Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Deer hunting with a 30-30

I have hunted deer 40 years and never killed one with the 30-30, so this year I decided it was about time to try it. News flash: The "little" 30-30 kills deer just as dead as any other caliber. Duh! Maybe that's why folks still use it after all these years, and because of the light recoil and neat little carbines it comes in. Mine is a Marlin 336SC made in 1951. I hit one deer in the ribcage tight to the shoulder and it ran 50 yards and died. I hit two others in the shoulders and they both fell dead on the spot. Go figure! All bullets exited leaving good sized holes. My load consists of 170gr Hornady RNs over a good dose of H322. I still hold the distinction of never having killed a deer with a factory load - not one. All have been my handloads. Some things don't change.

How about you. Have you killed deer with a 30-30? How did it work for you? Let's hear some 30-30 hunting stories, please. Thanks.

Killed one with my 30/30 (my brothers now) several years ago (the first year Hornady had the Lever-evolution ammo - wanted to try it). Worked just fine, killed the deer like you would expect.

Kilt a dozen, or so deer with my old Model 94 30-30. Always used 170 grain Remington Core-Lokts. They never failed, though I moved on to rounds that had more range & optics that I could hunt closer to dark with after a few years.

Actually, I had more deer drop at the shot with that rifle than most of the other rifles that I have used since. (.270, 7 Mag., 25-284, .308) Most shots were tight to the shoulder about 1/3 of the way up. I think the round nose at that modest velocity may be a key there.

I killed a nice 170 lb 6pt with a broken left side on his horns useing my T/C Contender in 30-30AI last week. Running shot a 120 yards. He took a nose dive right there and never moved. I have also used the standard 30-30 in the contender successfully many times and I rarely have the bullet fail to exit. I have never used A lever gun in 30-30 but the cartridge has never failed me.

I don't know why everyone is surprised by 30-30, I wouldn't hesitate to use it on any animal in North America. That's not saying I would want to fend off a charging grizzly with it. But with proper bullet placement it is a hell of a caliber

The only time I have used a 30-30 has been via an Encore handgun. I've never had to reload after the shot...

George

used to hunt pennsy years ago and always used my 30-30,have a marlin 336,love that gun,easy to get ammo,killed afew with it,loaned it to my buddy,now having trouble getting it back cause he likes it so much,,lol

There is not a thing wrong with the 30-30 .In the North it should be use more plenty of power an in the woods or swamps its a hell of a killer

Shot a pile of deer over the years with a .30-30....it is what was claimed for it, an almost perfect short range ( under 200 yds) deer cartridge....

I have hunted with a bolt action savage 340 in .30-30 for a long time. I love the .30-30 on this platform (small bolt action carbine). It is nice to carry and shoots very well with almost no recoil. I have killed many deer with it over the years.

I pulled the same "stunt" this year! I had never hunted with the .30 WCF either. Seemed like a good year to do it, so I picked up a couple boxes of 170 grain Remington Corelokt Hollow Points, mounted an ancient Bushnell Banner in Talley lightweights on my little brother's Marlin 336, and hit the woods.

The first deer I hit at about 125 yards or so, and she looked like someone jerked the rug out from under her. I was amazed by the lack of noise at the shot, and the immediate reaction to the hit by the deer. I was also pleased by the lack of recoil.

The second deer was hit on the run at about 20 yards. Same deal, entrance through the ribcage on the left side, exit through the right shoulder. Deer rolled like a rabbit.

This weekend, I took my son hunting with me, and after he got an 8 point with his .257 Roberts, he wanted to trade rifles and hunt with the old .30-30. He shot a button buck through the neck at about 45 yards or so, and dropped it with no muss or fuss.

Overall, I am completely impressed with the deer killing abilities of the cartridge. It won't be the last year I take one deer hunting with me. (That is if I can pry it out of my son's hands.)

Sorry Guy's.....No pictures, No proof!

First deer ever killed with my 94 Winchester, bought new in 1978 and still have that rifle. 10 yd shot, deer ran 50 yds and died.

Have killed several deer with this rifle and other 30-30's. It just plain a$$ works....

the bull elk from my avatar fell to a marlin 336 30-30 at 50 yards, took one step and tipped over dead.
I get a kick out of anyone who says they can't kill. same goes for the 243, I've killed more critters with these two rifles than any other, and until the internet, I didn't know I was doing it wrong.

I killed my first deer (a LONG time ago) with a Winchester Model 94 and a neck shot dropped it in it's tracks. I hunted with that rifle for several years and took several deer with it before switching to a .30-06 for quite a few seasons but it doesn't put the deer down any quicker or harder from what I can tell.

Anyway, This year I've switched back to the good old .30-30 in a Marlin lever with a small 1x4.5 scope mounted on it since my eyes sure aren't as sharp as they were back in the the 70's.

I'm using the same Federal 150 grain loads I always used and I have complete confidence in the rifle/ammo combination and it's a heck of lot lighter than my old BAR too.

BR,

Great job! I think perhaps next year, I'm going to dig out my M-219 Sav in .30-30 A.I. and try to put it to use...

We'll see about this .30-30 thing....

GH

Grasshopper,

You really don't want to use that old thing - the Savage 219 I mean. It won't work because it doesn't have a magic lever on it. I'll be right over to take that old thing off your hands. It might make a decent tomatoe stake come spring.

I've taken a few deer with the good ol 30-30, but all my pics are not digital and I don't have a scanner. Mainly does anyhow.

I do however have a pic of last year's buck killed via 303 Sav, which is ballistically identical to a 30-30. In fact, I use 30-30 loading data.

Ooo, that's a sweet 99, Dog Hunter! I've had a few like that one, a couple 30-30s and a 303, and foolishly traded them away. Please keep me in mind if you ever decide to be rid of that one.

Killed by first deer with one in a Marlin 336 given to me for my 12th Christmas, still have the little gun and used to take it out a couple of days every season. Mounted a 2-1/2 Leupy on it last year in anticipation of using but stuck to the 7mm-08. May have to take it out this year.

They are great little guns that kill quick and easy on the shoulder. Load mine now with the 170 partition though in the past the Rem 170 Corelokts and Winchester 170 RN's have worked just as well.