30-30 lever guns, still a viable cartridge/rifle in use?

[Wapiti]

How many of you blokes still use a lever 30-30 rifle for hunting, or at least, from time to time or when the conditions make it a great choice?
The rifle itself, or maybe what ammo does a good job and is accurate enough for thick country work?
Anyone ever stretch it out a bit?
Does anyone have a nice projectile/powder combo that works reliably on say, pigs or deer?
Or even... quiet pop type loads for practice, close-up culling say, pigs in a trap or around settled areas?

With all the latest craze of the cartridge-rifle makers dreaming up game-changers that don't do anything at all different anyway, for example the WSM's, then the WSSM's (all dead) the 6.5 craze that suddenly became essential (everyone forgot the 6.5x55 that did it in the early 1900's better ), the PRC marketing that was going to kill the WinMags and RUMS but isn't, the old 30-30 is still being used.

Do peep sights work best? Reflex sights over red dots? Or even a 1-4x compact scope?
I've suddenly dusted off my '94 16" Trapper, and am going to ditch the red dot that I find pretty marginal for something else. and am unsure.
1-4x scope or reflex? Or just leave the ghost rings as the sights?

[Fester]

My Dirty-30 is just a staino Rossi Reogrande, and I love it, mainly just for fun plinking.
A Skinner peep was fitted, then the longer front post to suit, and the set of different-sized aperture rings to shoot 50 yd groups and stuff.
The semi-buckhorns were good for melons at 25m offhand and lost favour fast.

I always loaded 150gr soft points at average factory ammo type velocity for brush gun hunting.
From memory, about 33gr of 08, as there's no need to develop or find accuracy nodes in a brush gun.

I only blooded it the other year because to carry it in the forest, which would be a pleasure, would also be a guarantee to see some deer at about 200yds, and only the Facebook hunters do that with their 30-30s lol, likely hunting on the screen, rather than in the field.
I was surprised at how effective it was as a brush gun, but it was only a large Eastern Grey Grasshopper, and I likely spined it.
It was only 30m-ish, and through trees and branches where the peep with the tiny target ring wasn't ideal, I should have just screwed it out and used the ghost ring, but that critter just fell on the spot, and I reckon a pig or deer would have done the same.

I loaded light pop loads with 165gr HRBC casties for years, just for cheap plinking and offhand practice.
It was the common 16-17gr of 2207, but the case was only about half full, and could fit a double charge, so checking the tray of filled cases was essential.
A filler would prob be recommended, but I never had an issue.

When Trailboss was eventually found on the shop shelf, back before the shortage, I tried it, but it went subsonic, or near.
It sounded and felt like a .22lr so I may as well have just shot the 22.

I never went back to reduced loads, as better offhand practice was to load up the casties, and Les from HRBC said the blokes were loading up their powder-coated projies way higher than first thought possible.
I actually worked up and shot a couple, charged right up at my full 150gr SP load levels.
It was up near max, and I could feel the recoil.
I found the point where they did lose accuracy and backed off under that.
I had no leading issues in the barrel, but that is likely when they start spraying, as the base of the projy is said to start melting.

I now have 2 cast loads, with the most convenient being a moderate charge of 08 on the std 165gr pill that would still put holes through critters, and surprisingly splashed some decent shots into the 300m mound that surprised both me and the RO, who I asked permission. That load is only a grain or 2 under my full jacketed 150 SP loads, so all I would need.

Being a gluten for punishment, I also do 2 quick cuts on my mini-lathe to fit gas checks and do full loads with cast pills.
Why, reloaders are always experimenting, eh

In conclusion, all my loads shot well enough, and much the same appart from shooting 8" lower and such.
The rifle has conventional grooves rather than micro, like the Marlins, so the Rossi, once sorted of it's shocking factory QC issues was the right choice for me.
The micro-grooved barrels only shoot well with a certain-sized pill, apparently.

[No1Mk3]

No longer hunt, but when I did 90% of it with a Win 94 30/30, bought a paddle stock Ruger in 308 in 1993, went back to the Winnie. 125g SP for goats and wallabies, 150g Silvertips or RN/SP for pigs and deer up to Reds, 180g RN/SP for Rusa (Sambar) & Elk (was going to say Wapiti, but considering who I'm answering to maybe a bit off), I always used irons and stalked up to 100 yards or so. The only time I took the Ruger or the Tikka M55 was high Alpine where cover was at best marginal. If I ever went out again (very unlikely) I would reach for the 94. I have taken the 94 to the range and shot Military 3P (Canadian Rangers, US Army Signal Corps, French Army and the British Navy used Win 94's) and even now scored well at 300m with my well used 1959 rifle, not good enough to hunt comfortably, but a better shooter using Hornady Leverevolution in a newish rifle could do so.

