The 30-30 in South Africa (posted for Peter Held)

[JimT]

The .30-30 in South Africa
Thursday, 21 Aug 2008

Always nice to see what hunters are doing with their lever guns. I thought it would be nice to show what these guns are doing right now here in South Africa.

I have hunted with 30-30 for more than 25 years here in SA. First with a Winchester (top ejector) then later (when my eyesight started to give me trouble) I changed the Winchester to a Marlin 336 side ejector and mounted a 1.5x6 Lynx scope.

I have used this caliber very successfully (never required more than a single shot), but must emphasize that I always made a point of staying with range (max 120M) and I never fired unless I was sure of a good hit. Meat damage is always minimal. Game shot includes Kudu, Black and Blue Wildebeest, Warthog, Impala, Blesbuck, Gemsbuck.

Kind Regards,

Peter Held


Not RW trophy size, but good size anyway (22 ½”)
Bullet: Federal 170Gn FN.
Distance: 95 Meters
Single shot Kill in vital plumbing area.
Location: Mount Hope Game Ranch – South Africa
Date: 1st July 2008.


Bullet: Federal 170Gn FN
Distance: 110 Meters
Single shot kill heart/lung area.
Location: Mount Hope Game Ranch – South Africa
Date: 2nd July 2008

[pharmseller]

Wait a minute! .30-30s are only good on deer! Anyone knows that!
Great post, great pics. Be advised that "reduced recoil" or "managed recoil" .30-06 loads are merely pointed bullets at .30-30 velocity.

Quinn

[JimT]

more from Peter:

Hunters are bombarded by information and many of them suffer from information overload.

Most of them buy whatever is recommended by the salesman or whatever the manufacturers advertisements are promising.

Most have no clue of how calibers evolved over the years, and they have no knowledge of the basic fundamentals.

Many have no idea of what it takes to down an animal.

No idea about ballistics, penetration, expansion, bullet placement etc. etc.

It is inevitable that hunters talk about bullets and calibers when gathered around a campfire. It’s part of what we do. It’s part of the fun.

I get tired of reading stories in magazines about the “ideal” gun. In Africa, with a degree of monotony, this becomes a 375 or a 9.3 since this is referred to as a “good-all-round” cartridge. Well, I disagree.

99% of hunters will never get an opportunity to hunt lion, elephant, buffalo etc. So why carry a rifle which is extremely heavy, has tremendous recoil, uses expensive ammo and a long list of other disadvantages ?

I think what determines the ideal caliber is based on a few basic parameters (type of game mostly hunted, range).

Every time I get questions about what kind of “toy gun” I use I never miss an opportunity to inform the un-enlightened.

When they then see the result of my “little toy gun”, they tend to change their mind. Suddenly it is not such a bad gun after all.

Many people commend on the fact that meat damage on the 30-30 is absolutely minimal. I hardly recover bullets. Most have gone straight through the animal.

The hype about lack of accuracy in lever action rifles is also blown up beyond proportion. I shoot my Marlin more accurately at 100m than most guys at the shooting range with their selection of bolt actions. I agree on a technical basis that LA rifles cannot be as accurate as BA rifles due largely to the fact that bullet seating is further from the lands of the barrel (compared to BA rifle) due to the loading/extracting mechanism (plus several other factors).

However, the gun is likely to be inherently more accurate than the shooters ability to shoot smaller groups.

[86er]

Good words from a smart man.

[Old Savage]

Now that makes sense. Great post Peter - thanks.

[Old Savage]

Most Marlins are more accurate than most hunters can shoot.

[AmBraCol]

99% of hunters will never get an opportunity to hunt lion, elephant, buffalo etc. So why carry a rifle which is extremely heavy, has tremendous recoil, uses expensive ammo and a long list of other disadvantages ?

I think what determines the ideal caliber is based on a few basic parameters (type of game mostly hunted, range).

There you have it. And that sums it up for N. America as well. Most folks I've seen at the day before openening rifle sight in day at various ranges would be FAR better served with a 30 WCF than with the 497 LoudenBoomerShortMag that they can't hit the broad side of a barn with but that they bought because "Mr X" in guns and baloney recommended it as "the end all of deer rifles". My personal deer/elk rifle is an old sporterized P17 '06 - but even such an "under powered" rifle is too much for most folks who don't shoot but once a year. It sounds like Mr Held has done some thinking on this, and his 20+ years of experience in successfully using the 30 WCF in Africa speak for themselves. Proper bullet placement out shines muzzle energy every time when muzzle energy causes a miss or poor placement.

[Andrew]

Good read, good pics. I don't get many oppurtunites to talk ballistics with anybody except you guys. But one day I will get the chance.

[Mike D.]

Well, it is about time that someone spoke the truth. I can't agree more with peter, although I have no African experoence. IMO, the same can be said for the .33 Winchester, another extremely capable cartridge that I intend to bag an elk with this fall.

[Nath]

Hey this guy reminds me of me Do you know what- he never mentioned ft/lbs

Nath.

[gamekeeper]

Nice to read a post that is pure common sense, well to most of us at Leverguns anyway! Thanks for posting.

[maddog]

Cool pics and great post! Especially since my buddy and I just got back a month ago from RSA where we hunted plains game with a pair of leveractions. His a .308MX, and mine a .45-70 guide gun.

maddog

[44LVR]

Cool!

I'll have to tell my buddy that only owns a .357 and .30-30, both in Marlins!

44

[Blackhawk]

I can't believe this guy!!!! Him and that other fellow that hunted in Africa with a 357 leveraction are killing us other guys that'er trying to pick'em up cheap, when eveyone just has to trade'em in on a new 3000MAG!!!!! And with Ruger bringing out the new 300RCM I was hoping more levers would end up in the pawnshops! Shesshhh, I guess not now!

Its a conspiracy I say!



Johnny

[tman]

good common sense article. thank you.

[Griff]

Congratulations on a fine pair of trophies. Even better that they were taken with my favored cartridge. Good, solid info born of experience, what's to argue about? Thanks.

[L.F.Combs]

I am working on a load for my 30-30's that I would love to try out in Africa. 180 grain round nose over R15 I am able to reaach over the 2100fps mark, and in my new Mossberg I think I am going to go higher. Nice picks I am a big fan of a .30-30.

http://www.venompublishing.netyou can read about the load.

[O.S.O.K.]

Yep, and he said the magic words - "I stay within range" to paraphrase.

I didn't read anything about taking kudu at 300 yards....

A smart man indeed.