Caliber 30-30 use in Africa???

[IvW]

It is a great pig gun in lever action!!

 

[Von S.]

A 30-30?

A Leopard?

A body bag?

I watched a 9 pound house cat whip the snot out of a meter reader who went about 280 pounds once,I can only simply imagine what a pissed off 150 pound .or better Leoprd would do shot with a 30-30.

 

[Nkawu]

I know a guy, retired PH in his 70’s, culled loads of buffalo with his 30-30 in Zim. I’ll have to ask him what bullets he used.

 

[Red Leg]

I know a guy, retired PH in his 70’s, culled loads of buffalo with his 30-30 in Zim. I’ll have to ask him what bullets he used.

This I would like to hear. Assuming he was home brewing solid loads, a 170 gr bullet would be under 2000 fps and under 1300 ft lbs of energy at 100 meters. In spite of fairly good SD/BC, not exactly a recipe for deep penetration on a thick skinned animal. With a SP, adequate penetration would be very unlikely.

With respect to a leopard, I assume we are talking about a hound hunt? A normal baited hunt is all about the optics and the accuracy of the rifle. I suppose a Marlin could be equipped with a quality glass and a 150 or 170 gr SP would kill the cat. But why? And if walking up to a big tom bayed by a pack of hounds, I would prefer to hit him with just a bit more authority.

 

[IvW]

I know a guy, retired PH in his 70’s, culled loads of buffalo with his 30-30 in Zim. I’ll have to ask him what bullets he used.

You saw this or heard this?

Who might this PH be?

I know a lot of guy's, PH's retired and active, none ever used a 30-30 on DG,certainly not on buffalo!

One guy did use a lever action Marlin in 45-70 for leopard but that was that.

Shooting one buffalo at close range in the head is one thing but culling loads of buffalo is quite another, I can assure you. Perhaps one became loads...would not be the first time.

I have also been part of many a PAC hunt as well as some culling operations on buffalo, leopard, elephant, hippo, crocs, I did see a whole bunch of rifles used. 308 W, 30-06, 7x57mm, 303, 375, 404, 416, 458 etc...but never ever a 30-30.

Would be real interesting to know who he is, what ammo he was using.

 

[fsrmg1]

I knew an old reindeer herder in Alaska who used nothing but an old Winchester mod 94 30-30. He told me that it had shot many coastal brown bears over the years while protecting the herds. He said that in the 50's, there was a bounty on bears, one box of shells per ear. He told me that he got 36 boxes of shells (18 bears) one year with that rifle.

He also said that in his lifetime he probably shot close to 140 bears, but he could only remember about 3 going down with one shot, the rest took 2 or 3 hits and typically dropped almost at his feet. A brave eskimo he was.

 

[Nkawu]

I know a guy, retired PH in his 70’s, culled loads of buffalo with his 30-30 in Zim. I’ll have to ask him what bullets he used.

My friend still goes fishing with him regularly so I’ll get some more info and report back.

 

[HWL]

All these guys should send to Alaska and Africa with .30-30 only…..



HWL

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Is it possible to re-chamber a 375 flanged to become a 375 H&H flanged magnum?

 

[Bruce]

Not illegal in South Africa...I have sold quite a few second hand models in my gun shop in Cape Town.

 

[Rule 303]

I know a guy, retired PH in his 70’s, culled loads of buffalo with his 30-30 in Zim. I’ll have to ask him what bullets he used.

Like wise only water Buff in the NT of Aust. He was a ranger. He use to sneak up nice and close and put the bullet from behind the ear into the brain. Have to say his bush craft was way, way better than mine.

 

[AWLee]

I can tell you first hand that a bear shot over dogs can not tell the difference between a 30/30 and a 300 Win Mag and I've witnessed some really iffy shot angles taken with a 30/30. All were with cheap cup and core Winchester and Remington ammo. I never could see a practical difference in penetration between 150's and 170's on any animal I've had the chance to examine.

I know enough people who've used the 30/30 on moose, elk and brown bear that I wouldn't hesitate a bit to shoot anything else on earth with it up to equal size. I've never before considered it, but I might even prefer it for leopard over dogs. Fast handling, instinctive pointing and fast follow ups if needed. Food for thought.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

You know how you get into a particular vehicle and it all just feels right? Someone could write a book on what goes into that feeling - part ergonomics, part nostalgia, part fit, part, well, you. Whatever it is, it is palpable and strong, a defining thing. I contend that a driver in such a car will be a better driver, and a shooter behind such a rifle or gun will shoot better. And a better placed shot is far more important than excess energ. For me, i just dont like bolt guns, it doesnt feel right. For you, it may well be the other way around. The little lever 30-30 feels like a glove, it is right . And its record is there to prove that it has been just right for thousands of other hunters too. I will be using my 30-30 for an awful lot of African plains game and pigs, watch this space!