[Fester]

It's funny, but I couldn't get any noticeable benefits from using the Leverlution projectiles.
My research showed that Hrdy uses a special powder that they developed for the purpose and likely get the best velocities, but too much for me to bother with, and 2208 is just so versatile for slower 30 cals.
Also, I don't need more than round-nose type BCs, as I don't really shoot it past 100, as a rule.
2206h is likely the ideal choice to start reducing loads, but I didn't pursue it as I didn't use 06 for anything else.
Not using a scope means I won't see much, apart from the odd fluked 50yd group to write home about.

Throwing bricks at animals is fine at brush country ranges or in the thick stuff but that's where it ends for me.
Same with offhand shooting, really; I won't do it past where I feel confident, and I have been practicing for years.

I think 30 cals do seem to hit hard, and blokes swear by the odd particular 130gr projie with a hollow point, so it's not just the weight.
Blokes shooting lots of pigs could get the real-life data.

The 300 Blackout is a go-to for shooting bigger critters in house paddocks with subsonics.
I don't know if I ever shot one, but I may have, as I vaguely remember the look of the ammo with a small case shoulder.
Yeah, mild shooting, as it comes back to me. He didn't reload, so normal loads, obviously.

[bigrich]

How many of you blokes still use a lever 30-30 rifle for hunting, or at least, from time to time or when the conditions make it a great choice?
The rifle itself, or maybe what ammo does a good job and is accurate enough for thick country work?
Anyone ever stretch it out a bit?
Does anyone have a nice projectile/powder combo that works reliably on say, pigs or deer?
Or even... quiet pop type loads for practice, close-up culling say, pigs in a trap or around settled areas?

With all the latest craze of the cartridge-rifle makers dreaming up game-changers that don't do anything at all different anyway, for example the WSM's, then the WSSM's (all dead) the 6.5 craze that suddenly became essential (everyone forgot the 6.5x55 that did it in the early 1900's better ), the PRC marketing that was going to kill the WinMags and RUMS but isn't, the old 30-30 is still being used.

Do peep sights work best? Reflex sights over red dots? Or even a 1-4x compact scope?
I've suddenly dusted off my '94 16" Trapper, and am going to ditch the red dot that I find pretty marginal for something else. and am unsure.
1-4x scope or reflex? Or just leave the ghost rings as the sights?

from what i hear a lot of fellas still use winnie 94's in FNQ . the range is generally short and the 94's carry brilliantly . 30-30 just works on pigs up there . i've had a few but they're too "niche " in usage for me . as you know mate i prefer the flexibility of my 308 T3 with a 2-7 loopy . but sights on a lever gun , a mate has a vortex venom reflex sight on a '92 in 32-20 and it is a joy to use and very accurate out to 150 with this system . i believe it has a 1.5 MOA dot . my old gun smith mate reckons the round red dots are "like trying to aim through a key hole " . the only other sight i'd consider is a 1-4 power loopy , so long as your winnie is angle eject. ghost rings ? my eyes aren't good enough for any iron sight and fast target acquisition, especially in low light on black pigs . i haven't really narrowed it down for you , but i'd go with a reflex sight . at 30-30 ranges this should work well and sticks with the light carry aspects and point-ability of a winnie '94

[GQshayne]

I had a Model 94 in 30/30 when I was about 14 for pig hunting. Got rid of it for a .243 when I was 16, and I instantly got a lot better. The .243 had a scope, and with much better ballistics, hitting a moving target was much easier. My dad had a Marlin 30/30 which he loved, but eventually he said the .243 was just better once the distance opned up past 100m, so he got one too.

[Wapiti]

Throwing bricks at animals is fine at brush country ranges or in the thick stuff but that's where it ends for me.
Same with offhand shooting, really; I won't do it past where I feel confident, and I have been practicing for years.

I think 30 cals do seem to hit hard, and blokes swear by the odd particular 130gr projie with a hollow point, so it's not just the weight.
Blokes shooting lots of pigs could get the real-life data.

LMFAO

.30 cals are awesome mate, so many different case size choices and that's why I use them for all things.
From the thump of the slowest 2200fps/150gn bullet 30-30 to the screaming 3550fps/105gns of powder/150gn bullet in the 300RUM, they are a friggin' blast, man.
The day I start choosing cartridges for a few grains less powder or some long-range fantasy that is only a matter of clicks on a scope turret anyhow, I'll give the game away.

