Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 30-30 on elk

I also have the Marlin 336 in 30-30

Thats about as classic looking as they get. Cool stuff!
Ingwe

The rumor mill down here in the states says the leverevolution boolits should be available to reloaders soon!
Heard nothing but good things about them so far..
Ingwe

As long as you are aware of the range limitations, and you obviously are, mount a Lyman 57 to the 336, load up some 170 grain Partitions and go forth and slay elk.

Wayne

I've hunted elk with my 30-30, but never had the chance to take a shot with it. I would do so again without hesitation.

Well, I like my .30-30 but my .45-70 has better range. The .30-30 shoots flatter runs out of thump much sooner. Took a 6x6 bull elk at 213 lasered yards with my .45-70 and would have pulled the trigger at 300 (just like I do at the range).

Consider these calculations: At 300 yards my .45-70 handloads (350g North fork @ 2183fps) retain about 1675fpe and are down about 22� (measured) with a MPBR zero for a 6� diameter target (3� max rise or drop). Compare that against my .30-30 loads, a 170g Speer running 2260fps, with the same 6� MPBR zero. At 300 yards the .30-30 is down only 17� or so but retains only 921fpe.

Not discounting the .30-30, just pointing out that trajectory isn�t everything. Of course you pay for that kind of.45-70 performance with significantly increased recoil (about 3x).

444Matt,

The 444 marlin is kinda nostalgic too. Kicks less than the 45-70.

Beanman

The best man at my wedding in Yellowpine Idaho uses nothing but a 30-30 for anything he hunts here in Idaho and scores Elk almost every year with it still, and rarely goes without, as do several others I know that live and work in the center of Idaho who refuse to understand how outdated and un-cool the little carbine is. One could never get them to read ballistic tables or the internet or they would definitely know they are using the wrong tool for Idaho game that feeds there family year after year.

I had two Winchester '94's for ever, it seems, and traded one for a muzzle loader a couple years ago and kept the most accurate one to today.Like other calibers, shot placement is #1 and bullet choice is #2.My old 30-30 has seen most of Idaho's back country/several horses/Jeeps/logging crummies and trucks and put a fair amount of game in my freezer.I would never hesitate to use it in the thick timber Idaho has for any game I was after and it particularly likes Bears for some reason but my family doesn't.

Jayco

Ya, the 444 was my first introduction into big bore Marlins. Got a real good case of Marlinitis from that gun. I now favor the 45/70 over the 444 for my big bore needs, but will always hold a special place in my heart for the fo forty fo!

And Ron, thanks for the encouragement with the 3030. This gun will do 90% of its life hunting Whitetails here in Alabama, but one day I hope to take it for a elk hunt timber gun, with a good bolt action along for the trip and longer ranges.

I agree with you, but this rifle is just for under 100yd thick stuff. 90% of its life will be hunting whitetail. Whenever this elk trip happens, the 30-06 will be along to handle the longer range work.

My Marlin 336 and a Hornady 30-30 LeverEvolution round took a 6x6 bull at 110 yards. He dropped where he stood.