Why the .30/30 Is All You Need - Madman Review
The .30/30 has taken bears, elk, lions and moose. It actually outperforms the .308 and the .30/06 if you're skilled enough to get close.
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Suppose that you are hunting big-game critters and you got within 100 yards. At that distance, you can load a 150-grain .308 Winchester and the bullet will penetrate about 19 inches and deform, expanding the frontal diameter to 0.55 inches. If you use a heavier 180-grain bullet from a .30/06, you get 22 inches of penetration and about 0.6 inches of expansion.
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As a Canadian, and like my father and Grandfather before me, each taking Deer, Moose, Black Bear and Elk all with a 30-30. The fundamental saying growing up was always, "It's not the arrow, it's the Indian". That being said, shoot with what you're most comfortable with and enjoy the time outdoors.
I have used the Winchester model 94 chambered in the 30-30 for more than 50 years. It has never, not even one time, let me down. If the hunter has a steady hand, and keeps the shot within 200 yards, he can take whitetail, elk, moose, and bear. I know for a fact that can be done. My favorite cartridge are the Winchester PowerPoint 170 grain; the Remington Corelokt 170 grain; Barnes 150 grain Vor-TX; Federal Fusion 170 grain; and the Buffalo Bore 190 grain.
Same here Brother. I harvested many nice whitetail bucks down here in Louisiana. My ole winchester has alot of sentimental meaning to me.
I'm 55, and remember as a kid the only two ammo choices you had was either 150gr or 170gr soft point from Winchester or Remington... and that was about it. Nowadays you have the Hornady, Buffalo Bore, and all kinds of high performance cartridges. The 7.62x39mm is actually pretty close to the 30-30 ballistic wise.
It would take care of bandits, BLM/ANTIFA & general 💩🐦's too😉
Where can I find the 94? I've been looking everywhere but I'm in Canada
@@chadcowman6293 Are there any gun dealers in your province? They made some 5 million 1894's... you should be able to find one, although these days you'll pay a premium for it. Too bad you don't live in the states... you could pretty easily find one at a gun show.
I bought a $5 raffle ticket at the old Walmart entrance and won my 30/30 back in 1986 and still have it it's all I've ever needed it plus my recurve has filled my freezer every year
I inherited my 94 from my grandpa a couple years back, he told me it was reliable for him and I deserve to have it. That was my first year hunting and got a big fat doe that kept me fed for over a year. Even made him venison chili as a thank you and the smile on his face made me feel something I can't quite explain. Truly a perfect rifle in my eyes
Now the vaccine will kill us all .
That's awesome, awesome story!
@@ericvantassell6809 never will, probably is now a family heirloom that i'll give to my kid
Got in stock all ammunition ✅ 30-30 9mm 12 gauge .223 and more !!!! Don’t miss this ou
Franck chopp
Iv shot 30/30 for 50 years and taken around 200 head of deer and various other game. I deem it one of the best hunting cartridges of all time !!
I joined the Navy in 1973 and did not hunt the entire twenty-one years I served. I didn’t even own a rifle until 1986 when I received a Winchester Ranger 30-30 for Christmas. I did not hunt until 98 or 99 when a coworker invited me to his hunt club. When I arrived he looked at my 30-30 and asked if that was all I had and offered me his spare 30-06. I declined, he shrugged his shoulders and dropped me off at one of his stands. Just before dusk a six-point buck wandered out of the woods and I was able to get a shot. I have to admit, after not hunting for thirty years or so I was nervous as hell but the 30-30 did it’s job. I love this little rifle. Darlington, South Carolina
Im 54 and since I was 12 Ive used a 30-30. The contentents of my freezer proves it works very well for me, for many years
My dad kept our freezer full my entire childhood using ONE rifle: a Glenfield Model 30, which is a private store brand version of the Marlin 336, same exact gun, different name and stock wood. After trying almost every brand and chambering I could find for 20 years, I'm now back to the venerable 30-30 like my dad used. I'm a MUCH more accomplished hunter with the 30-30, and I've yet to have a deer get away or require a second shot. Excellent video!
I’ve got one
It wasn't a private store brand. It was Marlin's "economy" line.
I have one !
Well said . My grandmother hunted moose with her 30-30 for many years ,worked just fine . Shot placement 👍
Not all Moose are the same in size because of species. You would be a fool to hunt the Alaskan Yukon moose with a rifle less than a 338 win. Attacks on hunters are common by these Yukon moose when shot by small rifles that take many bullets to put the moose down for good.
And getting close enough.
I know what you mean, my paternal grandmother took down an elk with one shot from her .30-30.
@@reighniz4488 As long as you are close enough, sure!
@@arch3088 what is your definition of close? A 30-30 is pretty good out to 100yards and good for most deer to 150 yards. Most people cannot make an accurate shot good enough to take an animal much further than 100 yards.
bought my 3030 /94 when I was 14 Im 67 now it has killed a lot of deer over the years
Been killing deer and hogs with a 30-30 since 1952 and still going.
Took my first black bear last year with the model 94 my grandpa passed down to me my dad told me I needed to use a 7 mag that bear went tumbling as soon as 160 grain leverevolution hit him
@@Brandenuzis Congrats. So much hype in the firearms/caliber world and it's all based on the manufacturers coming up with new products every month to keep the cash cow rolling in.
Right next to you. 1956, button buck, Pa. Still the one I'm using. Like a comfy pair of boots.
@@andrea4246 arguably the best 100 yd round ever chambered.
Marlin 30/30 is the only gun I've ever owned. 42 years living way out in the woods, 26 in the northern Sierras and the last 16 in northern WA. I wanted a Winchester but prefer the side eject. When you're in the woods, you don't get 100 yard shots or time to sight through a scope. You have a few seconds to raise your gun and shoot before the deer is off in the trees. The Marlin is easy to carry through rough terrain. It's short, relatively light and well balanced.