[NedKelly79]

I still swear by my 94 XTR angle eject with 1.5-5x20 for pigs, with scope wound right down, it is great up close and allows both eyes open, im better using it than open sights on quick departing pigs in reasonably thick stuff.

Many cringe when they see the scope on my lever gun, but mounted low in Leupold mounts, it looks great and like its meant to be there, swings and aims well.

Im a sucker for older less exciting cartridges and the 30/30 is one of those, it always makes me smile flattening pigs with it, in the 94, its a light well balanced nice little rifle that is great on bikes, horses and vehicles. My little 94 Trapper in 44 mag is incredibly compact, Id love to see a trapper in 30/30.

A lot of people s**t can the 30/30 with its modest velocity and trajectory, most have never used one once you press them on their experience, mine is a true 200 metre pig gun, with scope wound up and a good rest, it gets the job done, A few preety impressive rear end raking running away shots on decent boars at moderate ranges has literally seen it penetrate one end to the other front side and roll a pig in a heap that thought he was away free.

Ive only used Winchester 150 grain factory hollows in mine, they work great, its one i dont reload for as most brass is lost in action.

[wrenchman]

I still use one but not as much as I did there was a time before a lot of the guns made now the 3030 was the cheepest thing made you could be deer hunting for under 200 dollars in the 80s cheep light and could kill out to 200 yards well inside of the range most deer are killed.
bolt action gun are have rely come down in price and a good lever could cost better then double up to the late 80s the levers action 3030 held the most fire arm owned

[Damo300]

I got myself a Rossi R95 in the blued timber 20inch.
My eyes are terrible for close up. Anything past 1m I can see clearly, but inside that, lucky to focus on the front site.
So I fitted a Burris fullfield IV 2.5 - 10 x 42.
These are a great scope for the price. Very clear, and illuminated.

Typical 30/30, grouping like buck shot through all powder nodes. I got the 160gr leverevolution projectiles and using 31.2gr of 08, pushing them around 2300.
I wasn't happy with it and considered moving it on.

I got to thinking and wanted to try one more modification.
I had the muzzle threaded in 9/16 x 24, yep odd size but the barrel wasn't thick enough for a 5/8x 24. Ed at HiCal murrarie did the work.
I fitted a Grizley radial break I purchased from the Barn.
Well didn't that change things up.
It now clover leafs at 100m.
1moa at 200m, and yep, I can hit the 6 inch gong at 300m at the Ripley range pretty consistently. The RO was go smacked.
I now have confidence in the rifle to do the job.

Took it hunting last trip and christened it on a fallow doe. She was hit at around 80m, broadside and fell about 10m from where she was shot. When I walked up on her, the shot hit exactly where I was aiming. It was dusk. I had a poke around to try and find the projectile but gave up as I still had to harvest.

I'm working some 175gr hornady sub x down to see how they go in subs, but the noise is still there so no real point untill this country grows up and gives us hearing protection attachments.


It's now a proven deer rifle. Haven't hit the pigs yet as I don't really hunt them, but may have an opportunity to test it out early next year. I wouldn't hesitate to take this rifle now.
It slings nicely over the shoulder, and very quick target acquisition when required, but I do have some zoom for those shots in and around black berry's etc.

Love my 30/30.

[Wapiti]

I still swear by my 94 XTR angle eject with 1.5-5x20 for pigs, with scope wound right down, it is great up close and allows both eyes open, im better using it than open sights on quick departing pigs in reasonably thick stuff.

Many cringe when they see the scope on my lever gun, but mounted low in Leupold mounts, it looks great and like its meant to be there, swings and aims well.

Im a sucker for older less exciting cartridges and the 30/30 is one of those, it always makes me smile flattening pigs with it, in the 94, its a light well balanced nice little rifle that is great on bikes, horses and vehicles. My little 94 Trapper in 44 mag is incredibly compact, Id love to see a trapper in 30/30.

A lot of people s**t can the 30/30 with its modest velocity and trajectory, most have never used one once you press them on their experience, mine is a true 200 metre pig gun, with scope wound up and a good rest, it gets the job done, A few preety impressive rear end raking running away shots on decent boars at moderate ranges has literally seen it penetrate one end to the other front side and roll a pig in a heap that thought he was away free.

Ive only used Winchester 150 grain factory hollows in mine, they work great, its one i dont reload for as most brass is lost in action.

