In 1974 I was 17 and I worked all summer to buy my first gun with my own money. I bought a Winchester 94 in .30-30 and I'm glad I did. It still looks great and shoots great and it was the best 74 bucks I ever spent. This gun is part of my family. Funny thing is, I walked up to the counter and paid for it. I was 17. Boy, are those days over.
Yep those days are gone. Your generation was handed the greatest civilization in history and you threw it away because you couldn't resist your love for cheap Chinese plastic and wonderbread. Your generation has all the money, land and insulation from inflation for decades and none of the consequences. Must be nice.
no one gives a shit you have bought a 30-30 for $74 with your own money. That same gun costs $1200 today. You could make $2 an hour at literally any job without any kind of experience and still be able to buy your 1974 gun with a 40 hour week worth of work. I can work for $15 dollars an hour and be grateful for that pay rate and that could buy me a $1200 gun for two weeks of work. Literally Boomers can suck my left nut.
Here in northern Ontario , most hunt camps have atleast half of the rifles being used being a 30/30 , I shot 2 nice bucks last season with my 94 , still hard to beat all these years later
@@kevinloy6860 I miss Lake Haliburton, Redstone lake, and Oblong Lake. We camped up there every July when I was a kid. Caught rock bass and perch at will. Seemed almost unfair. As close to heaven as it gets. Haven't been there since 73. Canada isn't worth visiting anymore. Everything costs a million dollars and Fidel Castro's illegitimate son is setting fire to what's left. You guys need your own version of Trump RIGHT NOW or you'll be England again soon, and England is turning communist!
The .30 Herret was developed in the TC Contender because. 30-30 does not perform well in Contender pistol barrels and .30 Contender gets more efficient burning of pistol powders in the smaller cartridge. Also, I took a doe yesterday (Dec. 23, 2020) with my Marlin .30-30 here in TX. Dropped in her tracks at ~100 yards. So, .30-30 is still getting venison in 2020!
I concur with the correction made in comments. When the model 1894 came out in 1894 ONLY blackpowder cartridges were chambered offerings, the following year, 1895, the blackpowder 38/55 cartridge case was necked down to accept a .30 caliber bullet and the first smokeless powder 30 grain loading was offered as a new 'hot rod' hunting round . It was FIRST named the 30 caliber Winchester center fire (WCF) . Later because other manufacturers chambered it as the 30/30 (being reluctant to advertise Winchester for them) .Because that name came into such wide use, Winchester began marking their guns as 30/30's as well.
@@olhippie1 : I'm not sure exactly when the rename on Winchester rifles happened, but I have a 94 from 1948 marked 30WCF, and a 94 from 1955 marked .30-30.
@@robertarmstrong2248 the herret was designed for use in the 10 inch contender barrel. When the super 14 barrel came out, the standard 30-30 gained popularity again. Same with the 35 herret and 35 Remington.
The most underrated cartridge, the 30)30. Back around 1977, my dad got out his old Savage bolt action 30)30. Using 170 gr. Remington Corelokt ammo. He hammered in the ground a 1)2" piece of concrete rebar about 5' long. To use as a target stand. He put the target board up and had the bullseye positioned in front of steel rebar. Figuring that would be the safest spot so the bullet would not hit it. He said he hadn't shot this rifle in 15 years. Same box of ammo that came with gun when he bought it. We backed off 50 yds. He sat down and aimed. Open sights! Boom! Thete was a no ice I cannot describe. The bullet sheared that steel in half. The top piece went about 20 ft. Up in the air and around 25 yds in back of where it was hit. We couldn't believe it. So when someone says in front of me that a 30)30 is not that powerful, I say, " Let me tell you a little story". GREAT VIDEO!
Hi from Pennsylvania. You are now talking about the BEST hunting round for hunting in the woods ever made. I have 6 m94. My oldest was made in 1909. All of them have been in my family and I inherited them in 1978. My own m94 30-30 . That I got for Christmas in 1978. Has a side mounted 1-5 Leopold . And open sights. Both sighted in. . I taken moose caribou and deer and black bear. . 1 shot kills. I took it to South Dakota and got a coyote at 207 yards. Across the west fork River.. I love m 94 3030 winchesters. I always use 170 power points. Short blood trails. God bless.
When I was just a kid, way back in the 50's and 60's EVERY hardware store sold the 30-30 plus an assortment of ammo for same. I bought my first one, at age 16, while on a trip to Montana. Used it for decades, untill it finally got stolen! Great cartridge; if you just work within it's limitations.
I really wish things would move back to the way things were. They were just better times. Young people were more intelligent, respectful, and responsible. To be able to go to one store and come out with groceries, tools, and a rifle was really exciting. I even miss the days when you could do that at Walmart lol.
As a teen in the 1960's, just about every person I knew who hunted owned a .30-30 rifle either by Marlin or Winchester. It was often referred to as a "high powered" cartridge. My first deer hunt was with a borrowed Model 64 Winchester in .30-30. My first deer rifle was a Savage Model 24V in .30-30 over 20 gauge. I have also owned a single shot .30-30 and the Savage Stevens 325 bolt action .30-30. My favorite cartridge is from the Federal Premium line that uses a 170 grain Nosler partition. In my cabinet I have a Model 94 and a Stevens 325 in .30-30. Does the job on deer and boar.
@@WayStedYou 243 has more velocity but more powerful it is not. I shoot both 243 and 30-30 and have to track deer much further with 243 than 30-30. The 243 is flatter shooting because of the shape and lighter projectile. Not because it is a more powerful round.
Loved the 30-30 talk. I take one for a walk every fall! Would also enjoy if you guys did a talk about the 300 Savage or 35 Remington as I think they are also classic deer hunting rounds.
Even better, the .300's father, the .250 Savage. The Model 1920 Savage is one of the most elegant rifles ever made and its a perfect match for the .250 round.
I’ve been collecting cartridges and studying cartridge history for 35 years. Ryan never fails to teach me something I didn’t know. Thanks for these talks. I really enjoy them.
Just took a deer in the northeastern woods with a .30-30 yesterday. Still a relevant cartridge for woodland deer hunting as other similar popular cartridges. Short, handy, and effective for a short range medium game rifle. The deer immediately dropped without struggle. One of my favorite cartridges!
The .30-30 was the round that I used to kill my first deer. My father hunted for 40 years only with the .30-30 and killed many deer (usually 4 per year). It’s the best brush gun ever imo. I love that caliber and in WV it’s probably the best round you can use
@@travissmith-wz5nc Yeah but the thing kicks damn near as much as a 30-06. One thing I like about 6.5 Creedmoor is that it is literally all over the shelves. 30-30 is gone.
