Ep. 327 | The 30-30 Winchester - Is Grandpa Still Right?

[@Sharpspur1965]

My father bought me a Marlin 336C 30-30 for my 12th birthday back in 1977 from K-Mart in Radford, VA. I believe he paid $199.99 for it. I took my 1st deer with that Marlin rifle using only iron sights sitting on a fallen tree at 14 years old. Fast forward to 2003 and my son took his 1st deer with the same Marlin 336C 30-30 Rifle at 10 years old. Now 46 years later I still have that Marlin 30-30 in great condition and I’ll never ever part with it as long as I’m alive. My son will inherit my Marlin rifle.

[@blueduck9409]

Marlin makes a fine rifle for sure. Ive seen my buddy make shots with his Marlin 3030 that i would swear that was pure BS, if i wasnt there and saw it for my self. Now in my own experience, the winchester model 94 has always been slightly more accurate, at least with iron sights.

[@Plumcraziness]

@Sharpspur I'm a huge fan of .30-30 (and its underestimated and misunderstood capabilities), but regardless of what anyone says about it, it's stories like that that make it as relevant as it's ever been. 👍 Warms the ol' heart to read stories like that.

[@Studio51media]

I inherited my Marlin 30 30 from my Father in law… I LOVE the gun. Haven’t shot it much but finally got all the bits I need to reload for it! And of course it’s ALL “Leverevolution” stuff and FTX bullets! Add that I’m a big double action wheel gun guy, my favorite being my S&W 460xvr and of course the ammunition that was purpose built for it [Hornady 200gr FTX], my point? Hornady is making stuff happen!

[@ev3dale298]

Bought a new 336 in .35 REM for $79.99 in 1974 from one of our small-town hardware stores. Kicked as badly as the 300 Win Mag I had until I finally put on an Allen slip-on buttpad. After 50 years, I finally conceeded and bought a black synthetic 18-inch Rossi R95 in 30-30. Walmart exclusive. A pound lighter and 3 inches shorter overall than my beloved .35 REM 336. Basically less recoil with 160-grain Hornady Leverevolution than my AR-15 in .223/5.56.

[@mikerichards8400]

I have used the Winchester model 94 chambered in 30-30 for more than five decades. It has never let me down when hunting whitetail deer, elk, bear, and moose within 150-175 yards. I have used Barnes, Federal , Winchester, and Remington Corelokt ammo.

[@stevensmith9651]

Taking a deer with a 30-30 just feels like a right of passage if your a hunter

[@dirtyfabrication401]

this comment wins!!

[@BigdaddyE71]

I love the nostalgia of a green and yellow box of Remington Core'-Lokt 30-30 loads.

[@williamgoldston5803]

I am a proponent of the addition of a traditional hunt season, early or late in the season. Tongue in cheek calling it a “Fudd hunt. “ Cut off for equipment and cartridges maybe 1960, 30-30, 300 savage, 45-70, etc. Scopes are negotiable. Classic wardrobe encouraged. There is something special about taking game with classic equipment. I love the new stuff, to include “black rifles “ and all the new cartridges and gear, but nostalgia and tradition have their place too. Thanks for another great video.

[@DavidDeshane-ic4cg]

Sounds like our settlers hunt. All rifles and cartridges must have at least 100 years of lineage.its great fun and we do get our deer.

[@blueduck9409]

I agree with you on that. Every bit. Hunting season with firearms is way to short in my opinion.

[@blueduck9409]

​@@DavidDeshane-ic4cgThats pretty cool. What state is that, where they do that?

[@mattnewcomb4147]

They will never do that in OH. For about 5 years now we have been harvesting more deer in bow seasons than in firearms season. Can't hunt deer with a 30-30, you criminal, but go ahead and shoot pheasant and squirrel with it. WTF Ohio We could shorten out 4.5 month archery season to 3.5 months, then add an extra week of gun season but that would require compenency from people in charge. ODNR doesn't listen to hunters, they listen to State Farm and Allstate and Geico. Our seasons and bag limits are completely determined by corporate interests and our gun season doesn't even align with the scientific data of peak rut. Bunch of idiots in charge who get vacations and campaign contributions from auto insurance companies. Why doesn't OH have an elk reintroduction program like EVERY SINGLE STATE THAT BORDERS IT? You guessed it, State Farm et. al said NO and gave out 3 week all-expenses-paid golfing trips and campaign contributions to people at the top.

[@DavidDeshane-ic4cg]

@blueduck9409 I'm in Ontario Canada and it's a hunt that me and a few other nimrods organize on the second weekend of the rifle hunt.

[@vcrudelejr]

I took my first deer with a rifle in 1982. The rifle, a Marlin 336 in 30-30 and a 150 grain Winch ester flat nose slug. The black-tailed forked horn buck fell dead in its tracks at 110 yards. I’ve taken black-tailed-deer, black bear, mule deer, pronghorn and boar with the 30-30. Yes, it’s still a great hunting cartridge. I’d have every confidence in its use for elk in timber too.

[@dontimberman5493]

It was designed to hunt North America. By people who did it to survive.

[@wsbill14224]

If 150 grain works so well in 30-30 why do they make 170 too?

[@easttexan2933]

30-30 is arguably the best 100 yd deer cartridge ever made. Took two 10pts this past season with my Marlin 336XLR using the Federal Hammer 150gr SP. Both never ran more than 10ft. Don't ever doubt the 30-30 within the range it was designed for.

[@willd7596]

100%. The new 190 grain Barnes in the new Ruger Marlins...

