midland man
Member
so I have a 30/30 and still use mine from time to time but have noticed that it seems like the other calibers are or have taken over so has the old 30/30 been forgotten about or not used anymore?
has the old 30/30 died or dying?
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evan price
Member
I predict the 30-30 winchester will outlive 300aac blackout.
Considering the number of 30-30 rifles out there, I have a feeling it will be around long after I'm dead, and I hopefully got another 50 years or so in me! While it may not be as popular as it once was, there are numerous "modern" cartridges I see as becoming obsolete much sooner!
Starter52
Member
Around here .30/30 rifles are bought for deer hunting, and there are not as many deer hunters today as 40 years ago.
T.R.
Member
There are more new 30-30 rifles available to buyers than ever before:
- Marlin
- Winchester
- Mossberg
- Henry
- Rossi
- Thompson Center
These rifles appear to be selling quite well indeed.
TR
- Marlin
- Winchester
- Mossberg
- Henry
- Rossi
- Thompson Center
These rifles appear to be selling quite well indeed.
TR
Zeke/PA
Member
I own an older Marlin .30-30 that I picked up for a song several years ago.
My Grandson used it when he began hunting and shot several deer with it.
With a 4X glass and reloads it is SUPERBLY accurate and much more a pleasure to shoot than some Super Duper Humpty Dumpty Magnum.
My Grandson used it when he began hunting and shot several deer with it.
With a 4X glass and reloads it is SUPERBLY accurate and much more a pleasure to shoot than some Super Duper Humpty Dumpty Magnum.
SleazyRider
Member
Unless whitetail deer have gotten tougher, the .30-30 is and will always be a viable round. As I aged and my eyes got worse, however, I installed a Williams peep on my Model 94 Winchester top eject, but do not wish to bastardize it further by installing side mounted glass. So I resort more and more to scoped bolt-action rifles; but that is the only reason my .30-30 doesn't see as much use as it once did.
While the list of .30-30 guns seems extensive, a hard look at the price and availability shows it's not good. Winchester? It's not US made - it's a well made Japanese collector priced version, not one someone would eagerly leave to rust in the gun rack of their pickup truck. Marlin? Now Remington and a lot of knowledgeable buyers are avoiding it due to quality control issues. Mossberg? They have their fans, but it's not been a Brand known for a lever gun much in the past - their shotguns were the main product.
Henry's aren't modern, and Rossi is considered a lesser import. When people talk lever .30-30, they are mostly discussing either the Winchester 94 or Marlin 336. What people want to buy are exactly those - enough used ones come on the market to meet the demand as older shooters sell off theirs. In that light, it is a diminishing market.
The .30-30 is keyed to lever action use, and the existing numbers keep the cartridge on the shelf, but the sale of new guns is dropping off radically. Marlin and Henry are the two major makers filling the niche. Where we would have seen lever actions on the rack at a long gun store, we now see AR15's taking up space, and often quite a few more. It's really no different than the offerings from 45 years ago - levers then came in different barrel lengths, furniture, half or full magazine, round, semi or octagon barrel, a variety of finishes and grades of embellishment. Now we have just a few and all the options are seen in AR15's. The market has changed to rifles that use magazines - and after 45 years of being issued as a service rifle, the AR15 is finally beginning to influence traditional buyers. There is a constant demand for carry handle uppers in the old school pattern, just the same as there used to be a demand for half tube semi octagon lever rifles.
Yes, the .30-30 is diminishing on the market - but it's far from gone, and likely never will be. It has a place because of the simplicity of it's layout and design, in the ergonomics of it's use. It's a high capacity firearm that doesn't look like one, and that plays a big role today because of politics.
Henry's aren't modern, and Rossi is considered a lesser import. When people talk lever .30-30, they are mostly discussing either the Winchester 94 or Marlin 336. What people want to buy are exactly those - enough used ones come on the market to meet the demand as older shooters sell off theirs. In that light, it is a diminishing market.
The .30-30 is keyed to lever action use, and the existing numbers keep the cartridge on the shelf, but the sale of new guns is dropping off radically. Marlin and Henry are the two major makers filling the niche. Where we would have seen lever actions on the rack at a long gun store, we now see AR15's taking up space, and often quite a few more. It's really no different than the offerings from 45 years ago - levers then came in different barrel lengths, furniture, half or full magazine, round, semi or octagon barrel, a variety of finishes and grades of embellishment. Now we have just a few and all the options are seen in AR15's. The market has changed to rifles that use magazines - and after 45 years of being issued as a service rifle, the AR15 is finally beginning to influence traditional buyers. There is a constant demand for carry handle uppers in the old school pattern, just the same as there used to be a demand for half tube semi octagon lever rifles.
