Realistic ability of a 30-30?

[Paul at Fechan]

As stated in the other thread, the 308 BLR you were looking at would be a better choice.

The 30-30 would work fine BUT you'd be limiting yourself to what shots you could take. Now if you are willing to do that or you will only hunt in woodland then that's fine, you just have to accept the limitations.
I personally wouldn't say get a .243 as a first rifle, something a little bigger would be preferable so 25-06, 6.5x55, 308, 7mm-08 or similar.
If you are set on a lever action a BLR is a better choice. I prefer the looks and handling of a proper lever gun but realistically the BLR is better simply by virtue of what cartridges it is chambered in.

police be like... 'computer says no'

.243 to start unless you have the experience to justify otherwise

 

[mchughcb]

The .30-30 will be found all over the Internet because about 7,000,000 of them have been sold since 1894, and Winchester and Marlin still make them and sell them steadily today, all over the USA.

Whilst often quoted how many deer grandpa shot with them, lets be honest, what is the percentage of deer have been taken since 1984 with a 30-30 compared to a 30-06?

Last I heard on the interwebs it was zero.

 

[Greener Jim]

police be like... 'computer says no'

.243 to start unless you have the experience to justify otherwise

Sadly true in many counties. Not everywhere mind so I always advise applying for what you want.
If you apply for 308 and they say no you 'might' end up with a 6.5x55 or 25-06. If you apply for a .243 to start with they'll say yes and you'll never know what you may have got.

Everyone just accepting that they can't have anything but a .243 as a first stalking rifle just makes it easier for the police to have it as common practice.

But hey, opinions are like....well you know

 

[enfieldspares]

.243 to start unless you have the experience to justify otherwise..

IMHO I would actually consider a .243 just as I would a 28 bore. A weapon that requires a certain finesse, skill, from its user without the safety margin of error given by a 12 bore or a .270 or a .308.

Neither are, again, my opinion suitable for a beginner and for a beginner on deer the .243 most definitely not and the beginner on large deer absolutely definitely not.

So my view is the opposite. It is that a .243 (like a Holland's .240 or any other 6mm) is a weapon best suited, for use on deer, to an EXPERIENCED shot and not an inexperienced shot.

 

[Southern]

Whilst often quoted how many deer grandpa shot with them, lets be honest, what is the percentage of deer have been taken since 1984 with a 30-30 compared to a 30-06?

Last I heard on the interwebs it was zero.

Here is what the manufacturers said in 2013 about their rifle ammunition sales:

Hornady Ammunition: “The 30-30 Win. 160 gr FTX LEVERevolution was our No. 1 [selling] hunting ammo last year, excluding all varmint ammo.

Federal Cartridge Co.: “We currently sell about twice as much 30-06 as we do 30-30. I’m sure it’s not all for hunting, but given the total deer kill and total bullets out there, it shouldn’t even be close.”

Winchester Ammunition: “The .30-30 Win continues to be at the first or second position in hunting ammo sales in recent history. I would argue that over history the 30-30 Win. as a single caliber versus any other single caliber, is at the top for deer harvested in the USA.”

 

[mchughcb]

Very interesting for loaded ammo. I'd be keen to see what the other manufacturers say. With a big discrepancy between Federal and Hornady/Winchester. Although I'd be keen to see what was vying for top place on Winchester.

 

[howa243]

Its threads like this that make me think that perhaps we do need to pass some official tests before being allowed a firearm.

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

Its threads like this that make me think that perhaps we do need to pass some official tests before being allowed a firearm.

i dont think that there should be a test as such but i do think that there should be a limit on what you have to start off with, it wont do anyone any harm to have a rimfire for the 1st couple of years before they move up to centre fire

 

[Taff]

Whilst often quoted how many deer grandpa shot with them, lets be honest, what is the percentage of deer have been taken since 1984 with a 30-30 compared to a 30-06?

Last I heard on the interwebs it was zero.

don,y know what the percentage is compared with a 30.06, but I have personally taken many deer with the 3030, fallow, red and roe, but admit it's not the gun for the new comer.

 

[ejg]

I shot a few deer with the 30-30 my verdict is: accuracy with my Winchester was much better than expected, tested up to 100yds. Sika H/L shot with 150gr soft points ran away at least twice as far as typical with the 308. 160FTX Leverevolution put them down quicker but the meat damage was hefty. Meat damage with the soft points was also not nice because the deer ran so far there was huge blood splash, almost worse than with a 243. The Winchester handled really nice as an open sight close up rifle in heavy cover other than that there was no advantage to that combo. I think the most sensible or balanced cartridge for our deer would be the 7-08 combined with a simple bolt action rifle like a T3.
edi

 

[Conure]

Right handed, was looking at lever action, just because of it seems like its stood the 150yr test amongst stalkers (or at least american hunters) so thought it might be a wise place to start.