[@Plumcraziness]

@easttexan2933 Heck yeah. Sadly, in today's world, .30-30 is one of, if not the most underestimated and misunderstood cartridges readily available today in regards to terminal performance. Especially considering how it's been around for 130 years. It's been around that long, yet so many people doubt its capabilities, purely based on conjecture and ignorance. To hear some people talk about it they make it sound like it's not even enough to kill a gnat. As a counterpoint: particularly with more modern bullets and powders, .30-30 is also more capable for black bear, moose and elk than most people realize or understand. People here in Canada have, and continue to use .30-30 to quickly and ethically take moose and elk every hunting season. Case in point: I have a hunting buddy that has worked up a load for his Marlin 336 using a copper bullet that has even more range than the 160 grain Hornady FTX, and reliably penetrates 35+ inches in gel blocks. I don't care what anyone says, that much penetration with a .308 cal bullet is more than enough to pass through any moose or elk that walks in the wilderness. He's taken four moose with his .30-30: two with traditional cup and core factory ammo, and two with his copper loads. Bottom line is: keep .30-30's shooting range within a particular load's capabilities and it'll quickly kill an animal just as effectively and ethically as .30-06 or .300 Win Mag does. The only people who doubt .30-30 are people who either don't own .30-30, or who have never used it for larger game than deer. Congrats on the two 10-pointers last season. Cheers from Canada.

[@easttexan2933]

@@Plumcraziness Can't argue with anything you said. The only people who don't use 30-30s are the ones whose ego gets in the way. Always have to be one up on their perceived competition lol.

[@Plumcraziness]

​@@easttexan2933 "My dog is bigger than your dog" syndrome is one hell of a disease to cure, sadly. A lot of other cartridges most definitely serve a purpose for different hunting situations, but so does .30-30. It's no "less relevant" than any other round. Particularly for woods hunters, or for hunters who prefer to get as close to their game as possible. Just like how bow hunters do. Y'know, sort of the "hunt" part in the word "hunting". lol Not everyone wants to shoot from 300-600+ yards away. Some hunters just love the challenge and the thrill of tracking and stalking. Besides all that though, lever guns are just COOL as hell, and that's just one more thing that makes .30-30 so special. 👍

[@exothermal.sprocket]

More money than brains usually. Near total ignorance about animal anatomy and terminal ballistics. And a whole industry of marketing pushing giant magnums and scopes and 15 pound rigs to slay stuff at a mile away. The young generation naturally disregards adults and senior people about everything, and hunting isn't an exception.

[@sisleymichael]

I had an old Stevens 325 in 30-30. My daughter, at 12yrs old, took her first deer with it. She is 30 now and she has that gun. She still uses it. I bought a Henry 30-30, simple blued version, when they came out. I use that gun a lot. In the Texas brush country, it is plenty of cartridge to take deer or hogs. I did put a Vortex 2-7 scope on top. It is accurate. It is what it is and the recoil is welcomed due to a shoulder surgery I had on my shooting side. (as you get older, injuries, surgeries, from years ago start to hurt, they talk to you.). The scope makes seeing much better too. The Lever Revolution powder for handloading or the Hornady loaded ammo does really nice work. Use it as a 125yd gun and all should go well. A long shot down here is maybe 125.

[@shanehebert396]

I wouldn't hesitate to take a .30-30 hunting as long as my shots were 150yds or less (my own limit with it). One time, I was visiting my family back home and hadn't planned on having any time to go hunting so I didn't bring any hunting gear. As it turned out, I had a day open up and decided to go. My uncle was going to let me use his .308 but my cousin had been using it hunting, he was in his early teens, and didn't want to go back to using the .30-30 even for that one day (we had a .30-30 that was a 'spare' gun that any time someone needed a gun to hunt with could use it... like people visiting or whatever). I didn't care which rifle I was using (I'd taken a number of deer with that .30-30 over the years already), so I said he could take the .308 and I'd take the .30-30, with the joking note that it wasn't the gun that mattered. That morning, I ended up getting a decent 10pt with that .30-30 from about 125yds. I kidding him a little about it at the time. That was like 30 years ago or so. I still love going hunting with him and my uncle.

[@FMDad-dm5qo]

Yep, 150 yards is a sensible rough threshold. Since most deer where I live are taken at well under 100 yards, it wouldn’t occur to me that the .30-30 would be anything other than a highly appropriate deer cartridge.

[@DaveL9170]

Eli and pigs too.

[@FMDad-dm5qo]

Liked the nod to the 7-30 Waters at 11:24 - sort of the old timey 7-08, always sounded like a sweetheart

[@michaelhale4041]

My first deer 🦌 was taken by a 30-30, and i can say I still have that rifle. I never think twice to pick it up to hunt with.

[@mot0rhe4d40]

What the young buck fails to realize is. The 30-30 in many woods, is a family tradition. Simply due to the shear amount of them out there. That they are easier on youngsters, recoil sensitive shooters and those that know they dont need magnums to take whitetail 😉👍

[@nebraskaman8247]

What sucks is it’s so hard to find ammo for it anymore. It’s actually quite flabbergasting. Who would have thought that it would be hard to find 30-30 ammo one day.

[@mot0rhe4d40]

@@nebraskaman8247 Nebraska, I haven't been finding it hard to locate over the last deer season. Prices are still insulting. Now during the previous two to three seasons? Yes, it was as a nightmare to find, while going for $50-$80 a box if you did happen upon a box. As of this writing, I can locate it for $25-$38 a box local to me. The funny thing is the same place with those prices. Have Federal 30-06 boxes for $23. Go figure 06' being less then a box t30-30.

[@ranchodeluxe1]

These guns pass through tradition, but also economic necessity. Not everyone can afford a new rifle.

[@mot0rhe4d40]

@@ranchodeluxe1 There is always that too. For some it may be the only rifle they own

[@willd7596]

@@nebraskaman8247 Everyone still shoots .30-30. More popular than ever.