Yes I agree mate, I think that the 30-30 has this magic combination of the projectile speed being just so well matched to old-school projectile construction, they just do the job.
Raking body-length shots are the norm without projies blowing up.
My 30-30 trapper has the tapped receiver, so I got a set of Leupold mounts for it, and a scout rail and replaced the rear sight with that rail. The rail came with a set of Ghost-rings, a taller front tritium blade and a big peep that fitted exactly into the rear reciever scope mount holes. made it so much faster to get onto a pig.
But I had a "marketing moment" and stuck a Sig Sauer red-dot on it, and it never gelled with me. So I'm thinking about putting a small reflex sight on it, that doesn't stick up like a Hills Hoist.
My eyes are becoming intolerant of opens.
I do have a new VX2 1-4x in a box, a lovely bright little 25mm tube scope, I reckon I should stop screwing around and fit that.
I just love the way the short open-sighted '94 fits in the swag with me when I'm off the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.

Yes the Trapper 16" 30-30 is a beauty, I was real lucky to score it coming out of the box with some real nice figured walnut on it and an awesome shiny gloss blue. Drops velocity down 100fps over the 20" standard models but there's no difference the way it hits.
There was a new 44mag Trapper there at the shop at that time, 1996 I think it was, and the walnut on it was incredible, you'd think it was from a custom stockmaker. I should've bought it too, because here in Qld at the time, there was no PTA garbage.

[flashman]

Had one many years ago , win 94 was just a fun gun sold it to a mate who just luv it too death why don't now , I still reload for it after 40 odd years later and still going strong.........

[Fester]

I am not really a traditionalist, but a bit old-school, and just appreciate different rifles for what they are.
The 30-30 sure is fun, and doesn't have to be the most accurate or longest shooter, as that's not its purpose.
I will be spewing if, or when my eyes can't see through the peep, and the front pin is about the only thing that sticks up from the clean neat lines of that rifle. It will never have a scope sticking out on top.

It is a pleasure to carry point and shoot, and I truly would love to shoot a deer with it.
The only practical way is to take it on the next hunt after a successful one, so it doesn't matter if I see them at range.
I do often see deer close, the ones I don't even get a shot off, but who knows; with that lever carried on half-cocked, it's about as quick and safe as it gets.
They are always switched on and flighty, but sometimes a doe will stand there for seconds or more.
If the rifle were in my hands, rather than slung, who knows, I could get the shot, and what a great feeling it would be.

Shooting as many pigs out of a mob would be a hoot, and a bloke was telling me about one of his best shots.
He used the 30-30, shooting 130s as it was better on his shoulder.
He took a running bore, with 1 effective shot, faceplanting the pig with his sons, who also shot, watching in awe.
It was action shooting off the back of a ute, and I reckon he would have kept a cool head and told them, "That's how it's done, boys"

[JGR1949]

Always loved the round, still disappointed with myself in passing up a really nice Savage 340 in 30-30

My wish list would be to find a really nice Remington 788

[Wapiti]

I'm all gee'd up now, going to dust the Trapper off and go for a stroll.
I have all this PPU factory 150gn stuff to try out.

[tuknal]

yeah got me thinking about that too
ive had a mod 94 but now have marlin 336a (before marlin got bought out) only ever bought got it for a couple trips up to the gulf for pigs when the dogs got a break (and for that it worked great) ,,ive got mates that use them for deer in thick hills
i havent used mine alot but i do like it ,,but the price of ammo for it is ridiculous ,, id like to use it more and have tossed up a reflex sight for it but really dont do any walking anymore so it sits safely tucked away
was going to buy reloading dies ect and load subs in it with a suppressor ,,(cos i recon thatd be fun) but setup time and coin just have been better spent eleswhere
would still like to do it though

[GQshayne]

I loved the old 94 in 30/30. It was great to use, and you could throw some lead with it! So when I when to the bolt action .243, I threw a lot less lead, but hit a lot more targets. Now I have a lever action .243, and do not miss the 30/30.

[Wapiti]

i havent used mine alot but i do like it ,,but the price of ammo for it is ridiculous ,, id like to use it more and have tossed up a reflex sight for it but really dont do any walking anymore so it sits safely tucked away
was going to buy reloading dies ect and load subs in it with a suppressor ,,(cos i recon thatd be fun) but setup time and coin just have been better spent eleswhere
would still like to do it though

Tried the 150 or 170gn PPU ammo that pops up now and again on a super-special?
Cleavers (sorry southern fellas) had the 150gn for $19.80 a box of 20, and it hits hard, man. And if it's any less accurate than premium stuff with fancy-pants slugs, which I reckon is pointless anyway, I can't tell.
And years back, I think about 7, they had it in the old PPU box style for $17.90.
That's why the only reloading I do for the 30-30 was cast slugs for carp, which I'm told is illegal. So of course I've never done it, because if it's the law, it must be for good reason.