I hunt north/central Maine where 90% of my shots are 75 yards or under. My Marlin 336, 30-30 is my go-to. For giggles, when sighting it in with the Hornady LeverEvolution and had moa groups at 100 yards, I had a little fun shot it at 215 yards. Had no issues hitting 8" plates and it's remarkably consistent.
The biggest of Remington's family of rimless cartridges, it is the only one still in production. The case used for this round is different (larger) than all the other calibers featured in that series of cartridges.
An old Marlin 336 in .35 Remington was the first centerfire rifle I shot sometime around 1969. The old rifle is mine now, still smooth as butter. I love the old cartridge.
More deer elk and bear have been killed with the .30-30 in the first part of the 20th century than most calibers numbers put together. Just a awesome deer killing round. Accurate, low recoil, and good power. It's a very underrated caliber.
I have a .44-40 that my dad got for me by trading one of his pigs. This is literally only the fourth time I have heard that caliber mentioned in my many years of life. Thanks for bringing that memory back.
I've never killed a deer with a 30-30 but have shot dozens of hogs with it here in northern California. My friend who started hunting hogs when he was a teenager and is now in his mid 50's has probably killed over 250 hogs with his 70' vintage 30-30 Winchester. The 30-30 works great for hunting with dogs when your shots can be anywhere from sub 10 yards out to 150-200 yards.
I still try to get out and take a deer with my 30-30 and it always delivers, great talk. I think originally they were all stamped 30 WCF, I have a 1906 build Winchester 1894 stamped 30 WCF.
First for me, I've never heard anyone say they've never hunted with a 30-30 or even hunted with someone who had. Amazing! Mine has killed my first deer, my wife's, and a host of young men that I've monitored hunting.
Small correction the .30-30 was originally designed for a 160gr bullet. TY John Browning. Hornady has brought it back @2400’/sec. very nice combo w/a light handling rifle. Hits the sweet spot.
I have one of those savage 30-30 bolt guns. Produced in 1968 and I inherited it from my grandfather along with his Remington Model 76 chambered in 30-06
It's interesting how accurate some calibers can be in the right gun. I never gave the 7.62x39 any credit for accuracy at all, but a friend of mine has a Ruger M77 Mark II Compact chambered in it and that rifle is MOA all day long with good ammo, and 1.5 at worse with TulAmmo.
In 1975 a Winchester Model 94 .30-30 sold for $ 49.95 . Everybody in PA had one ! 0pen sights, 20 Inch barrel, 7 round tube ... ... @ 50 yards, when you missed with the first shot on a standing deer you continued to empty that little carbine on a fleeing deer. Thats just the way it was back then ...... lmao
WOW i thought the American industry was mainly helping the war effort by that Time (specially the gun industry). Not doubting your story tho just surprised.
The 7-30 waters was designed for the 94, with a flat point and the original bullet was a 139 gr, federal changed to a 120 for more velocity when they began making factory ammo.
Just discovered your channel, really enjoying the wide range of cartridge discussions. Lots of folks stuck in the mud with the new “hot” rounds. Keep it up gents👍🏻 I have my dads Pre-64 32spcl, the Gun that infected me with Winchesteritis as a very young man.
The savage bolt gun that chambered 30-30 was the model 340. They are cool old guns. My brother and I own one in every cartridge they were offered in. 22 hornet, 222rem, 223rem, 225 Winchester, and 30-30. The savage 340 is more accurate than your typical lever gun and if you hand load spitzer Bullets are not an issue and you can bump the performance up. Interestingly the m340 was the first rifle to use the savage barrel nut system for headspacing.
Where I live, the 30-30 is by far the most popular cartridge for hunting. You can't have a conversation about hunting where I'm from, without some old timer bringing up stories of all the animals they've killed with either a Winchester or a Marlin 30-30. It's popular with younger hunters as well for all the reasons you all described.
Besides Savage 340 bolt gun, I think the model 54 Winchester and the Remington 788 were other bolt in options for a .30-30 bolt gun. I have a model 336 myself.
I’m 35. My first gun was a 1923 Marlin Model 93 chambered in 30-30 that’s been in my family. My dad’s a prick and took it back because I wanted to replace the nonexistent barrel band screw and retire the stock and for-end with a camo 336 set (keeping the original furniture obviously). The metal was still in excellent shape and it was a pretty good shooter. The action was smooth as silk. It hasn’t been used since he took it. It has so much life left in it. I miss that rifle :(
The 30-30 was originally called the 30 WCF or 30 Winchester Center Fire, by winchester. It was later when marlin and other companies started chambering the round, they didn't want Winchesters name on their rifles, so they started calling it the 30-30 instead of the 30 WCF, and the 30-30 name became so popular that Winchester adopted it also.
the 30cal 150g to 180g bullet has the ideal critical mass for game. Took a 170# Doe Fall 2023 with a Marlin 336 from 1955 chambered in 30-30. Golf Ball sized holes with the 150g round nose at max handload pressure.
My 1954 vintage 30-30 holds 8 in the tube + 1 for the chamber. It's still a nail driver with it's semi buckhorn sights. 22" barrel if memory serves. It's been in the family for over 60 years.
One of the best rounds for reducing damage to the meat. I have used numerous cartridges for hunting deer, and I am always impressed by how little damage there is to the meat when using this cartridge. I think the lower velocities are the reason. Great cartridge for folks that are sensitive to noise and recoil.
The first rifle I bought was a Marlin 336 in 30/30. It served me well hunting in the Adirondack's for years until I discovered the 270. I was ammo shopping a few years ago and found 4 boxes of Federal 30/30 in their 125 gr. HP loading. I snached it up and for giggles went up on a friends farm for a hunt. I hit a large doe at a touch over 100 yards on a hedgerow just behind the shoulder and her legs just buckled, DRT. I never saw that kind of stopping power on any of the deer I had shot previously with that rifle, most times being a thru and thru shot so I put a couple rounds over my Chrony and out of the 20" tube I was seeing just a bit over 2600 fps at the muzzle. Works for me and now it's got a new lease on life as my new truck gun.
