I happen to like it personally...

Regards, Marcus.

        no way ! its not over rated ! Its a great cartirige and the model 94 and 336 are grreat rifles ! I want a 30/30 and I was plannining to trade for one this weekend but my daughter needs dental work and I may have to sell my trade bait to pay the bill.  I was hunting with a pal this year and he used his model 94 a couple times even though he had a brand new ruger 7 mag locked in my tool box !

  ...tj3006

overrated? hmm... no, i don't think anybody overrates it. it is probably underrated by some, though... me? i see it for what it is... a great caliber for killing deer-sized game at close range. it isn't anything more, or less, than that.

Actually none other than jack O'connor said it was the best deer cartridge made.

The 30-30 is a very good round.  I don't think it is limited at all, however the rifles that it is made in are limited.

The Win 94 originally never took a scope well, offset!  The lever Marlin and Win have low pressure limits with rear locking lugs.  The Marlin and Win also have poor triggers and both have tubular magazines that preclude the use of pointed bullets.  These things handicap the rifles and there for the cartridge as sold.  If Remington ever makes the M700 Classic in 30-30 I'd buy it immediately.

BEAR

North Logan,

Overrated? It probably used to be overrated back several decades ago; now it is more likely underrated in light of it being unfairly compared to modern cartridges based on performance numbers and not common practical field scenarios.

I sure like the looks of that top rifle in the photo! What is the barrel length on it? I've got an old 94 with a ring about 2" back from the muzzle that I'd like to chop and restore some day.AW

Overrated for what? Works well for what it was designed for.

Maybe it is handicapped a bit by the rifles it is available in, but it works. Single shot hand rifles are availble and very popular in .30/30. Try finding a Remington 788 in .30/30! I believe that Winchester originally planned to chamber no less tha the model 54 in .30/30, but decided against it because of the case rim. I have even heard stories that a small number were actually released from pre-production.

Triggerguard wrote: Try finding a Remington 788 in .30/30!

there's one at cabela's right now... possible it could be a 721, i guess, not sure. there is also a bolt savage in 30-30 there, too that is real inexpensive, but when the bolt is worked, the whole top ass'y opens, making scope mounting w/ the bore axis impossible. still, i don't want a 30-30 bolt... they are fine in levers.

I think I need one to make a well informed decision, anyone willing to give me theirs!

I would like to have a Win. 94AE in 30-30 with rear aperture sight for precisely the reasons outlined above - fast handling, short-medium range deer getter! 

the Savage 340 (and it's variations) have a single rear locking lug.  I have one and they are not as strong as a Marlin 336 IMO.  The clip does let you use pointed bullets lit the 125 for varmints.

There were some Model 70 (limited) made in 30-30.  But if you think about the time in the 50s, why would anyone buy a 30-30 when you could get a 270 or and '06.

BEAR 

I don't see the pointy bullet thing being an issue with the thuty-thuty. For the velocity and working range, a round or flat nosed bullet is what this caliber wants to eat!

The only failure I have seen of the round has been people using inappropriately light bullets, that would blood shot meat badly.

Triggerguard wrote: Try finding a Remington 788 in .30/30!

TG - I actually had one about 5 years ago. Great rifle. Tried loading spitzer type bullets for it but could only shoot them single shot as they were too long to feed from the magazine. Deadly accurate with the 150 gr RN and 170 FP .30 cal bullets designed for the .30-30!

Was forced to sell it when going thru some financial hardships [divorce]...  would buy it back in a minute, though!

Regards, Marcus.

     Why ann AE.   Just my  opinion but scoping a 30/30 sort of takes the fun out of it. I like the old sadle ring carbines. If you find one with a peep site it is no longer origional and you should be able to get one for 350.00 or so.  if you want one with the origional ladder site it will cost ya 450.00 to 650.00.   I plan to trade my Browning Micro hunter 7mm08 with an Elite 3200 2X7, dies 50 rounds of hand loads and 90 brass for the best model 1894 (not the same as a model 94) I can get, if I can find one I like at a gun show this weekend.

   ...tj3006

  Lots of folks here in the south use 30-30's  and most have had them since they were youngin's, used gun racks around here are flooded with them.Seen some of these country boys here impress me with them,but they know their limits and don't push them. Myself I'd rather have my .35 Remington just a pinch more put down power,when we hunt the brush here we don't want a deer getting into the thick junk to hard getting them out,enter the .35 but I'll tell ya everytime I get in a discusion here about the two calibers I'm on the minority side.

