30-30 or .308

[eaglesnester]

Why not get both? You will not regret it. More game has been killed with a 30/30 than any other caliber. There is a certain penach to hunting with the old 30/30 Winchester like our great, great grandfathers hunted. The 308 will give you more opportunities for sure as it hits harder and farther. You listed all the reasons in your post to get both so do yourself a favor and buy both. I just ordered the 30/30 Winchester model 1894 High Grade collectors edition and I have a whole closet full of firearms all the way from 22/250 to 375H&H.

 

[Eb1]

This is simple. Get a .25-06.


No, in all seriousness. I love the 30-30, but have lost faith in the over the counter 150/170/160 variety of bullets. With the low velocity the knock down just isn't there with these bullets unless you hit the spine or upper shoulder. Boiler room shots are for a 30+ yard track if the deer is willing.
If you could reload the 30-30 with the 125 grain FNHP from Sierra, and a nice dose of IMR 3031 you will get over 2500 fps, and it will flop them on the ground. Really changes the 30-30 into a deer gun worth mentioning.

If the choice is between a .308 and a 30-30 hunting over a field. That choice is simple. The .308 Winchester with a 150-168 @ 2700 fps is in a completely different class rifle than the 30-30 with a 150 @ 2300 fps at best. So the most logical choice is the .308 Winchester.
But why are those the only two guns you have to choose from. Like I was saying a .25-06, .270, or .30-06 would be good choices also, and IMO better. That is just my opinion. The .25-06 is a deer killing tool like no other. I promise you that.

 

[BrocLuno]

Well, if we started to add other calibers, I'd vote for a .257 Roberts. But as the OP suggested, in part it's about cheap and plentiful ammo everywhere

 

[Arkansas Paul]

More game has been killed with a 30/30 than any other caliber.

I keep hearing this but I don't buy it. I'd bet 12-gauge shot guns and muzzleloaders still have it beat by a VERY wide margin.
I know that's not the point of the thread, but I had to put it out there.
I'm not trying to call you out or anything eaglesnester, I've heard many people say this. People who vehemently defend their .30-30s, (which I have absolutely nothing against) always use this argument. I just don't think it's accurate.

 

[Eb1]

I bet the .22 LR has killed more than any North American caliber, and I would bet money that the .303 British has killed more than any other caliber on earth. But that is a different thread all together.

I apologize to the OP for throwing other calibers into the mix. Of the two you speak, and the type of hunting you mentioned the .308 is the clear winner in ballistics alone. I am a lever gun shooter at heart, and have a few that will knock down quarters @ 100 yards so I cannot knock the 'ol 30-30 for accuracy.

You would be better armed for your adventure with a .308 Winchester and a 3x9x40 scope. No if, and, or but about it.


I don't think there is anyone who would say that a .308 Winchester will not cover a 200 acre field better than a 30-30. @ 200 yards a 150 grain SP .308 Winchester has the velocity of a 30-30 150 grain bullet at the muzzle. So @ 200 yards the .308 will be going have the energy of a 30-30 @ the muzzle. It is a no brainer.


I shoot a Marlin XL7 in .25-06, and enjoy the crap out of it. I would take a close look at the Marlin XS7 in .308. I would venture to bet it is an awesome shooter as well. The Marlin also comes with a nice adjustable trigger.

 

[BrocLuno]

This is an often quoted stat. I have read it in more magazines and books than I can count on both hands. I can't verify it, but since the "Trenta-Trenta" is the most popular civilian center fire firearm in the western hemisphere for the last century, by far, it seems reasonable.

I'd vote for the .22 as the most prolific game getter world-wide. But how can we tell?

If we look world-wide, maybe the 303 or 6.5mm might come in close - especially in Africa, Australia, and India. But most of those countries have arms confiscation schemes, so how many arms are in civilian hands and used to hunt?

 

[Eb1]

You forgot Canada for the .303 British. The .303 has been issued and in civilian hands on every piece of dirt on earth.

Let's start a different thread to discuss that if we'd like. We shouldn't get to far off topic of the OP's questions.