I'm relatively new to shooting. I happen to have a acquired a Marlin (it's actually a Western Auto from 1965, but is a Marlin). I'm struggling to get a consistent group with my 30-30. Do you have any tips or can you direct me to some literature with advice on shooting a lever action rifle?
How many Bigfoot have you seen ???
@@biekgiek Most people shooting lever actions from a rest have trouble getting the rifle back in the same spot after they lift it to work the lever. Shoot a semi auto or bolt off hand if you have access to one. Then try to lever action off hand & compare the groups. That will tell you if it's the rifle or you causing the accuracy issues.
@@biekgiek try different ammo brands and loads, and try a bench to see if it's you or the gun ;) guns can be ammo picky
@@biekgiekMarlins are usually pretty accurate. Make sure the barrel is very clean with no excessive copper build up, and that the crown is not damaged. There are vids on how to check the crown. If it is damaged, that will mess with your groups. A gunsmith can easily fix most crown damage. Always clean your rifle from the breach, not the muzzle. But also check your scope and mounts. A loose or poorly mounted scope can cause lots of problems. Failing all of that, have a gunsmith check it out. And, while it can be humbling, it might be worth having an experienced shooter shoot your rifle to see if they have the same issues. In my experience, a fouled barrel, damaged crown, poor shooting technique, and especially some kind of scope issue, are often the source of most accuracy problems in quality rifles.
The 30-06 at 300 yards hits (depending on the load) about the same velocity and energy as the 30-30 at the muzzle. The 30-06 hits with relatively the same energy at 470 yards as the 30-30 does at 100. So.... if you're not trying to take really big game beyond 150 yards, the 30-30 is a really great choice that's both economical and easy to wield. Chose you're cartridge based on your game and terrain.
This is a good observation. Due to its ubiquity world-wide, the .303 British has killed every game animal there is- which is not to say that it SHOULD be used indiscriminately.
The caliber has no shock wave.
Us folk out here in Missouri know well the power of the 30-30 it's basically the top big game gun for my area with all the brush and low visibility hillsides
Here in Mississippi, the average tool used here are 30-30’s, 30-06’s, 308, and 270’s. You also have the occasional shotgun. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. 😎
My granddad died in the '90s...haven't heard that phrase since then...never heard it outside my southern US upbringing...
Hard to find rounds, and expensive, but my son took his first deer last Friday morning, with his.
I have hunted deer in Mississippi with a Remington .308 since I was 12 years old. Never let me down.
@@donaldpate1863 For the longest time here in Texas a 20 round box of 30-30 ammo sold for $15.00.
@@yestervue4697 I think the proper phrasing is: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"
30-30 is my personal favorite rifle. And keeping with the "less is more" mantra my favorite handgun hunting cartidge is .357 magnum.
well said, hunting is getting easier! tree stands, trail cams, food plots, ozonics, scent lok, sprays, camo, 4-100 power scopes, night vision, baiting, tree huts, gore tex, fleece clothing, ATV's, cell phones, onX, hunt stand, Black guns, crossbows, windicator, etc. You name it, every gadget helps. The last deer I shot this season was with a 1959 marlin .30-30 while still hunting in the hills of central PA. It was a fun and as exciting as any successful stand hunt I've been on. Folks, try it, the .30-30 is still cool!
It is hard to believe that we have been convinced that we need every available gadget, when all you really need is a good rifle and a cheap knife! This coming fall, I am challenging all my hunting friends to hunt "old school" ! A 30-30 and an old Solingen hunting knife will be my tools, and canoe or horse will be my hunting rig.
@@nathanadrian7797 Amen, I forgot to mention all the hunters that think they need an orange handled exchange-a-blade imported knife! Just thought of that since you mentioned knives.
@@michaelrihel9584 I think hunting is more enjoyable when you get rid of all the extra crap, I also think that a lot of potential new hunters are turned away from hunting because of the idea that you need every new gadget, it just gets too expensive.
My old Winchester 94 30-30 is the loaner I give to guys on our church mens group pig hunt who don't have a rifle. The "young bucks" made light of it as wasn't some black rifle variant. This all stopped when it made one stop kills every time in hands of inexperienced hunter which so often their latest and greatest cartridge didn't. Some even wanted to buy it!
We have several really old 30-30s. They have put more food on the table over years than I can remember. Solid accurate and dependable. We have a Marlin 336, The JC Higgins clone, a Sears model 54 and a Revelation bolt action. Ammo prices are coming down and we're able to get ammo at our favorite sporting goods store (Academy) and it's becoming more affordable. Great video. Thank you for giving the 30-30 some love. I get tired of people bashing it.
Yeah agreed ask the same people that bash on it if they’d be willing to be shot with it!?? lol🤦♂️😂 same with the morons that say a .9mm isn’t sufficient for SD…
You're perfectly right about hunting vs long-range shooting. I would also add that iron sights are good enough for most hunting situations.
As an older guy that's had lots of eye surgery, that statement needs a qualified answer.
The endless debate about iron sights versus a scope rages on. My longest shot on a buck was 425 yards and you can bet you bippy this required a scope.
@@hkschubert9938 notice how he said "most hunting situations". Also notice how few people really shoot at deer that are 400+ yards away.
I've only taken three deer. All with a '94 Winchester rifle. I used my reloads, peep sights, all shots were in wooded areas and close shots. They all went down inside twenty yards. I hunt from the ground using dead fall limb and vines for cover. Great fun hunting this way!
Every deer I've ever shot with my 30/30 has dropped instantly and I always shoot close with open sights on my 94, they are the best iron sights I've ever shot with on any rifle!