                                    Mike

Nope . . . not over-rated . . . I hunted with a Winchester Model 94 Ranger for a while.  Dang good at short ranges.  I always used 170 grain bullets.  Mighty popular in the South.  One of my better "non-guns!"    Also had another "non-gun," a Marlin 1894 .357.  Never hunted with it.  Mainly a "behind-the-seat" weapon.  I always thought it better than most for a handy defensive weapon.

Supposed to drop 30 degrees for the high temps in Springs.  Been breaking records all week . . . was 83 today.

Don't get on much anymore . . . where's DFC, Bearhunter, and others.  Hope the "maroons" haven't run you off.  I know Tash doesn't like to control things too much, but there is a little too much "porno" on here now . . . for my tastes.  Most men don't respect other men who think filth and vulgarity are somehow humorous.  Myself . . . I got better things to do.     Wish DFC and others would get back on here so that we can discuss shooting.

Here's a tip for ya, use 150's on deer and 170's on elk sized animals. I have a pre 64 thurdy thurdy, love the old thing.

Dan

D.F.C. wrote: Here's a tip for ya, use 150's on deer and 170's on elk sized animals. I have a pre 64 thurdy thurdy, love the old thing.   Dan

Yer probably right . . . it is just that I always favored the heaviest bullets available . . . probably no justifiable reason.  However, they did work.  Used 170 in my Ranger.  Currently loading 190 for my .30-06 . . . oh yeah . . . I still have it . . . will NEVER sell it . . . had to entertain the "maroons" for awhile.  Only thing I would like to do . . . although I probably won't . . . is get a better scope . . . the Bushnell Trophy ain't half bad.  It works and it stays on target . . . that means a lot to me.

Notice that Browning is referring to their new WSSM A-Bolt as a "benchrest" weapon.  Don't remember what you said about that? 

Saw a herd of antelope just east of where I live . . . right by the fence . . . too tame . . . I couldn't shoot on of those "babys" if I was hungry . . . no special reason why . . . just couldn't do it.  Other game available in wilder areas.

here is a pic of my sons westernfield( savage made) 30/30 bolt we got on vacation this summer. we found some befor but they wanted 350 for them. and they were junk.the gun shop had 3. we picked this 1 up for 200. and it had a 4x scope on it. since then we have seen 2 others 1 for 300 each. this little thing will shoot. and it will shoot spitzer bullets.he has used anywhere from a 110 - 170 gr bullets. last sunday he was shooting it at a 6 in. gong at 200 yds and hitting it. his friend has a savage 340 just like my sons. you should see the looks the old guys gave them when they were using them at a big bore shoot.

"Wish DFC and others would get back on here so that we can discuss shooting."

Fred, you only discuss shooting until you figure that everyone knows that you don't know what you're talking about then you scurry away and hide for a while..............Kingpin

A coworker has a family Model 94 .30-30. I think he said it's been in their family since 1924 or so. This year he took it along on an antelope hunt in MT. He's the first to kill a prarie goat with that gun, he's also the first to get a whitetail with it (where we live it's all blacktail) and wants to bag the first mulie with it too.

I like rifles with history to them. I hope one day some young person with a touch of my blood in their veins whacks a big bull with my black .300 Supermag or my Sako Finbar. Both guns show their time in the field just like a good saddle or boots would. I think it adds character and shows that they've been on real hunts.

Over rated ?   Well My model 94 with peep sites and 9 dollar factory ammo out shot my model 70 .338 win mag with a 3.5X10 VX3 leupold.

     basickly me 61 vr old lever action I paid 375.00 for put three rounds closer to gether than the model 70 I got abot 1000.00 and shoot hand loads in. Of my 5 winchesters the .338 is the only one I can't get to shoot real well.

    ...tj3006

One reason for the popularity is: it is the dominate cartridge offered in classic lever action rifles.  Most of the 94s and 336s on the shelves are in 30-30.  So if you want a cowboy rifle the 30-30 is a top choice.  The resurgence of the 45-70 is mainly because it was offered by Marlin in the 336 style rifle.

I'll bet that 38-55 ammo sales have increased 10 times since the Marlin 336 is now chambered for it.  Maybe the gun model offerings are driving the choice of caliber.

BEAR