For a Nice Sunday Evening Read: Jack O'Connor on the 30-30 Winchester

[challenger_i]

Saw this and thought I'd share:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...0967b807&ei=41

[HWooldridge]

We have four 30-30’s - two Winchesters and two Marlins. One Marlin is an old waffle top rifle with 24” barrel - my dad bought it new in the early 50’s and I inherited it when he passed. It’s quite accurate and will group right at an inch at 100 yds. from a bench rest. My typical shot distance on deer around here is 125 to 150 yards so I have a 6x Leupold zeroed an inch high at 100. Contrary to what some might say, it’s almost always a one shot killer - my sons and I all trust it will hit where aimed, and I think that confidence helps us. If somebody misses, they don’t blame the gun…

I always thought the 30-30 was underrated by many people, but I never shot deer on the plains and long shots don’t happen much in my world…YMMV

[kungfustyle]

Thanks for the read!

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Good article. The .30-30 is one of my favorites. Even after all these years, what can one add to what O'Connor had to say? Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see much or anything about the 170 gr. bullet, my favorite.

DG
cC

[K43]

Back when writers gave information and not just an advertisement posing as an article.

[dverna]

Thanks for posting that

I recently purchased a .300 BO. Would have preferred a .30/30, but none offered in a bolt gun.

[Mk42gunner]

I agree with MR. O'Connor.

I believe that I could have used the .30-30 for at least 95% of the whitetail deer I have killed over the years.

One thing I never understood was that twenty five to thirty years after this article was published, there were several articles that said basically the .30-30 is only good to 75-100 yards max, but in the same issue of the magazine there would be an article praising a T/C Contender in .30-30 for use on deer to over 200 yards. with a 14" barrel no less.

More accurate than a lever action? Maybe. More powerful? Highly doubtful.

Robert

[Noah Zark]

Thoroughly enjoyed.the O'Connor article and agree pretty much with everything he stated. He hit one of my pet peeves, though. Most of the gunwriters of the period (starting with Phil Sharpe) got in the habit of using the term "foot seconds" instead of "feet per second" or "ft/sec" or the like (m/sec for our viewers at home outside the US).

Noah

[K43]

Did you ever notice the fun guys tend to post in the same threads?

[beemer]

When I was growing up Jack O'Conner was the go to gun writer. I wore out one of his books, what's left of it is around here somewhere.

As to the 30-30, I think most of us realize that the longevity is mostly due to the popularity of the rifles it is chambered in. It still a good deer round and all my hunting in this area could have easily been done with a 30-30.

I came into the 30-30 late, never owned or hunted with one but about 15 years ago I fell into a nice 1949 336A. I added a 336AS these year. I think the 30-30 is also a great cast bullet round. I have been having a ball tinkering around with the rifles, different molds, powders and swapping around sights.

Back in 1964, I was 12 yo, my Dad's brother and BIL came to the house. His brother had a Savage 340 and his BIL had a Marlin in 35 Rem. We were out behind the house shooting the rifles and they gave me a turn. I shot the Savage first and danced a tin can around at 100 yards, Dad had already gave me a few shooting lessons and coached me through the 30-30. I also shot the 35 and it kicked me around pretty good. The sun was getting low and the angle was right, someone shot the 35. I watched the bullet leave the barrel and arch all the way to the target. I was fascinated to say the least. Dads brother and BIL were both good guys and would take time to talk and explain things to a curious kid. So the first CF rifle I ever fired was a 30-30. It was one of those days that a young boy never forgets.