It depends on where you hunt. Most places out west require longer range cartridges, I killed a average sized cow with a 24" barreled 30/30 using Remington ammo with 170 grain hollow points. Two shots at 200 yards behind the shoulder eventually killed her . The old 30-30 was at the very edge of its limits. The one bullet I recovered barely expanded. I have killed 24 elk with just one rifle. A 1948 vintage model 70 in 30-06 wearing a 6X Leupold Alaskan scope. My other elk have been killed with a variety of old Winchesters.