[@andrewpuckett5295]

When I was a teenager hunting in the mid 1980s in western pa, more than half of my friends hunted with 30-30 in either marlin or remington. I also had friends hunting with old 30-40 Krags, 22 Hornets, 300 savage and the occasional 308 or 243; but mostly they hunted with whatever their grandfather gave them which was not a modern cartridge. We never ever discussed ammo back then as the best ammo you could buy was the the ammo that was at the store; however, as I recall it was probably almost always core-lokt since that was what was mostly available. When i got older i put down my savage 243 and bought a marlin 336 in 35 remington (another popular woods cartridge back then) and i used that one open sights in the woods to take a number of deer over the years. Only now in my 50s with my eyesight not as good as it used to be did I finally put a scope on that 336 and that is also so that one of my three kids can use it as well. I have a 30 30 for my daughter when she is big enough to hunt, it is a perfect first deer gun for deer woods.

[@Perry2186]

The problem is Mark you hunt in the West why dont you look East of the Mississippi youll find but loads of 3030 used

[@willd7596]

This is 100% accurate.

[@northcountryknucklehead6977]

16th birthday for myself and both of my brother received a model 94 in 30-30. The upstate NY the entry level gun of choice for whitetail.

[@arthurlagasse1994]

In my safe right now a Savage 340,2 TC barrels 14" Pistol and 22" contenders, and a Savage 99 . I have other rifles,larger calibers,but the Ole 30-30 gets out there in the woods every season!

[@River_Otter_Meat_is_Tasty]

Great grandparents, grandparents and parents as well as most other relatives used 30 30. It's definitely up there for cartridge that killed the most deer. I still know alot of people hunting with 30 30. When I think of a whitetail rifle I think marlin 336.

[@willd7596]

This will sound mean, but I don't think Mark actually understands what Ryan is trying to say. We are not talking about performance, just raw statistical usage. We aren't talking about what is used most in the year 2024 and the last two decades (which the 30-30 still probably is btw). We are talking about what has been used the most (in aggregate as an individual cartridge) over the last 100 plus years, and then correlationaly what has therefore most likely taken the most game, across the entire US. I also don't think Mark understands how massively popular the 30-30 is outside the Pacific Northwest, especially east of the Mississippi, where much of game is harvested today, and the 30-30 is still massively popular. His question about the calling in isn't a fair metric either, as 30-30's are not often scoped. Mark is basing his opinion only on the last decade or so in the Pacific Northwest, which is where he is from. When you look at the entire US, and how the .30-30/.30 WCF was the ONLY all-around mainstream cartridge from 1895 until even past WWII across the vast majority of the US... the sheer weight of usage is massively significant for one individual cartridge. The only real true rival to the .30-30 in terms of raw number of individual users is the .30-06, and that really only got extremely popular in hunting after WWII, and still doesn't have the years/mass of usage. Even now, in the year 2024, where 30-30 is legal and ranges are generally 150 yards and under, the .30-30 is still enormously popular. .30-30 lever guns are by far the most popular selling, even more than .45-70. Once you are west of the great plains... 30-30's are still everywhere, and still very very popular. Yes, there are more cartridges now, but those cartridges haven't been around as long as the 30-30, and each therefore haven't accounted for as much. And also, because there are more cartridges, each of them correspondingly accounts for less of the overall sum of game taken. And Mark... 30-30 drop Moose. I grew up in Maine and I can't tell you how many Moose are still killed and dropped with 30-30.

[@culliganman]

My first rifle was a 7400 carbine 3006 I started hunting with at 11. As for I think the venerable 30-30 is a tight woods specialist that i still use to this day in the palmetto thickets of Florida's cypress swamps and pine forests. Also the light weight of the winchester I have it chambered in makes a great package for the public lands I hunt. Great videos guys.

[@MichaelLakota-vc4tk]

Something else I believe to be notable is that with all varieties of my rifle calibers-The REM core lock is simply loved by all the guns! And it has historically been fairly inexpensive! That’s a win win in my opinion 👍🏻 Enjoy watching your videos! Keep them coming 😀

[@DavidDeshane-ic4cg]

My 30-30 has accounted f.or a 250lb(field dressed) nontypical with 21 points over an inch BC 219 3/8, a double drop tine buck 200lb, a 10pt 224lb buck, an 8 point 207lb buck and host of mature northern bucks and I didn't feel under gunned at any time.

[@gordoncomeau3660]

The rifle was excellent for eastern deer woods when logging was done with horses and farm tractors and cuts were usually no more than 100 yds. Even with tree farmer tractors forest cuts were relatively small. Most deer where shot standing or running down or across logging roads at less then 50 yds. Present tree harvesting equipment make huge clear cuts by comparison in today's deer woods, where the 30-30 is less than ideal. Yet the 30-30 is still a great round for many deer and bear hunting set ups.

[@ethan5.56]

I have a Stevens 325B bolt action detachable box mag .30-30 made in 1948. Scored it for cheap at a pawnshop in Missouri. I like to think she has taken quite a few deer in her day. I’m gonna get one with it next season hopefully. It is a nice handy lightweight rifle supposedly made with surplus world war 2 machine gun barrels. Savage still uses the barrel nut design today with their bolt guns. Great video

[@joncook6331]

I have an old savage 170 pump 30-30. It was handed down to me from my dad. First gun I hunted with. I may just bring that bad boy out this year!

[@natepownall4798]

Moved to PA in 2000. Bought a marlin Glenfield model second hand. Killed deer (2-4) every season with it until 2018 when I gave it to my son for his first deer season. He's killed 3 since then (he doesn't get to hunt much) it'll stay with him until he passes it on. 3 shots inside an inch with an old Bushnell 4x scope at 50 yards shooting from a seated (on the ground) position. My personal hunting technique is to still hunt till I find a nice spot and sit against a tree. I passed this on to my son. 3 shots offhand into a 10 inch circle at 50 yds was the other shooting standard we practiced before he went out. This gun and caliber is perfect for a recreational hunter who wants a gun that is easy to handle, inherently accurate, pleasurable to shoot, and just cool to look at.

