That 30-30 is moving pretty slow and dropping pretty fast at 300 yards! Not a good rifle to use for Elk or deer at that range!

Lindy,
I agree with that, its not much punkin at 300 unless you stick that bullet in the heart or brain or spine, they can make a lot of tracks otherwise...

I think the 30-30 and 25-35 are best at 100 yards and under, and good enough for a good shot at 200 yards..That where one is safe, dependingon his marksmanship..

I still love to hunt with both, if an archer or muzzle loader fan can kill deer with a bow, I can certainly do the same with a 30-30 or 25-35 rifle.

Elk at a 100 yards are easy, but that's my limit, well maybe under the right set of circumstances I would shoot an elk at 150 or 200 yards, but that's my limit..

We have plans at the shop to build a .30-.30 "Truck Gun" using a M93 Mauser action. 21.65" bbl (55cm). Perhaps will extract a little more velocity. Magazine will be mod'd to a P14 Enfield type with guide rails and slanted rear box insert. Extractor height reduced 50% with bottom claw chamfer. '93 Turk Mauser floor-plate to allow 5 down. Bolt-face opened up accordingly. Follower mods if needed. We think this is a great way to utilize these plentiful old actions and mitigate the gas/pressure issues associated with modern cartridge conversions.

if you google 30-30 vs 308 vs 30-06 you will find plenty of videos of all these being test fired against cinder blocks, wet newspaper, and metal gongs. What is absolutely apparant is that the 30-30 penetrates just as well as the 308 and 30-06. Yes the others will send the bits a bit further, ie there is more energy being dispersed, but on game what matters is a good hole through the vitals that lets a lot of blood out. Thats what kills and kills with certainty. Any extra will impart more energy and may drop and do more damage, or do similar damage at a longer range

We don't see the 30-30 over here very much. In most cases doesn't have enough velocity to be deer legal - but I don't doubt that put any bullet in the right place you have meat on the table. And as big game hunters well know modest velocity gives great penetration.

This thread is very timely!
I'm outfitting my son with a deer rifle for a December hunt and in looking over all of the possibilities from the rack, the 30/30 Winchester Model 54 is just begging to be taken out!

quote:

Originally posted by Bobster:
We have plans at the shop to build a .30-.30 "Truck Gun" using a M93 Mauser action. 21.65" bbl (55cm). Perhaps will extract a little more velocity. Magazine will be mod'd to a P14 Enfield type with guide rails and slanted rear box insert. Extractor height reduced 50% with bottom claw chamfer. '93 Turk Mauser floor-plate to allow 5 down. Bolt-face opened up accordingly. Follower mods if needed. We think this is a great way to utilize these plentiful old actions and mitigate the gas/pressure issues associated with modern cartridge conversions.

How about a .35 Remington? Lots easier.

Huvius,
A mod 54 Win. in 30-30 caliber is a real good investment, they bring top dollar and just keep going sky high..

As to the comparison to the 308, 30-06, they are hands down more powerful, longer range, and just more gun than a 30-30 anyway you cut it, but if one keeps the 30-30 to no more than about a 100 to 150 yards, it sure will kill and elk..beyond that and IMO it could be very easy to end up in a big time tracking job..On deer it will kill about as far as you could expect to hit one with irons sights.