Opinions on 30-30

[daddy63]

Hi there,

I'm considering getting my 10 year old daughter a 30-30 possibly to get used to until she's old enough to hunt hogs. I have started her off with a 22 and we continue to practice with it. If and when we get a 30-30 I would start off with the reduced loads so as not to scare her with recoil. To me, I don't want her shooting must past 100 yards as a beginner anyways so a 30-30 and it's low recoil make sense to me but i don't hear much about this round and youngsters. Any opinions or experiences to share? Thanks in advance.

Daddy63

 

[doccherry]

Daddy63:

Here's my 2 centavos: First, I assume you mean a 30/30 in a lever action rifle, such as a Marlin or Winchester. The 30/30 is fine for hogs up close or in brushy surroundings where you need to acquire your target ASAP, and I've taken hogs with my Trapper in close quarters. I use a Barnes X bullet and it does the job nicely. The problem as I see it with a lever action carbine is that the recoil is exaggerated by the shape and drop of the stock and by the narrow butt plate. I think a 30/30 carbine kicks more and is more uncomfortable to shoot than, say, a .308 bolt action rifle and is far more uncomfortable to shoot than a 7/08 or a .270, etc. Since you mentioned reduced loads, I assume that you reload, which is great. With a bolt action in the above calibers, you can cook up some reduced loads that are very comfortable to shoot and later add a scope [or maybe add one now]. Later, when your daughter can handle recoil, use full loads and a scope and take her deer hunting or elk hunting. The 30/30 carbine is just too limited and I personally think it makes a lousy first rifle for most Western hunting. I routinely use a 45/70 and a .300 Winchester Mag with really heavy handloads [and nice recoil pads] and I'd much rather shoot them than that little 30/30 carbine. It just hammers my shoulder and after a dozen shots it really starts to hurt. But, in the jungles of Hawaii, it is the fastest rifle I have, sort of like a super lightweight 28 gauge over/under in the grouse woods of Montana.

If you are sold on the lever action, consider this. I have Winchester 94's in several calibers, including 30/30 and 7x30 Waters. I sighted in these two calibers a couple of months ago and the difference in recoil was substantial. The 30/30 pounded my shoulder and the 7x30 Waters was like shooting a .22 magnum. The 7x30 Waters also has better ballistics and is inherently more accurate. Using a 1X scope and handloads, I consistently shoot 3 inch groups at 100 yards, which is pretty good for a lever action. I wouldn't hesitate to use it on medium hogs out to 150 yards but i would indeed hesitate to use it or the 30/30 on a really large boar at any range. That's like using 20 pound test line to land a blue marlin. It's a cute stunt if you can pull it off, but big pigs aren't interested in cute stunts and can really screw up your day if you don't anchor them in their tracks.

It just seems to me that there are much better choices for a youngster of small frame who is just getting into the game than a 30/30 lever action. And since you probably handload, you can work up really user-friendly loads in cartridges such as 7/08, .270, .308, etc., add a scope, and have a rifle that your daughter can grow into and move up to deer and even elk, with the right loads.

I'm just glad to hear that your daughter is interested in hunting. Good luck to you.

 

[beastslayer]

Agree with Doc. I'm 5'6" and 150 pound man using Win 30-30 given to me new by my bro-in-law. When I started shooting it, my shoulder would be black and blue afterwards. And it still is if I carelessly and improperly put it in my shoulder when shooting. If I'm not used to firing guns early since childhood, I would have developed a flinch which would have affected my accuracy.

There is a whole exchanges of opinions here on .270 which is equally as deadly on pigs and deer. You might want to consider that instead of 30-30.

 

[XDHUNTER]

My daughter also started with a 22 when she was 11,work her up to 243 , 270 light recoil from remington and now she is shooting a regular 270.
she got her first deer at FHL using a 130g on a 270 browning.

Beast its a saturday are you on OT.

 

[powerman]

My first centerfire rifle was a Marlin 30/30. I got my boy the same thing the first Christmas after he passed his hunter safely class(he's just turned 14). He's only shot it once, but hasn't had any issues with the recoil. I bought a youth buttstock and a limbsaver pad, he shot around 30 rounds last weekend and wasn't at all sore afterward. He has one more practice session before our Tehon POR hunt and he's looking forward to it, not dreading firing it. The 30/30 has bagged more meat than most any other round. Ask Beastslayer how it works on hogs.