Yes, the .30-30 is diminishing on the market - but it's far from gone, and likely never will be. It has a place because of the simplicity of it's layout and design, in the ergonomics of it's use. It's a high capacity firearm that doesn't look like one, and that plays a big role today because of politics.
TRX
Member
The .30-30 died a century ago, an obsolete round eclipsed by modern higher-pressure, higher-velocity designs.
Unfortunately, the news didn't get around much, and the .30-30 is still there.
Some years back I was discussing ballistics with a hunter - I'm a target guy, so our ideas about cartridges, bullets, and performance differ a bit. We were discussing the .35 Remington, but the same answer applies: "I just want to kill it, not puree it."
"More-is-better" is a seductive path, leading eventually to magazine articles like ".460 Weatherby Magnum - Big Enough for CHIPMUNKS?"
Unfortunately, the news didn't get around much, and the .30-30 is still there.
Some years back I was discussing ballistics with a hunter - I'm a target guy, so our ideas about cartridges, bullets, and performance differ a bit. We were discussing the .35 Remington, but the same answer applies: "I just want to kill it, not puree it."
"More-is-better" is a seductive path, leading eventually to magazine articles like ".460 Weatherby Magnum - Big Enough for CHIPMUNKS?"
Salmoneye
Member
One of my favorite plinkers is my 1893 in .30-30...
It was made appx 1912, and gets a steady diet of cast bullets and balls over low doses of Red Dot...
Still gets a couple dozen full power rounds a year also...
It will outlive me...
It was made appx 1912, and gets a steady diet of cast bullets and balls over low doses of Red Dot...
Still gets a couple dozen full power rounds a year also...
It will outlive me...
OP
OP
midland man
Member
cool deal guys I would love to hear more from ya'll as I have my first gun which is a Winchester model 94 30/30 and its angle eject so I have a raised mounts and a scope on mine so I can use the sights if needed and scope for my not so good eyes but I've had it since I was 12 years old and still works like new I reload all my own ammo and have even bought two other 30/30's one is the older Winchester in top eject model 94 and the other is a marlin model 336w they work very well I love this old round and has been great for me 
CoalTrain49
Member
The 30-30 is somewhat like the 38 special. Both still have some utility as hunting and SD cartridges but neither are suited for use in magazines. That's why eventually they will fade into the sunset. That may be 10 years or 30 years but eventually they will pass from lack of sales of new lever action rifles and revolvers. Cowboy action shooting is about the only thing keeping the lever guns on the shelves and when that disappears the 30-30 will go the way of the lever gun. There will always be ammo available but probably not new guns.
If the cartridge isn't rimless it doesn't have a bright future.
If the cartridge isn't rimless it doesn't have a bright future.
Bush Pilot
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Around my neck of the woods you never see anyone carrying a .30/30 in the field, it isn't exactly a mule deer and antelope cartridge. Having said that, I don't know of any hunters that don't have a 30/30 at home in the safe. This cartridge will be around for a long time.
Interesting (but failed) logic.
Considering magazine fed semi auto pistols have been around for over 100 years and rifles nearly that long, I don't think there is any imminent danger of revolvers and lever action rifles (using rimmed cartridges) fading into the sunset.
Oh, and I wanted to add that Henry Repeating Arms is a newer company (less than 20 years old) who's business model is based on lever action rifles. They have been expanding their business greatly selling these old antiqued designs. I would guess that the vast majority of those rifles never see a Cowboy Action match. I dare you to go buy a Henry .22 (or any) lever action and tell me that you don't enjoy shooting it.
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Realistically, the 30-30 would still work for 90% of deer hunters in the US. It is a good choice for those who realize that they don't need a hard kicking, heavy, 12x scope equipped magnum wonder rifle to kill a deer at under 200 yards.
Traditional lever actions are hard to beat for a hunter who likes to stalk game in the thick woods. They carry like a dream, and the 30-30 will drop deer in their tracks, no matter what a ballistics table says. The new Hornady Leverevolution spitzer tipped bullets give the 30-30 more range, 300 yard shots are well within reason.
With millions of used rifles still out there, and new ones still being produced, I don't think the 30-30 will be dying any time soon.
Traditional lever actions are hard to beat for a hunter who likes to stalk game in the thick woods. They carry like a dream, and the 30-30 will drop deer in their tracks, no matter what a ballistics table says. The new Hornady Leverevolution spitzer tipped bullets give the 30-30 more range, 300 yard shots are well within reason.
With millions of used rifles still out there, and new ones still being produced, I don't think the 30-30 will be dying any time soon.
I must be clairvoyant because for some reason I picked up a box of 30-30 shells and opened it just to look at the Core-lockt bullet. I thought to myself..."What a perfect deer round."
