Obsolete and underpowered? It is the standard like the 3006 that all other cartridges are compared to for hunting deer and other big game. In the eastern US it will handle all that is put in its sights. Deer, Black Bear, Hog ect
No other rifle cartridge is as popular and every place than sell ammo sells 30/30 ammo. I even make up a 100 gr rnl light load for popping squirrels out of pine trees. Take a few cartridges along when hunting incase Bambi is shy.
A lot of hunters have the macho image of making 300+ yard shots. Then again it all depends on where you are hunting. In Colorado, Washington, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, the Dakotas - sure, you can see a long ways, and might need to make long shots.
In the south, such as where I live - the shots are usually under 100 yards. In the past 15 years of my deer hunting career - I have YET to shoot a deer over 125 yards. Most of the deer I have shot have been 75 yards or less. So with that in mind - the 30-30 is WELL suited for southern wild hogs or white tail deer.
The 30-30 is not dead, it gained it's popularity as the first commercialy loaded smokless powder cartridge. In 1894 it was concidered a hot round and in comparision to black powder loads it was. In a '94 Winchester carbine the 30-30 was the closest thing to an assualt rifle in existance, the combination of the rifle and the cartridge was so popular that the terms "30-30" and "lever action" have become interchangable. It's no wonder the 30-30 cartridge still survives as one of the most popular centerfires today.
BTW #O buckshot can be seated in the mouth of most 30 caliber cases and fired with a very light powder charge for pest control.
I think (i would guess that our friend Forrestdweller is fishing a little) that each gun (tool) has a purpose, will other rounds do the same job, yes, but the 30-30 has a place in every gun case (imo)
Nah, it's fine for hunting whitetail deer in the South. Personally, I can't see the point in purchasing one due to the cost of ammunition as compared to 7.62x54R, 7.62x39 M43, or 7.92 Mauser. 30/30 is still fairly expensive compared to these milsurp rounds.
I have killed more game with my 30/30 than every other gun i own combined, minus the 22lr of coarse (small game). I love my lever action marlin and dispite having many MANY other big bore rifle i carry my 30/30 everywhere and it is what takes most all the game. Remember, its not the gun, its not the ammo, its the shooter that makes the gun.
Solinvictus I fail to understand your reasoning. Sure the mil surplus ammo is cheaper but not designed for hunting game as it is full metal jacket. A wounded deer running off to die later is not going to put meat on the table like a 30/30 hunting round will. I personally hunt with firearms that use 30/30 rounds. My Winchester 94 or Savage 24 V 30/30 over 20 gauge are very good firearms for eastern woodland hunting. I have sporting rifles in 3006, 303 brit and 8mm Mauser and will probably make up a scouting carbine (Not a cooper but my concept of a scouting rifle) using a M-38 or M-44 Mosin Nagant 7.62x54R.
What I have found in hunting softpoint ammo 30/30 is way cheaper than any of the other rounds in that configuration. And I have bought up a lot of hunting rounds ( Soft Point ) for most of the rifles we have as we are going first line with softpoint ammo and reserve with surplus. Also most of the hunting softpoint is boxer primed and reloadable brass and honestly some surplus ammo I have bought is so questionable in quality that I bought it to salvage the bullets for reloading.
All of our defense longguns are in military cartridges and most of the ammo is mil surplus mostly for training and plinking. Not that we would not use for defense.
One point that might help the 30-30 is that the round can not have a point on the end. Well, unless its a single shot or bolt action.
Most 30-30 bullets are round nose or hollow points. This helps the round expand and do more damage. A lot of military bullets are full metal jackets. Some 7.62X39 are hollow points, but these rounds have VERY small hollow cavities.
The military ammo might be cheaper, but in a crisis you will be able to find 30-30 easier. If a store sells guns and ammo, it is almost certain to carry 30-30.
I have a 24V Savage so I hand load to take advantage of the 24 inch barrel Slower burning powders for more velosity and shire point bullets for better velosity retention and range. 30/30 is my deer cartridge of choice. Pig and if I am lucky a Bear as well.
Is the 24V the lever action from the 1960's-1970's that used to come in .30 carbine as well?
As far as the 30/30 round, again, I don't stock anything that's not used by a major nation's armed forces. I see the point about the ubiquitous nature of the 30/30 (hell, any bait/tackle/convenience store's likely to have a box or two), but I just have an innate opposition to most (or all in practice) non-military rounds. Just a personal prejudice, I suppose.
