30-30 Cal. too small?

.30-30 should not be used on California deer. A much bigger cartridge is needed.
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What? The deer in Commifornia are not armor plated. 30-30 will kill them just as dead as any other rifle as long as you respect the distances.
 
.30-30 should not be used on California deer. A much bigger cartridge is needed.
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You mean those 85 lbs coastal backtails I used to hunt? Even the muleys in zones X9 and X12 would drop to a .30-30 pretty quick. So this is another of Roy's lame jokes, right?
 
"...Ever seen a Bolt Action 30-30 cal?..." The Savage 340 came in .30-30. They dropped it after some corporate restructuring long ago. Should have bought the one I saw long ago given the reputation for tack driving accuracy that bolt action .30-30's have. Can't for the life of me remember why I didn't. Likely just young and stupid.
"....30-30 should not be used on California deer..." HAHAHAHA!!! While it's not the best cartridge, a 170 grain .30-30 will drop a big Canadian moose with no fuss. It'll drop a big elk too.
 
IMO, a lot of the bum rap against the .30-30 is more from the sights on "as issue" lever actions. Rather difficult to aim accurately with them, compared to peep sights or scopes.

Another factor is the hype over "flat-shooting" modern or magnum cartridges. Add in "kill at 300 (or at 400) yards!" stuff. Most deer are killed inside 200 yards. But, hype over decades affects folks' opinions.

"Everybody knows..." is commonly wrong.

:), Art
 
I grew up borrowing grandpa's "meat gun". He had upgraded to a Remington pump in .30-06. I ended up using the old (early 1950's) Marlin 336C and every year we would site in. Every year they let me fire one shot at a target. Every year it was within an inch of the bull and some years inside it. Dad has the meat gun now (I hope I get it some day) and it's never felt the weight of a scope on it's back or been equipped with a sling. Not bad at 100 yds with open sites.
Grandpa took down more deer, antelope, elk and black bear with the old brushcutter than he ever did with the .30-06. Where did he hunt? Eastern Oregon, now famous for long shots with .270's and magnums. I think a 30-30 will kill a deer no matter where the deer may be. All you have to do is hit it in the right spot.
 
A couple of years ago, I bought a stainless steel Marlin 336 in a 30-30. I had model 94's before, but I always wanted a Marlin 30-30. When I saw the stainless steel 336, I thought it was pretty neat because you don't see those everyday. Anyway, I bought it and found a new stainless Nikon Prostaff scope on Ebay for about $50. With the new Hornandy ammo, it's now one of my most accurate guns that I have and I have quite a few guns. It shoots under well 1 in. at 100 yds. I've shot several large hogs, a couple of Javelinas and 2 does with it and it dropped then all on the spot.
 
Many have found that the Marlin 336 is very accurate. The new Hornady LE ammunition has moved the 30-30 out to a 300 yard hunter. My 30-06 is seeing less time in the woods these days.
 
When I go hunt there are several hunters that hunt with the 30-30. I think that in East Texas the 30-30 still is the favorite rifle choice for deer hunting. Most of the hunters there that I have talked to have at least one 30-30 in their gun collection. I bought a Marlin 336 with the factory scope on it, I need to go to the range and sight it in. A 100 yard zero will work fine in East Texas. :)
 
Yeah, but those California deer hold a condor in front of them. That's not fair.
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I guess you could follow the Speed tactic, and shoot the hostage. Go for the golden wound by just winging them. ;)
 
I've killed more Whitetail deer with my 30-30 than all my other rifles combined. I have yet to loose a deer I've shot with my Marlin 30-30. :) At 100 yds and under it has ample power to take the Whitetail. With some of the new bullets it can be accurate well past 100 yds, although the energy drops off pretty quickly.
 
last year the 30-30 was the number one selling round for deer hunting and has been for a very long time. I don't think it is going anywhere. and California deer? come on up in the north here we have alot bigger deer and the 30-30 is my favorite choice for a deer gun. and alot of the guys I hunt with think that also. Old calibers like the 30-30 and the 30-06 will never die and younger ones like the 270 and 308 will never either
 
While the 30-30 is a fine cartridge and I do like the lever gun, I've grown partial to the Marlin 1894C (.357 magnum). Inside 125 yards, the Buffalo Bore 180 grain LFN pretty much matches the 30-30. At 7.5 pounds, it is not difficult to carry. Ammunition is similar in price to the .223 loads and it has the plus of also working in a revolver, or semiautomatic pistol.
 
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I only have 2 deer rifles left that I wanted to keep. One is a 742 in 30-06 and the other is a model 94 (pre 64). Over the years I've tried a few different rounds, 7mm-08,270,308. These were brought to camp along with my 06 and 30-30. (it's always nice to have an extra rifle incase something goes wrong)

The 30-30 has always done it for me especially in the 94. We don't have long shots with 200 yds being the outer stretch. 20 to 40 yds is more common and sometimes closer than that as it is pretty thick up there.

If a hunter knows his limitations the 30-30 is more than adequate.
 
Have you ever noticed that you rarely see a lever 30-30 at the range? Not until just before deer season anyway. Then they're all over the place.
 
I actually reload for 30-30 and it was my standard deer rifle when I lived in PA. I don't use it much in Colorado, but I do take it to the range now and then. The Marlin 336 is quite accurate with my handloads and a great brush/Whitetail Deer combo.
 
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