I then opened this website and saw this thread. Hits like a 357 magnum at touching distance out to 400+ yards and 200+ yard hunting accurate in a quality lever gun and better in other designs. If it's dying it's not the 30-30s fault.
I then opened this website and saw this thread. Hits like a 357 magnum at touching distance out to 400+ yards and 200+ yard hunting accurate in a quality lever gun and better in other designs. If it's dying it's not the 30-30s fault.
No. Walmart isn't known for carrying ammo for dead of dying calibers.
sixgunner455
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If/when Remlin gets the QC back in order, they will sell a bunch of .30-30 rifles. I just bought a used one for a great price, vs buying a new one with issues.
.30-30 isn't a "cowboy action" caliber. Cowboy action is restricted to pistol-calibers, except for some of the long range side matches. So it can't be said that those guys are keeping the .30-30 alive. Thing is, every time I go into my local gun shop, there are always new and used lever action rifles on the shelf - from .22 through .45-70, and various brands, as they can get them. People are buying them.
.30-30 isn't a "cowboy action" caliber. Cowboy action is restricted to pistol-calibers, except for some of the long range side matches. So it can't be said that those guys are keeping the .30-30 alive. Thing is, every time I go into my local gun shop, there are always new and used lever action rifles on the shelf - from .22 through .45-70, and various brands, as they can get them. People are buying them.
And that is exactly what I do with mine. Got five deer last year with my 30-30s, hand load 170g soft point, all less than 30 yards. Four were by stalking in thick brush/woods on the side of a mountain.
I switch back and forth with these two:
And these are what I could use (with the exception of the bottom .22 of course) - The rifle needs to match the type of hunting you are doing.
OP
OP
midland man
Member
yep I run 170gr jacketed soft point since I killed my first deer its a 12 point buck field dressed 132lbs at a fraction over 140yrds one shot one kill! that's the only bullet I run since that day and has served me well I have the deer on the wall here at the house and so the 30/30 just keeps on going no problems here! I love my 30/30's
cat_IT_guy
Member
I think it will continue living as a hunting round. I dont predict ever seeing many at the rifle range, except, possibly right before deer season as the hunters are checking zero.
Panzerschwein
member
A whitetail can be killed by a slingshot or spear, so .30-30 will probably be around for centuries just like spears and sling shots are methinks.
Grunt
Member
Where I live with open areas, the .30-30 lacks the range I like and get out of my .308 Winchester rounds for my kind of hunting, but you can bet I still have a couple .30-30's (Winchester and Marlin) around the place! I think the thing is that this isn't a new cartridge. Like the .30-06, it's been around over the years to have proven itself so you don't see the internet lit up with posts and tweets and chirps and what not trying to justify it's virtues. While the latest and greatest round can tout all the bells and whistles of it's performance to persuade the audience, the old rounds like the .30-30 and Ought-6 just work as well today as they did over a hundred years ago.
The only thing I can see hampering it is if more states mandate larger pistol calibers to legally hunt deer like in Indiana.
We can't hunt deer with a rifle that isn't chambered in .357 or above and has a pistol case length. Lots of 30-30s around here, but they aren't used for deer (legally). That said, a 30-30 lever is a great all around gun. I've been thinking about getting a 45-70 Guide gun because I love the look and the idea of thumping a target from 100 yards seems kinda fun.
...except I don't hunt. What good would a shoulder buster like that REALLY do me. I think want I really want is an 18.5" 336 in 30-30 with a big loop on it and call it a day. Handy, light (for a steel and wood rifle), hard hitting caliber within reason, and could be pressed to do most anything from plinking to harvesting game (legal game or if hard pressed in a survival situation) to taking out varmints.
I don't see the 30-30 going anywhere any time soon. If I can still walk into a gun shop and buy black powder (or a substitute) and pre-cast .454 round ball bullets for my 1858 revolver in 2014, I don't think we'll see the complete demise of 30-30 for another century.
We can't hunt deer with a rifle that isn't chambered in .357 or above and has a pistol case length. Lots of 30-30s around here, but they aren't used for deer (legally). That said, a 30-30 lever is a great all around gun. I've been thinking about getting a 45-70 Guide gun because I love the look and the idea of thumping a target from 100 yards seems kinda fun.
...except I don't hunt. What good would a shoulder buster like that REALLY do me. I think want I really want is an 18.5" 336 in 30-30 with a big loop on it and call it a day. Handy, light (for a steel and wood rifle), hard hitting caliber within reason, and could be pressed to do most anything from plinking to harvesting game (legal game or if hard pressed in a survival situation) to taking out varmints.
I don't see the 30-30 going anywhere any time soon. If I can still walk into a gun shop and buy black powder (or a substitute) and pre-cast .454 round ball bullets for my 1858 revolver in 2014, I don't think we'll see the complete demise of 30-30 for another century.
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