Greener Jim, id take you up on your offer in a heartbeat if distance were no factor, thank you nonetheless, but luckily there are quite a few rabbit and by default, rabbit hunters (insert Elmer Fudd cartoon here) around Carmarthen way that I know of, inc a couple farms and stable hand friends who I know who may be able to give me some knowledge, or atleast a couple hours of experience.
Ive found a few rifles that im taken by, not breaking the bank, but seeing as Ive got parents on board with the idea of me stalking (seeing as home would be where I would be storing the rifles as student housing tend not to love the idea of a guy with a rifle and a couple hundred rounds of ammunition about) theyve kept nattering on about buying cheap and buying twice, so heres what Ive found:
Ruger MK 77 .308 Rifles | GunStar
Remington .308 700 ADL Bolt Action Rifle for sale. Buy for £395.
Enfield 7.62 L42A1 style Bolt Action Rifle for sale. Buy for £400.
BRNO .308 Rifles | GunStar
Savage Arms .308 Axis 2 Bolt Action Rifle for sale. Buy for £550.

I like the Enfield (probably just because its an Enfield and has the cool factor of being a service rifle at some point) and Ive come to know that Rem 700's are a good rifle, not sure why though, think theyre used in US police forces?

The Brno 601 brings back memories but I wonder about the scope. As I remember Tasco quality really went down the pan plus am thinking that they are asking a bit much with that scope fitted. Did a quick search and came up with these:-

http://www.gunstar.co.uk/brno-zkk-601-308-rifles/rifles/785434

http://www.gunstar.co.uk/bsa-308-rifles/rifles/739981

http://www.gunstar.co.uk/parker-hale-308-rifles/rifles/718177

http://www.gunstar.co.uk/parker-hale-308-308-rifles/rifles/717961

http://www.gunstar.co.uk/thompson-center-icon-308-rifles/rifles/771808

http://www.gunstar.co.uk/parker-hale-safari-308-rifles/rifles/5831

Purposely kept the budget down as an example of what is out there.

Now the Enfield conversion would not make such a good rifle for stalking as with the mounts the scope is too high really plus you have to make sure they fitted a 7.62 mag as they are different to the 303 mags and as most target rifles are fed single shot many left the original 303 mag in place as the new 7.62 mags were expensive. I used to shoot a Lee Enfield No4 that was converted for target use then switched to a newer Parker-Hale 1200 for my target rifle. Tried a scope on the No4 but not on the P-H 1200.

 

[enfieldspares]

None of the above from ALMAI's list. Have you asked for any of them to be weighed? Or round count?

The Ruger will weigh a ton and the Enfield a ton and an 'alf. Spares for the BRNO are non existent and, more the point, its safety catch is forward for "safe" back for "fire". I've lost shots forgetting that with a ZKK601 that I had in .243W. Nice little rifle but the safety? Oh dear! Also it has the God awful flat trigger.

Of the ones in your list ALMAI I'd look at the Rem 700 but put a two piece 'scope mount on it. But, again, as how much it weights and its round count. If a "bull barrel" again it will weigh a ton.

The Enfield has a correct 7.62mm magazine but the conversion doesn't end there. Has the underside of the receiver been correctly milled to take it and a correct 7.62mm ejector fitted to the receiver body and a 7.62mm extractor to the bolt head?

I don't know enough about the Savage system to make an useful comment. Save that their secondhand value is probably low as they are not "desirable".

Personally I don't like "cans" (aka moderators) on the end of any of my rifles and none have them. But FWIW if any of your choices come pre-threaded then that is a big saving on the cost and delay in having it done later.

 

[Conure]

It is very simple really AlMai posted links that they were lookign at none of which were lever action rifles. I just looked and posted some links of similar rifles found on the same site for about the same price.

As for the Brno 601 and the safety well oddly enough it never caused me any problems mine was a 308 so perhaps not everyone is so awkward or even daft? Originally they came with the set trigger installed but also came with a red plastic wallet to keep the bolt in should one desire to do so and inside was a bolt take down tool and a normal curved trigger blade. Fitting the curved blade was easy refitting the set trigger not easy. Swapped the set one out of mine as soon as we got it home but later wondered if that was the right thing to do after shooting a friends Brno 602 with the set trigger.

Never considered a moderator and I don't remember any of those that AlMai posted being threaded for one.

 

[Hulse]

I have a Winchester 94ae in 3030 and it's a lovely gun and fun to use but my 243 or 308 out shoots it every time

great gun to have in the cabinet tho

 

[Wills]

While not wishing to knock the calibre, it is certainly not the choice for beginners and forget a ready supply of factory ammo. Get a .243 like everyone else then get the experience to choose the right calibre for you.

What he said..

 

[Chasey]

Stick to either a 243 or a 308 and try and go for a second hand Tika T3 at around £450 for a wooden stock and blued barrel.

Make sure its screw cut for a modorator.

Tika's work streight out of the box and are renowned for being acurate and reliable and resale will be no problem

243 and 308 amo is easy to come by and as a result its generaly cheeper again its the easy rout for resale as its the two most popular calibers

I have a Sako in 243 and a Tika Stainless synthetic in 308. Personaly my go to gun is the 243 but the 308 is more versatile if you want to load for short range woodland body shots or very long range hill body shots. I head shoot as much as possable so the destructive nature of the 243 over the 308 at short range is an advantage for me.

ATB

Chasey







Persoanly id go the extra mile and get the stainless synthetic which would put you right at the top or just over the £500 mark but in terms of all weather usage its the prefered option