My Winchester 1894 .30-30 (stamped .30 WCF) was made in 1920 and still shoots great. They were very well thought out rifles and handle really well. I know these days with all the technology long sleek bullets with high BC's are all the rage, but in my opinion I think a big part of the success of the Legendary .30-30 as a game taker of a very wide range of animals is due to it's bullet shape, the blunt nose soft points really transfer power and energy giving it its thumper or "brush gun" status. The old .30-30 is a brick by todays standards, but she sure hits hard. So in honor of .30-30 I built a 16" AR in 350 Legend for shooting Texas hogs. It's a brick as well, but it sure hits hard.
It's hard to beat a peep sighted lever action rifle for still hunting. They get on target quick. Which helps when a deer pops up ten yards away. Short light handy 30-30 Winchester 94 or 336 has a place in everyone's gun cabinet :)
I agree. That's why I still use my 336 that I've had since I was 11. For 45 years, it's been gettin' it done for me. I'd use it in hunting country where most people today wouldn't, like wide-open, high-desert country. It worked for me because of the "still hunter" way I hunted. Even in open country, my shots would most often be measured in dozens of yards rather than hundreds. I shot a pronghorn with it once at 175 yards. I've taken seven elk with it, too, most under 75 yards. It's really all the "huntin' rifle" I've ever needed, and though I have had, and currently have, more powerful, longer-ranging options, I still use that old .30-30 the most.
@@jerroldshelton9367 definitely feel like you're hunting when you're carrying a 30-30 Winchester :) I'll take mine out for the days I know I'll be covering more ground than usual. Especially those windy rainy days ☺️ It's nice to hear your stories about your rifle. Mine was sold to me thirty some years ago. I absolutely love it! Mines topped off with a Williams peep sight. Which is fairly quick attaining the target. Is there more accurate firearms.. no doubt.. but the thirty thirty has its place by a long shot :)
@@blackie1of4 I'm currently running a Williams aperture on my 336, as well, and have been for the last ten years or so. It's augmented by the use of a Merit adjustable iris aperture disc, which allows me to quickly dial in the amount of light the "peep" lets through to my eye as field conditions change. Personally, I think these old lever-action .30-30's are at their best when aperture sighted. A scope totally destroys the handling dynamics that are a big part of why I'm using the 336 in the first place, but the "peep" enhances them, via sight alignment that is "when butt hits the shoulder" instant. And, as you know, we who use the peep can still see to shoot, no matter how hard it's raining or snowing. The side-benefit, for me at least, is that with the aperture sight, I can really only take shots that are within the bounds of the .30-30's ballistic performance envelope and can't really do a shot on game that the .30-30 can't render dead meat.
@@jerroldshelton9367 couldn't agree more with your assessment. Where I'm hunting is mostly the big woods of the north east. Most game is taken inside 75 yards.. and I definitely don't see a handicap within that range. When I'm carrying it.. I expect deer within 20 yards or so.. seems to be the norm while still hunting. I've found a scoped rifle can be a handicap is those situations. Hence why my scope is 1x4x24 on my dedicated whitetail rifle. I used the 350 Legend this past season and it sure reminds of the 30-30 Winchester. Mines sports an 18 inch barrel lightweight points fast too. That's my tree stand setup ☺️
5:51 That long neck was no accident. Most shooters would reload their empty casing with a cast bullet and the designers knew that the base of the bullet could not extend in to the case body if acceptable accuracy was going to be maintained. 5:06 The "Special" in .32 Special was the 1-16" twist of the rifling which made it more accurate than the .30-30 when reloaded with black powder. 12:38 The Winchester model 54 was chambered in .30-30 as well as the Remington model 788.
I hunt deer with 2 main calibers 30-30 and 308. Because the vast majority of my shots are 150 yards and under the 30-30 has been the superior round. Why? Because my 308 has destroyed the opposite side shoulder on every deer I've ever taken with it. The slower round nosed 30-30 goes in, does the job, and exits with extremely less meat damage compared to the 308 inside 150 yards
Started with the Winchester 94 in my late teens, moved onto dozens of different rifles in many calibres and now in my mid fifties I’m hunting with the same old Winchester 94. What is old is new again.
At the short distances of East Coast woodlands deer hunting, lots of .30-30s still used from blinds and tree-stands....over iron sights. One hundred yards is a long shot in dense woods.
Speaking of bolt action 30-30's, the one that comes to mind for me is the Remington 788. In this rifle you could shoot spitzer bullets due to the box type magazine. The 788 was also a super accurate rifle with a very fast lock-time, in a rock solid platform. Wish I had one in 30-30, but i would rather opt for one chambered in the excellent 7mm-08, which it came in back in the day.
My 3030 is a Thompson center contender with 24 inch barrel. I hand load bullets made for the 308 Winchester. 180 grain hollow points are my favorite with max loads
I've shot the same m 94 30-30 for over 65 years, and also many other calibers and rifles, and have been reloading for 50 plus years. In my opinion the 94 in 30-30, is one of the most versatile cal, when loaded for many different applications. Plus, one of the most accurate. With open sights I can hit a 12" target at 500 yards with correct load 10 out of 10 shots. I've never put a scope on it, no need for it. It's at its best within 100 to 200 yards, but is very able to match or better modern calibers. It remains my favorite top 3 calibers for hunting, or target, 45-70, 30-06, and 30-30, they got it right when they were first made.
I currently have 2 of the Savage bolt action 30-30 rifles, a carbine and a long gun. The long gun came with a 219 zipper barrel correctly headspaced to swap barrels on the long gun. The 219 zipper is basically a 223 rimed cartridge, it uses the same bullet. Advantages to the bolt action are detachable mags and you can use Spitzer projectiles and hotter loads. But I still like my old 94 lever gun too.
I have a 1962 Savage model 340A bolt action 30-30. The bolt is clunky, you have to finesse the action to make sure it picked up a new round from the mag, and the trigger is terrible…. But, it shoots 1 moa consistently with any 150gr round nose in Remington, Winchester, and Federal. The little thing just makes me smile every time I look at it! BTW it’s topped with a 3-9x40 Crossfire. It’s the only gun I have that cannot be bought!
My 30-30 is my go to brush gun here in Florida. Harvested everything from Deer, Hog and Bear. Ill grab that before my 6.5 if I'm hunting the woods here in Florida
I still hunt the Ozark woods with an open sight model 94, and it is all I need. I almost never shoot over 100 yards at our farm, so I went back to my first deer rifle.