Not shaming in anyway so please don’t take it that way... but “only three deer”? How long have you been hunting and how many hunts have you been on? 30/30 is a great round and I’ve harvested at least three whitetail a with it but I’ve also taken deer with the majority of popular calibers. I think my favorite has been 6mm Remington but probably just as many during a phase in middle school where I liked the open sites of a MK1 shooting the British .303.
@@drewfuller6762 by you asking how many hunts he's been on and knowing that he's taken 3 deer,. It's almost like you are shaming him anyways. Lol. Not everyone hunts all the time and a lot get out of it for one reason or another
@@drewfuller6762 I know this is a bit old but I hope you see this, Drew Fuller. That is a BS comment that has zero merit being made. Apparent someone has lied to you and lead you to believe you need to speak.....I remind you that children should be seen and not heard
@@chipblanc6037 I asked how long he has been hunting/how many hunts because obviously he loves guns and shooting… he was the one that said “only three deers” so maybe by asking then there could be a dialogue started that could address potential mistakes made while hunting that are keeping the deer away. A problem that I’ve encountered in the past is farmers spraying deer repellent around crops on the lease I was hunting. So, like I said, not shaming.
At short range (under 100) the high velocity rounds tend to over expand, the 30-30 doesn't because it starts out slower. The difference is mainly range, yes, but placement is everything. I started hunting in 1960 and was taught always to get as close as possible, mentor always saying that the ideal is to "stick in its ear". The 30-30 is very underestimated..... it's a great round for close work, although the latest plastic tipped bullets extends that a lot with better BC. By the same token I would confidently hunt deer out to 100 yards or a tad more with my .44 Magnum 20" Winchester '92 (240gr at about 1750).... with a hard cast flat nosed bullet (I has check them) or a well constructed JSP it will drop a large deer on the spot with one "in the boiler room"... noit as powerful as a 30-30, but it's a big bullet that keeps trundling on. The stalk is the hunt.... sniping them from 600 yards is, to me, not really hunting as such. Trouble is, I am almost 80 now and live in a country (NZ) that is mostly standing up on end and my legs and feet aren't what they were 50 years ago!.... So it's all a bit theoretical now...
As someone in their twenties I enjoy hearing you speak from experience
I’m glad you said that about your hard cast 44’s. Too many people underestimate what a big lead slug can do. Ask all the Civil War amputees.
Bullshit, The last TEN deer , I have taken from 10 yards to 60 yards , all dropped in their tracks . 7mm rem mag 150 grain Winchester Ballistic Silver Tips . 3200 fps . I like the 30-30 I have a Marlin . Just speaking from Experience, also .
@@imafreakinhistorian2169 Of course they do. What is being said is that people have forgotten just how well a cast lead bullet mushrooms over the proper load.
@@blackhawk7r221 30-30 dang good guns .
The Marlin 336 was my first hunting rifle and I took my first whitetail with it and I still own that rifle. Great rifle!
I took my first moose with it and it was a 336y that I was using so if that doesn’t say anything then you must be a bad shot
my first and only gun purchased in 1976 for 75.00 brand new
Same here
@@1alexcody I wish I still had mine
I wouldn't trade my Marlin 336 for a night with the ' Rockettes ' 💓
I've hunted with a Marlin (Model 336-C) for 40 years. It's my "go to" for deer - I love it. I wouldn't mind having a Henry in 30-30, but I'd keep my "old school" Marlin. 👌
My Winchester M 94 in 30-30, is not only my deer rifle, but serves as my 'saddle gun' for the rest of the year.
I love your clarity. I have a 30-30 because I live in South Carolina, hunt in the woods, and rarely even get an opportunity to take a shot over 100 yards.
I used to say .300 Savage had everything you need and not a bit more. The .30-30 probably had just that before the .300 Savage showed up. As long as we are hunting as opposed to long range shooting like this video summed it up. I love the .30-30 for what it is.
It may be all I need, but it's not all I have. 😉👍
I got a Marlin lever action 30/30 for Christmas when I was 11. Have been hunting with it since I was 12 (I'm 32 now). I have on multiple occasions bought new bolt actions in different calibers because at the time I thought I needed something bigger or that I outgrew the 30/30... I use the new one for a year, and then the next year, I'm back to old faithful. I've finally just appreciated it for what it is, and now those other rifles I have bought just sit in my safe all season long. For the way I hunt and where I hunt (Western PA, very hilly and woodsy, and very much posting sitters and doing drives), that 30/30 lever action is perfect
I've got a 30/30 Marlin. I only use it until I find permanent deerstand locations on the private property that I rent yearly. When I found my 4 permanent deerstand locations, I put away the 30/30 Marlin and pulled out my 7mm Rem. Mag. I'm too lazy to blood trail a wounded deer and Guess the distance of a deer before shooting. I do all the measurements and guesswork before the deer season starts. I get between 1-3 deer each deer season, mainly because I have to work for a living. I started hunting at age 5 with my big brother. My brother made me drag ALL his deer, so I could build muscle. Those days ended when I started hunting on my own. I'll let the wall hanger die of old age, before I have to drag a deer over 400yds.
Regardless of what you want to believe. You cannot eat antlers.
Very well done video. True words and sentiments close to my heart. Years ago I traded in my magnums for old timey cartridges, first one being my pre"64 winchester 94 in 30-30 (open sights of course). I have taken black bear at close range, moose at 100 yards and belly crawled the tundra to get a 175 yard shot at caribou, all went down quick, no meat loss to mention and the old lever action looked good doing it. I have had 2 stare downs with grizzlies at close range with it in my hands and though I may have felt a bit under gunned, I believe if I was holding a 700nitro express I would have felt just the same! Please keep these videos coming!