You blokes comparing the 30-30 to a 243 are forgetting that the two are different. One is basically a varmint cartridge trying to step up to medium game, the other is a pig hammer and is not pretending to be a varminter. The 30-30 came out in the 1894 Winchester, the 243 dropped in the Model 70 in 1955, for a completely different purpose.
I will never forget a mate of mine down the road, spending all day on the three family farms on the river and most of the night shooting roos and pigs for the box, a real quiet achiever. There was this huge boar we were all chasing that had killed quite a few dogs, even two of the most legend of doggers out this way.
I went out with him this night with a 16" pump 308, and he was putting his 243 away in the ute box. Out came the 30-30.
He saw me looking at that beat up old '94 and said, there's no f***ing way I will shoot that tornado of a thing with a 243.

I did see him try to execute a large hog with a 17gn HMR at about a foot away for one of our community get-togethers at the shearing shed, and that didn't go well at all. But I still see people online claiming they shoot down rogue satellites with a 17HMR.
We are what we are from our own unique experiences. Hopefully real experiences.

[bigrich]

i havent used mine alot but i do like it ,,but the price of ammo for it is ridiculous ,, id like to use it more and have tossed up a reflex sight for it but really dont do any walking anymore so it sits safely tucked away
was going to buy reloading dies ect and load subs in it with a suppressor ,,(cos i recon thatd be fun) but setup time and coin just have been better spent eleswhere
would still like to do it though

Tried the 150 or 170gn PPU ammo that pops up now and again on a super-special?
Cleavers (sorry southern fellas) had the 150gn for $19.80 a box of 20, and it hits hard, man. And if it's any less accurate than premium stuff with fancy-pants slugs, which I reckon is pointless anyway, I can't tell.
And years back, I think about 7, they had it in the old PPU box style for $17.90.
That's why the only reloading I do for the 30-30 was cast slugs for carp, which I'm told is illegal. So of course I've never done it, because if it's the law, it must be for good reason.

You blokes comparing the 30-30 to a 243 are forgetting that the two are different. One is basically a varmint cartridge trying to step up to medium game, the other is a pig hammer and is not pretending to be a varminter. The 30-30 came out in the 1894 Winchester, the 243 dropped in the Model 70 in 1955, for a completely different purpose.
I will never forget a mate of mine down the road, spending all day on the three family farms on the river and most of the night shooting roos and pigs for the box, a real quiet achiever. There was this huge boar we were all chasing that had killed quite a few dogs, even two of the most legend of doggers out this way.
I went out with him this night with a 16" pump 308, and he was putting his 243 away in the ute box. Out came the 30-30.
He saw me looking at that beat up old '94 and said, there's no f***ing way I will shoot that tornado of a thing with a 243.

I did see him try to execute a large hog with a 17gn HMR at about a foot away for one of our community get-togethers at the shearing shed, and that didn't go well at all. But I still see people online claiming they shoot down rogue satellites with a 17HMR.
We are what we are from our own unique experiences. Hopefully real experiences.

i agree with your observations on some peoples unrealistic expectations and stories with calibres and game weights . i've seen game shot with inadequate calibres and it's something i wouldn't like to do myself . the projectiles in 30-30 are designed for use in that particular calibre , at that speed ,as are 303 bullets . i've had weird performance from 165gn nosler BT's in a 30-06 one time on pigs , they don't always get it right. manufacturers at times produce bullets that are expected to work across a range of different calibres with the same bore size, which makes research and experience important when reloading, or choosing ammo for the game. 30-30 doesn't seem to have this problem. just buy a box and go shoot sh!t within it's practical limits . i think the biggest advantage of the round is a light to carry firearm with rapid shot repeatability without losing the sight picture , which is just what the doctor ordered for culling pigs at close range and in mobs , which is why my local gun shop owners says nearly all 94 winnies he sells get shipped to north QLD .