 

[jbem777]

I have an older Stevens 30/30 bolt action that works nice. I might even be willing to part with it if your interested.

Josh

 

[daddy63]

Thanks for all the responses guys... It's a tough decision for sure. I got my son a 7mm 08 and he has done well with it on hogs. my son is big for his size so the decision was easier but with my daughter it may be a tougher decision. Thanks for all the suggestions I'll take them into consideration. A 308 with reduced loads may be the way to go.her arms aren't the longest and I know stock fit is real important. I feel blessed to have 2 out of 3 kids like the outdoors and make memories with them all. thanks again

 

[Rancho Loco]

IMO, FWIW, ETC.ETC....
Keep her on the .22 for a couple of more years, she'll do alot of growing between now and then. When she's ready, you'll know it - don't push it until then.

If you really want to get her to shoot something bigger at targets and tin cans, mebbe look at a lever action in .357/.38 special. Be warned, you might have to buy two because they're so fun and cheep to shoot.

 

[daddy63]

The lever action 357 I didn't think of... good idea. My daughter is only 10 now but she has been on hunts with me since she was 5. I think of that now and can't believe I had her out at 5 but she was a mature 5. I'm glad I did though becuase she loves to go out hunting and fishing. thanks again for the input guys. I even toyed with the idea of a 223 with Barnes TSX but I have too many reservations with that.

 

[Sully]

My 9 year old son shoots a Marlin 1894 in 357. The recoil is about the same as a 223 but with alot more thump. It's also alot lighter than the Marlin 336 in 30 30.

 

[powerman]

I think that a lever in .357 is a great idea. .38s for practice and can be loaded up hot for hunting, Buffalo Boar makes some heavy duty ammo. Great fun and useful too. Perfect!

 

[mark650]

The answer to your problems

The .45 Colt is another good option. You can feed it everything from warm cuddly cowboy action stuff to burley 300gr, "kills on both ends" type loads.

 

[daddy63]

You all ahve been a great help. the .357 is something I never would have thought of, but sounds about perfect, so thanks. I'm curious if this no lead thing hampers these lever action rifles because i'm not familiar with all the flat bullets available for these rounds.

 

[Speckmisser]

My first deer rifle was a 30-30, and I loved it... but it does kick pretty good. I can see the potential for problems in a younger, smaller child... but I was also taught that big guns have big kick, and if you wanted to hunt big game, you had to use a big gun.

I knew what I was in for, so I paid attention when I was taught to mount the rifle properly. It makes a huge difference. Keep in mind that adjusting the fit for your youngster can also help a ton.

There's a lot of great info around now, and that "traditional" wisdom isn't quite as valid. The .243, .260, and a few other choices offer plenty of power and very little recoil.

As far as lever-action, unleaded ammo, there are definitely options in the .44, .45, and .357/.38 calibers. I think DocCherry said he shoots Barnes X in his 30-30, but I've never really looked at the options available there.

By the time your daughter is hunting with this new rifle, though, I'd be willing to bet you're gonna see a lot more unleaded options on the shelf.

 

[beastslayer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (XDHUNTER @ May 12 2007, 01:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Beast its a saturday are you on OT.[/b]

So you noticed I'm never in computer on weekends (had already too much of it on weekdays.

No, I'm not in OT. Just have a few minutes while the wifey is dressing up (you know about women). A few minutes is an hour or more (LOL).

 

[Bwana Turtle]

These might work.

Tiny Rifles

 

[Wild1]

I have a Winchester 30-30 and enjoy it. But, like some of the others, my humble opinion is that a .243 or a .270 would serve you better for your particular purpose(s). Good luck.

 

[daddy63]

Thanks again for all the help. Keep them coming if there's more...

 

[daddy63]

Thanks again for all the help. Keep them coming if there's more...

 

[larrysogla]

Just make sure you install a rubber jello like Sims Limbsaver recoil pad or some other jello rubber recoil pad equivalent. It makes a world of difference in absorbing the "SHARP punch" from the recoil.....whatever she will be shooting it will be a very smart idea to start her with the best recoil absorbing rubber pad available. On the bench or in the hunting fields, she will be hitting her strides without the discomfort of sore shoulders and painful "punch" everytime she pulls the trigger. 'Nuff said and God Bless.