Meat loss is good. You aren’t losing more than 3 pounds. No meat loss means poor performance.
The 30-30 was feeding people and protecting them long before all the other potent cartridges were invented. So if it was lethal and dependable 100 years ago, it still is. A friend told me her uncle used to hand load his 30-30 with a pointed bullet and extra powder to get more speed and range. His 30-30 had a barrel with six or even eight sides and it was about 26 inches long. She said his 30-30 had to be very close to the speed and power of a 30-06. He would put one in the chamber and one it the tube. It was dangerous to have two in the tube with pointed bullet, might set the one in front off. He carried some extra rounds in the ammo holder of his jacket. he always brought home meat. She said with open sights he could hit a coffee can at 200 yards. He needed glasses to read but he could see at a distance really well. Now, Hornady has the polymer tipped rounds that sail like a pointed bullet but turn into a hollow point when they contact anything of substance. That is a big improvement.
I've been hunting with a model 94 in 32 special for 60 years and I still love it, I wish there was more talk about that caliber.
thumps just a bit harder than the 30-30!!!
I killed my obligatory deer for 4 years with my model94, 32 special with180 grain silvertips. My dad gave it to me for my 16 birthday. Mom and I bought him a 300 savage but, he never liked it. I later had a 308 Savage with scope that I sent to him to fill his elk tag. He left his Remington knife at the kill site. We search but did not find it. I have the 32 and belong to the cattail club at the range. where you fold over the hot dog instead of exploding it, at 100 yards off hand. I shot a 233 score out of 250 at the Army range at Fort Ord. Got a trophy and watch for second place. Faulk, got a 235 he was platoon guide! And, came from Bakersfield! Probably related to our Speaker. Iguana
A fine cartridge in it's own right but crippled with a slower rate of twist than the 30-30 as it was designed to be a cartridge one could use either smokeless or black powder in. If the barrel got worn it lost it's accuracy far faster than the 30-30, BUT most people never shot them that much. Today no one chambers for it so ammo in the future will become an issue.
Excellent old cartridge !!! Over 50 years of service in the deer woods for me ! Love it !!
Love my old Winchester. It is now old, like me, and has taken it share of venison. It might not take a whole lot more, but it will never leave here until I do. I miss the old Silver-tip ammo (vintage stuff not the ballistic tip) that was it's favorite fodder. Also got an old 9422, one of the sweetest shooting little rifles ever; big squirrel medicine.
...plese request they bury you with them...I can feel it and if anyone really knows you I bet they can too...big medicine...
Love my 9422, such a sweet rifle, had it forever, never will be for sale!
my first rifle was a stevens bolt in 30-30. then after years when i could afford it i bought a marlin 336c. unless you are hunting big horn or elk moose etc over 200 yds away that 30-30 is all you'll ever need.
I have single shot H&R in 30-30; I can shoot one hole groups AND use Speer pointed power points unlike with a tubular magazine. Reliable 70+ expansion at under 250 yards.
I shoot one hole groups too, with a single shot. (Sorry, couldn’t resist). However, a single shot rifle is naturally a more accurate rifle.
Finally!! Someone singing the praises of the 30/30 that some of us have known for years.
We've heard this discussion before. Typically, people are swayed into change by "shiny" things. Faster! Longer range! Ballistically superior! Harder hitting! You know the drill. The 30/30 has a proven track record with benefits. It's a successful round for "hunters" & not "snipers".
in the military, I used 7.62 and 5.56 weapons. Love them both. But for feel, power, and "enjoyment", nothing beats my old marlin lever gun in 3030. Each round and system has it's own uses. 308, 3006, 7mm, etc are really miilitary concepts adapted to hunting. As I said, I love them and own several of each but my old 3030 is the "go to" for hunting. Would I use a 3030 for home defense? Yes, particularly in a short carbine model. But never bought one, so....
Couldent agree more. I got a marlin 336 in 3030 for that reason.
It also depends on your region, here in Appalachia the hills can get big but they’re also pretty close together, not many flat open areas so 30-30 shines extremely bright, I’ve never had to make a shot more than 50 yards because of how dense everything is
Even in Montana where I used to hunt, now an Appalachian hunter myself, shots usually were not particularly long range except for those who fancied themselves as wanna be snipers.
Thanks for a great presentation. Around 1907, my grandfather Nathaniel Scott Branscombe was a professional hunter for the Canadian Northern Railway in Manitoba and Saskatchewan supplying the camps with wild game. My family still has his Winchester 1894 30-30 octagon long barrel that he purchased used in 1905. He stopped counting moose at 100 - and yet many today consider the 30-30 under powered for moose and bear. Those people should learn how to stalk and how to shoot accurately.
the only improvement or change that I've personally made to this argument is that I use a 356 winchester but still in a Model 94. Takes the argument into the elk category. With that said, one of Colorado hunting buddies took an elk while sitting horseback with his Marlin 94 chambered in a 30-30. Just like real estate . . . location . . . location . . . location. This argument often comes down to Winchester vs Marlin
in 1970 I bought my first “high powered “ rifle, and it was a Winchester 30-30 and I still have it. It’s a great all around gun. Granted ,it won’t make 500 yard shots but it’s simple and accurate.
My Winchester 30-30 was my first BIG rifle back in 1970. It’s a great simple gun that doesn’t fail.
Used a marlin 336 for about 6 years upgrading to a Henry model x. Both in 30-30. I was sold on the 30-30 when I got my first deer.
In Atlantic Canada in the 70's & 80's hunters used the 3030 and 303, the fancy people had a 300 savage, they all worked well.
I love my Marlin 30/30, it's my go too deer gun!!!
I love my Winchester '94 30-30. Mine's a 20" carbine. Best whitetail rifle ever here in the Ozarks. I have taken deer at 120 yards with it.
