Comments on: Winchester 30-30 – America’s Deer Cartridge http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge Deer Hunting Season Is Open! Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:24:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Big E http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge/comment-page-1#comment-1505 Big E Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:22:55 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting-gear/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge#comment-1505 I bought a .30-30 10 years ago for my first rifle. It doesn't get used to much for anything other than practice because a lot of the area I hunt is limited to shotgun only. With a scope on, shooting 170gr bullets, I'll get a 3 inch group at 100 yds all day long. 2 years ago, my disabled uncle asked if I had a gun he could borrow to go on a Whitetail hunt for hunters with disablities. Spending a day in the field is hard enough for him, much less carrying around a gun. He found my .30-30 to be very comfortable, easy to carry, and packed plenty of punch to drop a doe where she stood. In light of his success, I made it a point this year to hunt in rifle areas. Unfortunately I never had a chance at a shooter deer, but I did pick off a coyote at 175 yds. I love the gun and hope to have opportunites for Whitetails with it for years to come. I bought a .30-30 10 years ago for my first rifle. It doesn’t get used to much for anything other than practice because a lot of the area I hunt is limited to shotgun only. With a scope on, shooting 170gr bullets, I’ll get a 3 inch group at 100 yds all day long. 2 years ago, my disabled uncle asked if I had a gun he could borrow to go on a Whitetail hunt for hunters with disablities. Spending a day in the field is hard enough for him, much less carrying around a gun. He found my .30-30 to be very comfortable, easy to carry, and packed plenty of punch to drop a doe where she stood. In light of his success, I made it a point this year to hunt in rifle areas. Unfortunately I never had a chance at a shooter deer, but I did pick off a coyote at 175 yds. I love the gun and hope to have opportunites for Whitetails with it for years to come.

]]> By: Gene Howard http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge/comment-page-1#comment-1494 Gene Howard Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:42:49 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting-gear/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge#comment-1494 My stepdaughter, her husband and the three grand kids all hit the woods last weekend using Marlin 336s. Mine is a .35 Remington and the other five are 3030 Winchester caliber using the 170 grain bullets. We sight all of our rifles in at one quarter inch high at 50yds. We were hunting the 500 acres of thick southern hardwoods that my Grandfather bought 100 years ago....no problem, over three days we all harvested our deer with one shot kills....range was from 30 to 80 yards. Nothing beats a good Marlin 336 and a Bushnell 4200 Elite in my opinion for hunting in the woods. My stepdaughter, her husband and the three grand kids all hit the woods last weekend using Marlin 336s. Mine is a .35 Remington and the other five are 3030 Winchester caliber using the 170 grain bullets. We sight all of our rifles in at one quarter inch high at 50yds. We were hunting the 500 acres of thick southern hardwoods that my Grandfather bought 100 years ago….no problem, over three days we all harvested our deer with one shot kills….range was from 30 to 80 yards. Nothing beats a good Marlin 336 and a Bushnell 4200 Elite in my opinion for hunting in the woods.

]]> By: James http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge/comment-page-1#comment-1435 James Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:27:05 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting-gear/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge#comment-1435 I acquired my Marlin 336 RC at 13 years of age in 1965 with my Press Route $$. I handload for it with IMR 3031 the best for me. 170 grain Hornady and 150 grain spire points (2 shot tube feeder) I was ahead of "leverevolution." I have a fixed 4 power wide angle scope mounted with see-thru to use iron sites. Iron sites right on at 50 yards with 2 shots right next to each under. Scope at 100 yards. Have gotten Deer, Squirrel, & Partridge with this rifle. Going into woods next week here in Michigan. Also use .303, 7.65 x 53, and 6.5 x 55. Rounds that have been here before 1900 and still taking Venison in 2009 & beyond. I acquired my Marlin 336 RC at 13 years of age in 1965 with my Press Route $$. I handload for it with IMR 3031 the best for me. 170 grain Hornady and 150 grain spire points (2 shot tube feeder) I was ahead of “leverevolution.” I have a fixed 4 power wide angle scope mounted with see-thru to use iron sites. Iron sites right on at 50 yards with 2 shots right next to each under. Scope at 100 yards. Have gotten Deer, Squirrel, & Partridge with this rifle. Going into woods next week here in Michigan. Also use .303, 7.65 x 53, and 6.5 x 55. Rounds that have been here before 1900 and still taking Venison in 2009 & beyond.

