The perfect rifle: The 30-30

[M65Man]

And the 30-30 was the leader of the pack, as far as smokeless!
The 270 was was Americans first try at compromise with European calibers, 6.5 to 7mm. We've had for the most part, kinda stayed in .5" increments +- a little, which made sense in what was really needful. .50, 45, 40, 35, 30, and old Ned Robert's had a winner in the 257 Robert's. We had the 22 way back in 1800's.
They ought to dig Jack O'Connor up and hang him, for getting all this BS started! Whelen and Keith had it right! But everyone fell for good words, made an almost God out of a English teacher!
I remember reading that O'Connor said, he knew a guy in, Nevada? Utah?, who had killed 17 Elk with one 20ct box of 30-30 Cartridges!
Doug Turnbull killed a Dall Sheep just 2-3 years ago with an restored Mod 86 Win in 475 Turnbull. All the TV and magazine hype, you gotta have a flat shooting .6 bullet 3" long with a HIGH B.C. guided by a scope that ranges then a red dot appears for your target, then just squeeze the trigger. And all this, start to finish is $50,000 +!
Whelen killed one and goat to on his first trip to BC, with a 40-72 Lever Blackpowder rifle, the goat he climbed to by stripping down to bare essentials, while his partner cooked breakfast, the goat almost fell on him, less than a few feet! They kill sheep often with bows. Guarantee you been some killed with a 30-30, I believe the World Record Grizzly??

I brought my own comments back up, because looking at it, it looks like I'm bad mouthing cartridges such as the 270, 7mm, 6.5mm, but in fact my only negative thoughts where really against Jack O'Connor!
I grew up a devout reader of all magazines since late 60's, and most everybody is familiar with the O'Connor, Keith, Page, etc, pokes st each other, and really it made doe interesting reading.

But I always leaned towards and preferred hearing what a Whelen, Aggard and those types had to say! They chose their preferred rifles for what fit their needs, stayed with it, because they had confidence in them, they worked for the conditions & game!
O'Connor knew his stuff, and he started with the 30-06, always acknowledged its qualities, but it seemed he chose the 270 just so he&it could go to the top together in fame, that's what he appeared to care the most for. He even made some comments about Whelen, that he was more of a tinkerer, experimenter, or something like that, than a true hunter! In other words, IMO, he was more than anything, a legend in his own mind, but yet a good writer & hunter, but there's plenty those out there!
But regardless what I think of him, I know the capabilities of the 270, and although I have one and don't care much for it, it doesn't withhold my interest in some others, especially the 7x57 Mauser and it's twin, the 7mm08!
Which brings us to the real capabilities of what technology has made available, Spitzer in a 30-30, and so forth! Good things! And exactly what I've done with my Mod 64, FTX bulletsand LVR Powder. The 30-30 is biting right at the the famed 300 Savage, and close to the 7x57- 7mm-08, close, very close!
And thats why I love the 30-30, gave done very well on deer with it, and would gladly settle for a one perfect rifle for woods hunting in the Southeast, a 308, 7x57, or 7mm-08, if I had too. But I much prefer having more toys, 3 30-30s, and a 30-06. And I could get very interested in a 6.5x55 Swede, if I had one!
But I lovereading anyone's comments about guns, cartridges, etc, because they work for them believe in them! Not because they made themselves famous with along with it!

 

[WisBorn]

I think the 30-30 is the perfect rifle for some people and in some areas. I used a model 94 to shoot the first 2 deer I killed with a rifle a six point whitetail and a doe that weight more than the buck. Both deer were less than 75 yards and dropped within a few feet of were they were shot.
My personal choice for the perfect rifle would be a 308 win....
Time to buy one again

I read through the post again and wanted to place an emphasis on the thread title.
The Perfect Rifle: The 30-30.
When you say that I think the Model 94 then 336. Both of these rifles have been chambered in other cartridges, but that is what comes to mind.

I commented that the 308 is the perfect Rifle... I need to correct myself I really like the cartridge for big game hunting. There are better choices in different situations, but it is a really good all around choice. I like it for new hunters with reduced loads. It is a cartridge that can serve them for a lifetime.

Say Winchester 100 or AR10 and the 308 comes to mind. Walkabout rifle I like the 308.

My perfect Rifle is my Weatherby MarkV in 7mm Remington Mag. Balance is great, weight is nice it just fits my needs. It could be chambered in a dozen different cartridges and would not make a difference.

 

[plainsdrifter]

If I wanted to step up the game from my 30-30 model 94 I'd have to say my scoped out No 5 MK 1 Jungle carbine would do the trick better than any '06 in the bush. I mean, c'mon, the No 5 is a bush gun and the cartridge is pretty much in between the 30-30 win and 30-06. I wouldn't be afraid of taking a bear with it or moose. That .303 has prolly taken as much game as a 30-30 across the pond. And pretty much quick to get on target as my '94. Besides my '94 is a '79 safe queen and ain't going in the bush. hehe MK No 5 factory sporterized.
Ammo left to right - '06 .303. 30-30

 

[hawg]

There's no reason to make a safe queen out of a 79 Winchester 94.

 

[plainsdrifter]

There's no reason to make a safe queen out of a 79 Winchester 94.

Well thats the way she was when I got her 2 years ago. Otherwise if I still had the 94 I had in my teens she'd be still hunting. I understand they weren't the best of production. And she came with a mint box that says Trapper on it so...thats the way it is.

 

[hawg]

Mine was made in 79 too but it ain't no safe queen. It's been rode around under a truck seat and been out in inclement weather. I guess you could say its been rode hard and put away wet but its a deer killing machine.