[@Basically_a_nobody]

I’m a young guy (23) who grew up in a mostly non gun family. Movies, KZbin and video games made catch the gun bug well before I would ever hold a real one. These days I’ve owned and traded several guns, have had my hands on all types of different stuff. I don’t have any real reason to be infatuated with the old lever guns but I am l! Always been a big fan of the cowboy stuff. Just recently purchased a Henry 30-30 that shoots about .75 inch groups (5 shots) at 75 yards with Hornady 160 grain. Can’t wait to take it out the deer woods later this year!

[@blueduck9409]

Take what you have learned and pass it on. Share your joy of firearms with your family and friends. Build a community that supports the 2nd ammendment.

[@JF-jm3nb]

I'm owning a Remington 30-06 gamemaster 76 pump. My first rifle 14 years old.... My father gave me that rifle after him buying a Browning gold medaillon 30-06. I agree on the regional effect on generation first gun. In my hunting environment 308, 270 win, 30-06, 7 mm Rem Mag and 300 WSM are the most popular. The 30-30 was not very popular with my siblings. Mainly because we were hunting moose, black bears and deer. Versatility was the #1 requirements I'm from Eastern Township, Quebec 🇨🇦. Great jobs guys

[@mikerobinson6606]

Great topic. I love the new interests taken on lever guns recently. In 1894 Winchester released the 38-55 and the 32-40 in the model 1894 firing blackpowder only. IIRC, the first 500+ rifles were all 38-55s. In 1995 they released the 30-30 and 25-35 in smokeless based on the 38-55 case. 32 special didn't appear until 1902. Over 7 million 94s produced. It is safe to say that Winchester lever guns have taken more game than any other rifles.

[@edwardabrams4972]

When I was a kid the 30-30 was in its hay day and almost every hunter has a 30-30 even if the were hunting with a 30-06! My father was hunting with a pre64 in 308 and was handloading with the Nosler bullets his friend was getting from John Nosler out of Ashland oregon. His gun had a Leupold scope I think it was a M8 model if I remember right. Most of my uncles were using the 30-30 and the Duke was using a 30-30 on the big screen as was The rifleman! Those were the good old days! Lots and lots of game and they shut down the sawmills for repairs and either you did mill repairs or you went hunting! It was the only meat we ate, so you could have elk meat or deer meat for breakfast lunch or dinner! My uncle had a Weatherby that was made with a Mauser action before the Mark 5’s were made. And boy did I drool over that gun!

[@jeremyshackelford8080]

Yes, watch The Jerk. It's on up there with Spaceballs and The Great Outdoors

[@RobertWagner-k5i]

The big thing is that yes, today more deer are harvested, but there are many MANY more different cartridges used.

[@MichaelLakota-vc4tk]

What I remember growing up was that pretty much every family that hunted deer had at least one 30-30. The decline of the use was in correlation of farmers going into the fertilizer/weed killer utilization. Fence lines became thin and/or nonexistent 😢. That is when the decline of rabbits and pheasants was obvious,again 😢sad. Now I grew up in that era and it was incredibly frustrating. I was born in 1967,in WI. The beginning of longer range shooting. At that time north of HWY 10 could use a rifle,below was restricted to shotguns. Now as far as The Iconic Steve Martin…”The Jerk” is definitely a must see 😅. I got a Marlin 336 that has not been fired since the 70s🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️

[@douglasrjohnson1]

I have my grandfather's 1927 Winchester 94 WCF, saddle ring model. He worked on a ranch out west, can't imagine how many deer and bobcats this little rifle put down over decades of service!

[@rogernewborn7490]

The 30-30 came out in 1895. In 1894 the 1894 came out in 38-55.

[@allen_p]

My first rifle was a very used, Marlin 336RC in 30-30. A 1948 with a heavy barrell. It shoots great.

[@DanielPhillips86VA]

Third time watching this and it never disappoints! Great video guys!!

[@SuperNovaForTheBlind15]

My Grandfather hunted Black Bear with a 30/30 & 357 magnum , he also used hounds in the California,( Crescent City) , Oregon Border areas etc , I seen it for myself as a 10 year old boy who went on hunts up into the logging roads etc Buffalo Bore has a 30/30 round that’s for big game , my Grandfather would have loved it ! Heavy 30-30 Winchester Ammo 190 gr. JFN @ 2100 fps (1,860 ft.lbs.) 20 Round Box

[@gorillahd9247]

I got my Marlin 336 .30-30 with an inexpensive 3-9x40 Redfield for my 16th Christmas. It has been my deer and hog gun for the last 37 years. Fills the freezer reliably. I actually bought a second Marlin .30-30 a few years ago as a truck gun. The new one is the 336SS in stainless with stock iron sights. They just work.

[@dontimberman5493]

15:44 I think he is on to something there. I grew up in the SW and 30/30s were everywhere. My best friends fiends dad and uncle both hunted 30/30 one of my uncles also with my grand father's rifle that he carried when he was working a ranch in the south.... my father 30-06 and my first was 270. 🤷‍♂️ but 30-30 very very popular in the south and south west.

[@buckdown1658]

Oooooooooooooooooooooof course I've seen The Jerk! I can't see a can of Mobil Jet ll or 254 at work without thinking of that movie! Very funny. On another note, I will be shooting my 1949 Marlin 336 S.C. for the last time this weekend. I will sadly be retiring it due to the fact that I will not thread the barrel for a suppressor, and I can't go back to hunting without one after experiencing it. Now, in 25 years when that rifle hits 100 years old, and if I am still hunting, I will definitely take it out of retirement for one last hunt. Good video as always, guys!