243 to me is a heavy varminter or a target round, JMHO i tried a 6.5 manbun , gave it a chance , handloaded for it , and came to the conclusion energy transfer was seriously lacking . it worked best with lighter 120gn BT's driven fast as possible . long high BC bullets are great for long range accuracy , but bad for energy transfer.

i have owned 30-30's , some were actually silly accurate . but i prefer the flexibility of my 308 t3 , it just suits what i do better . and i think that's the bottom line , right tool for the job at hand . if it were me wapiti , i'd go the low powered loopy scope for something completely reliable on you 30-30 . i like the reflex sights , but they may end up being not as durable getting dragged around the paddock as a loopy . look forward to hearing some hunting stories from you in the near future

[Damo300]

Anyone else had theirs threaded and braked?

I'd be interested to hear the results.
It definitely fixed mine.
My mate has also just had his stainless R95 20inch threaded and braked, and it too has tightened the groupings considerably, just using factory PPU.

Harmonics in these things is what's causing the buck shot grouping.
When they're deadly accurate, they're a different rifle to shoot, in a confidence aspect.

Like I said, I was gonna sell mine due to its terrible accuracy, not now.

[Wapiti]

Never had that problem with the Trapper, Damo.
There's all different tweaks and tolerances of the bits put together to make a rifle I guess, and different takes on the basic design would mean different things.

In my '94, the barrel is very short and quite thick. Then, the forend is clamped over the barrel/mag tube, then up front the front sight band clamps the barrel to the mag tube again, just in front. So I would imagine the great performance I get from it is that in this model, everything is locked up tight like a truss.

On my model, both the mag tube cap and the muzzle are the same length, with no room in front of the barrel band for a thread either.
I see muzzle brakes as very useful for big cartridges shot for accuracy, but the only thing I'd achieve with the 94 would be to wreck it's value (these things are snapped up when they turn up 2nd hand in shops) and turn it into a bubba gun IMHO. 2200fps from a .30 isn't what I'd call recoil needing to be managed either, or turn it into an eardrum popper.

[Wapiti]

i havent used mine alot but i do like it ,,but the price of ammo for it is ridiculous ,, id like to use it more and have tossed up a reflex sight for it but really dont do any walking anymore so it sits safely tucked away
was going to buy reloading dies ect and load subs in it with a suppressor ,,(cos i recon thatd be fun) but setup time and coin just have been better spent eleswhere
would still like to do it though

Tried the 150 or 170gn PPU ammo that pops up now and again on a super-special?
Cleavers (sorry southern fellas) had the 150gn for $19.80 a box of 20, and it hits hard, man. And if it's any less accurate than premium stuff with fancy-pants slugs, which I reckon is pointless anyway, I can't tell.
And years back, I think about 7, they had it in the old PPU box style for $17.90.
That's why the only reloading I do for the 30-30 was cast slugs for carp, which I'm told is illegal. So of course I've never done it, because if it's the law, it must be for good reason.

You blokes comparing the 30-30 to a 243 are forgetting that the two are different. One is basically a varmint cartridge trying to step up to medium game, the other is a pig hammer and is not pretending to be a varminter. The 30-30 came out in the 1894 Winchester, the 243 dropped in the Model 70 in 1955, for a completely different purpose.
I will never forget a mate of mine down the road, spending all day on the three family farms on the river and most of the night shooting roos and pigs for the box, a real quiet achiever. There was this huge boar we were all chasing that had killed quite a few dogs, even two of the most legend of doggers out this way.
I went out with him this night with a 16" pump 308, and he was putting his 243 away in the ute box. Out came the 30-30.
He saw me looking at that beat up old '94 and said, there's no f***ing way I will shoot that tornado of a thing with a 243.

I did see him try to execute a large hog with a 17gn HMR at about a foot away for one of our community get-togethers at the shearing shed, and that didn't go well at all. But I still see people online claiming they shoot down rogue satellites with a 17HMR.
We are what we are from our own unique experiences. Hopefully real experiences.

i agree with your observations on some peoples unrealistic expectations and stories with calibres and game weights . i've seen game shot with inadequate calibres and it's something i wouldn't like to do myself . the projectiles in 30-30 are designed for use in that particular calibre , at that speed ,as are 303 bullets . i've had weird performance from 165gn nosler BT's in a 30-06 one time on pigs , they don't always get it right. manufacturers at times produce bullets that are expected to work across a range of different calibres with the same bore size, which makes research and experience important when reloading, or choosing ammo for the game. 30-30 doesn't seem to have this problem. just buy a box and go shoot sh!t within it's practical limits . i think the biggest advantage of the round is a light to carry firearm with rapid shot repeatability without losing the sight picture , which is just what the doctor ordered for culling pigs at close range and in mobs , which is why my local gun shop owners says nearly all 94 winnies he sells get shipped to north QLD .