]]> By: mc from vt http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge/comment-page-1#comment-1420 mc from vt Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:40:07 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting-gear/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge#comment-1420 as an experienced middle-age hunter, I've become "hooked" on the modern lever-gun/Hornady LEVERevolution combo. Our woods are hard and dense, so the .30-30 is ideal. But the mountains are rugged, making the smaller carbine-size also ideal. The only remaining block was mental (the envisioned 200yd shot)...so I added a 4x32 scope and the Hornady ammo and now I'm confident hunting everything in NE, including moose (which I did last year) with this setup. as an experienced middle-age hunter, I’ve become “hooked” on the modern lever-gun/Hornady LEVERevolution combo. Our woods are hard and dense, so the .30-30 is ideal. But the mountains are rugged, making the smaller carbine-size also ideal. The only remaining block was mental (the envisioned 200yd shot)…so I added a 4×32 scope and the Hornady ammo and now I’m confident hunting everything in NE, including moose (which I did last year) with this setup.

]]> By: Tony Barnett http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge/comment-page-1#comment-1408 Tony Barnett Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:36:27 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting-gear/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge#comment-1408 Got my Winchester 94 new for Christmas in 1975. I'm 53 now with "progressive lenses" and can still hold 5 shots in 3 inches at 100 yrds with it and a good rest. It's the closest thing to carrying a pistol in your hand in the woods and that counts for something on an all-day still hunt in the eastern West Virginia mountains. Anyone who says the 30-30 is too weak for whitetails in the woods is a simpleton and/or a poor shot and is blaming the round for his poor marksmanship. If I'm hunting the open fields/prairies/grasslands I'll probably take my .270 Winchester but, if I'm in the woods "get me my '94." It just gets sweeter as the years go by. Got my Winchester 94 new for Christmas in 1975. I’m 53 now with “progressive lenses” and can still hold 5 shots in 3 inches at 100 yrds with it and a good rest. It’s the closest thing to carrying a pistol in your hand in the woods and that counts for something on an all-day still hunt in the eastern West Virginia mountains. Anyone who says the 30-30 is too weak for whitetails in the woods is a simpleton and/or a poor shot and is blaming the round for his poor marksmanship. If I’m hunting the open fields/prairies/grasslands I’ll probably take my .270 Winchester but, if I’m in the woods “get me my ‘94.” It just gets sweeter as the years go by.

]]> By: Sawyer http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge/comment-page-1#comment-1396 Sawyer Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:19:00 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting-gear/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge#comment-1396 The gun writers are in business to sell concepts for their corporate meal tickets. The post by Jonas above, is spot on! If you need more than a 30-30 than you're either out on the plains or shooting canyon to canyon. I HUNT in the woods. Hunting and shooting are two very different things. I hunted a few years back with a guy from the city and he had a few opportunities to kill bucks but he couldn't quite get his scope up and lined up in time (300 Win Mag). A friend's 30-30 killed one of the buck's our city boy failed to get a shot off at. Oh wel... The 30-30 in my experience at 25-125 yards knocks deer into the next world pretty good. Throw it up and squeeze that trigger, bang flop. The gun writers are in business to sell concepts for their corporate meal tickets. The post by Jonas above, is spot on!

If you need more than a 30-30 than you’re either out on the plains or shooting canyon to canyon. I HUNT in the woods. Hunting and shooting are two very different things.

I hunted a few years back with a guy from the city and he had a few opportunities to kill bucks but he couldn’t quite get his scope up and lined up in time (300 Win Mag). A friend’s 30-30 killed one of the buck’s our city boy failed to get a shot off at. Oh wel…

The 30-30 in my experience at 25-125 yards knocks deer into the next world pretty good. Throw it up and squeeze that trigger, bang flop.

]]> By: Joe http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge/comment-page-1#comment-1390 Joe Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:20:37 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting-gear/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge#comment-1390 I am a novice!!! So forgive me in advance. But have started hunting recently with my father inlaw in Vermont who loves his fifty year old Winchester 3030. He suggested the Marlin 336 in 3030 to me for what seemed at the time an odd reason. He said the caliber is great to 100 to 150 yards and in the dirt at 300 yards. He said 270s and 30-06s and others are technologically superior rounds in every way but the balance of 3030 makes it better. In Vermont the landscape is farm fields then roads then farm houses then hamlets with forest in between. The 30/30 is great at short ranges and safer too. I am a novice!!! So forgive me in advance. But have started hunting recently with my father inlaw in Vermont who loves his fifty year old Winchester 3030. He suggested the Marlin 336 in 3030 to me for what seemed at the time an odd reason. He said the caliber is great to 100 to 150 yards and in the dirt at 300 yards. He said 270s and 30-06s and others are technologically superior rounds in every way but the balance of 3030 makes it better. In Vermont the landscape is farm fields then roads then farm houses then hamlets with forest in between. The 30/30 is great at short ranges and safer too.