[@jwzerbe]

Lever guns still see a LOT of use in the woods of western PA. I happen to have both a winchester and a Marlin (actually Foremost) in 30-30. Both my sons have taken deer with their Marlin 30-30s. My Dad's family used both 30wcf and 32 special Winchesters over that last century to take more deer than they would admit to in public.

[@scottgraham1153]

I started deer hunting at 18 with a New England Firearms Pardner SB 12ga. When I turned 23, I finely bought my first lever action rifle a 1972 Marlin 336 in 30-30 nearly every deer except 4, I have gotten was with that 30-30. I retired my Marlin in 2019 and started using a Mossberg SPX 30-30 and my Rossi R92 357 mag.

[@jeremywilson15147]

Would love to hear you guys talk some more about the old .35 Rem!

[@OddBall1958]

My dad has a Savage 30-30 bolt that is a great brush rifle. The story has it that he bought it back in the 40's and he still has it. I still remember the day when I was a kid and we were camping out at an old friend's mine in Ca. They had put some dynamite in a milk carton filled with sand and they were shooting it. I would say at around 150 yards away. I remember on the third shot my dad hit it just right and it went off. Pretty exciting for me at 8 years old.

[@BenCarson-sn8ye]

Killed my first few deers with a 94,fell in love with the 30-30 catridge,and since have taken up reloading for the 30-30 and eight other cartridges.But have loaded several 308 bullets with SPBT.Load it as first bullet in my 94 and then follow with RN and it takes it to another level.Also have a Handi single shot in 30-30.

[@boarbrother1]

Love these longer talks. Keep up the good work.

[@derekcombs6497]

Small whitetail doe. Saturday afternoon of missouri youth weekend in 2011. 150 grain federal power shok my shot was quartering away. The rifle was a 1971 mfg marlin 336 purchased by my grandfather. I took 5 more deer with that rifle before passing it to my younger brother who still uses it.

[@Dan-uk2nk]

1974 Pennsylvania. My first White tail I was 16 years old. 30-30 model 94. Made in 1949. Still hunt with it. Had to go with a Lyman peep several years ago. I can shoot 3 MOA

[@richardgregory6653]

I have a pre 64 winchester with a scope mounted on it . The scope mount is offset for ejection. the mount is attached to the flat side of the action. Three screws attach it and do the work just fine. These mounts were installed by gun smiths. Only issue with the mount is for a left handed shooter. I really enjoy your videos.( fyi I am a great grandfather)

[@edwardabrams4972]

Just got that same gun for my uncle Chuck a few months back! Great gun! He’s 85 years old and almost blind but loves to hold it in his hands because if all the memories!

[@richardgregory6653]

@@edwardabrams4972 good deal, enjoy it!!

[@aaronsanders8558]

Interesting insight on the 30-30. The lever gun is a American classic. I have an octagon barrel Winchester 94 in 25-35. The rifle was purchased by my Great Grandfather around 1921, and he hunted whitetail as well as black bear in the Spokane/ Post Falls area with it.

[@wittercase1593]

About half of me and my friends all started on 30-30. I had a winchester, my brother a marlin, best friend had a winchester as well. All on irons.

[@joeydupre6153]

Consider this: Almost EVERY fairly standard deer cartridge has a muzzle velocity between 2200 fps and 3300 fps. Not exactly light years apart. Inside of 200 yards for the 30-30 and inside of 400 for everything else, the performance on deer is plenty adequate for all of them. Pass- throughs used to be the norm. Following a blood trail was part of the program, much the same as in bowhunting. Hunters insist on DRT (dead right there) hits on game now. That takes high speeds and flawless bullet performance rather than a chunk of lead punching a hole straight through.

[@ZacharyNWare]

I inherited my great grandpa’s Savage 219B in 30-30. It’s a very unique rifle and accurate bordering precise for buckhorn sights with my eyesight. I’m looking for a peep sight for it. Id recommend if anybody finds one to get it; it’s over built for what it was designed for, just putting food on the table.

[@dougclarke4540]

I have to argue that it is very possible that it still has taken the most. It’s been around for so long, and the more recent calibers have such a stiffer competition amongst each other that they can’t catch up. Every time you look there seems to be a new cartridge that challenges the old, new cartridge, and the 30-30 has been around so long that they haven’t caught up yet, because everyone is getting the latest and greatest….

[@anthonymedeck7081]

Enfield in 303 British was what I first toted in the northern MN woods. 14 years old up by Effie. Dad had a 32 model 8 Remington and another guy had a model 99 savage in 300 savage.

[@willd7596]

303 has taken everything on the planet.

[@mogulrider]

For 72 yrs our deer camp family members have a 30-30 traditions week. Our forefathers started it and all kin honor it. Yup we have modern hardware hunts. However, that week is all anyone ever talks about. Deer, Moose, Elk, black bear all are fair game. You have 175 yds max shot and have to stalk if you are further. It's taught all of us just how skilled the older generations were hunting. There something magical taking a levergun on a walk. Our camp has taken 100s of animals with 30-30s. It is pure BS that it's underpowered. Those are the guys with 300 win mags shooting does at 500yds. That's not hunting. Hunting is using wits, listening, tracking ability, and damn hard work. The greatest rifle and caliber ever created IMHO.

