30-30 for hunting deer?

[Birddog1911]

It's said that the 30-30 has taken more game in North America than all other calibers combined. You will not be undergunned.

I think your boss told you a story about the one that got away. Working a gun counter for 5 years here, I've heard that one a lot. It's like the story about catfish the size of buicks in lakes in the south; every state, hell every town, has one.

[spencerhenry]

30-30 is not a powerhouse, but has plenty of power for deer sized game and even larger. i have killed 4 elk with a 7mm bench rest out of an xp-100 pistol. extremely accurate, but not known for power. all the elk i have shot with it were one shot kills, two dropped in their tracks, one ran about 100yds without a heart, one ran about 50 yds and dropped. people think of a 44mag as a powerful gun, but it really isnt much different than a 30-30.
use good ammo, and get close enough to make a good shot, that is about all you need.

i have seen many animals hit with much larger faster bullets, sometimes they go down immediately, sometimes not. a 338 or 300 magnum gives you some more room for error, and sometimes will put an animal down with a very poor shot. but a bullet through the chest cavity (or an arrow) will put an animal down for good. i put a deer out of its misery once with a 223 with varmint bullets, he stood for about 5 seconds and fell over.

[buffalobo]

I've never hunted deer with anything else. Every deer except one that I shot at took up residence in the freezer. The one that got away, got away clean, I flat missed. At least 15 hunts in the last 20 yrs. I always stay under 150 yds and only take the good shot(one that I am sure I can place for sure kill). Rarely have to track more than 50 yds after the shot.

[wyzardd]

My 2nd & 3rd elk were taken with a .30-30. The same one that my grandfather used to feed his family deer and elk for 40 years.
My 1st was with a .257 Roberts.

None of them bounded over any hills or required altercations with other hunters.

Of course I now shoot .300 Win Mag, but that's because I'm using a Ruger No.1. The single shot action is my excuse for using an elephant gun

[Wolfhound]

Shot placement is everything as has been said before but practicing with the rifle you are going to use from every possible position and every distance you might possibly shoot from. If you put hundreds to thousands of rounds through a 30-30 in the months prior to the hunt from prone, sitting, standing and shooting sticks I see no reason why you couldn't use it for anything.

Wolfhound

[Backinblackrifles]

My great Grandfather did it in the early 1900's and I use the same rifle that He did and continue to do so today with it, I came west and have no qualms using it on elk or black bear. Just use a good quality heavy bullet and put it were it needs to go. Plus if You hunt in brush with it the lever gives very quick follow up shots and the recoil is not enough to roll You of target to much.