The 30-30 still worth using???

Sitting Bull · #1 10-05-2020, 02:06 PM

Hey guys, does anybody still hunt with a lever action 30-30? I was gifted an older Winchester 94 top eject several years ago, but never did anything with it because I thought it was a caliber of the past and not good for hunting in Alberta because of the possible long shots one can encounter.
Most shots I take at any game are within 200yards.
So who hunts with one?
Pictures are welcomed and always nice to look at.

Tactical Lever · #2 10-05-2020, 02:33 PM

I get one and then sell it to buy another. A Marlin 336 in 30-30 was my first big game rifle. I decided I wanted another modestly powered 336, but a bit more bullet, so I bought another one in .35 Remington. Most shots are close, and I'd feel comfortable using it on anything around here. Worked up some warmer handloads that are more in line with the strength of the Marlin with Leverevolution powder.

Husty · #3 10-05-2020, 02:34 PM

Not a 30-30 but I often go out for Whitetails with a 7.62x39 (similar ballistics) and it does fine within 200 yards. As long as your hitting the deer's vitals they wont know the difference.

Dewey Cox · #4 10-05-2020, 02:42 PM

I just got one, and I plan on shooting a deer with it this year.

Tactical Lever · #5 10-05-2020, 02:46 PM

Picture with the deer before refinishing the stock and the rifle alone after. Turned out to be one of the guns usually grabbed on the way out the door.

CDN offroader · #6 10-05-2020, 02:52 PM

I used my Winchester 1895 in 30-40 Krag last year, no problems taking down a heavy buck. Try some of the LeveRevolution ammo and see how it shoots.

Twisted Canuck · #7 10-05-2020, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tactical Lever

Picture with the deer before refinishing the stock and the rifle alone after. Turned out to be one of the guns usually grabbed on the way out the door.

You know Cat is going to see that and bring down a bad juju curse on you because of the scope, right? I'm just warning ya....

Nice refinish on that stock though.

Moo Snukkle · #8 10-05-2020, 03:25 PM

30/30?
Hell ya
My partner is using one as his primary on this moose hunt

Tactical Lever · #9 10-05-2020, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twisted Canuck

You know Cat is going to see that and bring down a bad juju curse on you because of the scope, right? I'm just warning ya....

Nice refinish on that stock though.

Thanks! Not a great picture, but turned out not bad. Always thought a low powered variable really seemed right on the pistol grip 336. Old school steel Weaver rings. I certainly can't shoot with irons, stock or aftermarket like Cat can, but a scope improves my modest ability.

badbrass · #10 10-05-2020, 03:48 PM

Have one in the Trapper Model 30-30 with a Leupold VX III- 1.5X5X20, It has put down a lot of deer for me! 20+over the years! From the smallest to a big one for me!

bushbug · #11 10-05-2020, 03:51 PM

My last 3 shots from my 3030 resulted in 2 dead bears and 1 dead whitetail so it still works fine

badbrass · #12 10-05-2020, 03:58 PM

Nice to carry in the bush!!!!! 38 years old!

Cory · #13 10-05-2020, 04:52 PM

My first rifle was a M94 XTR in .356win. Like a young fool I traded it for a flatter shooting .270. Should have just bought a .270 instead! Anyhow, harvested plenty of Moose and Deer with it before trading. As I aged and had extra income, I tried to acquire my lost gem, to no success, but I do have a M94 XTR in .307win, which is likely the better cartridge. Have killed an Elk with it, and is slated to go to my son one day. In short, I believe the .30-30 is more than capable in the hands of a skilled hunter, which I also believe we have wrongly replaced this skill with far shooting. My elk this year was taken at 65yds, last year 26yds, the year before 80yds, and in fact my furthest elk ever was exactly 105yds All these done by GPS, so basically +/- 2 yds accuracy. My youth was all about shooting up to 550yds, now the joy is the hunt, and the skill required! Currently I am building an aperture sight from a spoon for my BLR .308 that will become my primary rifle, lol.
Grab that .30-30 and go hunt!!

badbrass · #14 10-05-2020, 05:47 PM

I think it all depends on how you hunt! At the same time, I was bow hunting, so I got used to the deer's travel corridors and have seen whats in the area. I also used the bow hunting savvy in the rifle season. And with the 30-30 Trapper it worked great! The year I got my big whitetail I knew the area like the back of my hand! And I also saw rubs that were made by a huge whitetail. I knew he was in there! Just had to find him! And I did!

FellSwoop · #15 10-05-2020, 09:41 PM

That model 94 in 30-30 is junk. I'll do you a favor and dispose of it for you. Let me know when I should pick it up.

Yukongold · #16 10-05-2020, 09:52 PM

Still trying to draw a deer permit here in Yukon. LOL There is only a handful every year, however the numbers have increased dramatically with the warmer winters. When I do I will be using my great uncle's 1946 model 94 in 30-30. The gun is so mint and I doubt if its fired a box of shells.

Dewey Cox · #17 10-05-2020, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukongold

Still trying to draw a deer permit here in Yukon. LOL There is only a handful every year, however the numbers have increased dramatically with the warmer winters. When I do I will be using my great uncle's 1946 model 94 in 30-30. The gun is so mint and I doubt if its fired a box of shells.

And here I sit, waiting to draw a moose tag.
Amazing that we live in the same country.

catnthehat · #18 10-05-2020, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badbrass

Nice to carry in the bush!!!!! 38 years old!