I have the Trapper model with a 16 inch barrel in 30-30 but I hunt with an old H&R 158 single shot .
@@firestorm8471 That trapper's model must be a rare thing. Is your HR in .30-.30 too?
I have a Marlin 36, 30-30. Brush hunting in Florida I saw my Father kill six hogs running with it. Its mine now and I added an Aim Point optic cleaned and and had it reconditioned. It is my go to gun for coyotes, hogs, deer. It has put more food on plates than any other rifle I own.
I am 71 years old and have taken many deer with my 30-30 Winchester Model 94 Saddle Ring Carbine using open sites. If you need a scope stay home. The 30-30 does as much or more internal damage as a 30-06 in my opinion. I once shot a big buck right thru the heart with a 30-06 and he ran 50 yards before dropping.
Another great advantage point of 30-30 is the bullets use to be readily available and easy to find. The price point on average is 2 dollars less a box and it is an all around good gun. My uncle's hunted with them for years and still are a major part of my family today. My dad used the 30-06 and I got the 308 instead. I never hate any of them and certainly tip my hat to the 30-30 as a damn fine gun. The 303 British is nothing to laugh at and neither is a Mosin Nagant. The best sniper in the world used a Mosin. Simo Hayha was his name from Finland.
Simo actually got most of his kills with the Suomi SMG, actually, mowing down half-frozen, half-starved soviet conscripts in their camps. Don't invade Finland, folks, you're gonna have a bad time.
@@joshuamarvin7400 He used a Finnish-produced M/28-30, a variant of the Mosin-Nagant rifle. Häyhä had also used a submachine gun, the Suomi KP/-31. Wikipedia. You're right about the other riffle. Either way it goes, sure wouldn't want to meet him or those extinct calibers.
I used to think so too. Went to re-sight in my scope the other day. Walked into local shop to purchase 20 rds of ammo. The only boxes they had were 80 bucks a box of 20. Walked right back out. Using iron sights this season.
That’s insane. Here in Australia ammunition has gone up but not to that exten. Over here a box of Winchester 3030 150gr pp is only $36 AU ($26 US) In the last 12 months I’ve been buying loads of ammunition to the extent that I don’t need to purchase for a fair few years
Keep searching for ammo, it can be had for way cheaper. Wal-Mart gets in 30-06 & 30-30 for just a tad over $20 a box & .308 for even less. Local gun stores can be good or bad. Some will give you a fair price & some of them are price gouging scum. Big Box stores also might be an option for you. Academy, Bass Pro, Cabela's, Rural King.
You can buy a Lee Loader, a pound of powder, 100 primers, and a box of 30 cal bullets for about that price. That will give you 100 rounds of ammo with a bunch of powder and the loader left over. Oh and 30/30 do great with gas checked cast bullets too.
$29 CDN here for a box of 20.
@Johnny McCann That's why I switched over to a 50 cal mountain Hawkin black powder. I can make my own powder and cast my own ammo. (Though I still have 40 rnds for my win 30-30 that I've had since 1972)
I have a Marlin 336 30/30 lever action riffle its my go to for deer and hog and I have never had an issue with dropping power. Thank You for the information and facts.
I have a Winchester 94 in 30-30. For deer, elk, its a good choice if ranges are realistic. For a cartridge that gun writers said should have died a 1000 deaths its still around , why it works and thats good enough.
30-30 170 gr. Core loct dumped 3 deer for me this year. Savage 340 w/ a new weaver k4 . I'm so impressed!!
I have the Stevens 325a. Those old bolt 30-30's are shooters.
I love my bolt action 30-30. Loaded with 150 gr. BT Spitzer hollow points I worked up some loads that will knock down steel targets at 300 yds. Hunting whitetails I use my Old Marlin 336 "Texan."
A note of interest. My daughter In-laws great uncle along with other men, guarded the Hoover Dam with their Winchester's chambered in 30-30 against Japanese fighter's. It can't be all that bad.
Did I sleep that day in history class? When did the Japanese attack Hoover dam??
@@billhensley8324 They didn't.....it was considered to be likely target for both sabotage and aerial attack and like a lot of other places like that had a sort of 'home-guard' protecting it in addition to the army.....remembering that just after the attack at pearl harbour the US was massively of short military personal.....and anything they did have was needed offshore
@@unhippy1 Issued also to the PCMR of Canada.
@@billhensley8324 they didn't, but many place's were guarded back then. Civilian's took part in many thing's during WW2. Along the Jersey shore and up and down the coast people kept guard watching for U-boats. My grandfather was an air raid Warden in Philadelphia PA. They don't teach stuff like this in school's today, they are to busy teaching about how great socialism is. This is happening all around the country.
ya could have guarded the damn with a Popsicle stick
I have a Winchester model 94 in 30-30, great gun. It has never failed, recoil is light and it’s a tack driver.
I love mine too, it's the most accurate open sight on a rifle I've ever experienced and every deer I've shot at has dropped instantly!
Great vid! No bullshit, right to point. That being said, I started hunting about 12 years old and my Father bought me Winchester 30-30. I'm 54 now and still have it and have taken many deer down with one shot. I've always hunted in pretty heavy brush areas so I never had a scope and never missed a deer. I've stopped hunting over the years but I still enjoy target shooting. Out of all the guns I have and have owned, my trusty 30-30 is by far my favorite. I've been saying for years that you don't need a cannon to hunt deer or black bear. The proof is there. Thanks for the great vid! 👍
Firm believer in power of the 30-30. My dad shot a whitetail buck from about 100 yds. Also got the doe standing directly behind the buck about 5 yds, unseen and perfectly silhouetted. Both went down within 20-30 yds.