When I was 15 years old I was in love , real scared of girls ,but in love with my 30-30 winch. Model 94 , my dad got me one from a western auto store. In East Los Angeles and paid 89 dollars for it. Now here in Vegas I'm 65 years old, not scared of women no more , And still in love with my 30-30 using a round nose, With 28.1 grains of 3031. Good for bear at 70 yards, and Now with full load spitzers ? Elephants have been shot with the model 94. In Africa 😊
30-30 is a 'GREAT" heavy/close cover cartridge, with today's modern designs it is better than ever. I have never lost a deer with my 60+ year old marlin firing 50+ year old ammo. I purchased a 100 or so rounds in the early 70's when on sale at the local discount store and am still shooting the same today.
My grandfather owned the one I have now for many years, then my dad did, and now I do. We've all taken Whitetails with it and my son likely will as well. There are probably more of those rifles in the wild than practically any other cartage. It depends on where I'm going and what I'm doing, but it's certainly one of my favorite to shoot.
Since the 2020 upheavals .30-30 ammo has gotten weirdly scarce and expensive; even reloading brass is thin on the ground. Never would have expected it.
30-30 is on the rebound on my store shelves. Proves how popular it is. Prices are even within reason. If I see a box of .300 Savage the tag is $60/20 or more.
Great video guys, I just stumbled upon it. I am now subscribed. Do you have any more videos on the 30-30? I would like to see one on comparing the different manufacturers models.
Fixing to put a scout scope from Vortex on my 1947 94 30-30. Took my first buck with one like it. I'm 55 and my eyes can't do it anymore. Sure wished I could get that illuminated dot in the scout model scope. Hint. Leupold made the STD W94 carbine mount that uses the dove tail rear sight groove and mounts to the rear barrel band, but you have to tap the band. Got a Redfield ghost ring for the mount too. I'll have to tap the mount for the ghost ring also. Makes a good looking lever scout setup. You probably won't be missing those animals if you put a scope on it lol. The 30-30 carbine is still the best scout/stalk brush gun in my eyes. With today's bullet designs, the 30-30 is coming back because they still work. You can speed it up with some lighter ammo too. Lever guns are still cool thanks to Hollywood and the 30-30 is a good choice for an all around lever gun. I think that is why it was so popular. The 243 is my favorite in an all around deer rifle. But it aint a classic lever.
The 30-30 has probably killed more deer than all cartridges combined. My first two deer I got were on my dads old lever action with simple 4 power fine wire scope. Pegged my first deer through the heart and lung at 300 yards holding Kentucky windage on the cross hairs.
I grew up in Maine and you don’t use a scoped rifle to shoot a deer in the woods. Nothing is more comfortable to carry all day than the model 94. For most hunters in North America, particularly those who hunt in the forests there isn’t really a better cartridge. It also isn’t so powerful that it ruins meat. Some say you can eat right up to the bullet hole. I have my great grandfathers 30-30 and I still occasionally fire it. It’s a pleasure to shoot! It’s my favorite gun I own.
In 1974 I was 17 and I worked all summer to buy my first gun with my own money. I bought a Winchester 94 in .30-30 and I'm glad I did. It still looks great and shoots great and it was the best 74 bucks I ever spent. This gun is part of my family. Funny thing is, I walked up to the counter and paid for it. I was 17. Boy, are those days over.
I paid $125 for my 94 carbine at Target in 1979. If it was good enough for Pancho Villa it's good enough for me.
Those days are long long over
Those days might return someday. Maybe after the next civil war and all the scum are rounded up and put under the guillotine.
Yep those days are gone. Your generation was handed the greatest civilization in history and you threw it away because you couldn't resist your love for cheap Chinese plastic and wonderbread. Your generation has all the money, land and insulation from inflation for decades and none of the consequences. Must be nice.
no one gives a shit you have bought a 30-30 for $74 with your own money. That same gun costs $1200 today.
You could make $2 an hour at literally any job without any kind of experience and still be able to buy your 1974 gun with a 40 hour week worth of work.
I can work for $15 dollars an hour and be grateful for that pay rate and that could buy me a $1200 gun for two weeks of work.
Literally Boomers can suck my left nut.
Here in northern Ontario , most hunt camps have atleast half of the rifles being used being a 30/30 , I shot 2 nice bucks last season with my 94 , still hard to beat all these years later
@@kevinloy6860 I miss Lake Haliburton, Redstone lake, and Oblong Lake. We camped up there every July when I was a kid. Caught rock bass and perch at will. Seemed almost unfair. As close to heaven as it gets. Haven't been there since 73. Canada isn't worth visiting anymore. Everything costs a million dollars and Fidel Castro's illegitimate son is setting fire to what's left. You guys need your own version of Trump RIGHT NOW or you'll be England again soon, and England is turning communist!
The model 1894 was first introduced in the 38-55 and 32-40. The 30 W.C.F. didn't come out until a year later in 1895.
And it was originally a 160 gr bullet!
The .30 Herret was developed in the TC Contender because. 30-30 does not perform well in Contender pistol barrels and .30 Contender gets more efficient burning of pistol powders in the smaller cartridge. Also, I took a doe yesterday (Dec. 23, 2020) with my Marlin .30-30 here in TX. Dropped in her tracks at ~100 yards. So, .30-30 is still getting venison in 2020!
I concur with the correction made in comments. When the model 1894 came out in 1894 ONLY blackpowder cartridges were chambered offerings, the following year, 1895, the blackpowder 38/55 cartridge case was necked down to accept a .30 caliber bullet and the first smokeless powder 30 grain loading was offered as a new 'hot rod' hunting round . It was FIRST named the 30 caliber Winchester center fire (WCF) . Later because other manufacturers chambered it as the 30/30 (being reluctant to advertise Winchester for them) .Because that name came into such wide use, Winchester began marking their guns as 30/30's as well.
@@olhippie1 : I'm not sure exactly when the rename on Winchester rifles happened, but I have a 94 from 1948 marked 30WCF, and a 94 from 1955 marked .30-30.
@@robertarmstrong2248 the herret was designed for use in the 10 inch contender barrel. When the super 14 barrel came out, the standard 30-30 gained popularity again. Same with the 35 herret and 35 Remington.
