Is that real gold inlay? Stunning!! I love the trap door in the butt plate.
For me, if all I was going to do was hunt cervids, and I was restricted to one rifle, the .30-06 would be the ticket. But let's face it - a bolt action, full-length, scoped rifle with a five-round capacity is hardly handy for general defensive purposes post-apocalypse (except in one's sniper hide). A .30-30 with a full-length mag tube and good sights (some of us favor Skinner's) is an easy-handling, lightweight rifle capable of handling business out to a decent range. Primarily though, if one is concerned mainly about capacity, ease of handling and speed of firing, the lever-gun has the advantage. When we have to give up our semi-auto rifles (which, the way things are going, is seeming almost inevitable), what're you gonna use around the ranch and home? Firepower vs. accuracy. Firing faster vs. reach out and touch something.
IMO, that's a very good point too, Old Dog. And it's the reason I keep my Model 94, 30-30 loaded, and in the top of a closet. Before I got my beloved 308 Norma Mag, I used a Model 77 Ruger 30-06 for all of my big game hunting. And while I appreciate the versatility of both rifles (for the type of big game hunting I do, and in the kind of country I do it in) neither my 30-06, nor my 308 Norma would be all that great for home defense. Of course, my "go to" gun for home defense is a 1911 .45 ACP, but it's nice to know there's a handy Model 94 in the top of a closet if I need it.
It has been discussed many, many times here on THR, but I'm going to say it again: how hard a gun "kicks" has a lot to do with perception. My own dad was the most recoil-shy person I've ever known, and he too thought, "30-30s kicked too _______ hard for what they're worth!" - his words exactly.
And I'm sure that's always been the main reason for a lot of the negative feelings toward the 30-30, Shot Placement! Sure it does not do the shock and trauma damage that say a 30-06 does! But with correct shot Placement from a decent bullet within the ranges of that bullets necessary velocity, the 30-30 will kill every time, just as dead as any other cartridge. Larger more powerful cartridges turn marginal hits into kling shots! I've seen too many times myself, that a good loads and bullet in a 30-30 will drop any deer within sight and often in his tracks! No, it's not a great western cartridge as a general rule! Most eastern woods and especially where I hunt, it's a great cartridge!
The statement in the OP's first post in this thread, "...EVERYONE needs a 30-30!!!" is the reason I posted in this thread at all. As you said, M65Man, the 30-30 is "not a great western cartridge as a general rule." I live and hunt in the west, and I DON'T "need" a 30-30 for the places I hunt big game. As a matter of fact, if I only hunted with a 30-30, I'd be lessening my chances of even getting a mule deer in Idaho - where the chances of getting mule deer are less than 1 in 3 already!
A handloader (which I very much am) can make a 300 Win Mag (or a 308 Norma Mag
) shoot just like a 30-06, OR a 308 Win, OR a 30-30. Absolutely, I already have som 30-30/06 loads for my Tikka. A regular 150g Sierra PH FN (a 30-30 bullet) at, I forget exactly, aprox 2550-2600fps, and it's as accurate as if shot from a 30-30, maybe better! It's amazing what a reloader can do with just .308 bullets! My regular hunting load in my 06, is just a standard 308 load by ballistics, a 150g @2,850fps. I've shot plenty 3/4"groups and sub, @100 yds, and 2.5" at 250yds, it's all I need! If I didn't have the 06, I'd be just as happy with a 308!The statement in the OP's first post in this thread, "...EVERYONE needs a 30-30!!!" is the reason I posted in this thread at all. As you said, M65Man, the 30-30 is "not a great western cartridge as a general rule." I live and hunt in the west, and I DON'T "need" a 30-30 for the places I hunt big game. As a matter of fact, if I only hunted with a 30-30, I'd be lessening my chances of getting a mule deer at all in Idaho - where the chances of getting mule deer are less than 1 in 3 already!
That's not to say I think 30-30s won't kill mule deer. I've cleanly taken 2 mule deer with my 30-30. But that was back in the '80s when mule deer were plentiful around here, we were allowed 2 or them per season (as long as one was antlerless), and I'd already killed one earlier those years with my 30-06, or my 338 Win Mag.
A handloader (which I very much am) can make a 300 Win Mag (or a 308 Norma Mag
Considering we're almost on page 6 now, the fact that the 30-30 is still being mentioned is impressive. Usually thread drift takes us waaayyy into unrelated subjects by now.
Thanks for the explanation. If you don't like my posts, please feel free to put me on your "ignore" list.