Interesting you say that about the BT's Rich. I consider them a very erratic performer, even when driven 100fps slower in the 308. 150 and 165gn NBT's are too expensive now to even be considered in a high-use sense either anymore, IMHO.

243 to me is a heavy varminter or a target round, JMHO i tried a 6.5 manbun , gave it a chance , handloaded for it , and came to the conclusion energy transfer was seriously lacking . it worked best with lighter 120gn BT's driven fast as possible . long high BC bullets are great for long range accuracy , but bad for energy transfer.
That's what I've experienced too, but not myself, but in friends that got swept up in the "Manbun great for hunting" wave. The projectiles are pencils, and the cartridge just doesn't generate the speed needed to get the same results as the humble, boring 308. Those who have tried it that are similar positions to me have moved them all on. But that was their fault, there I go, coming back to the evils of marketing and how hunting is not paper punching. But hey, a good shot and the right bullet they are quite OK.
One mate already had a Tikka in 6.5x55, a gun that almost changed my mind about Tikkas. He told me he was going to get a Manbun instead, start getting short back 'n sides and use men's hair grease.I looked at the ballistics, and asked him if he was on drugs now too.

i have owned 30-30's , some were actually silly accurate . but i prefer the flexibility of my 308 t3 , it just suits what i do better . and i think that's the bottom line , right tool for the job at hand . if it were me wapiti , i'd go the low powered loopy scope for something completely reliable on you 30-30 . i like the reflex sights , but they may end up being not as durable getting dragged around the paddock as a loopy . look forward to hearing some hunting stories from you in the near future

I think I might go that way Rich, bung the scope on.
On 1x, I can do the both eyes open thing, but on 4x use it in more deliberate shots too.
And as it starts to get dark, I can look through the scope and still see a nice bright image, which you cannot get with a red-dot or reflex, and even more so when a red dot is glowing.

I guess some of those relfex sights are pretty fragile, most being Chinesium. But the Delta-point pro has a spring steel frame over the lens, and that takes big hits. The one on my pistol has had all the ceracote bashed off it already, and it hasn't moved off zero one tiny bit. But that costs a bit more, 3 times more than the average May-In-Chyna Zerotech (does that mean Zero tech?) or Vortexxxx.

[bigrich]

hey wapiti . the nosler 165's out of my 30-06 penciled at close range on all size pigs , but at distance , especially on large hoppers , the performance was great . i've always gotten good performance across a wide range of game weights with 150sst's out of my 308 . it's my "go to" load in that rifle . small goats to big pigs it does it all . had good results from 150 nosler BT and accubonds in 7-08 years ago . can't afford them these days going to see what 200sst's do out of my 338-06 in about a month . crono says 2760fps on average for this load . should be interesting

clarity through a vx2 , vx3 loopy in low light is excellent . should suit your lever well i reckon . i don't see much point in marlin 336 30-30's . fine rifle and capable of great accuracy , but weigh the same as a 308 bolt gun . barrel bands on levers are definitely a consideration , your shorter barrel should be much stiffer and more consistent for sure. the one 30-30 i maybe shoulda kept was a winnie 64A in 30-30 . 24" barrel , dove tailed half magazine and a pistol grip stock . it would shoot 1 1/2" at 100 , or less , with handloads and a williams receiver sight for the first 3 shots off the bench . 170's and 2208 if i remember correctly . most accurate lever gun i've owned , except maybe for my rossi 24" octagonal barrel 357, heavy barrel , no barrel bands . the fore stock was loose in the fittings on the 64A , and i believe it was intentionally made this way, and this contributed to accuracy , no "pull" on the barrel. i sent it down the road as it was too nice to take bush . i bought cheap and sold it for a good price to a collector . i weighed it, and it was under 6 pound. barrel profile was lighter than a normal 94 profile too . i learned a good lesson about barrel bands on lever guns from that rifle.

