Good question.
The last deer that I shot with a .30-30 that I tagged was probably 1980. It was probably also the first deer I tagged that I shot myself.
Times 'n' attitude change, huh?
The rifle was a Savage/Stevens 840 wearing a Western Field brand. Dad had bought 2, one for Mom, one for Grandma, for Valentines Day. (Takes nuts or is nuts, you decide for yourself.) Grandma didn't hunt so I inherited hers. Being a box magazine, we loaded pointy bullets. The load was 150 grain Sierra flat base spitzer over 30.3 grains of IMR 3031. Expansion was basically non-existent.
I've shot several deer with lever actions in more recent years but none were .30-30. I've used .38-55, .44 mag, and .45-70 that I can think of right off. I wouldn't mind a good .30-30 but there hasn't been a configuration I'd buy offered in several years. The most recent was the Marlin Cowboy 336.
Tom