The savage 24V is an over-under rifle shotgun, a very nice longarm in the woods. I used to have a 22mag/3"20ga Savage, it was great for grouse and other small game.
I stock 100 rnds of 30-30 to go with my Win-94, it is a sentimental favorite I carry on horseback, it is also a good hand-out rifle and 30-30 is common here, I won't try to defend my choices of firearms, I don't have to.
To challange a person's choices in firearms or the caliber there-of is a waste of time and a waste of space as is the promotion of one person's choice over other PPL's choices. I am not defending or attacking anyone, it is just my personal observation.
In the end each person gets to live with the choices they make in life, that is the fundamental law of self-determination, and there aint no way around that law, no plea bargins, no liberal judges.
Personaly, I cover all the bases.
This might be a little off topic, but there is a growing consensus that the lever action 30-30 is becoming the new SKS. Companies like Saurez International offer tactical levergun classes.
I saw an "urban tactical" lever gun or actually a series of them by Brockman guns a long time ago in a Guns and Ammo magazine. I can't afford their price tag but the premise doesn't change. They are light, quick, reliable, etc. If you chose to I suppose you could mount a tactical light. I have an aftermarket peep sight on mine that works well. I don't know if it's the new SKS, but maybe the SKS was the new .30/30. As you know, if it ain't broke don't fix it.... .45, .30-06, 12 ga. Also, if you have a pistol caliber lever gun, you can carry a sidearm of the same caliber and just worry about one type of ammo.
In the late 1800 the russians in one of thier battles with the Turks found the lever action to be the assualt rifle of the time.
I will have of look up the actual date and battle.
Basically the Russians had 4 to one superiority in men and the Turks were in a fortifiied position. The russians figured just human wave would work. The Russian started to advance and the Turks shot at them with thier single shot turnbolt rifles and wre inflecting causalities but but the Russians expected that what they did not know was the turks had also issued to each man a lever action Winchester. When the Russians got within range of the Winchesters the Turks let loose and decimated the Russians.
I hunt with 30/30 actually a 30/30 over a 20 gauge Savage 24V. I am carring three types of rounds with me this season. during a recent scouting trip I detected some sign of wild hog and coyote has been sighted as well. I have some 130 gr hollowpoint 30/30 loads that I will carry a couple of cartridges along with me this time. Usually I hunt with 150 gr but am going to try 170 gr season. I also carry a couple of 110gr rnl reloads that are decent squirrel and rabbit poppers at short range.
No! the 30/30 is the reconized first sucessful smokeless powder centerfire rifel cartridge. see link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-30_Winchester
The 30 carbine cartridge was essencially a pistol cartridge developed into a semi-auto carbine cartridge for use in WW2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-30_Winchester
Rather than rehash and repost I felt it more efficient and informative to link to some information.
Both the cartridges do use a .308 to .309 bullet. The 30/30 generally is used for hunting with a 150 gr to 170 gr bullet for best effect on deer and black bear even hog. A lighter bullet can be used for smaller game and varmits. I personally find the Speer Plinker to be an effective varmit loading within its loading limits.
The 30 carbine generally does not have the powder capacity to effectivel fire bullets weighing over 130 grains and the 100 to 110 gr bullets show the best performance in my manuals.
I do have one loading I use a 100 gr Round nose lead hard cast bullet .308 caliber for reloading plinker an squirrel popper rounds with in several 30 cal cartridges.
Generally speaking the 30/30 is the baseline deer cartridge in North America. The 30 carbine is not allowed to be used for deer hunting in many states because it is considered underpowered for such a use.
30/30 is great. Here in Saskatchewan, the moose and elk tend to grow big and the ranges on elk can be long - so there are more appropriate cartriges, but that being said, the 30/30 could still do the job if the hunter does his. Good for hunting deer in the bush, but out in the open, I would use something a little flatter shooting.
I have a Winchester 94, love the old gun easy and cheap to reload, easy handling in the brush and will take down anything in my area. Kinda gives you that John Wayne feeling pilgrim, and they ain't making any more. I have purchased a few spare parts for mine so should be good to go all the way down to my great grand son.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Survivalist Forum
11.6M posts
167.1K members
Since 2007
A forum community dedicated to survivalists and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about collections, gear, DIY projects, hobbies, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!