[@Studio51media]

Late stage boomer here, and a Johnny come lately to the firearms lifestyle. I inherited my Marlin 30-30 and LOVE it! [even though I haven’t shot many rounds thru it. I have 2 other Marlin Lever’s in 44mag and 357 respectively. The handgun calibers I inherited form my dad and the 30-30 my Father in law, so other than losing my dad’s I’m a lucky guy! LOL My dad started me mostly on air guns and archery [age 7 to early teens] but the first hand gun was a 44mag [my dad got] and we excitedly went out back in his yard and shot and that was decades later. He liked the single action “cowboy guns” and I loved S&W double action wheel guns. We both got into reloading and we kinda “pushed” each other further and further into the reloading world. Quite a few years later my Father in law passed and they gave me his 30-30 at the time my dad was still alive and yet my dad had already given me the 44mag chambered Marlin Lever. His reason for giving me he 44mag Marlin was that a it kicked WAY harder than he expected! H was comfortable with Rugger 44mag hand gun and assumed that the lever version would be relatively less than the much lighter hand gun!?! But NO LOL OK so fast forward to the day I took the 44mag and 30-30 to the range for the first time [together]… I found it interesting that I couldn’t tell the difference between the 44 and the 30-30 [in terms of recoil… go figure?]. But maybe that because we were shooting hot 44mag reloads? I FINALLY have 30-30 reloading gear… all the Hodges “Leverevolution” powder and the FTX Hornady bullets!! I’m excited to shoot that!

[@travischapin886]

My late half brother had a pre angle eject M-94 Win. in .30-30 with a scope mounted. My late father had an M-94 Win. in .32 Win Spl., no scope, made in 1902. I have an M-94 made in 1973 in .30-30 with no scope. Storied history with the M-94 Winchester. Great gun still and extremely relavant in the deer woods. Doubting it's use still to this day is folly. It's not all these new whiz bang cartridges today. I use an old sporterized M-1917 .30-06 still to this day to hunt with. I've used my .30-30 to hunt with, with great success with 170 gr. fodder.

[@Nathan-zw7nq]

I still hunt with my dad’s old Marlin .30-30 he bought in 1979 for $80. Shoots Federal fusion 170gr at MOA. Good handy little rifle for hunting in the southeastern woods.

[@a-a-ron1776]

I also had the rem 760 3006 with the cut off stock as a first modern deer rifle! It's still my go to gun 10 years later. Have since added an extension to the stock to fit me better though

[@keithtounget1295]

My Marlin Model 336 in 30-30 has a aperture sight. I'm still using it. (Grampa here.)

[@markocote7625]

Living in Eastern Canada it seems everyone of my cousins and uncles took to the woods each fall with the 30-30. It was light, low recoil and when tracking or still hunting in the thick woods it was easy to snap into place to take a quick shot. I now own dozens of rifles in a dozen calibres…but my first 3 deer were taken with my dads 30-30 with a tasco 4x32 scope. Today I am hoping my dad, who is now too old to hunt, will pass on that marlin 336 to my son to take his first deer next year.

[@HikeHuntHaul]

Took my first Whitetail with my 3030 and haven’t used it since. Actually; seriously considering 2024 being the year that I use my Marlin 336W 3030 with 150 TSX. Very excited about this fall.

[@Fulcrum205]

30-30 is a perfectly fine hunting round for Elk and below. Gun magazines and the industry have pulled a 75 year con job convincing people that you need a Super Ultra Dragon Magic Magnum to kill a 150lb deer. Personally, I think the 7-30 Waters is a Wildcat that improved on it but the original 30-30, esp with Leverevolution ammo, is an excellent choice for most big game. If you are worried about trajectory, get a moderate power scope with subtentions for 7.63x39 or 300blk. That will be close enough to take accurate shots out to 300 yds or so.

[@smitty3624]

My brother, my uncle, and my grandpa all hunt in the Deep South with a 30-30. Only reason I don’t is because I convinced myself I wanted to hand-load for a niche medium bore Winchester 94 cartridge. In the thick woods we have here, or for taking care of property where you have coyotes or hogs or other chicken coop raiders, it’s hard to beat for “unbox it, take it to the range, sight it in, good to go.”

[@lisaannaallen6283]

my sons 30-30 at 8 years old , contender loaded with hornady 130 single shot pistol bullet at 2600 fps low recoil and lite weight

[@rogerf7265]

I had a friend whose main deer rifle was a Springfield model 840 bolt action that was chambered in 30-30 and a 30-30 is high on my list of guns for my next purchase for hunting hogs in the brush here in Florida.

[@cfoutdoors0624]

Recently purchased a new Rossi R95. It’s not my mid 70s vintage 336, but it’s nice rifle and shoots respectively. If Mark likes to hunt with suppressor, they now have the R95 triple black with a threaded barrel.

[@enigmaticgwichin1630]

My dad has put down bears and moose up here in alaska with a 30-30 without a flinch. When I was a kid I remember him putting down a bull moose in the middle of the winter with a shot where I couldnt even see the moose. 20+ years later I used onX hunt and found he had shot that moose at right around 300 yards with a 16” Winchester with a peep sight

[@RiversnRootsOutdoors8]

Oh hey there bro! Lol I'm watching this now😅

[@chipsterb4946]

Fun fact: Winchester marketed the Model 64 Deluxe as “The Deer Rifle”. I’ve got an electronic copy of the marketing brochure.

[@DavidDeshane-ic4cg]

My model 64 has been in constant use since 1972 and is still taking deer. It's accounted for a few bear and wolves as well.

[@perrypiehl3209]

The Marlin 336 30-30 rifle mounted with a scope is an outstanding rifle out to 200 yards.

[@QuickDeath85]

My general go to rifle for deer is my Kimber 84 LPT but, I have a couple 30-30's too. One that goes out every year for at least one weekend is my Dad's old Marlin he bought when I was in school, I finally talked him out of it in 19 and its taken a few nice bucks and several doe. This year I plan to hunt a bit with a iron sighted Marlin 336Y that I have been fixing up and have a solid load made up for.

