ths78

All too often people bash the 30-30's abilities as a serious deer hunting rifle. Everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion. And furthermore, an opinion can't be wrong. However, the following are facts, which cannot be disputed:

1) When equiped with a scope, a 30-30 is a definite 200-yard deer rifle. Typical factory 150 gr. loadings are only about 3 1/2 - 4 1/2" low at 200 yds, when zeroed at 150 yds from a 24" barrel. Therefore, if you aim dead center on a deer's side, you will hit it in the heart at 200 yds...a very fatal shot. Typically, 170 gr. loads are only about 1" lower at this distance.

2) 30-30 bullets penetrate very well. A 150 gr 30 caliber bullet has a greater sectional density than a 200 gr 35 caliber bullet. I never hear people say that 200 gr. 35 Remington bullets don't penetrate deeply enough in deer. Having greater sectional density and greater velocity than the 35 Rem, 30-30 bullets in both 150 and 170 gr weight will definitely penetrate deeply enough to kill deer. (NOTE: THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO CREATE ANOTHER 30-30 vs 35 REM DEBATE...BOTH ARE EXCELLENT DEER RIFLES).

3) Inside of 100 yds, it is as good as a 300 Win Mag on deer. Both bullets punch the same size hole, and both will pass through a deer inside of this distance. Sure a 300 Win has more energy, but what good is that energy once it passes through the deer. The 300 Win has much faster velocity, but 30-30 bullets are softer. Therefore, they both will expand almost identically on deer.

4) For those who prefer to hunt with open sights, 99 % of them should never shoot beyond 125 yds. at a deer. There is just too much that can go wrong. A 30-30 shoots flat enough out to 125 yds to hit a tennis ball over this entire distance.

5) Recoil is very mild.

6) 30-30 bullets have become perfect over time. Their jackets are designed to mushroom ideally at 30-30 velocities. Furthermore, with their round-nose designs, they deliver maximum energy on contact.

7) Rifles are light-weight and compact. You don't need a 26" barrel to get the most out of this cartridge. 20" seems perfect. And anything from 16" to 24" will serve you well.

8) Lever-action rifles, the most common 30-30s, are fast for follow-up shots if needed.

9) 99% of the time a deer will fall within 50 yds after being hit with a 30-30. And in many cases it drops deer on the spot like faster, more powerful cartridges.

10) They are easy to reload. And/or factory ammo is available everywhere.



No the 30-30 is not a great grizzly rifle. And yes, there are more versatile cartridges on the market. However, if you are just hunting deer, you should not feel undergunned out to 200 yds.

nc bearhunter

i agree with what you are saying i have a 30-30 marlin and have had winchesters in the past i killed my first deer when i was 9 years old with one and i am 50 now i have had numerous guns in a lot of cals. but i came back to a 30-30 i have had deer run 1/2 mile after being shot with a 30-06 with a 165 bth and shot through both lungs the longest that i have shot with a 30-30 is about 150 yds and i have killed a lot of bears with it i know people will say that they would not want it for grizzly hunting and i would not hunt something that big with one but i have killed hogs over 500lbs and they did not go far when shot. i still have my other guns so if i wanted to use them i could i just like the gun.

biscuit jake

When someone says "deer hunting," I think 30 30 unless I know already they have something else.

Funny about the broo-ha-ha about how powerful handguns can be used for deer, but the ballistics on the 30 30 dwarfs them. I was reading an old article about when the .357 magnum first came out, and some "gun magazine" tyro took it to Alaska to kill a big bear.

We might commit him in my town.

30-06lover

I definately agree with you. The 30-30 is a very popular deer caliber, but some people say its not powerfull enough for bear or mule deer. If you ask me , those kinda people dont know what their talkin about.

m.t.hands

anything bigger than a 54" switch on anything smaller than a grizzly bear is overkill

gunner0909

I don't think the knock on 30-30 is so much the cartridge, as it is the guns that are chambered for it. I know a guy that has a Savage bolt gun thet post some very impressive groups at 150 yds. It is a rare lever gun that produces any more than just acceptable results, is not the cartridge that shoots bad, it the gun you put it in, most of the time.

James B

A good hunter will have no trouble bringing home the winter supply of meat with a 30-30 lever gun. Good hunters have been doing it for a 100 years. I have had them in Pumps, Bolts, Lever guns and single shots. I have used bullets from 100 grains to 180 grains. Great little guns.

C. Davis

You are right about 200 yards. But if you are like me, and own a .270, I would use it if I had clear open country like that.
90% of all my hunting is done in the woods, and 90% of the time I am carrying my Marlin 30-30. Someone can talk about 30-30 tragectory all they want, but in woods situations where I can't even see hardly 125 yards, the 30-30 might as well be a laser beam.

C. Davis