To this day, I still hunt with my grandfather’s .35 Remington. Story I was told is, nothing hit with that gun has ever taken a step after. I know from my hunting, I’ve personally never had anything take even one step when hit. Hit a 185 pound boar and literally knocked him off his feet with a shot square in its left shoulder. Bullet shattered the shoulder, straight through the heart & both lungs and stopped at the far shoulder. That things hide was almost a full inch thick where I hit him.
Love the .35 caliber rifles. If I could only get my hands on a Remington 7600 in .35 Whelen I would be in possession of much firepower.
My very 1st deer rifle is a 35 Rem. I like that better than my 30-30 myself. Ever since all these people started to buy these 223 and 5.56mm our 35 Remington's really lost its popularity. But also have the 444 Marlin and 45-70 which are great to. But all these people that don't know what a 35 Rem is or never hunted with one, they don't know what they are missing out on.
@@airbornesoldieramerica7125 Hunters I've met over the years that had the ol' faithful Marlin 336 .35 Remington tend to forget all about their other big game rifles.
Yeah the .35 Remington is a real thumper.
No bears hide is 1 inch thick, less than 1/4 inch thick on the three dozen I killed.
Hunted with a Winchester 94 for years, killed a ton of whitetail with it. A couple out to about 200 yards but most were a lot less. Put the bullet in the right spot it will not let you down. My favorite gun of all time.
Some wisdom from the late great Jack O'Connor. He wrote that he was at a deer camp years ago. An old man with a weathered 30-30 had brought his 16 year old grandson with him. The kid went on a rant around the campfire about how the 30-30 was no good. That 30-06s, 270s etc., were much better. He said that the old man sat there sucking on his pipe with the patience that only a grandfather could have. When the kid finished his speech, the old man calmly asked, "Then how do you explain 50 deer in 50 years"? Thanks for the excellent video.
Classic and state of the art for over a century. How can you argue with that?
My dad hunted with a 30/30, with reloaded ammo. Only, the one in the chamber was a pointed 168HP BT and the others in the magazine were 170 grain round nose! The placement of the shot, sighted in at 150 Yds, proved the answer and no second shot was ever needed. Winchester 94 was the answer. He always got a deer each season. He always said shot placement is the key and practice is answer.
I've wondered if anyone ever did either this or whether the point of impact shift and different ballistics made it a dumb idea. Then again, I don't have a 30-30 so that was never more than a mild curiosity.
In a tubular magazine such as a Winchester 94; round nose bullets are used to prevent the primer of the 30-30 cartridge from being hit during recoil by a pointed bullet and the cartridge exploding in the magazine itself. When hunting, you should only need one shot or two at the most; as the animal will start running and a follow up shot will be more difficult. One reloaded pointed 168 HP BT offer the best accuracy in the 30-30 and my father used one in the chamber and one in the magazine for a follow up shot if necessary.
I grew up using my father's Marlin 336 in .30-30. 16" trapper, micro-groove barrel, with a 1-4x Leopold scope. Thirty years later, my older brother gave me the rifle since he wasn't hunting. I've owned dozens of rifles, all the popular calibers. Now the old Marlin is my go-to woods gun for anything in central Tennessee (deer, feral hogs, coyote, but sadly no black bears around here). It shoots the 150 and 170 grain Federal Fusion best (and the Hornady LeverEvolution worst). Super handy and fast to shoot, light weight, reasonably accurate, plenty of power, and just the pure nostalgia of it. It's the damn near perfect woods rifle for me!
Never saw a video or someone talking on the positive aspects of this round. You brought up some Interesting points and some I didn t know. I ve always felt there are no bad calibers and some really good ones have fallen or are falling by the wayside. The thirty thirty doesn t need to be the next nor ever. Thanks for a fine review and the education on the round.
Oh, there are bad calibers alright. .25 ACP comes to mind.
Finally some common sense. It's about bullet placement at reasonable ranges that most people kill their big game animals at. A 30-30 caliber rifle is more for a experienced Hunter then it ever was for a beginner. It is a fantastic caliber and with the right bullet will take down about anything you need to. With lightweight bullets it's fun to hunt groundhogs with also.
I have 336 in 35 Remington but they are both comparable great midrange rounds. Outstanding cartridges that stand test of time.
Close range*
@@Dcm193 yup....under 200 yds
@@Dcm193 when thinking in terms of the 30/30 I like the old Norse Viking advice in reference to a long sword, being if you go in close enough your sword will be long enough.
I've had a Marlin 336 for forty years now. It is my everything gun, hunting, home defense and a fun day at the shooting range.
You just made me realize that a 6.5 Grendel out of an AR 15 style rifle is probably the only gun I really need. This was a great video. It made me subscribe. Your logic in the point behind this video is very sound. And I realize that the modern version of a model 94 In 3030 is an AR and 65 Grendel. The A.R. 15 is the modern day model 94. 65 Grendel is not popular the way 3030 became. But I do believe it is the modern equivalent. Thanks again I look forward to watching more your videos
.30-30 is all I've used since I was 16. I use 170 grain soft points.
Video made good sense. I own several different rifles of various calibers. My Marlin 336C 30-30 is still one of my favorites. Pretty much everything I shot with that gun went one direction, toward earth.
I inherited my father's blued 94 .32 WS, manufactured between 1909-1913 (depending on the source that researches 94s). It looks new because it was blued in the late 50s after my father purchased it from a rancher who practically gave it away because he had another one. I stocked up on enough ammo for it many years ago but I don't hunt. It's really the perfect rifle for a blue state because of those evil, scary black rifles. So it's one of my home defense guns. It was the first gun that I ever shot when I was 15 or 16 back in late 1981 or early 1982. The recoil was too much at that time, so I never shot it again until a few years ago when my dad asked me if I wanted it after I saw it under his bed. After shooting my shotgun in the dessert, I easily shot this rifle effortlessly and the recoil was barely a thing. I shot a target about 100-200 yards every time for several minutes. It's incredibly accurate.
