jimmyp: 10/4; Some years back I hunted open mature hardwoods. There a 30-30 and almost ANY centerfire would work. Unfortunately, I moved from that area and later the timber was harvested. I MISS IT to this day. I hunted a Ruger Ultra Lite 308 Win and/or BLR 358 among other calibers.
Since '86 I have been a member of two different deer leases, not at the same time. Both leases have had power lines, pipe lines, rr trams, CUTOVERS etc.
In 010 I made one shot at 260 yds >DRT lasered
In 09 I made one shot at 289 yds > DRT lasered
In 08 I made one shot @ 225-230 yds > DRT
DON'T MEAN TO BRAG seriously, IIRC at least 9 deer have been harvested including the 3 above in an area where any SHORT RANGE, SOFTBALL TRAJECTORY would have PREVENTED me from even taking a shot.
I'm 61 yrs old and have been hunting since childhood, handloading since '75. I'm still using calibers capable of making more than SHORT RANGE shots. I SERIOUSLY posed the O P question because of PRESENT & PAST hunting opportunities. FOR ME WHERE I HUNT a 30-30 would be a sevier limitation.
JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, no offense taken.
JWALL