The most underrated cartridge, the 30)30. Back around 1977, my dad got out his old Savage bolt action 30)30. Using 170 gr. Remington Corelokt ammo. He hammered in the ground a 1)2" piece of concrete rebar about 5' long. To use as a target stand. He put the target board up and had the bullseye positioned in front of steel rebar. Figuring that would be the safest spot so the bullet would not hit it. He said he hadn't shot this rifle in 15 years. Same box of ammo that came with gun when he bought it. We backed off 50 yds. He sat down and aimed. Open sights! Boom! Thete was a no ice I cannot describe. The bullet sheared that steel in half. The top piece went about 20 ft. Up in the air and around 25 yds in back of where it was hit. We couldn't believe it. So when someone says in front of me that a 30)30 is not that powerful, I say, " Let me tell you a little story". GREAT VIDEO!
Dang - that is wild! Thanks for sharing that story with us and for tuning in, David!
Hi from Pennsylvania. You are now talking about the BEST hunting round for hunting in the woods ever made. I have 6 m94. My oldest was made in 1909. All of them have been in my family and I inherited them in 1978. My own m94 30-30 . That I got for Christmas in 1978. Has a side mounted 1-5 Leopold . And open sights. Both sighted in. . I taken moose caribou and deer and black bear. . 1 shot kills. I took it to South Dakota and got a coyote at 207 yards. Across the west fork River.. I love m 94 3030 winchesters. I always use 170 power points. Short blood trails. God bless.
I've gone back to 30 30 after 40 yrs. It's about the nostalgia and the sport of the old 94 winchester and the 30 30 for me.
When I was just a kid, way back in the 50's and 60's EVERY hardware store sold the 30-30 plus an assortment of ammo for same. I bought my first one, at age 16, while on a trip to Montana. Used it for decades, untill it finally got stolen!
Great cartridge; if you just work within it's limitations.
I really wish things would move back to the way things were. They were just better times. Young people were more intelligent, respectful, and responsible. To be able to go to one store and come out with groceries, tools, and a rifle was really exciting. I even miss the days when you could do that at Walmart lol.
Hornady…
As a teen in the 1960's, just about every person I knew who hunted owned a .30-30 rifle either by Marlin or Winchester. It was often referred to as a "high powered" cartridge. My first deer hunt was with a borrowed Model 64 Winchester in .30-30. My first deer rifle was a Savage Model 24V in .30-30 over 20 gauge. I have also owned a single shot .30-30 and the Savage Stevens 325 bolt action .30-30. My favorite cartridge is from the Federal Premium line that uses a 170 grain Nosler partition. In my cabinet I have a Model 94 and a Stevens 325 in .30-30. Does the job on deer and boar.
I just bought a Savage 30)30 over 20 gauge. Hope it shoots good!
Its funny how a 243 is more powerful and considered a kids or womens gun.
@@WayStedYou Agreed! I took my first deer with a .243. I know of a couple guys who use it for deer population control as well.
@@WayStedYou 243 has more velocity but more powerful it is not. I shoot both 243 and 30-30 and have to track deer much further with 243 than 30-30. The 243 is flatter shooting because of the shape and lighter projectile. Not because it is a more powerful round.
Does the job on bandits too.
Loved the 30-30 talk. I take one for a walk every fall!
Would also enjoy if you guys did a talk about the 300 Savage or 35 Remington as I think they are also classic deer hunting rounds.
Agree on the 300 savage. Gun blue did a great video on the 300 savage and aurther savage
I second the 35 Remington!
I have a Remington m81 in 300 savage I bought it out of a pawn shop for 70 bucks in the early70s it was in very good condition
I'd like to see both of these. I own one of both, and they are still my favorites to pull out of the gun cabinet
Even better, the .300's father, the .250 Savage. The Model 1920 Savage is one of the most elegant rifles ever made and its a perfect match for the .250 round.
I’ve been collecting cartridges and studying cartridge history for 35 years. Ryan never fails to teach me something I didn’t know. Thanks for these talks. I really enjoy them.
Just took a deer in the northeastern woods with a .30-30 yesterday. Still a relevant cartridge for woodland deer hunting as other similar popular cartridges. Short, handy, and effective for a short range medium game rifle. The deer immediately dropped without struggle. One of my favorite cartridges!
The .30-30 was the round that I used to kill my first deer. My father hunted for 40 years only with the .30-30 and killed many deer (usually 4 per year). It’s the best brush gun ever imo. I love that caliber and in WV it’s probably the best round you can use
Same here a bolt action savage. Had a poor ejector i think it was tin.
Come to Canada 30-30 still reigns supreme in the deer woods
I have a 1950s Marlin 336 and love it. The 3030 is the perfect round for shorter range hunting.
I have a 1945 30-30 I got from my dad and it’s awesome he and I hunted with it for years and he loved it
I still hunt with one. I have a 1953, and a 1962. Love them both! These old piney woods of Texas your shots are never over a hundred and fifty yards.
Love it, still use it at least once a year for whitetails! .270 would be a great one to podcast about too!
I agree with the all the resurgence in interest I think it'd be a great cartridge to cover
.270 agree! Shocking. 270 better trajectory than 6.5 creedmore.
@@travissmith-wz5nc Yeah but the thing kicks damn near as much as a 30-06. One thing I like about 6.5 Creedmoor is that it is literally all over the shelves. 30-30 is gone.
I deer hunt with my 30-30 and use a 270 for western hunting. Love both cartridges
I own an old Savage 30-30 bolt action and I love it.
As do I. 325-C. I finally found an original peep sight last year so I’ll be hunting it this year with a better original sight.
Don't see those very often anymore. Almost grabbed one up in the late 90's, already has a 336 at the time. So passed on it sadly
I love the 30-30. It's perfect in my wooded areas. 👍👍
The number one all-time 30-30 hands down love the 30-30
According to ammunition manufacturers .30-30 is still one of their best sellers
I know it's hard to get right now. And if you can get it its expensive.
@@CompetitionChris very much so my friend.
I hunt north/central Maine where 90% of my shots are 75 yards or under. My Marlin 336, 30-30 is my go-to. For giggles, when sighting it in with the Hornady LeverEvolution and had moa groups at 100 yards, I had a little fun shot it at 215 yards. Had no issues hitting 8" plates and it's remarkably consistent.
I hunt in central Maine and the Leverevolution ammo is what I use because of the small groups I get with it in a Marlin 336. It is all I need.
Would like to hear discussion on the 35 Remington.
35 whelen is better and they did one
The biggest of Remington's family of rimless cartridges, it is the only one still in production. The case used for this round is different (larger) than all the other calibers featured in that series of cartridges.
An old Marlin 336 in .35 Remington was the first centerfire rifle I shot sometime around 1969. The old rifle is mine now, still smooth as butter. I love the old cartridge.
I started with a 30/30 and I'll finish with my 30/30.
