Anyone here hunt out West with a 30-30?

[Newtosavage]

At one time, the 30-30 was considered a high-powered, high-velocity cartridge. No telling how many bear, elk, pronghorn and muleys the old round accounted for.

I'm curious if anyone today uses the 'ol 30-30 for any such critters, in the Western U.S. And if so, why?

 

[CanyonHunter]

My uncle still does no matter the location or animal. He has everything from 257 wby to 6.5 prc to 300 wby. None of them ever leave for hunting trips though. Shoots pigs and deer out to 200 no problem. His is scoped of course. I think I might next year, I’d like to work up a load for CA with Hammers or a monoflex.

 

[jpmulk]

Also interested in this. I inherited a savage model 99 in 30-30 and would love to take an elk with it

 

[Shraggs]

I’ve thought about taking my model 94 in 32 ws but just haven’t pulled the trigger yet

 

[orelkaddict]

I still love my lever guns!!! Made lots of kills with a 30-30, 38-55 and hopefully with a 45-70 in the future. Usually someone in the house will use the 30-30 each year for 1 tag. My wife is seriously deadly with that damn rifle!!!!!

 

[justinspicher]

Not yet, it is my plan for this season.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Cool question. I have and love two 30-30s stlll one scoped and one with a peep. Great guns. inside of 100 great deer medicine. 200? No problem. 300? Hmm? 400 with a +60 inch drop that is 2x a 308 and almost 3x a 6.5 creed. Not to mention you are down to 1000 fps and under 500# pounds of energy. definitely capping your practical range.

I like to shoot levers. Just love that cowboy cool factor. If I lived in brown bear country, I might consider a 30-30 or 45/70 for a truck gun, I guess but might just as easily go with a 308 AR. Maybe there is also some lingering fear of an Australia like gun law regime at some point in the future That bans semi autos. TBH my lever guns are still in my stable mostly out of nostalgia than any other reason.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

It depends where "Out West" you plan to hunt. In some places, you literally can have a line of site measured in mere feet. In other places you can have a line of site for miles.

Other than nostalgia, there is no point in grabbing a 30 caliber that runs out of steam at 300 yards or so. This is my personal opinion based upon where I hunt, how I hunt, and my current firearm stable. Other folks' outlooks and opinions will vary.

 

[Fartface]

Lever guns are pretty fun and they look cool. you just want to be iron sights close if you are going to do it.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I have one and would consider taking it with if I was still hunting dark timber… but I also have a .308 BLR that has a fixed 6x scope on see through scope mounts that usually goes, since there is still the possibility I may encounter a 200-300 yard shot in edge habitat, love the lever guns though

 

[Maverick1]

I sold my marlin 30-30 for $150 and put it towards a tikka whitetail hunter in 270 win, which was $399. That was a good move back in 2000.

 

[Shraggs]

Lever guns are pretty fun and they look cool. you just want to be iron sights close if you are going to do it.

Or if your perception didn’t work with irons try a small red dot

 

[ReddingArcher]

I kick myself for selling an old octagon barrel 30-30. I killed my first bear with it. Thats when we could run dogs for bears so it was perfect. I sold that gun to my brother in laws dad so I may be able to get it back from him.

 

[cs1]

If I ever draw a @%$#&%$ mule deer tag in our elk unit, I will definitely bring along one of my 336’s. Lots of timber in the area and would devote a day to it. I bought a 336W at walmart for $249 in 2000 while in college. Saved lots of beer money for it and it’s done me well on whitetail in the past.

 

[Jim1187]

I know one fellow who has a Dall sheep and very nice Mountain goat taken in the last 15 years with one. If savage's .303 savage is close enough (and it should be) you can add a handful of moose. Assuming Canada counts.
I am sure that locals and first nations members are even more likely to do it. When long seasons and lots of opportunities exist it doesn't seem as much of a handicap.
If we're not talking really hunting then the Sister-in-law's family have .30-30's that are the farm's work guns and get used for dispatching all manner of creatures. One rogue bison from the neighbors and loads of elk included.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

I have a 1950 Marlin 30-30 that I got from a pawn shop about 7 years ago. I traded a 70's era Smith and Wesson .38 caliber pistol for it, plus about $50 cash if I remember correctly. My original plan was to take the old scope off and just use iron sights but it shoots great and the scope matches so I left it, found a nice leather sling for it, and will keep it as is.

To answer the original question of why use one? I like it for hunting timber and small areas where quick short shots are likely. For most other rifle hunts I take my .270. I plan on using the 30-30 again this year for my mule deer hunt because I'm going to an area with thick brush and small clearings. Also, lever guns are just plain cool and nostalgia was definitely a factor in me buying one.

 

[TraderMike]

I inherited a pair of Marlin 336's made in 1958 in 30-30. My plan has been to carry one during a late season cow elk hunt IF I am fortunate enough to fill the freezer during first rifle with my Tikka. I have been enamored with the lever gun mystique since I was a kid watching episodes of "The Rifleman"...
I was mildly surprised the first time I shot one at the range while my primary rifle was cooling and knocked out a 4 shot group a whisker over 1 inch, with stock iron sights. At 100 yards. I hope I have a chance to post a pic like Nick's with my Marlin some day.

 

[dromero]

Yeah, we do a late season (early Nov) whitetail hunt camp. Wall tents, red flannel, and everybody has to use open sight 30-30's. That's usually in heavy timber in WA state, so the open sight, lever gun is perfect. Last 5 Whitetails I've shot in that unit/area have all been 100 yds or less, except for one in a clear cut that was about 200 yds out.

 

[TxxAgg]

Love me some lever guns.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

Yeah, we do a late season (early Nov) whitetail hunt camp. Wall tents, red flannel, and everybody has to use open sight 30-30's. That's usually in heavy timber in WA state, so the open sight, lever gun is perfect. Last 5 Whitetails I've shot in that unit/area have all been 100 yds or less, except for one in a clear cut that was about 200 yds out.

Wall tents, red flannel, and lever guns. Sounds completely awesome!