[@gb123-ej8wh]

Every existing rifle in 30-30 is still a deer slayer. Everyone with a 30-30 is still in the woods every season outside extenuating circumstances and taking deer with them rifles. I have other rifles to kill deer with but the 30-30 is such that it’s comfortable to shoot in a light rifle, sufficient to make every shot count, and you will never shoot a barrel out. So the 30-30 is the first sporting cartridge released for smokeless powder, and has been popular and with us since 1895 and it has still killed more deer than any other cartridge to date. I have plenty options but 30-30 remains the best one because the Marlin 336 akd Winchester 94 are just fantastic rifles that can be carried all day without causing fatigue, in my experience are accurate I shoot 170gn bullets loaded by Federal as well as handloads and it’s just I haven’t seen a Marlin 336 or Winchester 94 that aren’t shooters. They have been around by the million since oh about 1895 and going forward and the numbers just won’t be there for any other cartridge because in attempt to usurp 30-30 Winchester the various manufacturers have created too much variety and it’ll never be usurped as number 1 deer slayer having killed more deer than any other cartridge. Remember every year even more deer are taken with 30-30 and not that many with 300 blackout or 350 “legend” (the legendary flop) or even 300 WinMag as most of us want to take the entire deer home not splatter it all over the corn field or woods where we shoot them. 30-06 would probably be 2nd place or runner up but still more hunters using 30-30 and it’s easy to see the industry trying to kill 30-30 as they have manufactured shortages since 2020 with no ammunition on shelves to $24 a box now at Walmart so more everywhere else when it used to be $12-$16/box and routinely could get it for $10/box on close out. I remember going into a Ducks once to use the restroom and left with 5 boxes of 170gn Winchester 30-30 for $7/box and I should’ve bought them all and I may have bought all the 170gn they had.

[@jfess1911]

Other cartridges based on the 30-30 are the rimmed 32 Special and 225. Rimless versions include the 25 and 30 Remington and the 6.8 SPC.

[@jmjones7897]

The rimless .30 is also parent cartridge of 10mm and .40 s&w

[@jfess1911]

@@jmjones7897 Pretty much. What I find curious is that the pistol cases are slightly different, although only by a few thousandths of an inch, from the 30 Rem case. Rim of 10mm, for example, is .425 vs .422 and case body is .425" vs .4207". The rim thickness and extractor groove are slightly different as well. Both are wider on the pistol round. The differences are not large, but it would be interesting to learn the reasoning behind them.

[@horsemany]

During the decades the 30-30 was incredibly popular, the deer herds were much smaller than we have today. I would agree there are other cartridges which may have taken more deer.

[@MrTacklebury]

I've never had a .30-30 although most of my friends and family have them. I do have my Great Grandmother's 1926 circa Model 94 in .32 Winchester Special. I haven't taken a deer with it though. I took the .30-40 Krag instead because this was my grandpa's gun and no one else got to use it. I do still have the Krag also. The only other rifle I have that's more valued to me is my 1881 40-60 Marlin. I really love that gun's look and long octagon barrel better. ;) It was my Great, Great Uncle's work gun as he was hired by the railroads to shoot game for them.

[@MontanaDirtRoads]

Got my wife a marlin 336 30.30.its mine now as she dont hunt anymore,gotta get brushed up on my open sights now. Its the perfect truck gun.

[@mr.mr.3301]

It’s hard to buy a 3030 these days when a Ruger American is sub $600 and the 3030 is now over 1k.

[@Aurora4804]

I think that's the bigger reason it's falling out of favor. The guys that sell well aren't chambered in it.

[@RME1911]

Yes, but if your in the business for one Check out local auctions and estate sales, I’ve seen mint 94’s and 336’s go for $350-$400, especially in the last year.

[@Aurora4804]

@@RME1911 I don't buy used guns. Especially not old and used.

[@RME1911]

Certainly understandable

[@Fulcrum205]

That is part of the reason it lost popularity. The 2nd generation bolt actions like the Remington 700 and Savage were much much cheaper to produce than the lever guns. Fewer part, fewer machining operations, easier fitting

[@elkvalleyH]

Growing up in BC, there were basically 2 camps your family would be a part of- the .303 British or 30-30 Win as your first hunting rifle. Times have changed of course and this would no longer be the case. .243’s, 7mm-08, the loved and hated Creed etc would replace the geriatric cartridges of my young years. A model 94 Win in 30-30 stuffed with 170 grain round nose Dominion (first polymer tipped bullet that I know of) was responsible for my first deer and elk and performed very well at the close range hunting in the timber of the Canadian Rockies.

[@TheYokoHog]

30-06 baby! 12 years younger and king of punching tags!

[@Brokeasajoke2]

Whitetail are not a tough animal to kill. Although the 06 is a fantastic caliber and an all-time great, I always thought it was overkill for whitetail

[@TheYokoHog]

Too right, it’s just so hard for me to argue against the ‘06.

[@hunterdka]

Marks back and to the left got me 😂

[@ranchodeluxe1]

I found a 1908 Savage 1899 in 30-30, with Marbles peep sight and have been making good progress with it. I can hit my 12×18 steel consistently at 175 yards, but the way it sounds, I wouldnt shoot a deer at that range with my current loads, anyway. There is a 150 sst for 300 Savage that I made 5 rounds up for the 30-30 and hoping it may extend my range a bit past 150 yards.

[@jasonwhite6682]

A cool way of getting some modern loadings for a 30-30 is to take a 110g or 130g Barnes TTSX and pull the tip out and load it over Lever Evolution. The short ogive makes it fit perfectly in the 30-30 and the hollow tip is wide enough that I’m not worried about primer chain detonation in the tube. On the top end of the powder charge that load carries enough energy to reliably put deer down at 300+ yards. FWIW

[@chipsterb4946]

LeveRevolution adds up to 200fps to most .30-30 loadings. CFE223 comes very close as well. So new powders and new bullets update this cartridge. Barnes even has load data for a 190 grain all-copper bullet. Interesting to me, that load specifies a 1:12 twist rate. Max velocity is 2,111 fps using LeveRevoltion - for 190 grains that is pretty strong IMHO.

