Has anyone on here taken a .30-30 Winchester on safari in Africa? I would love to hear the stories if anybody has. I have a love for the .30-30 because I shot my first deer with it at age 10 so that is why I'm asking. Not planning on taking one if I get to go to Africa but I just wondered (for conversation's sake) if anybody has. If so, tell me what the PH thought of its performance.

Eeeuuu, this should be fun! I'm on your side buddy, believe me, but the diatribe is probably forthcoming; you brush-busting Pennsylvania heathen. ('Shot my first buck with one also, a Marlin...the horror! I was 11 though. Still got it and it's still deadly accurate.) My extremely limited experience, around an extremely cantankerous PH revealed exactly one experience with a lever gun that was not, according to his version of the story, a pleasant experience. But, this could be attributable to the same scenario that afflicts other visitors to Africa, no matter what the type of reloading mechanism, if they buy a new rifle and don't practice enough with it. If you do get to go to Africa, do take a larger caliber bolt or double along, but, it's your money, take the tirdy-tirdy for fun also. Who know's, maybe you can change some opinions.

"Let the games begin!"

My brother and I shot a few impala and duiker etc when we were teenagers with a 25-20. My dad still has it but we ran out of bullets years ago.

Christian, not a 30-30, but a 45-70 leveraction, for my 1st safari, to Africa.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=304103498#304103498


If you have one, and are good with it, take it. It will do serviceable duty on a variety of plains game. Impala, blesbok, warthog, bushpig, and many others. Heck it can even work on the bigger plains game, as long as you get close enough,and correctly place your shot. A lot depends on where you hunt, and if you can get close enough. Keep following your dream, boy.


maddog

Mad Dog, great hunt report! Sounds like you had a fantastic trip, and the GG added its own unique flavour.

quote:

Originally posted by Cazador humilde:
Eeeuuu, this should be fun! I'm on your side buddy, believe me, but the diatribe is probably forthcoming; you brush-busting Pennsylvania heathen. ('Shot my first buck with one also, a Marlin...the horror! I was 11 though. Still got it and it's still deadly accurate.) My extremely limited experience, around an extremely cantankerous PH revealed exactly one experience with a lever gun that was not, according to his version of the story, a pleasant experience. But, this could be attributable to the same scenario that afflicts other visitors to Africa, no matter what the type of reloading mechanism, if they buy a new rifle and don't practice enough with it. If you do get to go to Africa, do take a larger caliber bolt or double along, but, it's your money, take the tirdy-tirdy for fun also. Who know's, maybe you can change some opinions.

"Let the games begin!"

I would certainly take another rifle. Maybe I'll have to take a thuddy-thuddy along for fun if I do get to go........

Handled a lightweight double in the caliber last year at DSC and thought it'd be a pretty neat rig for plains game.

Have to admit that many of us in Africa consider a 30-30 in lever action a nice little novelty for tin cans and maybe spending the day stalking a warthog when the rest of the hunting is done.
When you are getting paid for your client's success, then you hope he has a well-scoped 7mm or 30-06 with good bullets!
Also admit to very little experience with any lever actions so will defer to those who know better!

My son's girlfriend took a Marlin thudy-thuddy in August to RSA. She shot a zebra & a kudu with it. One shot put both animals down but not dead. Both needed a finishing round. He had purchased the Horandy lever-ution ammo. He was not impressed with the performance of the ammo & said that he thought plain old Remingon cor-lokt would have done better.

The joke around camp was about her "rabbit gun" by the Ph's.

quote:

Originally posted by David Hulme:
My brother and I shot a few impala and duiker etc when we were teenagers with a 25-20. My dad still has it but we ran out of bullets years ago.

Dave,

You should be able to get either loaded ammo or components from Ken Stewart in Pietersburg.

You should be able to contact him at stewbullets@mweb.co.za but if you can't, email me for his phone number.

quote:

Originally posted by Christian Snyder:
Has anyone on here taken a .30-30 Winchester on safari in Africa? I would love to hear the stories if anybody has. I have a love for the .30-30 because I shot my first deer with it at age 10 so that is why I'm asking. Not planning on taking one if I get to go to Africa but I just wondered (for conversation's sake) if anybody has. If so, tell me what the PH thought of its performance.

