30-30 for hunting deer?

[glock21]

I just picked up a marlin 336w with a scope, how good are these for taking down deer giving im a good shot hahaha. or should i get a high powered rifle. just need some advice from guys who have used the 30-30 for hunting

[Marlin]

Been doing it for 130 years, plus or minus. As long as your aim is true, the deer should fall.

[bryjcom]

My boss told me when he first started hunting in CO he went out with a 30-30. He spoted a deer and put one in the kill zone and the deer ran up and over a hill. When he got over the hill he found 2 other hunters gutting it with their tag already on it.

When he got back home he bought a 300 win mag......

Personally I would use a higher power cartridge. 300WM is a bit overkill but I personally prefer a .308 win

[Colorado Osprey]

Shot placement, shot placement, shot placement.
The 30-30 works fine. With the new Hornady LeverEvolution ammo it almost equals a 308.
Nobody will say the 308 isn't adequate for deer.

I know a person who only hunts in Colorado with a 30-30; for deer, elk and antelope.
Don't feel undergunned with the 30-30. I could tell you story after story of guys with "Magnum" rifles that have run offs from shot game. It happens. Having the latest and greatest uber magnum isn't gonna stop it from happening. What those uber magnums give you is longer distace capability with greater energy at those ranges. Unfortunately a lot of those "magnum" owners don't practice relying on their gun to do the job when the shot was poor causing run offs.

[glock21]

thanks. ill give it a shot this year and see how i do.

[denvernative321]

My boss told me when he first started hunting in CO he went out with a 30-30. He spoted a deer and put one in the kill zone and the deer ran up and over a hill. When he got over the hill he found 2 other hunters gutting it with their tag already on it.

When he got back home he bought a 300 win mag......

Personally I would use a higher power cartridge. 300WM is a bit overkill but I personally prefer a .308 win

I would be pissed. where is the excitement in tagging someone else kill. I guess if you are starving. well on the bright side he did not fill the tag.

[theGinsue]

I took my first deer with a Marlin 30-30 Lever-action. While they aren't exactly a "long shot" gun, they have all of the knockdown power you'll need so long as your placement is true.

[Pistol Packing Preacher]

Shot placement, shot placement, shot placement.
The 30-30 works fine.

[jh308]

I took my first deer with a Marlin 30-30 Lever-action.

Same here.

A 1951 Win Model 94.

[Beprepared]

Shot placement, shot placement, shot placement.

I could tell you story after story of guys with "Magnum" rifles that have run offs from shot game. It happens. Having the latest and greatest uber magnum isn't gonna stop it from happening. What those uber magnums give you is longer distace capability with greater energy at those ranges. Unfortunately a lot of those "magnum" owners don't practice relying on their gun to do the job when the shot was poor causing run offs.

Yep plenty of stories with one shot drops with magnums. But my dad hunts moose, bear, and caribou with a 338win mag in AK. On more than a few occasions the first shot blew out heart (completely). Still needed two more shots. Sure you could wait after the first shot. Then your pulling your game out of a bog. This year he's moving down to a 308 for the moose and caribou. Not a popular decision but in his aging years, he's tired of lugging around a ten pound rifle. If it takes 3 shots, perfect placement with 338 why not 308. Tried to get him to go levergun, he wouldn't have any of that.

30-30 definitely!