.30-30 Flexibility

kmittleman · Post by **kmittleman** » Fri May 30, 2008 9:53 am

Hi everyone,

I've been doing some pondering on how flexible the pistol caliber levers and the Big Bore levers seem to be. Where does the .30-30 stand in all of this? I know it can kill deer ( my first two were w/ a Marlin 336A last fall ), but what's the range of game it can reasonably take?

-Kevin

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Fri May 30, 2008 10:07 am

History shows us the model 1894 winchester, and the 30wcf cartridge, is/was a big factor in the obsolecence of the 86 and 92 winchesters and their cartridges.
There's little if anything on this continent that hasn't been turned into food for the hungry, and hides/horns on the wall by the good ol 30-30.
That may be the reason lots of us old guys have at least one, and some have more (3 live at my place)

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Fri May 30, 2008 10:08 am

Here's a good thread,

viewtopic.php?t=6167&sid=bec96fcf944d7b ... c473225fe1

May answer some of your questions. The range of game is wide, the hunter and his shooting and stalking abilities may be more the question.

Getitdone1 has some tales of Ralph Edwards from BC Canada that used a Winchester 94 carbine in 30-30 cal for many years and killed over 50 grizzlies with it before he stopped counting. May not be the first choice in calibers for grizzlies, but with a cool hand, it can get the job done.

I believe Don that just posted above, has killed, and seen killed, a fair pile of elk with 30-30's.

bogus bill · Post by **bogus bill** » Fri May 30, 2008 10:24 am

Do you mean 30/30 in relationship to 357 or 30 -06 or whatever? The 30/30 is still capable of killing anything in the country.
I would trust a 375 h&h to be better on moose at 300 yards then a 30/30 etc. I dont quite know how to give a short answer as I am not real sure of what you want to know. However, lets assume there to be something like a 150 different caliber cartridges out there. I think hunting wise we could get by with three.
I would expect a 30/30 to have a flatter trajectry at 200 yards then a 357 etc, however at 50 yards I dont think a deer would know the difference.
I read of people useing .44 hennrey rimfire to kill buffalo 150 years ago but it wouldnt have been my first choice.
I imagine this will be better answered with others in better words then I can do shortly.

kmittleman · Post by **kmittleman** » Fri May 30, 2008 11:11 am

I guess I was wondering what's a reasonable range in terms of game size. I'm not a super experienced hunter so would probably err on the conservative side. It sounds like it would good for javelina to black bear. What do you all think?

-kevin

scr83jp · Post by **scr83jp** » Fri May 30, 2008 11:29 am

kmittleman wrote:I guess I was wondering what's a reasonable range in terms of game size. I'm not a super experienced hunter so would probably err on the conservative side. It sounds like it would good for javelina to black bear. What do you all think?

-kevin

Colorado 75 yard 2 shot kill of a a 5x4 Bull Elk using a Winchester 30-30 we spoke to the successful hunter but it took him and his middle 70's hunting partner 2 days to get it out of the mtn side where he downed it as there were no roads or trails & they had to cut it up and pack it out.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Fri May 30, 2008 11:38 am

Two Points (in no particular order)

1. Learn to put the bullet in exact spot it needs to be. That will in some respects dictate the distance you shoot.

2. Learn to Hunt. That means getting close and then a bit closer.

Every "failure" I have had has been the result of me screwing up one or both of those. It has never been the the fault of the firearm or the bullet.

I once killed a fairly large Mule Deer with my single six using .22 Long Rifle Hi-Speed Hollow Points - I got up within 15 feet, then eased a bit closer and shot it in the back of the head when it stood up.

"Bullet Failure" is when someone tries to use a bullet for a job that it was not intended for, such as shooting a deer in the shoulder with a small caliber high velocity varmint bullet.

I have shot at too long a range and failed to put the bullet in the exact spot that it needed to be.

None of my failures were due to caliber or bullet. They were my fault.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Fri May 30, 2008 12:23 pm

Pretty much JT covered it, I use to want to be able to hit stuff at silly distances but now like to get close and thus my 30 is enough from rabbits to large deer. I don't know but double tapping a moose up close, I just can not see a problem. Just my opinion.
Nath.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Fri May 30, 2008 12:31 pm

I think of it as the load more than the caliber. Different weight bullets, charges, etc.

Having said that, the 30-30 is a good choice. It seems like it's just big enough for big game and ok for small game, and because of the smallish caliber it retains energy well.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri May 30, 2008 12:44 pm

kmittleman,

I'm not much of a hunter. But I will say this, I'll take my Win 94 to hunt anything on this continent, without hesitation.

Read and reread JimT's post, he hit the nail right on the head.

Oh, and don't forget: "***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .*** "
I read that somewhere........

Joe

Hillbilly · Post by **Hillbilly** » Fri May 30, 2008 8:13 pm

I keep a .30-06 around if I ever want to hunt "out west"... and I dont know that I would hang around big bear country with a .30 WCF on purpose....
That being said.... If I was on a trout stream and that old '94 was all I had I'd be happy enough.

Marksmanship is more than big hot bullets and optics

My .02

Jeff

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Sat May 31, 2008 12:24 am

Don McDowell wrote:History shows us the model 1894 winchester, and the 30wcf cartridge, is/was a big factor in the obsolecence of the 86 and 92 winchesters and their cartridges.
There's little if anything on this continent that hasn't been turned into food for the hungry, and hides/horns on the wall by the good ol 30-30.
That may be the reason lots of us old guys have at least one, and some have more (3 live at my place)

Amen and JimT your spot on also

!

tman · Post by **tman** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:49 pm

the 30wcf. has probablly killed more brown bear than any other cartridge. place the bullet in the vitals at ranges that charging, dangerous game is shot and it will do the job. we'd all feel more comfortable with something bigger, but the 30wcf. been doing it for over 100years, that's good enough for me.