low recoil" fun gun is my savage 340 BOLT ACTION 30-30. Best of both worlds!
View attachment 171307

 

[730win94]

Get a savage 99 chambed in308 ...handles real nice and beats both for power/ range...left hand friendly...easy to find ammo

 

[383SB]

Super round that x39. Responds very well to skilled handloading in the No.1 rifle.

Beautiful vertical dispersion, very skilled indeed!

 

[ljones]

I own both 7.62x39 Howa Mini Action and a .30-30 in a CIL 830 bolt action rifle. I use the 7.62x39 more but the bolt rifle 30-30 which is scoped shoots pretty small groups as well.

 

[hoytcanon]

Super round that x39. Responds very well to skilled handloading in the No.1 rifle.

Consider the Mini-30. OK accuracy like about 2 MOA with the right load. A lot of fun.

Hey, Skilled Handloader... that looks like factory ammo... imagine the speed and accuracy you could get with Mystery Powder X!!! You could turn the 7.62x39 into the love child of the Swift and PPC.

 

[Slamfire]

Mini-30 magazine length is problematic.

 

[hoytcanon]

Mini-30 magazine length is problematic.

Not for a skilled alchemist armed with pixie dust...

 

[Slamfire]

Ah, the exception.

 

[MiG25]

I'll take both.

 

[grelmar]

Have both, but if I had to choose just one...

My x39 bolt gun.

Not enough difference in terminal energy/accuracy between the two to make a difference.

Bolt guns are easier to scope.
x39 ammo is significantly cheaper than 30-30 ammo - and yes, that includes hunting ammo. A good example of this is the Hornady FlexTip based rounds. A box of 20 in 30-30 will run you around $50. For the FlexTip x39 Hornady ammo, it runs about $45... for a box of 50.

x39 is completely taking over the niche that 30-30 used to fill in the US, and the ammo makers have taken note. They're producing x39 in massively greater quantities than 30-30 now, and that's driving cost down.

 

[kjohn]

I have 2 30-30 levers, 30-30 single shot (Old Savage), 7.62x39 bolt(Zasatva), 7.62x39 single (Baikal), and several semi's, plus a straight pull SKS. Love them all.

I like the idea that I can blast off cheap surplus in the bolt, straight pull and single shot. Just need to clean ye old barrel with a swab or two of Fluid Film. I also love shooting my old 94 30-30 and a nice old .32 Special. Both are easy to load for, and I use cast in both as well.

I'll take them all!

 

[Slamfire]

My Remington 799 (Zastava M85 barreled action in a Remington laminate stock) gets lots of use with inexpensive milsurp ammo. Objective is to keep all shots with a 6" diameter target at 100 and 200 meters - off hand.

7.62x39 Remington 799 with Weaver V3 1-3x20mm

 

[NAA]

Too bad there was no poll option for "both" as that's how I would've voted.

I have a s/s Ruger 77 MkII bolt in 7.62x39mm and one Marlin & a few Win 94's in .30-30 Win.

There's room for all of 'em.

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NAA.