Acoped Lever action 30/30??!!

Heavens to Mergatroid!

Cat

1Heavyhitr · #19 10-05-2020, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sitting Bull

Hey guys, does anybody still hunt with a lever action 30-30? I was gifted an older Winchester 94 top eject several years ago, but never did anything with it because I thought it was a caliber of the past and not good for hunting in Alberta because of the possible long shots one can encounter.
Most shots I take at any game are within 200yards.
So who hunts with one?
Pictures are welcomed and always nice to look at.

Read less, shoot more.. lol. You obviously know the limitations, just shoot within them. It ultimately depends on what kind of shots you can expect be taking. Just take the right tool for the job..

it still works

58thecat · #20 10-06-2020, 06:07 AM

Great cartridge....in a fast handling lever can't be beat when in tight quarters etc.....just feels right.....carried one last year....my sons....early eighties Marlin...

jeprli · #21 10-06-2020, 08:32 AM

I'm carrying a marlin 336 and a savage 340 this buck season both in 30-30. One of them will take a buck down. Marlin wears a sigsauer romeo3 1moa red dot, very precise with 150gr loads.
340 has iron sights, also shoots great but is finicky when feeding anything but roundnose bullets.

Stinky Buffalo · #22 10-06-2020, 08:45 AM

I'd keep that one, Sitting Bull! Most of the deer I have taken were well under 200 yards.

I think they aren't as popular for the spot-from-the-truck-and-stalk kind of hunting, because unloading/reloading the tube magazine can be time consuming.

Dean2 · #23 10-06-2020, 09:40 AM

I have always liked lever guns, partly for looks and partly because I am left handed. I prefer the 38-55/375 Winchester and 45-70 to the 30-30, but all in there is nothing wrong with a good thuddy thuddy. Show us some pictures of what you get with it.

elkhunter11 · #24 10-06-2020, 09:46 AM

The 30-30 does what it has done for over 100 years. The difference today is that there are so many other choices with better ballistics, so the 30-30 keeps fading in popularity.

bobtodrick · #25 10-06-2020, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

The 30-30 does what it has done for over 100 years. The difference today is that there are so many other choices with better ballistics, so the 30-30 keeps fading in popularity.

It isn't fading in popularity.
Last year it was the 5th best selling centerfire rifle cartridge in the U.S.
https://www.outdoorlife.com/lever-ac...and-heres-why/
It may not be ideal in Alberta, but in heavily treed areas in the Eastern Canada/United States it is ideal.

Dean2 · #26 10-06-2020, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobtodrick

It isn't fading in popularity.
Last year it was the 5th best selling centerfire rifle cartridge in the U.S.
https://www.outdoorlife.com/lever-ac...and-heres-why/
It may not be ideal in Alberta, but in heavily treed areas in the Eastern Canada/United States it is ideal.

Well that is very interesting. I knew there were still lots in use down east but I did not realise it was still such a big seller overall. Like you say, probably comes from our western type hunting bias.

elkhunter11 · #27 10-06-2020, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobtodrick

It isn't fading in popularity.
Last year it was the 5th best selling centerfire rifle cartridge in the U.S.
https://www.outdoorlife.com/lever-ac...and-heres-why/
It may not be ideal in Alberta, but in heavily treed areas in the Eastern Canada/United States it is ideal.

Look at the overall sales, not just by individual cartridges, but by total sales. When I started hunting, there were only half a dozen or so commonly used cartridges, and the 30-30 made up a significant percentage of total sales, but now with dozens of cartridges being used, the percentage of people using the 30-30 has faded dramatically. Go ask the retailers how many new 30-30 rifles they sell every year, instead of the sizeable percentage it used to be, it is now insignificant in comparison. The only reason that the 30-30 is still in the top five sales wise, is because of the millions of rifles sold over the last 100+ years, and because everyone isn't limiting themselves to a few cartridges to hunt with, as in the past.

Faststeel · #28 10-06-2020, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Look at the overall sales, not just by individual cartridges, but by total sales. When I started hunting, there were only half a dozen or so commonly used cartridges, and the 30-30 made up a significant percentage of total sales, but now with dozens of cartridges being used, the percentage of people using the 30-30 has faded dramatically. Go ask the retailers how many new 30-30 rifles they sell every year, instead of the sizeable percentage it used to be, it is now insignificant in comparison. The only reason that the 30-30 is still in the top five sales wise, is because of the millions of rifles sold over the last 100+ years, and because everyone isn't limiting themselves to a few cartridges to hunt with, as in the past.

Elk surprisingly Cabela's cannot get enough 30-30's to fill the demand at the North store..... You should work some retail, get some real life experience.......LOL

catnthehat · #29 10-06-2020, 11:18 AM

I still see lots of 30/30's at the range and in the field .
Comparing sales on paper can be a bit muddles ding because even though the 30/30 may not be as popular as the 6.5 Creed or the 308 there are still lots of them being used and manufactured
Cat

fordtruckin · #30 10-06-2020, 11:32 AM

Hunted here in Montana for 5 years mainly with a .35 Remington. As a side note, I have never had to shoot anything over 90 yards. Been pretty luck I have been able to sneak up that close. I would not consider the 30/30 to be outdated. As others have said, great gun within it's limitations. Take it and go hunt some cut lines.