]]> By: Chris Moders http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge/comment-page-1#comment-1363 Chris Moders Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:54:33 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting-gear/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge#comment-1363 Brought one of those "Canadian centennial" models at a local estate sale last winter. The previous owner got it in 1967, never fired a shot out of it. It was literally a wallhanger to give his house the 'western' decor. What a shame never to use it, and such a beautiful rifle: Figured walnut stock, black chrome receiver with maple leaf inlays, heavy octagon barrel and gold inlaid lettering. I have 'de-virginized' it with lots of practice and load testing for the perfect handload. Settling on the new Hornady 160gr FTX @ 2050 fps using Ramshot's "TAC" powder. It's very accurate and the results are consistently repeatable. Muzzle heavy, which is a good thing, as there's less wobble shooting offhand. We'll put it to the acid-test in a few weeks when deer season starts :) Brought one of those “Canadian centennial” models at a local estate sale last winter. The previous owner got it in 1967, never fired a shot out of it. It was literally a wallhanger to give his house the ‘western’ decor.
What a shame never to use it, and such a beautiful rifle: Figured walnut stock, black chrome receiver with maple leaf inlays, heavy octagon barrel and gold inlaid lettering.
I have ‘de-virginized’ it with lots of practice and load testing for the perfect handload. Settling on the new Hornady 160gr FTX @ 2050 fps using Ramshot’s “TAC” powder.
It’s very accurate and the results are consistently repeatable. Muzzle heavy, which is a good thing, as there’s less wobble shooting offhand.
We’ll put it to the acid-test in a few weeks when deer season starts :)

]]> By: Raff http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge/comment-page-1#comment-1356 Raff Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:49:48 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting-gear/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge#comment-1356 Actually, there are a lot of so-called "experts" and "gun writers" who give this cartridge it's due. The fact that we're still having this conversation to this day is evidence of this caliber's popularity, ability and longevity. Lever actions are all I carry when hunting whitetails and I never feel undergunned. I like the light weight and fast-handling characteristics that lever guns bring to the hunt. I had a Winnie 94 in 30-30 about 25 years ago. I killed several deer with that rifle, most with only 1 shot, at ranges from 50-150 yards, using factory Win and Rem ammo. I used it for woodchucks, too, and became so proficient with it that I could take them at 200 yards with a good rest...and this was with open sights! I sold that rifle later on when money was tight and have regretted that decision ever since. Later, I got a Marlin 336 30-30 that I topped with a scope as my eyes began failing and this one continued to fill the freezer. I've tried Hornady Leverevolution ammo and found it to be very accurate, but no more so than Win Power Point 170s @ 100 yards in my rifle. Haven't tried it for hunting, though, despite having several boxes. Just can't bring myself to change....if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Besides, most of my hunting is done where ranges rarely exceed 100 yards, rendering the Hornady ammo unnecessary. And, in my opinion, the blunt tip bullets deliver more energy to a deer's vitals than a spire tip bullet. No exit wound? No problem...max energy delivered and dumped on target! Actually, there are a lot of so-called “experts” and “gun writers” who give this cartridge it’s due. The fact that we’re still having this conversation to this day is evidence of this caliber’s popularity, ability and longevity. Lever actions are all I carry when hunting whitetails and I never feel undergunned. I like the light weight and fast-handling characteristics that lever guns bring to the hunt. I had a Winnie 94 in 30-30 about 25 years ago. I killed several deer with that rifle, most with only 1 shot, at ranges from 50-150 yards, using factory Win and Rem ammo. I used it for woodchucks, too, and became so proficient with it that I could take them at 200 yards with a good rest…and this was with open sights! I sold that rifle later on when money was tight and have regretted that decision ever since. Later, I got a Marlin 336 30-30 that I topped with a scope as my eyes began failing and this one continued to fill the freezer. I’ve tried Hornady Leverevolution ammo and found it to be very accurate, but no more so than Win Power Point 170s @ 100 yards in my rifle. Haven’t tried it for hunting, though, despite having several boxes. Just can’t bring myself to change….if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Besides, most of my hunting is done where ranges rarely exceed 100 yards, rendering the Hornady ammo unnecessary. And, in my opinion, the blunt tip bullets deliver more energy to a deer’s vitals than a spire tip bullet. No exit wound? No problem…max energy delivered and dumped on target!

]]> By: Curt http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge/comment-page-1#comment-1355 Curt Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:16:57 +0000 http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/deer-hunting-gear/winchester-30-30-americas-deer-cartridge#comment-1355 It is false to say that the new model 94s need see-through mounts. I have two-piece steel mounts on mine. These with medium profile rings are sweet. No function proplems with this because of the angle eject. It is false to say that the new model 94s need see-through mounts. I have two-piece steel mounts on mine. These with medium profile rings are sweet. No function proplems with this because of the angle eject.

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