30-30 for elk

longspur rider

Have a cow elk tag this year & would like to take it with my old 30-30. Advisable? Shots would most likely be 125-175 yrds. What bullet should I use? Took it last year with a 270 at 140 yrds.

mbsams

Of course it will do - 170gr in the boiler room

mrbruce

I'll bet a lot of Elk have been taken with the old 30/30 with a cast 170 grain chunk of lead.
Any thing inside of 150 yards should be on the way to your freezer if you do your part.....

tsr1965

Get yourself some good ammunition that is loaded with the Nosler Partition, or the Barnes X bullet. Make sure you place your shot behind the shoulder, and try to keep your shots at the near side of 100 yards. A slightly quarting away angle would also be preferred to sneak it in the boiler room without having to penetrate heavy bone.

RCrosby

Advisable?
Depends.
As long as you're willing to pass on the too long, poor angle, etc. shot, you should be o.k. I have a 32 Special (M.94) that for my eyes, ability, open sights and accuracy from field positions I wouldn't push past about 125 yards, but that's just me. If you think you might be tempted to take that 175 yard shot in poor light, or whatever, I'd say stick with the .270.

Horse Plains Drifter

Good advice above. As long as you're willing to make a reasonable shot under reasonable conditions, which it sounds like you are, personally I wouldn't push it much past 175 under the best of conditions. Probably been more elk put on the table with 30-30s and 32 Specials than you could haul in a 10,000 rail cars.

elkoholic

Advisable...no. Doable...yes.

Like others have said I bet that the 30/30 is responsible for more elk in the freezer than anything besides a 30-06. Limit yourself to 100% broadside shots if you shoot for the heart/lungs but I think I would look for a neck shot. Shoot the toughest bullet you can find and keep shooting until they fall down. I would consider 175 yards the max extreme range.

Personally... the nostalgic value of shooting an elk with a 30/30 (even a family aireloom) is significantly outweighed by the risk of wounding and not retrieving such a magnificent animal. I wouldn't risk it.

redhead71

My father in law has taken moose and elk with a 30/30 and a 32 spl place your shot correct and drop them evey time!

Michibay

Years ago Winchester did a study to see what caliber contributed the most to ONE SHOT KILLS. Surprise...the 30-30 was near the top of list with the 150 GRAIN LOAD!!!!

ruger41

Don't count out the Hornady Leverevolution ammo. It has a 160 grain ballistic tip that can be used in tube magazines. At 100 yards it is going 2150fps with 1643ft lbs of energy. A 170 grain soft point at 100 yards does about 1796fps/1218 ftlbs of energy. In comparison a .270 with a 140 grain sst at 100 yards is going at 2750fps/2351 ft lbs of energy.
If you limit your shots to under 150 yards and place it right I don't see why you couldn't cleanly kill that elk.

longspur rider

I have 2 30-30's sitting in the vault that I would dearly love to use. The Marlin is scope ready, & the Winchester is a "53" in prestine condition. I would never defile the Win. with a scope mount. With the iron sights I would probably try to limit my shots to 100 yrds + or -. The 270 has a scope but I realy don't like shooting with a scope. Have given some thought to a new 308 Express. Any thoughts there?