Nostalgic. Old-school. Underpowered. The 30-30 gets called a lot of things, but new technology and a rabid fan base are breathing new life into this venerable round.
Does Grandpa’s 30-30 Winchester still have the juice to get the job done by today’s cartridge standards? Mark Boardman and Ryan Muckenhirn hit the range to find out. They fire three loadings – one old and two new. Will they be impressed or let down by the results. The gel blocks, an old rifle, a few shells, and these fine gentlemen tell the tale in this episode of — Cartridge Talks.
In this episode, Mark and Ryan put this new technology to the test, compare it to traditional rounds, and answer the question, “Is Grandpa’s 30-30 better than ever?”
30-30 Winchester Ammunition
Think the 30-30 Winchester® is a relic of the past? This episode might change your mind.
Though it has its roots in “the good ol’ days,” and it remained largely unchanged till the early 2000’s, the 30-30 is finding a foothold in the gun safes of modern hunters. This is largely thanks to Hornady, who developed new technologies that produce higher velocities and flatter trajectories.
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Live Inventory Price Checker
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Supreme Ballistic Silvertip Ammo 30-30 Winchester 150gr Bst - 30-30 Winchester 150gr Ballistic Silvertip 20/Box | Brownells.com | $ 31.99 |
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Lyman #6 7-30 Waters/.30-30 Winchester/.38-55 Winchester Shell Holder | Palmetto State Armory | $ 9.99 $ 8.89 |
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Federal 30-30 Winchester 150 Grain SP (Box) | Ammunition Depot | $ 40.59 $ 33.89 |
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Hornady Subsonic 30-30 Winchester Ammo 175gr Sub-X 20 Rounds | GunMag Warehouse | $ 24.99 |
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They said 300yds? Nah
At 200 the round slipped between the ribs broadside and failed to get into an organ. I backed him up with an 06 in the neck which dropped it immediately. Never again past 100 for me for a humane kill. Find a 300 yd gel block or even a water jug video on the 30-30 that shows effective penetration
Keep’em close for this round
Some people apparently have nothing to do other than stir up fake controversies. The 30-30 has been an effective cartridge since 1895 as long as the shooter takes into account the limitations of (1) himself and (2) the cartridge. Anyone taking pot-shots at game at ranges greater than 100 yards with the 30-30 needs his hunting license permanently revoked.
I remember reading an article in the early 80’s on Gunsite holding an urban tactical rifle course. The majority of the students showed up with custom AR’s and H&Ks, except two guys who showed up with Winchester 94 Trappers in 30-30. These guys had fitted their Trappers with ghost ring style Williams Rear Sights.. They both aced the course. Cooper was so impressed with them he had a couple fixed up at the Gunsite Shop.
You guys are funny. I love handloads for 30-30. That long neck is just made for cast bullets. Cheap to shoot and easy on the barrel. Barrel might last as long as a rimfire. Also even if tube fed, it can be a two shooter with pointy bullets. More power and longer point blank range than 300 blackout or 7.62X39. it only gives up 100 yards to a 30-06 for point blank range. 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips super accurate and perfect for deer. Subsonics easy to create for the 30-30. Good round for single shot rifles and handguns too… Read more »
it has been said that the 30 30 has taken more deer and game than all other cartridges combined. so why the waste of words and space. sure it isn’t the best cartridge ever but it gets the job done. stop being the tools and fools of the advertising business.
.30-30? Wasn’t that the nickname given to what became America’s most popular cartridge, the .30 WCF? I have one of those. The .30 WCF was America’s first widely used smokeless powder cartridge. The new Winchester M1894, due to its use of steel instead of the older iron construction, was able to handle the higher pressures of smokeless powder, and the .30 WCF was developed for it. “The .30-30 Winchester (officially named the .30 Winchester Center Fire or .30 WCF) cartridge was first marketed for the Winchester Model 1894 lever-action rifle in 1895.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-30_Winchester People were used to rifle and pistol… Read more »
30-30 can drop anything you need to – i carry mine everytime we go to the wilds
Buffalo Bore loads the 30-30 with the Barnes 190 grain bullet. Duplicates the old 303 Savage 190 grain load. Several artices have mentioned about using the 30-30 lever action as a single shot using pointed bullets Reloader have used 190 to 200 grain cast lead bullets in the 30-30. Reloader can use the 30 Carbines 110 grain soft nose bullets for small game and plinking. There are cartridges adapters available for the 30-30 such as : 32 auto in 30-30 32 S&W Long in 30-30 MCAce sells cartridges adapters. I believe they are located in Anchorage Alaska. Heard rumors that… Read more »
the 30-30 or the thutty thutty as my uncle used to say it has probably put more meat on the table than all other calibers combined. i deer hunted with an old model 94 with the half cock safety for years and years and in West Virginia it is a brush gun that is hard to beat. lightweight and very reasonable recoil. my oldest son has my original one now and i have a newer carbine that my wife bought me in 1998 after i had stopped smoking for the first year. it has also put quite a bit of… Read more »
I do not own a 30-30 lever gun but I do have a Marlin 336 – 35 Remington bought in the early 60s for under $70 brand new from Sears and Roebuck . No FFL required .