There's no reason why you shouldn't take your 30-30. I'm sure you're aware of the limitations in terms of shooting distancess etc. but there is nothing wrong with the caliber IMO as far as plains game hunting is concerned.

Levergun Hunt 2006

Levergun Hunt 2007

Levergun Hunt 2010

I've had the pleasure of hosting levergun enthusiasts annually for the last 4 years and have a little experience with these rifles and the various calibers.

Regards,

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:

quote:

Originally posted by David Hulme:
My brother and I shot a few impala and duiker etc when we were teenagers with a 25-20. My dad still has it but we ran out of bullets years ago.

Dave,

You should be able to get either loaded ammo or components from Ken Stewart in Pietersburg.

You should be able to contact him at stewbullets@mweb.co.za but if you can't, email me for his phone number.

Thanks Steve, I will drop him a line, would be nice to get some more ammo.

Dave

Dave,

He's not always the fastest in the world to reply so be prepared to wait a few days or possibly weeks for him to get back to you!

The 30-30 is the calibre of choice for firing squad executions in Utah.

Apparently it has done a pretty good job (no survivors) over the years, then again I suppose we are talking about the two legged variety of animals.

Maybe it would be suitable for baboons.

Many of us started out with 30/30 s because the were relatively cheap and readily available. Many deer size animals have fallen to this round. That said they is no way
I would take one to Africa to hunt. First it has poor ballistics. Second I would want something shooting faster and flatter. I would also want heavy for caliber premium bulletts. When the trophy fees get expensive it changes the equation. Unless you just want to try and prove something it wouldnt be my choice. This would be espeially true for larger antelope or certainly any of the dangerous stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Smith:
Many of us started out with 30/30 s because the were relatively cheap and readily available. Many deer size animals have fallen to this round. That said they is no way
I would take one to Africa to hunt. First it has poor ballistics. Second I would want something shooting faster and flatter. I would also want heavy for caliber premium bulletts. When the trophy fees get expensive it changes the equation. Unless you just want to try and prove something it wouldnt be my choice. This would be espeially true for larger antelope or certainly any of the dangerous stuff.

The ballistics don't bother me. Buffalo Bore loads a 190 gr at 2200 fps (I believe that is the speed). I see no issue with this load out to 100 yards on plains-game.

quote:

Originally posted by ChrisTroskie:

quote:

Originally posted by Christian Snyder:
Has anyone on here taken a .30-30 Winchester on safari in Africa? I would love to hear the stories if anybody has. I have a love for the .30-30 because I shot my first deer with it at age 10 so that is why I'm asking. Not planning on taking one if I get to go to Africa but I just wondered (for conversation's sake) if anybody has. If so, tell me what the PH thought of its performance.

There's no reason why you shouldn't take your 30-30. I'm sure you're aware of the limitations in terms of shooting distancess etc. but there is nothing wrong with the caliber IMO as far as plains game hunting is concerned.

Levergun Hunt 2006

Levergun Hunt 2007

Levergun Hunt 2010

I've had the pleasure of hosting levergun enthusiasts annually for the last 4 years and have a little experience with these rifles and the various calibers.

Regards,

I am fully aware of its limitations. If I was to use a .30-30 Winchester I would use the Buffalo Bore load that I just mentioned. However, I would always take a .270 or .30-06 along, not just a .30-30 Win.

It's more about where you shoot the animal and what bullets you use, than what you shoot it with. You can lose an impala if you shoot it in the wrong place with a 375 H&H, esp using a solid. On the other hand, at least one buffalo has been shot with a 22 Hornet.

Now there are some limits of course. You can't take a raking shot on a larger animal with a caliber/bullet that will not penetrate. For example, a 300 Weatherby Mag is a poor choice for blue wildebeest unless you use tough bullets.

The 30-30 would be just fine on broadside shots on all plains game species within 100 yards, except eland, wildebeest, and zebra. In my opinion, it is a perfectly adequate cartridge for impala, bushbuck, nyala, duikers, and even kudu in the bushveld. If anyone wants to do this right, I have some 30-30 cal double rifles in stock, some with addl 28ga barrels.

I would not take one to Namibia, OFS or the E Cape. Shots are generally too far.