Dave,
Cool deal! Congrats on the new gun. I bought a 30-30 years ago for much the same reason you just did. I was on a very limited budget, and at the time only 2 guns fit the criteria, a 30-30 and a Rossi Coachgun. I went with the 30-30. It's a tough act to beat. I bought mine right after hunting season, used but unfired. The story was that a first time hunter bought it for a deer hunting trip to PA, saw a deer field dressed, and lost all interest in hunting. If I remember correctly, I only paid $89.00 for it back in the mid 70's. It sounds like you got a similar good deal on yours.
Long Path,
A postal match (yeah, I read the other thread too) sounds like a great idea. Unfortunatly, the outdoor range I shoot at, (Kelbley's in Massilon Ohio), says guns are either on the table, action open, in a case, or pointed downrange at a target. Sling one and you are asked to leave,,,no second chance. Any shooting with shots spaced closer together than 5 seconds,and you are asked to leave,,no second chance. I know it kinda sucks, but those are the rules, and I agreed to play by them. Kelbly's is primearily(sp) a benchrest range, but it's one of the few 25,50,100 and 200 yard ranges within an hours drive of home.
To all: My whole point here was to say don't get locked into a Lever gun in 30-30, nor crosssbolt etc. A Big Bore Winchester, .35 32-20, 44-40, .44 Mag .45LC, etc can be every bit as effective given the right circumstance. My wife can't shoot the 30-30 or the .44, so I have to be content to let her use her 9422.Tactical is as Tactical does (apologies to Forrest Gump) and Tactical is different in every location. Here in the left wing Ohio, anything over 20
feet is considered murder, not self defence.( I say this only in the context as it applies to me, a 6' 220 lb male, my 5'2" wife is a different matter). Holding anyone at gunpoint, for whatever reason, is also a crime.(you will be charged, no doubt about it, with aggrevated menaceing, whether it sticks or not is up to the courts) Even though they repealed the clause requiring you to flee, it is still used by prosecuters.(2 bad guys kick in the front door, armed and shooting, I better be trying to get out the back door or I go to jail. 9 times out of 10, I go to jail anyhow and await the decision of a bleeding heart grand jury)
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