@ the OP,

I will give you a true story. I hunted my entire life with a 30-30 for deer. Killed the, killed more of them, and killed them some more. Some down where they lay and other (most all) run for some ways even if struck 100% best shot placement. Bullets have been recovered, and mushroom to .75 usually, but oh well. I still trusted in it, and then I found the 125 grain HPFN from Sierra. Absolutely turned the 30-30 into a drop them were they stand gun. I could get velocities out of the muzzle close to 2600 fps, and @ 150 yards it had some serious pop. Most shots thought were 80 yards and below, and more likely 35 yards down a pine lane out of a thicket. They work great. Not many shoot and track situations when you pop a deer with that bullet. 30-30 guys you all listening out there. Also I never found a bullet all were exits with great big holes.

Now a couple years ago the only place I had to setup was over a 300+ acre cow field watching tree lines, and a a couple old oaks out in the middle of it. Longest shot 300 some odd yards from my stand. Well the 30-30 just wasn't going to cut it that year. I had a 12 gauge, an AR-15, and a .303 British to use. The .303 was getting the call, but it is open sights, and didn't want to shoot that far without optics.
So I was in your exact shoes. Exact situation. I mustered up the money for a new rifle, and I would take the Bushnell 1.5-4.5x32 off one of my 30-30s and put it on whatever rifle I could afford. So I went to the local wholesale gun store "Academy Sports". I kinda had my mind set on a 7mm-08, but only had $300.00 to spend. I thought I could get a Marlin XS7 for $279+Tax. Well they had a special on the Marlin bolt guns for $249.00. I asked for a 7mm-08. The guy said, No. Dang... He said I have a .270. I don't like the .270. Don't know why just doesn't appeal.
Asked the guy what he had in short action Marlin bolt. He said .243. Nope. .243 Doesn't appeal to me either.
As I was walking away he said, WAIT sir! I have a .25-06. I called my BIL and said, look. I have a choice of .243 or .25-06. Same price, but I don't know much about the .25-06. He said, buy it now before somebody else does. You will not be disappointed. So I hurried to the counter, and snatched it up.

I put the Bushnell 3200 1.5-4.5x32 on it, and we sighted the gun in. I used 115 grain Winchester Supreme Ballistic Tips. Ended up killing two deer at the same time (two shots) with that rifle measured with GPS to 298 yards. I have since killed other deer, and every one have never taken another step. Bang/Flops.
My story is to just say that at 200+ yards you will have enough to drop the animal at that distance. Even farther.. But at shorter distance you will have more than enough to drop the deer. Get the gun that allows for clean kills at the farthest distance you could shoot. In this case 200+ yards. Which calls for the .308 IMO. Yes, a 30-30 will rainbow to 200+ yards, but you will have less than 1000 lbs of energy when the bullet hits the deer. Something to think about. I made the right choice, and I had plenty of meat that year.


Don't usually post articles by Chuck Hawks, but this will get you a pretty good comparison @ 200 yards.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_ballistics_table.htm

 

[NGa.MtnHunter]

If you like the levergun and 308, go with a Marlin 308MX. I bought this one used 2 years ago with the scope for $450. I've killed 4 deer with it and love it!
A long shot here where I hunt is 100 yards but with the Hornady LE ammo their good out to 400 yards.

 

[brandon_mcg]

a .308 lever gun, add that to the wish list. as far as 30-30 vs 308 i think i would have to go with the .308.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

There's always the Browning BLR in .308 Win. Best of both worlds.

 

[IdahoLT1]

Id go with the .308 Winchester. In no category does the .30-30 beat the .308. The deciding factor for me would be ammo selection. Go to Cabelas.com. They have 17 types/brands of .30-30 ammo on their site compared to 46 types/brands of .308. You have a much wider(more than 2 1/2 times) selection of ammo to mate perfectly with your rifle if you opt for the .308.

 

[mgmorden]

I'm going to echo what seems to have been the consensus here.

Nothing wrong with a .30-30 for deer hunting. I own 2 of them and they're fun rifles. That said, if you're only going to have ONE, the .308 is much more versatile. There are shots you can take with the .308 that you can't take if you're holding a .30-30. The reverse isn't true.

As an aside, though don't hunt much with it (my go-to rifle is a Savage .30-06), my .308 is a single-shot Rossi that I got new for $165. At the range it'll consistently do 1.25" groups and I've shot a few at less than 1" with it - factory Federal 180gr hunting loads. If you're pressed on budget they're not a bad choice.