Just wondering how many of you do NOT like the 30 caliber rifles?
Please don't misunderstand this post as I am not trying to condemn the 30's its just that I was curious. The majority of my friends that I hunt with shoot 300 Win's, I've seen some pretty spectaculer results with them. I've always wondered why so many people shoot them.
I realize the 30's are a very versatile cartridge, just never had the urge to own a 30.
I personally prefer 257 caliber rifles but I also own, 22,270, 338,416, and 458 caliber rifles.Just wondering what all the hoopla is all about.
I know the 30's have a large selection of bullets to shoot and are probably the most versatile of all the calibers but like I said earlier, they just don't do anything for me!
How many of you own 30's and what do you like about them?
REMEMBER, I am NOT trying to start an argument with anyone, just curious.

I picked a Remington 270 over a Savage 30-06 because the Savage was priced $75.00 over the M700 Tupperware special and had a really crummy scope. Both were package guns and I still think the Remington was the better deal. My decision wasn't based on a perceived difference between the two rounds.
I could have easily got a 30-06, 280 Remington, 7mm-08, 7x57 Mauser or 308 Win if the price was right.
I finally got a 30 cal. gun, a M99-R Savage in 300 Savage.

[ 01-27-2003, 05:38: Message edited by: Zeke ]

To me the .308's embody the best qualities of other caliber's (i.e., good bullet weight, sufficient diameter and shootability) to create, in a compromise, the "ideal one-rifle caliber" sufficient for most big game sought anywhere in the world... in rifles chambered for cartridges from 308 Win to 300 Wby.

In a nutshell...

BA

The .30's are OK, but for my type of hunting in Alaska I prefer the .33's. My reasons? I like to use heavy bullets from 225 grains to 300, and that's where the .33's do their best. For my type of hunting, the most versatile cartridge is the .338WM.

That said, the .338WM, .300WM, and the .30-06 are the most popular cartridges up here.

Since it's difficult to prove that calibers similar to .30 are better and the USA had .30 as it's standard since 1898 and in two world wars that set the standard.

The .223 cartridge is useless for most sporting purposes so that did not change anything. It's not even as good as older cartridges.

Confidence, plain and simple. I know that my .300 Winchester magnum will do whatever I ask of it. It is a breeze to create accurate reloads, and I find it pleasant to shoot. Just the perfect big game rifle to me, and it works on varmints in a pinch. The only gun that comes close is my Marlin stainless guide gun in 45/70, talk about perfect packable power.

You get a large selection of bullets, ammo is cheaper. I prefer my 338 or 9.3x62 over any of the 300

I suspect more money and time has been devoted to optimizing the two American .308 caliber military rifles of the 20th Century (.30/'06 & 7.62 NATO/.308 Win.)than any other arms ever. That's one of the reasons why .30 calibers are so good. In addition, many discharged soldiers after WWI, WWII, and the Korean War wanted a .30 caliber because they were familiar with it. These guys passed their rifles down to the kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. That's another reason there are still so many of these things around.

eldeguello

Why did you omit the original 30 cal gov't?

30-40 Krag?

Just wondering?

jeff

they work well!

They kill more effectively than the smaller bore sizes.

I have and use .300 Savage, .308 and .30-'06. For some reason I have never owned a .300 Mag, but I am fixing to change that.

jim dodd

The 30 most be an American thing. nothing bad about the 30cal just like the .277 or .284.

The 30 cals sort of represent a happy medium of suitability with a variety of north american big game. They are a well suited caliber for taking the more commonly hunted animals such as deer, Black bear and Elk. That was a fact many years ago and still is, and because of that they are now everywhere in many shapes and sizes. I have a couple of them and they have served me well. Handloaders can hardly find fault in the selection of bullets available in .30s.

I have a few cases that take the magic .308 diameter bullet: 30-06, 300 WM, 300Wby Mag, and a 30 Carbine if I can slide that one in there too. I think why the 30's are so popular are that they have a lot more casses made to take the bullet. Look how many different cartridges there are that use the .308 bullet diameter. I also think most cartridges in .308 are up on the upper end of the scale needed for North American game, that most of the public can handle recoil to shoot accurately. The 30-06, and the 300 WM I would say are the standard in .308 sized cartridges. Very popular, good hunting calibers. I like the one's that I have alot!

HunterJim,
Wow! I figured you'd have a 300 Mag of some sort? What are you thinking of buying IE: rifle make, and caliber such as 300 WM, Wby Mag, 300 RUM, 300-378 Wby Mag etc. ? My latest new rifle was a Wby Vanguard in 300 Wby..... Shoots really well, and I didn't have to take a loan out to buy it either.

Wby Rifle Pic http://community.webshots.com/photo/59948877/59951180VQOCWm
Dennis

I guess old habits die hard. Back in the 60's my father gave me my first centerfire rifle that was a sporterized 1917 Eddystone which beat me senseless. A couple years later when I was 14 years old my father had me shooting High power competition with the M-1 Garand.
I have dabbled with 30's on and off since then and I just recently re-discovered the M-1 Garand which happens to be an excellent platform for the 30 caliber.

A great deal of their popularity does have to do with them having been the preferred U.S. military bore for so many years. And they are also a great medium bore for 95% of the world's hunting.

Outside of the cultural context the .30 cal just seems to kill game very well. If it didn't I suspect most hunters would move on very quickly. While I couldn't imagine not owning at least a 30-06 and a .300 Win Mag., I much prefer the .338 no matter what the game being hunted.