Texas Rangers 30-30win question?

E

Ehornad

New member
I'm looking for a new rifle. This rifle must be able too kill a black bear, dear, coyote, human, and maybe a vehicle. The rifle should be packable for hunting yet suitable for home defense. It should fire the most commonly available ammo as practical.

My first thought was a M1a Squad Scout, heavy, large, poor cqb.

Second, was a Guide gun in .45-70, a little overpowered for some of the criteria.

Next was the Vang Comp 870, most versatile choice I think.

Which leads me to the QUESTION:

The Texas Rangers carried the 30-30 lever for 30-40 years as their duty "tactical rifle". Does anyone have knowledge about the reasoning and tactics or location of such. I'm concerned with the pro/cons of the lever 30-30 VS the 870 as a "One gun, do it all" possibility.

Thanks
 
CONS

870 (which I own and love): effective range. Can't hit very far with buckshot and slugs really don't give you the ideal trajectory.

336: removing your shooting hand to cycle the action, IF that is even a disadvantage. Overpenetration for CQB

PROS

870: ammo versatility; #1 buckshot is perfect for CQB w/o overpenetration. While slugs give you the option to reach out and knock down.

336: 200 yard shots should be easy, especially with glass or good peep sights.

Finally, I think if you need to shoot out there, you should go with a rifle. If most of your encounters would be within 75 yards, the shotgun may suit you.

But then again, what does a city boy from L.A. know about guns.
 
About the Texas Ranger stuff: When the 94 first came out, it was obvious that the .30-30 was a heckuva lot better than predecessor cartridges. The rifle itself was much handier than either the 1886 or the 1895, and the .30-30 was plenty good enough to use on people.

By the time WW II rolled around, the actual need for the Texas Rangers as an anti-outlaw force had pretty well ended. They became much more of a body of special investigative officers, insofar as actual "mission".

A lot of their dress and gear became tradition and nostalgia. Cowboy boots, western hats, engraved pistols in carved shell-belts and holsters...But the PR doesn't hurt the psychology of talking to folks during an investigation...

I remember a fella's first meeting with Joaquin Jackson. The guy started looking, raised his head, raised his head some more til he finally got all the way up to look Joaquin in the eye, and said, "My Gawd! You're even taller'n they said you wuz!"

Art
 
Would the 336 180gn OR Brenneke 12ga sabot slug be better for bear?

The 870 is a better CQB, but you "could" use Remington 55gn soft point 30-30 acceleratos at close range, they would come apart in a person.

The 336 is a 250yrd rifle, but can the 870 compare with sabots?
 
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The .30/30 is a good choice for all-around rifle. A .30-30 levergun would not as potent as a slug, but would have much better range and accuracy. I can't imagine you'll have much accuracy beyond 50 yards with slugs. Is it powerful enough for black bear? Think of it this way, the average .30/30 will give you the same ft. lbs. as a .454 Casull. I wouldn't hunt brown bear with one, but a lot of people use them for blackies.
 
I get two holes touching with a Vang Comp 870 and slugs at 50 yrds, under 2" at 100yds, But i would like to ba able to kill a deer at 250!

Can a SKS do this?
 
Shotguns, even Vangs shooting sabot slugs just aren't meant to be shot beyond 100yds.

A 30-30'll be better than a SKS for the 200yd+ multi use applications that you're looking for. An SKS' 7.62 is really questionable for bear -I wouldn't try.

Unfortunately, you are looking for too many applictions for one gun, you're going to have to compromise somewhere.

Under 75yds -shotgun, beyond that, the 30-30 levergun would make more sense.
 
I know the shotty is better close up, but I'm going to have to use sights either way, with the 30-30 there is not 8-9 projectiles to worry about. I can't think of anyone who would advise against .223 for cqb, .223/30-30 accelerators would perform very similar to that and be usefull for Coyote:).
 
Couple of thoughts on Accelerators - one, I've not seen any in years - still available? Two, you can only load one in the magazine - those spitzer bullets become a safety issue in a tube magazine. Three, my limited experimentation with them indicated poor accuracy and major POI/POA issues.

Other than my previously voiced concerns about the 250y engagement of animals/hunting, it's a great rig. I have a .44 Marlin (w/o scope) for the same mission.

Giz
 
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