Gotta love the ole 30-30! 🦌🐗
Such a cool round it demands a 20 minute long 10 minute talk.
Same thing happened with the 45-70 talk.
More deer elk and bear have been killed with the .30-30 in the first part of the 20th century than most calibers numbers put together. Just a awesome deer killing round. Accurate, low recoil, and good power. It's a very underrated caliber.
Here in Canada this is probably true as well but the .303 is close
35 Remington one of my favorite 100 yard deer rifle
30-30s reign in brush. My Marlin is beautiful.
45-70 Govt!!!!!!! Gotta do it
Oh yeah
Yes please
Yesssss
I have a .44-40 that my dad got for me by trading one of his pigs. This is literally only the fourth time I have heard that caliber mentioned in my many years of life. Thanks for bringing that memory back.
Plenty of people hunt with the 30-30 in the woods of the south where shots are often
I love a 20 min, 10 min chat.
Last fall picked up an 1894, 1921 manufacture, in awesome condition. I can’t wait to try and hunt with it.
I've never killed a deer with a 30-30 but have shot dozens of hogs with it here in northern California. My friend who started hunting hogs when he was a teenager and is now in his mid 50's has probably killed over 250 hogs with his 70' vintage 30-30 Winchester. The 30-30 works great for hunting with dogs when your shots can be anywhere from sub 10 yards out to 150-200 yards.
Take you self a bear 🐻 or an elk down she had no problem at out to 100 years all day long with good hight power shell it's over and out
30-30 spitzer rounds
I only hunt deer with a 30-30 perfect round and gun for the Appalachians.
I’ve taken a handful of nice bucks in NC with my ol Marlin 30-30. Best woods gun ever in my opinion I use it for my trophy hunting in the NC foothills
I've used a 30-30 for deer for 30 years now. Never missed and never had to track. Still my favorite deer rifle for the woods
@@OldSchoolParatrooper copy that 👍
I still try to get out and take a deer with my 30-30 and it always delivers, great talk. I think originally they were all stamped 30 WCF, I have a 1906 build Winchester 1894 stamped 30 WCF.
First for me, I've never heard anyone say they've never hunted with a 30-30 or even hunted with someone who had. Amazing! Mine has killed my first deer, my wife's, and a host of young men that I've monitored hunting.
Small correction the .30-30 was originally designed for a 160gr bullet. TY John Browning. Hornady has brought it back @2400’/sec. very nice combo w/a light handling rifle. Hits the sweet spot.
I still have my Winchester model 94 that my dad gave me for my birthday in 1974! I have taken several mule deer & it still functions great!
I have one of those savage 30-30 bolt guns. Produced in 1968 and I inherited it from my grandfather along with his Remington Model 76 chambered in 30-06
They actually made a single shot 30-30 that broke open like a single shot shotgun
I have a Stevens 325a bolt action 30-30, very accurate.
It's interesting how accurate some calibers can be in the right gun. I never gave the 7.62x39 any credit for accuracy at all, but a friend of mine has a Ruger M77 Mark II Compact chambered in it and that rifle is MOA all day long with good ammo, and 1.5 at worse with TulAmmo.
Yep I have a savage model 340 and my first deer hunting rifle was a savage model 170 pump action rifle
In 1975 a Winchester Model 94 .30-30 sold for $ 49.95 .
Everybody in PA had one !
0pen sights, 20 Inch barrel, 7 round tube ...
... @ 50 yards, when you missed with the first shot on a standing deer you continued to empty that little carbine on a fleeing deer.
Thats just the way it was back then ...... lmao
With Ruger now owing Marlin I’d like to see a 336 with conventional ride king and a better trigger.
I have a Winchester 94 that's marked 30 WCF on the barrel. Still in amazing shape. I looked up the serial number. Mine looks to be made in 1944.
WOW i thought the American industry was mainly helping the war effort by that Time (specially the gun industry). Not doubting your story tho just surprised.
@@agustincetra3583 True, but I'm sure hunting was still a big part of the gun culture during WWII.
The 7-30 waters was designed for the 94, with a flat point and the original bullet was a 139 gr, federal changed to a 120 for more velocity when they began making factory ammo.
Just discovered your channel, really enjoying the wide range of cartridge discussions. Lots of folks stuck in the mud with the new “hot” rounds. Keep it up gents👍🏻
I have my dads Pre-64 32spcl, the Gun that infected me with Winchesteritis as a very young man.
The savage bolt gun that chambered 30-30 was the model 340. They are cool old guns. My brother and I own one in every cartridge they were offered in. 22 hornet, 222rem, 223rem, 225 Winchester, and 30-30. The savage 340 is more accurate than your typical lever gun and if you hand load spitzer Bullets are not an issue and you can bump the performance up. Interestingly the m340 was the first rifle to use the savage barrel nut system for headspacing.
I BELIEVE THE 225 WAS BORN FROM THE 30 30
@@stanleymarucha8194 I know you can make brass from 30-30 and it works, but they are not identical rim designs. So it’s not a direct parent case.
Where I live, the 30-30 is by far the most popular cartridge for hunting. You can't have a conversation about hunting where I'm from, without some old timer bringing up stories of all the animals they've killed with either a Winchester or a Marlin 30-30. It's popular with younger hunters as well for all the reasons you all described.
Besides Savage 340 bolt gun, I think the model 54 Winchester and the Remington 788 were other bolt in options for a .30-30 bolt gun. I have a model 336 myself.
The 340 was derived from the 325, so that's another bolt action .30-30.
The leverevolution ammo really brings the 30-30 into play again.
More than doubles the traditional range of old 3030 ammo.
Love the 3030 was my first deer gun. Works great for deer coyotes hogs.
And bandits
I just found your channel and really enjoy it. Could you do a talk on the 7.62X54R round at some point?
I’m 35. My first gun was a 1923 Marlin Model 93 chambered in 30-30 that’s been in my family. My dad’s a prick and took it back because I wanted to replace the nonexistent barrel band screw and retire the stock and for-end with a camo 336 set (keeping the original furniture obviously). The metal was still in excellent shape and it was a pretty good shooter. The action was smooth as silk. It hasn’t been used since he took it. It has so much life left in it. I miss that rifle :(
You gotta do the original old school "Poor Man's Magnum" the 35 Whelen vs the 30-06 thats a show !!!
