the ole' 30-30

J

joseywales87

New member
anyone still enjoy taking out the ole' 30-30 from time to time to throw lead down range? I know these days people laugh at hunting deer with 30-30, but I gotta say, its the only rifle I hunt deer with but keep in mind that I hunt in thick woods and scoped guns would be ridiculous unless it had peep through sights at the bottom of the scope.
However, I think they are a blast to shoot and a classic at that.
 
The timelessness of the gun and caliber it a testament to it's popularity and value. In many parts of the country it is the ideal tool for a deer hunter. Where it falls short is in the glamor of being the newest, or biggest. If you want to hunt deer then put the gun away until next year, the thuty-thuty lebber action is the gun for you.
 
I'm not just talking about hunting with 30-30, but taking it out to shoot. At the range these days all you see is AR-15, AK47, semi-auto handguns, which I can't bash these people because I own an AK47 too but who still brings out the classic lever guns?
 
Hunting is something we do for fun and I'm all for using any gun you enjoy hunting with. I have several Marlin and Winchester 30-30's and enjoy using them both at the range and when hunting. In fact I own more lever actions in various calibers than all others. But I don't confuse liking something with thinking it is a better hunting tool. Even in the thickest woods and at the closest ranges a good bolt gun with a scope is a better tool for the job.
 
Yep, shoots a 150gr spitzer at around 2300 fps out of a a lever gun and not a bad choice for a 10-14" TC Contender either. I like a 180gr bullet as it will plow through a few limbs without exploding and stay on course. Good penetration too as most whitetails I've killed with a shoulder shot had an exit wound.
 
Lever action?

My 30-30 is a bolt! (Remington 788)

Although being a former Model 94 owner - I know how you feel. They're kind of fun to shoot.

The 9422 is a nice way to enjoy the "action" - and not spend too much on ammo.
 
30-30 and 32 Win spcl both are taken out, the 32 more often. They are fun to shoot and its what I used to teach my nephew how to handle a centerfire cartridge.
 
I Agree the ol .30-30 is real fun to shoot especially after discovering the 125 gr sierria hollow point over some 3031. I have 788 remington and an old glenfield, and a buddy of mine has 5 336 marlins and an old 94 winchester, so we load alot of .30-30 every year!!!
 
That's my go-to one. The old J.C. Higgins never let me down yet. I do get all kinds of looks at the range, but I also get a lot of people come up and ask to shoot it. I reload with either remington 150gr or Sierra 150gr SP which is great for me, same thing I hunt and practice with. Works great on whitetail and hog. Stops hog in their tracks.

To me different isn't bad and everygun has it's use. The best gun you have is the one you enjoy shooting.
 
My brother and I grew up in Colorado using the 30/30 for just about everything, from Elk, antelope and deer. We still use 'em a lot today, although for me it is for cast bullet shooting. It is an ideal cast bullet cartridge and I really envy you guys that have it in a bolt action rifle.

My son just inherited his Great Grandfather's Marlin 1893 and it still shoots like new.

Marlin 1893:

Wills1893-Photobucket.jpg


Winchester 94 Rifle:

Antelope05.jpg
 
When my sons first started hunting I handed them both an old marlin 30-30 I had from when I started. Later on after they both got taller than me I offered both of them new guns if they wanted, Both said no way they loved the lever action and the light recoil. I had to buy another one. So I started reloading for them and I have come up with a few good loads that work real well on Deer. I also came up with a nice light load with 125gr hollow points for coyote. we have not got a coyote yet with the 30-30 but the load groups well and is very light on recoil.
 
Even in the thickest woods and at the closest ranges a good bolt gun with a scope is a better tool for the job.
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You've not hunted woods with a lot of undergrowth then. There's places where a scope is worthless and that's one of them.
 
I do almost of my hunting in thick woods. Sometimes close enough to leave powder burns on a deer hide. Optics allow you to see your game. When it is too dark to see your iron sights the optics will let you see your target and sights. It has been a proven fact that glass is the better, more reliable sighting system for close to 50 years now. At any range, and under any conditions.

I shoot irons on my lever guns because I like them and don't want to scope them. Not because they are better in any way.
 
Another option:

Peep sights, either receiver or tang mounted are a great sighting tool on the 30/30. Lighting fast, yet precise enough for longer shots.

Has anyone tried loading the Hornady 30/30 spitzer bullets (same as the Leverevolution ammo I think) yet? I've been shooting mostly cast bullets in our 30/30s for fun, but I was thinking about the new bullet style for upcoming hunts if the 30/30 is chosen.
 
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I have a Couple of 30 30s, one is a Lever Action, and the other is a Springfield 840 Made by Savage, It wears a Redfield Revoloution 2x7x33 and is a tack driver, My Daughtor carries it when I take her Deer Hunting.
I like the 30 30 cartridge, and in the terrain I hunt in its perfectly capable on Deer and Hogs.
 
You've not hunted woods with a lot of undergrowth then. There's places where a scope is worthless and that's one of them.
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I regularly hunt crap so thick you couldn't see a deer 10 feet in front of you some of the time. We're, for the most part, a shotgun only state and my gun of choice is an 870 with a 1.5-4x scope on it. I'll agree with JMR, there is no time iron sigths are better and a scopes benifits go well beyond magnification. Faster and better 100% of the time.

.30-30? Love the cartridge, love the guns, love the history but far from my first choice for Iowa hunting. Plinkin? Loads of fun.

LK
 
All of you lever action doubters, send me your guns. Once you get the lever action disease, you will not be able to shake it! Fun, fun, fun! Our club holds lever action silhouette shoots on a regular basis in the summer. Took an almost 110 year old 32-20 out last days off. Yep, I have the disease, so all of you not wanting to become infected, send me your levers before it's too late!
Ralph
 
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