Thanks for the video! Brings backs memories of learning to hunt as a kid with my grandfather. Carried his Win. Lever action 30-30 many days.
I bought a post '64 Win 94 in the late '70's, and only test fired it one time, making a 3" group at 100 yds. My buddy bought it off me on the spot. Later bought a '37 long barrel model, shot one deer and brother in law talked me out of it. Lastly, bought a '56 model with same age 2 1/2 Weaver forward mounted scope -- nobody getting this one!
I love my old Winchester 1894. First weapon I ever went deer hunting with, and never had a reason to change. My late father swore by this .308 savage he had ... the thing was loud as a sonic boom and literally damaged my hearing. I'd say that if he missed the deer they probably died from heart failure.
I like the 308 and 30-06 tremendously......but on small plots (most of us), and short shots (statistically true)....You are generally over-gunned.......but they will work on anything.
Well said about the differences between hunting and long range shooting. From South Africa.
I agree. The 30-30 is all you need. I purchased a Winchester 94 in 30-30 many years ago. Very good repeating rifle. Beautiful gun.
Still my favorite just wish the ammo wasn’t so hard to find and not almost $50 bucks a box (I remember picking up boxes for $15-$20 a box)when you can find them My first rifle I bought with my hard earned teenage money was the Marlin 336 -30/30 (made by Marlin) still have it, but when I got my paws on a 80’s no safty 30/30 Winchester I fell in love haha They both are gems to own n shoot I have yet to take down a Muley with em If I draw for deer this season I’m definitely taking my 30/30 The 30/30 reminds me of good old America
You can always reload your own ammo, much cheaper.
My 336 is within arms reach... others also but itß my go to proven friend
Hello. Why not reload your own ammo? I went into a much longer and helpful post/reply but for 7 times now the bot has not let me post a reply. If you have questions, feel free to ask.
After shooting this round for the first time I was impressed by the "thump" of it. I feel it's definitely a round that has enough power to drop most things.
* at close range .
@@Dcm193 Some of us actually are hunters and get close to shoot.
@@Nick-wn1xw furthest shot you’ve taken?
@@Dcm193 like I said I like to get CLOSE. On game? 172 yards. Most much closer. And the only reason I took that shot was it was an elk, standing in the open.
@@Nick-wn1xw oh you don’t care about fair chase. A real hunter uses a spear and gets under 10 yards. See how moving the goal post does fuck all .
I use a Marline 30-30 exclusive here in NE Oklahoma and harvest an average of four Whitetail every year with 150 grain Winchester Silver Tips. All of my shots have been between 3 yards and 95 yards. The 30-30 has never failed to deliver one-shot clean kills and almost all dropped in their tracks or within 25 yards.
True, in fact, my Colt M4 is good for taking down most anything with two or four legs.
Hunting is the art of getting as close as possible without being detected, still hunting gives me the most pleasure, it gives me great joy to defeat the Deers senses. My Marlin 30/30 is light and nimble, I use a small red dot x 2 so I don't hurt the balance, no huge bulky scope for me
That’s right!!!
Good video, and nail-on-the-head-correct! I have found it amazing that for 127 years now people have been using the .30-30 W.C.F. ( Winchester ) to harvest Walrus, Moose and Bear in Alaska by the Alaskan Natives using Winchester model 1894's, 170 grain flat-nosed bullets. And many, many Deer and Black Bear and other critters in the Lower 48 have fallen to the tried and true .30-30 Win cartridge. But, it must all be an illusion, a big trick played on all those shooters/hunters for the last 127 years. They just imagined they put those deer on the dinner table. According to Mr. Magnum Salesman ( who's name starts with a "W" ) the only way to kill an animal is with some shoulder thumping /cheek rattling / ear drums ruining, wallet emptying SUPER-DOOPER MAGNUM shoulder cannon. 😧 ugh. Professional Hunter W.D.M. Bell hunted/harvested hundreds of Elephants and other large and dangerous game critters with .276 Rigby, or a .303 Lee-Enfield with MC ( FMJ) bullets, or a .30-'06 Spring.. He hated magnums. He preferred proper bullet placement ( aka: accurate shooting into the vital areas) much better than blasting away with a shoulder cannon. I'll keep my .30-30 Win. Stevens Bolt-action rifle. It is not 'pretty" but it gets the job done. If lazy people would get out of their vehicles and actually stalk and hunt, they would be able to harvest most game animals with a .30-30 Win cartridge. 150 yards or less and you will probably fill your "Tag".
The magnum craze is the fault of myriads of gun writers who used mathematics and reloading charts to show everyone how ineffective those guns they'd been using for decade were. Unfortunately most fell for it and the crusade was on for more BOOM.
@@bobclifton8021 Hello. Totally agree. Much of the hyper velocity lunacy has to go to Roy Weatherby and his wacky sales pitch. The silly insurance salesman was toooooo lazy to hunt and stalk game animals as did Daniel Boone, and Ethan Allen, and W.D.M. Bell and archers do. I lived in Alaska for 5 years. Do the Native Alaskans harvest Moose, Walrus and Bear with a Weatherby MAGNUM ? No! They are still using 100 year old Winchester Model 94's chambered in .30-30 Win., with no bluing left, or 12 gauge pump shotguns with Rifled slugs. They get close to the animal before squeezing the trigger. Sorry for the delay in replying. The whiz-kids at YT/ Smoogle have changed the "Thumbs Up" report thingy so I did not see it sooner.
