Thread: Hunting reds with a 30-30

Originally Posted by BRADS

Love the old 30-30 shot a spiker with it couple of weeks back while sitting on the quad, at massive a range of about 45 meters, dropped on the spot.
She takes a beating and just keeps going



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Thats never had a beating its brand new!

what breed is that one brads

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Thats never had a beating its brand new!

She's many many years from new mate.


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Doesnt look it

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Doesnt look it

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Guess looking after my guns pays off a


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They kill well at the ranges they're intended for. I've only just got back into them again after a bit of inspiration reading James Passmores writings on them.

I use 150 grain fed fusion or vital shok is great and you dont get the meat damage you do with say a 270 or 308.

I run a Marlin 336 Texan ( straight stock 18.5 barrel - not as heavy as the big paddle stocked trad 336 ) Its shoots minute of deer and goat all day. Smooth as butter action and a good trigger for a lever gun. Has a 2-7 scope on it.

I also have a Win 94 top eject, with a peep sight - going to run this in the sika roar. I'm yet to shoot a beastie. The Win 94 is awesome and light, little bit sloppier in the action and trigger compared to the marlin but easy to carry, looks the part and shoots well enough. Levers point fast like shot guns, I've taken some good follow up running shots on deer I've bounced, missed for whatever reason but smoked them on the hoof with a fast follow up shot. That's when they come into their own.
I reckon they are under rated as a bush gun and capable killers out to 150 no probs.

I have a win. 94.open sights.An excellent bush rifle,short light,points well and is virtually indestructable.I use mostly win 150g silver point which has ample stopping power.I have brought down pigs and deer out to 200.

Like many American kids I started with a 30-30. It was a Savage 325 bolt action with no scope. I graduated to a Savage 99F in 243 in 1959, then to various other rifles. I was an addict early.

I kind of prefer the 170gr ammo. It drives through a bit better, IMO. Still, I killed them DRT with 150 Remington round nose soft points.

I gave my boyhood buddy and still friend a Savage 24V years ago in 20ga 3" and 30-30, when he moved to Alaska. He used it to shoot Sitka deer (very small deer...60-110 pounds) and spruce grouse. He ended up popping a big Alaskan moose with it while ptarmigan hunting in an area where he had a moose tag and had gotten skunked on three previous hunts that year. He was carrying 170s and was glad he did.

He called me to complain I had ruined his ptarmigan hunt, the cheeky sob.

Chuck a lyman , Williams or XS apiture on it and youll have a great little bush rifle..... Scopes look ok on the marlins but totally ruin a handy little repeater like the 94 IMO.
Iv got a lyman 66 you can have for 50 bucks if you want it , but the xs is the best by far.
https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=xs...ejgfBF_rlng%3D

Took my Marlin 336 out for target practice last weekend, open sights, mix of ammo, hitting tin cans at 50 yards and was acceptably on paper at 100 yards with open sights, using pascals mix lolli bag as the centre to aim at.

My mate shot at the comonwealth games. He put 2 shots from a cold barrel and 3 from a hot barrel into a 1 1/2 inch group at 120mtres lying on a blanket. The rifle was a near new iron sighted win 94 in 3030 id just bought and couldnt hit a sheet of refill paper with at 75 yards lol.

A good scope will help with light gathering but just gets in tge blody way otherwise.

I used them a lot and they are pure hunting rifles, they fit the best, are easiest to carry are perfectly accurate with modern ammo, and the half cock is perfect for silent stalking. They are the best offhand shooting rifle you could have, and for a bush hunter or one who generally shoots most of his deer standing up, they are purpose built tools.
People say they are not as accurate as bolt actions and no doubt that is essentially true, but I have had three now and all of them could shoot into 1.5 inches at 100 metres with their factory open sights and the same 150 grain handload. I used to favour the receiver peep sights by Lyman or Williams, but nowadays I wouldn't bother and just use the factory bead and rear sight, which are very good open sights.
The fast follow up shot is welcome too, although you rarely have to employ it. But in bush shooting you can always hit a tree or a branch you didn't see and need another shot quick. I once fired three shots in .00079 of second when I ran into four deer at 25 yards and got all excited. I only hit one of them, but that's not the rifles fault. People that heard it thought I had a semi-auto.

I would shoot out to 200 metres with the .30/30, which is about as far as you can comfortably shoot with open sights anyway, but all of my .30/30 kills have been around the 50 - 90 metres mark, and all offhand shots. No problem with killing, they died and they died right there too. 150 grain or 170 grain probably doesn't matter, but I prefer the 170 grain Hornady flat nose now, although most of the .30/30 deer have been shot with 150 grains Winchester power points, and they worked fine.

I am speaking here of the Winchester 94. And without a scope of course. The Marlin .30/30 is a pound heavier, and the lever throw is a longer arc. I have used a Marlin for one trip only, but I would rather have the Winchester probably because that's how I was brought up. The last one I had I gave to my father as a retirement present, so now I am left only with my .44/40 in a lever action. I will get another Winchester .30/30.

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I thought the marlin had a shorter throw ?
Ps , id go the xs site carlson . They realy are that good.

Originally Posted by GSP HUNTER

I've only just got back into them again after a bit of inspiration reading James Passmores writings on them.

crikey, I wouldn't believe that chap