 

[PapaG]

I’ll never call the30-30 the perfect rifle but for me it has always been the most fun, and I’ve had a dozen or more ( plus levers in 32-40, 32WS and a 38-55).
Cast bullet small game, practice and plinking. 100 grain varmint. Flex tip for deer and other larger. I’m down to three now, a Contender Carbine (legitimate MOA gun with tailored hand loads). Contender 10” which gives me fits but occasionally lights up my eyes. Old 336 carbine with a Marlin scope that I’d love to take hog hunting. I’ve got about ten moulds for everything from a 110 grain g.c. To a 200 p.b. Round nose and never quit experimenting. Still trying to talk/trade a buddy out of his 788.

 

[ECVMatt]

Seven pages is probably enough but it is a .30/30 thread so I guess I have to jump in.

First of all I will come right out and say that I am a fan of the .30/30. I have been using it for most of my time hunting. I have used it extensively in TX and CA and find it to be an exceptional cartridge when used within reason.

My first experience with the .30/30 was in TX. We had land with winter oats, shooting lanes, and choked brush. It was overrun with deer and pigs. We normally sat in blinds during the morning and evening and took longish shots with our "Sendro" type rifles. I did enjoy this but it was more a test of shooting skill than hunting skill so I started to hunt the brush in the mid-day when the other guys stayed in camp. This is where I really began to develop some hunting skills and a love of the .30/30. Within 100 yards it just plain kills. The rifles that generally shoot the .30/30 are made to be carried in the brush, are quick to aim and shoot, and are more than accurate enough for the job at hand.

Initially I started with a Winchester, but gradually moved to the Marlin 336 or similar variation. Since this is about the .30/30 I won't get into particulars about rifles.

When I moved back home to CA I brought my love and knowledge of the .30/30 with me. I love to mountain hunt and that is not where the .30/30 shines. Where is really comes back into the fold are the coastal foothills near Paso Robles where I like to hunt deer and pigs. Like Texas, there are open opportunities for shooting, but I like to work through the woods to look for bedded deer and pigs. The .30/30 and the rifles chambered for it are perfect for this type of hunting.

I will throw out there that the Ruger Ranch in 7.62x39 has kind of taken over as the new auto-parts store .30/30. They are usually less expensive than a lever action, more accurate, shoot similar ballistically, and make a great truck/ATV rifle.

I will always have a few .30/30's. Not for nostalgia, but for need. I understand that it does not work everywhere, but it is still a viable and well balanced cartridges when used within reasonable parameters.

 

[DMW1116]

https://youtube.com/shorts/UZAo05AGaMY?feature=share

I don’t see anyone shooting 1000+ off their hind legs.

on another note, what kind of sights do people like on their 30-30? I started with a scope but went back to the factory sights, then to some Ranger Point peep sights and now to Williams sights for shooting cast under 1500 fps. Neither of the others had enough elevation to zero at 100 yards.

 

[d2wing]

ECVMatt, I agree. I think of the 30-30 as a hunter's rifle. It's for people that like to get up close and personal with a light, compact, fast handling rifle with plenty of power without the recoil of long distance calibers. As I said before, since I stand hunt now I use a long range bolt action.

 

[.308 Norma]

what kind of sights do people like on their 30-30? I started with a scope but went back to the factory sights, then to some Ranger Point peep sights and now to Williams sights

It's not a 30-30, but it's close - my wife has a Model 94, 32 Special with a Williams, tang mounted aperture sight for a rear sight. She and I like it a lot, and we're both pretty good with it - about 2" at 100 yards with factory, Remington 170 CoreLokts, or 170gr handloads (I forget the brand of bullets and the powder).
At any rate, I just have the factory rear sight on my own Model 94 (30-30), and I can't do any better than about 3" at 100 yards with it - not that 3" at 100 yards isn't "good enough" for deer in some areas. It is, but I haven't used my Model 94 for hunting in many, many years. So, I just don't see any reason to change to another type of rear sight.

 

[M65Man]

I have a Williams Receiver Sight on my Mod 64, the regular Open Barrel Sights on my Mod 94 Carbine, and my Marlin has both the Open Barrel Sights that fold and a Marbles Tang Sight on the rear. The last 5 deer I've killed with them have all been in mountains, brush, and from 50yds to 10yds. I killed a small buck in 2016 inside 10yds, just so happened I was behind a big clump of roots and dirt as he came down logging road from my right. I just raised and readied for him to step out on my side, and he stopped right as his head and neck came out, came on alert, probably smelled me, but he just kept watching down the logging road. I couldn't step, already had the gun on him but couldn't see the vitals. So I just slowly leaned back as far as I could, almost ready to fall backwards, threaded a shot through the brush. He was angled kinda at me, I hit him little far back, the gun was really on its side. A Rem 150g CL went in about the rear of the rib cage, and broke his right rear leg. He hit the dirt upon the shot, couldn't get up. I stepped up and peaked over the dirt and finished him off quickly with another shot. Thinking back, I should've just hit him in the neck, but I never have taken that shot before. I also think had I had a scope, I doubt I could've made that shot the position I was in!
Everything about a Lever, a 30-30, and iron sights kinda Max's out in woods & brush hunting, and all 3 just handle, point & shoot in really an instinctive way. They just go together to get the job done really the best way for the conditions! I've yet to get a shot in these conditions past 75 yds, and I have all confidence in them out to 100yds, and out to 150yds if I can get a rest, but that just hasn't happened yet!
I prefer now the receiver sight for shooting back into dark heavy cover, but all around, inside 75 yds I actually prefer the Open sights, I've killed lot more game with them. But if a longer shot of near 150yds or more, I'd prefer the tang sight, but like I said, that hasn't happened yet on deer. So really, I like all 3, but the Mod 64 & Williams is probably just barely my preference!