[@jrhunt414]

I have some 125 SSTs with the tips cut off. I believe my load was 30 gr of exterminator.

[@jasonwhite6682]

@@jrhunt414 I’ve started looking at a few of my other bullets and thinking about the possibilities

[@dopedreamz]

I just took possession of my dad’s model 94AE, I also have a Remington 30-06. The only 2 I need. That 06 can reach out 500 yards easy. The 3030 will k anything under 300. My dad took 50 deer over the years with only his 30-30. Winchester model 94 Angle eject came in 1983. My fathers was made in 86’

[@christopherquinn7858]

30-30 isn’t my main cartridge, but it’s in the rotation. There are some stands I sit where I can’t see 100 yards. In that situation I sometimes go with the short, handy lever gun. I’m 28 btw.

[@nozrep]

shot my personal best whitetail buck ever with my dad’s 1970s, Marlin-knock off, Western Auto 30-30 lever action! So much emotions tied into that gun that, I could never separate from it. haha. I shall remove the firing mechanism and frame it on wall one day! Buck score 142 B&C, which of course does not meet the socalled “150 B&C” trophy threshold. But still my best ever! Fantastic symmetrical 10 point Pecos County, Texas buck. Quartering shot in the front left. The bullet went ALL the way through it and, stopped in its back right hip! Found the bullet, still have it! About a 120 yard shot.

[@dinoquintana4319]

I bought my 1st biggame rifle a model 94 3030 at 13 I worked hard and bought it.immediatly went on to rems big 7.gave the 94 to my niece Many years later I bought a savage 99 in 303 savage.a truly great deer rifle Almost a twin to the3030.you don't need anything more

[@clinkerclint]

When I was a kid on the farm, our hired man had a 336 that he would let me keep in the auger wagon tractor as a coyote gun. Bagging a couple of coyotes was a proud accomplishment for my young self. By the way, he had some massive white tails hanging on the wall that were all taken with that 336.

[@kevincolonel3070]

Just this year, I shot a buck with my 30-30 at 130yds using a 150gr winchester extreme point. That same gun and bullet have harvested hogs out to 270yds. Yes, Ryan needs to watch The Jerk, absolutely hilarious. Equally hilarious is Mark's assertion that any one cartridge has harvested more deer than the venerable 30-30. Keep in mind that the 30-30 is ideal for the type of hunting terrain in the eastern part of our great nation where the overwhelming majority of our population reside and even moreso in years past. Also, as mentioned, the recoil is considerably less than others. The .308 has nearly 50% more recoil and in return it's 150gr load will get you a meager 15% more energy at 300yds compared to the 160gr Leverevolution round. And thank you for referencing Chuck Hawks. Not enough people benefit from his knowledge and experience, his website is a great resource.

[@imperialmodelworks8473]

My grandpa (before he passed) hunted with a Marlin 36 (not a 336) in .30-30 that belonged to his Grandfather, then his father. That rifle has killed at least one deer, nearly every year (and often 2 deer when my grandma or uncles used it when grandpa filled his tags), since 1938. I would agree there is a very good chance that the .30-30 has killed more deer than any other cartidge in the state of Wisconsin. And if not, its at lesst in the top 3.

[@johnkeisterelquattro2553]

Back in 1994 when I was a freshman in high school, I was getting into hunting deer, quite heavily due to my history and Bible teacher being an avid hunter. He was a great man! But anyway, I really really wanted a model 94 in 30-30. This teacher though was also an avid Reloader…. He ALMOST talked me into getting a Winchester 94 chambered in the 7x30 Waters. That was a factory chambering in the 94 back then then…. But I ended up going with a 30-30. And darn it, the prices of things these days, I really wish I would have listened to him back then!!!! 😂😂

[@thefink1990]

I was wanting a lever action for so long and a 3030 was on my list. But after alot of research I realized my 300blk was close to a 3030 in ballistics. SO I bought a 35 remington. Now I can find no ammo lol.

[@clayp520]

I live in the SE. I went deer hunting with a friend and about 8 others. I was shocked when 2 hunters had 30-30s. Not sure why I was surprised...just don't see many anymore.

[@ryanberry7492]

Great video. You guys should do gel block testing for 45-70 as well.

[@johnnorman7708]

170 grain soft point gives about 24"- 28" of penetration in gel. That actually compares to much more powerful cartridges. In some ways that penetration alone puts it on par in the field when used on deer. Deer don't need that much killing.

[@mkshffr4936]

A well balanced cartridge is timeless. P.S. A lot of venison was made with the .44-40 too.

[@davepowell3293]

I would say in Eastern Canada the two main cartridges post war would be the 30-30 and the 303 British .

[@rogerf7265]

It's funny to hear him talking about a 30-06 being too much fun for a 12 year old. The day after I passed my hunter safety course my dad and I went on a mule deer hunt and my dad handed me a Model 70 .300 Win Mag. His other gun was a .338 Win Mag that he deemed to be too much for my 12 year old shoulder. I had never shot it before and when I asked him if it kicked he said that when I am shooting a deer I wouldn't notice. He was right and I bagged a nice forked horn. He later bought me a 7mm Rem Mag.

[@Blumenstein88]

Took my first wildboar with the .30-30! Was my first repeating rifle

[@BustedLimbOutdoors]

Grandad killed his first deer and all of his deer with a Marlin 336. My Dad killed his first deer with that same Marlin 336. I was lucky enough to kill my first two deer with that exact same Marlin 336 during the same sit. 30-30 has a special place in my heart.