[Wapiti]

hey wapiti . the nosler 165's out of my 30-06 penciled at close range on all size pigs , but at distance , especially on large hoppers , the performance was great . i've always gotten good performance across a wide range of game weights with 150sst's out of my 308 . it's my "go to" load in that rifle . small goats to big pigs it does it all . had good results from 150 nosler BT and accubonds in 7-08 years ago . can't afford them these days going to see what 200sst's do out of my 338-06 in about a month . crono says 2760fps on average for this load . should be interesting

clarity through a vx2 , vx3 loopy in low light is excellent . should suit your lever well i reckon . i don't see much point in marlin 336 30-30's . fine rifle and capable of great accuracy , but weigh the same as a 308 bolt gun . barrel bands on levers are definitely a consideration , your shorter barrel should be much stiffer and more consistent for sure. the one 30-30 i maybe shoulda kept was a winnie 64A in 30-30 . 24" barrel , dove tailed half magazine and a pistol grip stock . it would shoot 1 1/2" at 100 , or less , with handloads and a williams receiver sight for the first 3 shots off the bench . 170's and 2208 if i remember correctly . most accurate lever gun i've owned , except maybe for my rossi 24" octagonal barrel 357, heavy barrel , no barrel bands . the fore stock was loose in the fittings on the 64A , and i believe it was intentionally made this way, and this contributed to accuracy , no "pull" on the barrel. i sent it down the road as it was too nice to take bush . i bought cheap and sold it for a good price to a collector . i weighed it, and it was under 6 pound. barrel profile was lighter than a normal 94 profile too . i learned a good lesson about barrel bands on lever guns from that rifle.

Apologies for the thread creep...
I always found all Ballistic Tips to be erratic. And explosive when driven too fast but I guess no more so than any of the craze that is plastic-tipped projies nowadays. Hitting a bone meant wildly different results from when one didn't.

I always used Accubonds once in my 300RUM, because if i didn't use bonded bullets I couldn't get any penetration. The things were just going too fast.

In fact, 150 Accubonds driven over 3500fps in the RUM were poorer performers than a taipan 150 hollow-point loaded down to 2600fps in my wife's crazy-light 308 Sako Carbonlight. Because they just couldn't handle the speed.
I had to go to at least 180gn Accubonds, 200gn was better.
But the cost of these things now, out here 200gn Accubonds in .30, if you can get them, are $135/50.
That is just a blind rip-off.
I now use the awesome Atomic 29 175gn copper CNC machined bullets, locally made, cheaper and very consistent.
I can't find any of the 175gn ones in any pics to prove, but this is a result from the 155's,
So I'm going to buy Aussie made premium bullets from now on and have for awhile now for the true hunting stuff, and not get raped by the importers.

155Atomic29.jpg (690.16 KiB) Viewed 27 times

[Fester]

There will never be a scope on my Dirty-30, but I can see the purpose, especially trying to shoot as many pigs from a mob as possible.
For some reason, my conventional groove 20" staino barrel shoots fairy well, and all different ammo shoots much the same.
I have shot everything from 130-165 full loads and 165 casties from Trail Boss and 2207 pop-loads to full loads of 08.

For some reason, when trying to print a nice group at 50 yds, as is ideal, and where my sights are at, I get the best groups when, instead of the rifle sitting in the front rest, I hold it and rest my hand on the rest.
I once shot a group through the tiny pinhole peep aperture ring that is best for target shooting, where 3 shots were pretty much touching ar near enough to describe that way, and the other 2 shots just slightly away, but still measuring under 1".
Generally, I would be happy with groups around 2". I have NFI what it would do with a scope.

The 30-30 will always just be a great fun-gun, and a damd fine short-range, light, handy scrub gun.
150gr round-nose pills sure seem to work, and hopefully, I will one day shoot a fallow meaty with it, and be over the moon.
I should have recovered the projy from the big grasshopper if it stayed in, like I suspect; I just never gave it a thought, really.

It must be the heaviest fkn trigger that I own by far, but it breaks cleanly at about 6+ lbs, and I have no problem with it.
Some blokes wouldn't be able to shoot with a heavy trigger like that but it's not a target rifle.

Seeing a 30-30 identifying as tacticool just brings a smile to my face, but I don't even get it with shotties.
I am not military or had nothing to do with the military. That's the only real reason for anything tactical, IMO.
I shot a few, tac rifles, even the banned bullpup, but only gelled with shooting them prone on a bipod for whatever reason, pistol grip angle, I suspect. One chassis rifle nearly jarred me, like it had no stock at all, just a one-piece steel feel.

At Sydney ranges, some days can be like normal rifles; other days the whole range is tactical contraptions.
The muzzle blasting can be downright unsafe, and I never went back to the indoor range for 6 or so years after having a 300Wm eached side smashing my face with what felt like sandpaper on a boxing glove.
I may tollerate it if I was half deaf, but my hearing survived about 30 years of heavy industry.
The last 10 with heavy production machines left me with 24/7 tinnitus; still I rearly hear a shot go off without appropriate protection