30-30

[Erni]

Ok. I don?t have a rifle in this caliber and there are some lever guns out there that are 30-30. Really tempted by a lever gun but not sure about another caliber
I thought I would ask this esteemed group on their thoughts on this caliber. Hunting plinking and reloading experience.
TIA.

[rondog]

One of the most popular cartridges of all time, and perhaps the best deer cartridge too. Not a long distance round, but a damn good meat maker.

[mb504]

While the 30-30 is a great hunting round, I don't think it would be a great plinking round. If you're looking for a center fire "plinker" lever gun, I'd go to a 45colt or 357/38. More capacity, also.

I have a '94 in 30-30, it's a fun gun. For plinking with a lever, the 22LR lever is more fun and your guests will not have the recoil issues.

[ray1970]

I?ve owned plenty of them. They were the bees knees for whitetail in the piney woods of Texas.

I never really just plinked with them as I always found the smaller calibers more enjoyable for general tomfoolery.

The 30-30 as a plinker could be a valid option if you reload for it but I generally just used them for hunting so never bothered with reloading.

As a side note, I think the pistol caliber lever actions are generally more fun because the action is usually shorter and quicker.

[Hoser]

Recoil in lightweight 30-30s can be pretty harsh. Add in a steel buttplate and I will pass up shooting one every time.

But when you add some mass to them and a decent recoil pad, they are fun to shoot.

But Ray is spot on, a 38/357 is the funnest lever action plinker ever. Add in a suppressor and they are more fun than drowning kittens.

[Erni]

38 suppressed would be interesting. I hope someone ( I?m looking at you Ruger) comes out with a fresh batch.