30-30 Cal. too small?

"The One"

Dalegribble, I saw the same show. It was on OLN and the show is called "The One". He took a 1500# Bison @100yds with a lever action 30-30 with open sights. The shot placement was rite at the base of the neck and the BIG animal dropped like a rock when the gun went off. I was amazed that a 30-30 did that at that range. I guess with the rite shot anything is possible.
 
When I hunt by the powerline on our land and actually have the chance for a 100 yard shot I use my dad's 30-30 Winchester 1895, It's spot on too.

But where I hunt most, a 30 yard shot is the rare long shot, and I have a Marlin 1894 levergun in 44mag. I got one with it last year about 20 feet away, there was a doe in front of me, and he was behind me. He knew I was there and tried to go past me anyway:rolleyes:

.300 H&H I agree with most of what you say, but my dad's 30-30 kicks harder than my 44mag, may be the differences in the guns though.

Sorry to thread jack a bit.

I think the 30-30 is one of the best all around medium game rounds, if not the best.
 
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Is a 30-30 to small?

Is a 30-30 to small? Heck NO! No 30 caliber is too small at appropriate ranges.
I have been hunting for almost 50 years and I have never been without a 30-30 Marlin and I do not plan on being without one. When I’m hunting the thickets or running with the dogs a 30-30 is my go to rifle.
With LeverEvolution ammo the 30-30’s range has been extended to over 200 yards. If the only big game you hunt is deer the 30-30 with cover 90% of your needs.
Rimmed cartridges do not feed very well in bolt actions but I have seen Winchesters, Remingtons, Savages, Stevens and Marlins chambered for the 30-30. I have never seen a Browning bolt action chambered for a 30-30 but they may have 60 – 100 years ago.
 
Wife got me win 30-30 in 1962 ( $50 new) while stationed in Nfld. Shot 4 moose 500-800 # (meat hunter). Used 170gr silvertips. One shot each. Open sights 50-100 yds. Stationed there 4.5 yrs. Never shot a deer with it! Use 30-06 win mod 70.
 
forky4fin.jpg


Here is yet another muley I toppled with my 30-30. By now, you guys must be getting bored with my photos and tales of 30-30 success.

Jack
 
When I hunt by the powerline on our land and actually have the chance for a 100 yard shot I use my dad's 30-30 Winchester 1895, It's spot on too.
Click to expand...

ahhh really, are you sure its not a 30-40 1895 or a 3030 1894? 1895 never came in 3030.


People on here think a .223 is a manly cartridge to hunt deer with, but claim the 30-30 is weak and under powered. Hmmmmm makes my innards giggle....

Energy (ft-lbs)
Cartridge Type Bullet Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500

.223 55 PSP 1282 921 648 442 295 197
.30-30 150 SP CL 1902 1296 858 565 399 316
.30-30 170 SP CL 1827 1355 989 720 535 425
 
7X57 Mauser VS. 30-30

FYI, 7x57, 175 gr. factory load is 240 fps faster than the 170 gr. factory load for 30-30. Both loadings have those big, blunt round nose bullets with lots of exposed soft lead.

7x57was used early 1900's (before eargesplitten loudenboomer magnums were available) to kill elephants (by "Karamojo Bell, of Britain).

Teddy Rooseveldt and the Rough Riders were so impressed with 7x57 at San Juan Hill (1898) that he came back home and pushed for the development of the .30-06.

Wonder how 7x57 would work on armor plated California deer?!!!

Why did I buy that .270 WSM?
 
Question: was the 8mm Mauser an intended upgrade or a concurrent/alternate development alongside the 7x57? Why do we see so many more 8mm Mausers than 7?
 
Partial Answer

I don't know if 8x57 was concurrent, or an upgrade.

But the reason why you see more 8x57's, is that they were used in both world wars by the German military, whereas the 7x57 was used only by Spain, in Europe, plus the armies of several small South American countries, none of which were involved in major wars.

In other words, 8x57 was issued by the millions, but 7x57's were issued to only small armies.

the 7/8x57 family of cartridges gave rise to the 6mm Rem (.243x57) and the .257 Roberts (.257x57).

In Europe, the 5.56x57 (.223x57) is loaded to almost 4,000 fps with 55 gr bullets. The equal (or better) to the .220 Swift!

So, all the "x57 family" needs is a .264x57 (6.5mmx57), and a .338X57', to be complete. The 6.5x55 Swede negates the need for the 6.5X57, and the .338 niche is already pretty well covered, so I doubt that there will be any more X57's.
 
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I know the Swede was put in a Mauser action and directly inspired by the 8x57, but is it a new base cartridge by itself or is the 2mm less length from reforming the case of the x57?
 
"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."

Somebody should've told the Muley My dad shot at 200 yards with his open sighted Model 94 Winchester that he didn't know and my dad put 2 out of 3 into him and missed the 3rd because the deer fell down from the other two he was hit with. BTW my dad's 94 was in another good deer cartridge that has faded away 32 Win Spcl I still have that gun, it was his pet rifle. The casing is a 30-30 necked up to a .321 diameter bullet they are pretty much identical in all other ways.
Jim
 
Meant for another thread but valid here

People like a big kick and a loud bang; and each one to his own. Never mind that when hunting you wonder why you can not hear the wounded animal fleeing through the bush.... unless the hunter believes Magnums do not wound!

The newest motivation for magnum rifles is that you can take your gemsbok at 500 yards plus (one hears of 700 yards shots) out in the Kalahari - that is if you can read the wind and mirage accurately.

Do your research into the velocity and energy left in the 300 WM or 7mm Rem M projectile at 600 yards. What has become of that "hard-hitting" Magnum?

Your 30-30 does better at 200! So, just plan your approach and stalk better, and your bullet shall strike truer too.
 
My .30-30 is a boltie- Savage model 340. I put a 4X scope on it. It shoots just fine. I have been working on a load using a 110g bullet. I have the velocity up to over 2500 FPS.
 
I did kill a decent buck at 235 yards or so with a peep sighted 94 a few years ago, centered the shoulder sockets, and it swatted him down like he'd been hit with a hammer.

You've got to have pretty good eyes to milk precision out of a set of buckhorn sights, but it can be done. The accuracy which this cartridge is capable of can be downright surprising.

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There's nothing wrong with the 30 WCF at all.
 
The .30WCF is a great cartridge that is as viable today as it was over 100yrs ago. If it weren't, I wouldn't have three of them with more surely to come. The 170gr jacketed loads penetrate like there is no tomorrow. The only thing that has changed in those hundred years is popular perception and perceived "needs". As in the "need" to snipe at deer at 500yds. That "need" only exists in the dreams of most hunters.
 
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