I used to have a 35 whelen. Man that thing could roll a whitetail like nobody's business
The 30-30 was originally called the 30 WCF or 30 Winchester Center Fire, by winchester. It was later when marlin and other companies started chambering the round, they didn't want Winchesters name on their rifles, so they started calling it the 30-30 instead of the 30 WCF, and the 30-30 name became so popular that Winchester adopted it also.
Great conversation guys. My first rifle was a marlin 1895 cowboy in 45/70, wonderful rifle. I still have it and I will pass it on.
the 30cal 150g to 180g bullet has the ideal critical mass for game. Took a 170# Doe Fall 2023 with a Marlin 336 from 1955 chambered in 30-30. Golf Ball sized holes with the 150g round nose at max handload pressure.
My 1954 vintage 30-30 holds 8 in the tube + 1 for the chamber. It's still a nail driver with it's semi buckhorn sights. 22" barrel if memory serves. It's been in the family for over 60 years.
Lever actions are some of sweetest handling rifles ever made.
carried it for many years nestled in a scabbard driving cattle when I was young. Still carry one in the bush on my travels.
One of the best rounds for reducing damage to the meat. I have used numerous cartridges for hunting deer, and I am always impressed by how little damage there is to the meat when using this cartridge. I think the lower velocities are the reason. Great cartridge for folks that are sensitive to noise and recoil.
Love my Henry H024-3030 sidegate!
I would like to hear about the 22 Hornet
Amen Brother, awesome little round one of the best varmint rounds ever
Totally .22 Hornet, would be a awesome video
The first rifle I bought was a Marlin 336 in 30/30. It served me well hunting in the Adirondack's for years until I discovered the 270. I was ammo shopping a few years ago and found 4 boxes of Federal 30/30 in their 125 gr. HP loading. I snached it up and for giggles went up on a friends farm for a hunt. I hit a large doe at a touch over 100 yards on a hedgerow just behind the shoulder and her legs just buckled, DRT. I never saw that kind of stopping power on any of the deer I had shot previously with that rifle, most times being a thru and thru shot so I put a couple rounds over my Chrony and out of the 20" tube I was seeing just a bit over 2600 fps at the muzzle. Works for me and now it's got a new lease on life as my new truck gun.
My Winchester 1894 .30-30 (stamped .30 WCF) was made in 1920 and still shoots great. They were very well thought out rifles and handle really well. I know these days with all the technology long sleek bullets with high BC's are all the rage, but in my opinion I think a big part of the success of the Legendary .30-30 as a game taker of a very wide range of animals is due to it's bullet shape, the blunt nose soft points really transfer power and energy giving it its thumper or "brush gun" status. The old .30-30 is a brick by todays standards, but she sure hits hard. So in honor of .30-30 I built a 16" AR in 350 Legend for shooting Texas hogs. It's a brick as well, but it sure hits hard.
I've got a Savage 340 in 30-30, the box mag allows for a 130 gr. spritzer bullet..
Love the 30-30. Have a new Henry carbine and a vintage Winchester 94 (1949 Ser.#156xxxx). Excellent short range bush gun.
It's hard to beat a peep sighted lever action rifle for still hunting. They get on target quick. Which helps when a deer pops up ten yards away.
Short light handy 30-30 Winchester 94 or 336 has a place in everyone's gun cabinet :)
I agree. That's why I still use my 336 that I've had since I was 11. For 45 years, it's been gettin' it done for me. I'd use it in hunting country where most people today wouldn't, like wide-open, high-desert country. It worked for me because of the "still hunter" way I hunted. Even in open country, my shots would most often be measured in dozens of yards rather than hundreds. I shot a pronghorn with it once at 175 yards. I've taken seven elk with it, too, most under 75 yards. It's really all the "huntin' rifle" I've ever needed, and though I have had, and currently have, more powerful, longer-ranging options, I still use that old .30-30 the most.
@@jerroldshelton9367 definitely feel like you're hunting when you're carrying a 30-30 Winchester :)
I'll take mine out for the days I know I'll be covering more ground than usual. Especially those windy rainy days ☺️
It's nice to hear your stories about your rifle. Mine was sold to me thirty some years ago. I absolutely love it!
Mines topped off with a Williams peep sight. Which is fairly quick attaining the target.
Is there more accurate firearms.. no doubt.. but the thirty thirty has its place by a long shot :)
@@blackie1of4 I'm currently running a Williams aperture on my 336, as well, and have been for the last ten years or so. It's augmented by the use of a Merit adjustable iris aperture disc, which allows me to quickly dial in the amount of light the "peep" lets through to my eye as field conditions change.
Personally, I think these old lever-action .30-30's are at their best when aperture sighted.
A scope totally destroys the handling dynamics that are a big part of why I'm using the 336 in the first place, but the "peep" enhances them, via sight alignment that is "when butt hits the shoulder" instant.
And, as you know, we who use the peep can still see to shoot, no matter how hard it's raining or snowing.
The side-benefit, for me at least, is that with the aperture sight, I can really only take shots that are within the bounds of the .30-30's ballistic performance envelope and can't really do a shot on game that the .30-30 can't render dead meat.
@@jerroldshelton9367 couldn't agree more with your assessment. Where I'm hunting is mostly the big woods of the north east. Most game is taken inside 75 yards.. and I definitely don't see a handicap within that range.
When I'm carrying it.. I expect deer within 20 yards or so.. seems to be the norm while still hunting. I've found a scoped rifle can be a handicap is those situations.
Hence why my scope is 1x4x24 on my dedicated whitetail rifle.
I used the 350 Legend this past season and it sure reminds of the 30-30 Winchester. Mines sports an 18 inch barrel lightweight points fast too. That's my tree stand setup ☺️
5:51 That long neck was no accident. Most shooters would reload their empty casing with a cast bullet and the designers knew that the base of the bullet could not extend in to the case body if acceptable accuracy was going to be maintained. 5:06 The "Special" in .32 Special was the 1-16" twist of the rifling which made it more accurate than the .30-30 when reloaded with black powder. 12:38 The Winchester model 54 was chambered in .30-30 as well as the Remington model 788.
I hunt deer with 2 main calibers 30-30 and 308. Because the vast majority of my shots are 150 yards and under the 30-30 has been the superior round. Why? Because my 308 has destroyed the opposite side shoulder on every deer I've ever taken with it. The slower round nosed 30-30 goes in, does the job, and exits with extremely less meat damage compared to the 308 inside 150 yards
Started with the Winchester 94 in my late teens, moved onto dozens of different rifles in many calibres and now in my mid fifties I’m hunting with the same old Winchester 94. What is old is new again.
