Tell me about 30/30 and deer…
Question:
I recently bought a Marlin 30/30 just because I really, really wanted one <g>. I’m sure some of you can relate! I already have a couple "better" deer rifles, but I may take this one out in the woods next fall if I know I’ll be hunting dense cover and shots will be quick and close. My main concern is whether or not the 30/30 is still considered "enough" these days. I know it will kill deer, but I’d rather drop them than track them, etc. I killed my first deer last year with a 30-06 at about 40 yards, and it dropped in it’s tracks. In your judgement, would an identical hit with a 30/30 present identical results (40 yards, heart/lung shot). Not trying to start a war here- just curious… -jeff Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Yes a 30/30 is plenty of gun for whitetail. The 30/30 is a good medium range gun. I also own a marlin 30/30 lever action rifle and I really like the gun. As for the caliber itself a 30/30 is great for cutting through brush. However if you are looking for distance go with a .308, 7mm Rem Mag, or 300 Mag. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I recently bought a Marlin 30/30 just because I really, really wanted one > <g>. I’m sure some of you can relate! I already have a couple > "better" deer rifles, but I may take this one out in the woods next fall > if I know I’ll be hunting dense cover and shots will be quick and close. > My main concern is whether or not the 30/30 is still considered > "enough" these days. I know it will kill deer, but I’d rather drop them > than track them, etc. I killed my first deer last year with a 30-06 at > about 40 yards, and it dropped in it’s tracks. In your judgement, would > an identical hit with a 30/30 present identical results (40 yards, > heart/lung shot). > Not trying to start a war here- just curious… > -jeff > Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: > http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
> My main concern is whether or not the 30/30 is still considered > "enough" these days. I know it will kill deer, but I’d > rather drop them > than track them, etc. I killed my first deer last year with > a 30-06 at > about 40 yards, and it dropped in it’s tracks. In your > judgement, would > an identical hit with a 30/30 present identical results (40 yards, > heart/lung shot).
Bullet size and knock down power aside, at 40 yards the 30-30 will do just fine. Millions of deer have fallen to the 30-30. Its not as flat shooting, nor does it have the range of a 30-06, but for the type of hunting is sounds like you will be doing, a 30-30 is just fine. Many people refer to a 30-30 as a brush gun, and for shots under 150 yards, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Put the bullet in the boiler, the deer will go down (although, with a heart/lung shot, you can’t always count on them dropping in their tracks…) Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
>> I recently bought a Marlin 30/30 just because I really, really wanted one > <g>. I’m sure some of you can relate! I already have a couple > "better" deer rifles, but I may take this one out in the woods next fall > if I know I’ll be hunting dense cover and shots will be quick and close. > My main concern is whether or not the 30/30 is still considered > "enough" these days
I have to say that it is more than enough. A long time ago I inherited my grandfather’s 30/30. Just for fun I loaded up some 150gr bullets with a starting load of 3031. If it broke 1800fps, I would be surprised. I never went hunting with it as I use my big, manly, sure killing 444. About 20 years ago my step brother, who was about 16 decided he wanted to come hunting with us so he got use of the 30/30 along with my 30/30 light loads. As luck dictates, I got nothing that year but he took two shots and got two deer. He never knew that he was not using enough gun (he still doesn’t). Moral of the store – the 30/30 is just fine (even a light) as long as you hit em in the right spot and keep your ranges reasonable. Here in Minnesota where the woods get very thick, there is seldom reason for more gun. Both I and my hunting buddy always take two (or more) guns with us when we hunt. I usually take my 444 and a 30-06, while me friend take his 30/30 and a 30-06. We have had good success and most of his deer have been taken with the 30/30. About the only time he uses the 30-06 is when he sits along an abandoned power line. We also go out to Wyoming, and while he would not choose the 30/30 as his first gun there, he has bagged a couple of Antelope with it as it is not that hard to get fairly close to them. Never noticed that an Anteople or Deer was any more dead with a 30-06 than a 30/30. Bottom line – it’s not the gun, it’s the hunter. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Inside a 100-150 yards, the deer won’t be able to tell the difference between your ‘06 and a .30-30. A good hit with either will put venison in the freezer right now. A gut shot with either. . .well, you get the idea. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