Repeating those old bar room stories passed around those Alaskan natives only hunt with 22LR or 30-30 makes you look like a fool to Alaskans such as me. Or talking trash the 30-06 is an African PH dangerous game rifles and all Alaska bear hunting guides only use the 30-06 or Glock 9 mm & 10 mm for their bears guns, this is the kind ignorant liars BS that keeps being posted in these gun comments. If you haven't done it yourself then stop with the liar's bar room popular lies. You also need to learn the difference of species of Moose because they vary greatly in size.
Don't forget that one of W.D.M. Caramjo Bell's favorite cartridges was the lowly 7mm Mauser! Everything you mentioned, he also took with that SMALL caliber, too!
@@kimcurtis423 That is true. That is why I mentioned the .276 Rigby. That is what the Brits called it. The other designation is the German one. Since I have mostly British blood in my veins, I used the "correct" terminology. 🙂
Like most deer hunters of my generation I learned to hunt with and took my first deer, along with many others since, with a 30-30. My dad learned with a 30-30 and later used a .270. When I asked him why he didn't start me with a more powerful round his answer was profound. He "son, when it comes to deer hunting, if you can't stalk within 100yds of what you want to shoot, go fishing. You have no business being in the woods with a loaded rifle." He told me that 50 years ago and I have passed it down to my daughter and soon my grandson. My Marlin 336A is still the first rifle I grab when I hit the woods.
I have been using my Marlin 30/30 for hunting for over 36 years now.
took my first deer with a 30 30 marlin at 14. i am retired now and as part of my desire to spend more time hunting i went back to the same rifle. Turns out this old rifle will take em as well as any slick high tech gun i own. My eyes are not as good and i added a red dot so now i can confidently take shots at 150yds IF needed. like the man said a good shooter does not make a good hunter. I would submit a good hunter makes a good shooter. I still shoot many guns but when hunting season opens its the old marlin that travels with me.
I have to agree. Its a round that's suitable for different game at a more or less medium distance. The proven lever action rifle that uses this round is rugged but accurate no matter what manufacturer at least by my experience.
A gun trader friend of mine passed away a couple years ago and left his firearms to his brother. The brother is almost blind so shooting is not something he gets to enjoy any longer. He asked if my wife and I would help him sell his collection. There were nearly 200 model 94 Winchesters of every caliber and many of the collector ones. I located an on line auction company and we sold them in three different sets. We also had collector boxes of ammo to go with the collector rifles. The Chevy collector rifle brought the most at 2400 dollars and the average model 94 went for over 1000 dollars. The large ring pistol calibers, especially the .357's brought high prices. The ammunition, especially the 38-55, averaged $120 a box. While handling these firearms to catalog by serial number for the auction company I found there to be much difference in quality of construction. The AE (angle eject) models seemed to be of higher quality. There were none of the post 64's that had the stamped elevator. None would I ever trade my pre 64 model 94 for though.
Owner of a .30-30 Marlin 336y 20in. barrel here. Has not let me down yet. Some weren't dropped right where i shot'em, but all have been tracked and found. For bear, elk or moose; keep the shot within 100yds maximun.
I always suggest the 30 30 when ppl ask me about a good all around hunting rifle, many scoff or say it enimic. I explain to them it's killed more dear than any other one round, it's easy to shoot, the numbers don't lie.
My Wisconsin corn fed 10 pointer dropped within 10 yards of being shot last year. Big buck and the 30-30 did a nice clean job. My hunt was over within 15 minutes of the opening day. I passed up another buck in hopes my brother would get it...no luck.
I have owned and sold three 30-30 lever guns and now that I want one again , they are price gouging them terribly and so are hard to come by . I agree with this point of view totally .
Just buy a 308. More options on ammo and rifles. Not to mention it preforms better .
@@Dcm193 Performs better. It gets the deer deader in 200 yards. I guess.
Glad you pointed out...The aspect of trying to hunt...trying to get close before taking a beautiful animal....Is a must!Its ok to be able to shoot a gun from a bench rest...but there's a difference being forced to shoot off a tree limb or off-hand...without flinching...Most do flynch...30-30 Is perfect....
Great advice from an obvious professional
The 30/30 has probably killed more deer in it's production lifetime than any other round.
30 ought 8? 30 oh 6?
I’ve hunted S. East Pennsylvania the last 10 years, and of the six or seven deer that I’ve taken with a rifle everything from 30-30 to 7 mm rem mag, I can authoritatively say that the 30-30 would’ve been plenty sufficient for every shot. Most shots here are within 100 yards. If you find a shot over 200 yards I would be very impressed! If you hunt woods, a Marlin 336 in 30-30 is all you’ll ever need. Worked for my grandfather for decades, worked for me for years, and will continue to work this coming season.
My grandfather bought new, in 1954, a Model '94, 32 Winchester Special. As he has passed away, I am the Proud Owner of this rifle. It is very hard to find these rounds and very expensive. Since I reload, it is not that much of a problem. I can take the 30-30 and open up the neck for the .32 caliber round. That rifle is amazingly accurate for an open sight gun. Picked it up and hit the 3 inch steel at 100 yards. I consider myself the luckiest grandson in the universe. Come next year, I'll be taking my chances with the tag lottery. Wish me luck.
Amen brother there's a part of your granddad in that gun as well within your heart I miss mine everyday god bless may you never miss and your aim true
@@karenault6273 I am 67 and I miss him every day. Spent my summers up in the hills with him and grandma. Each and every kid should have the chance to get that experience. They were the best days of my youth.
@@aom9082 me too buddy me too I miss mine everyday and I feel your heart ache In that message bud I'm so sorry I would of loved to meet him as you would of probably felt the same about mine God bless you sir and just know we will see them again my friend
Some wise words here! Hunting vs shooting, brilliant! 👍