At the short distances of East Coast woodlands deer hunting, lots of .30-30s still used from blinds and tree-stands....over iron sights. One hundred yards is a long shot in dense woods.
Speaking of bolt action 30-30's, the one that comes to mind for me is the Remington 788. In this rifle you could shoot spitzer bullets due to the box type magazine. The 788 was also a super accurate rifle with a very fast lock-time, in a rock solid platform. Wish I had one in 30-30, but i would rather opt for one chambered in the excellent 7mm-08, which it came in back in the day.
My 3030 is a Thompson center contender with 24 inch barrel. I hand load bullets made for the 308 Winchester. 180 grain hollow points are my favorite with max loads
18 out 20 guys at deer camp in 1978 had 30-30 in Alpena Mich.
I've shot the same m 94 30-30 for over 65 years, and also many other calibers and rifles, and have been reloading for 50 plus years. In my opinion the 94 in 30-30, is one of the most versatile cal, when loaded for many different applications.
Plus, one of the most accurate.
With open sights I can hit a 12" target at 500 yards with correct load 10 out of 10 shots. I've never put a scope on it, no need for it. It's at its best within 100 to 200 yards, but is very able to match or better modern calibers. It remains my favorite top 3 calibers for hunting, or target, 45-70, 30-06, and 30-30, they got it right when they were first made.
I currently have 2 of the Savage bolt action 30-30 rifles, a carbine and a long gun. The long gun came with a 219 zipper barrel correctly headspaced to swap barrels on the long gun. The 219 zipper is basically a 223 rimed cartridge, it uses the same bullet. Advantages to the bolt action are detachable mags and you can use Spitzer projectiles and hotter loads.
But I still like my old 94 lever gun too.
The two most under estimated rounds are the 22 and the 30-30
I’d add the .22wmr to that as well.
It's actually dangerous how people treat them as toys.
I have a 1962 Savage model 340A bolt action 30-30. The bolt is clunky, you have to finesse the action to make sure it picked up a new round from the mag, and the trigger is terrible…. But, it shoots 1 moa consistently with any 150gr round nose in Remington, Winchester, and Federal. The little thing just makes me smile every time I look at it! BTW it’s topped with a 3-9x40 Crossfire. It’s the only gun I have that cannot be bought!
My 30-30 is my go to brush gun here in Florida. Harvested everything from Deer, Hog and Bear. Ill grab that before my 6.5 if I'm hunting the woods here in Florida
Keep up the 10 minute talks!
Don't underestimate the 30/30
@Moises Clayton quiet
@Bruno Damian you too
I still hunt the Ozark woods with an open sight model 94, and it is all I need. I almost never shoot over 100 yards at our farm, so I went back to my first deer rifle.
When I was 15 years old I was in love , real scared of girls ,but in love with my 30-30 winch. Model 94 , my dad got me one from a western auto store. In East Los Angeles and paid 89 dollars for it. Now here in Vegas I'm 65 years old, not scared of women no more , And still in love with my 30-30 using a round nose, With 28.1 grains of 3031. Good for bear at 70 yards, and Now with full load spitzers ? Elephants have been shot with the model 94. In Africa 😊
30-30 is a 'GREAT" heavy/close cover cartridge, with today's modern designs it is better than ever. I have never lost a deer with my 60+ year old marlin firing 50+ year old ammo. I purchased a 100 or so rounds in the early 70's when on sale at the local discount store and am still shooting the same today.
Great discussion on a classic caliber!
My grandfather owned the one I have now for many years, then my dad did, and now I do. We've all taken Whitetails with it and my son likely will as well. There are probably more of those rifles in the wild than practically any other cartage. It depends on where I'm going and what I'm doing, but it's certainly one of my favorite to shoot.
Since the 2020 upheavals .30-30 ammo has gotten weirdly scarce and expensive; even reloading brass is thin on the ground. Never would have expected it.
30-30 is on the rebound on my store shelves. Proves how popular it is. Prices are even within reason. If I see a box of .300 Savage the tag is $60/20 or more.
I have 200 once fired brass casings for .30-30. If you want them, I will send them to you for the price of shipping.
I will always have a 30-30 in my gun cabinet, great gun for what they are ,work horse for sure
Sitting here thinking about micro groove rifling and thought a podcast on different rifling types would be awesome. Button cold hammer forged etc. .
Great idea
got a marlin lever gun and a savage bolt in 30-30. shot lots of deer with both.
Remington made a model 788 in 30-30win. Even the Winchester 70 was available in 30-30 back in the day.
Great video guys, I just stumbled upon it. I am now subscribed. Do you have any more videos on the 30-30? I would like to see one on comparing the different manufacturers models.
i still use 30-30 yearly. its a great little rifle for these woods in central kentucky.
Here is Pa, as a teenager i used my grandfathers lever 30-30 for white tail
Fixing to put a scout scope from Vortex on my 1947 94 30-30. Took my first buck with one like it. I'm 55 and my eyes can't do it anymore. Sure wished I could get that illuminated dot in the scout model scope. Hint. Leupold made the STD W94 carbine mount that uses the dove tail rear sight groove and mounts to the rear barrel band, but you have to tap the band. Got a Redfield ghost ring for the mount too. I'll have to tap the mount for the ghost ring also. Makes a good looking lever scout setup. You probably won't be missing those animals if you put a scope on it lol. The 30-30 carbine is still the best scout/stalk brush gun in my eyes. With today's bullet designs, the 30-30 is coming back because they still work. You can speed it up with some lighter ammo too. Lever guns are still cool thanks to Hollywood and the 30-30 is a good choice for an all around lever gun. I think that is why it was so popular. The 243 is my favorite in an all around deer rifle. But it aint a classic lever.
Love my 30-30 in a Savage bolt
The 30-30 has probably killed more deer than all cartridges combined. My first two deer I got were on my dads old lever action with simple 4 power fine wire scope. Pegged my first deer through the heart and lung at 300 yards holding Kentucky windage on the cross hairs.
I grew up in Maine and you don’t use a scoped rifle to shoot a deer in the woods. Nothing is more comfortable to carry all day than the model 94. For most hunters in North America, particularly those who hunt in the forests there isn’t really a better cartridge. It also isn’t so powerful that it ruins meat. Some say you can eat right up to the bullet hole. I have my great grandfathers 30-30 and I still occasionally fire it. It’s a pleasure to shoot!
It’s my favorite gun I own.