 

[Hogpatrol]

Just noticed the OP was dated 2009. Still a good thread though and brings back memories. I shot my first deer as did one brother with my father's Stevens bolt action 30-30 carbine. It was a handy little rifle. Like others, I'd be afraid of it going missing in transit.

 

[Nkawu]

I know a guy, retired PH in his 70’s, culled loads of buffalo with his 30-30 in Zim. I’ll have to ask him what bullets he used.

Finally heard back, sorry for the delay! So not loads of buffalo as I originally suggested but 3 shot with Super X Silver tip 170 grain. Nice and close with open sights.

 

[IvW]

Finally heard back, sorry for the delay! So not loads of buffalo as I originally suggested but 3 shot with Super X Silver tip 170 grain. Nice and close with open sights.

Thanks for the honest feedback.

Shot more than that with 7x57 and 308, but 30-30 yip not a culling round but sure 2 or 3 close up quite do able...

 

[Red Leg]

I can tell you first hand that a bear shot over dogs can not tell the difference between a 30/30 and a 300 Win Mag and I've witnessed some really iffy shot angles taken with a 30/30. All were with cheap cup and core Winchester and Remington ammo. I never could see a practical difference in penetration between 150's and 170's on any animal I've had the chance to examine.

I know enough people who've used the 30/30 on moose, elk and brown bear that I wouldn't hesitate a bit to shoot anything else on earth with it up to equal size. I've never before considered it, but I might even prefer it for leopard over dogs. Fast handling, instinctive pointing and fast follow ups if needed. Food for thought.

Well, I can tell you first hand a leopard isn't a black bear and a grizzly isn't a cape buffalo. Not denigrating either one of them. I particularly enjoy hunting black bear - but in my experience, like most North American game, they are not particularly difficult to kill. (Much like the mountain lion as well - which is also wired somewhat differently from a leopard). But hey, if you can find a PH who will take you out after both a leopard and cape buffalo with 150 or 170 gr bullet from a Model 94 doom stomper, go for it.

 

[Hunter4752001]

Feel free to use whatever you like but remember Leopards aren't deer

(ps not commenting on the hunts, just examples of what can happen)

 

[AWLee]

If you put a bad shot on an animal, the animal doesn’t care how big of a gun you used. I’ve watched as poorly hit animals absorb 45 caliber and 12 bore bullets to no effect. Just as I’ve watched animals simply roll over and die after being hit properly with small calibers.

The two dog hunting videos demonstrate a pretty glaring error on the part of both clients in the videos. Big optics have absolutely no place in hunting any big game over dogs.
I’ve seen a lot of hunters show up in camp for a bear hunt over dogs with a ridiculously large scope on their rifle. Lots of bad shots put on bears because of it.

One of my bear guide friends once commented to me that he thought 308 and 270 were pretty ineffective on bear where as the 30/30 was just about perfect. He had never taken into consideration that scoped rifles and close range on an often moving target is a huge hindrance and often results in bad shot placement. I loaned a couple of his hunters my open sighted Savage 99 308 and that convinced Billy of what I was speaking of.
The guys who showed up in camp with an open sighted lever gun usually had no issues at all.

A fast handling, light recoiling, open sighted lever gun in 30/30 or 35 Rem. might be as good as it gets for following up on wounded leopards or hunting them over dogs. I’ll shoot a few that way and find out for myself.

As a sidenote, I know one person who was killed by a black bear that had a bad shot put on it and another who was busted up and mauled pretty badly. I also had one bear that killed all four of the dogs that I had out on it without them ever stopping it. Leopards are not bears but wounded animals with fangs and claws are wounded animals with fangs and claws. Not all bears run away and not all leopards turn and fight

 

[Eric Anderson]

If you put a bad shot on an animal, the animal doesn’t care how big of a gun you used. I’ve watched as poorly hit animals absorb 45 caliber and 12 bore bullets to no effect. Just as I’ve watched animals simply roll over and die after being hit properly with small calibers.

The two dog hunting videos demonstrate a pretty glaring error on the part of both clients in the videos. Big optics have absolutely no place in hunting any big game over dogs.
I’ve seen a lot of hunters show up in camp for a bear hunt over dogs with a ridiculously large scope on their rifle. Lots of bad shots put on bears because of it.

One of my bear guide friends once commented to me that he thought 308 and 270 were pretty ineffective on bear where as the 30/30 was just about perfect. He had never taken into consideration that scoped rifles and close range on an often moving target is a huge hindrance and often results in bad shot placement. I loaned a couple of his hunters my open sighted Savage 99 308 and that convinced Billy of what I was speaking of.
The guys who showed up in camp with an open sighted lever gun usually had no issues at all.

A fast handling, light recoiling, open sighted lever gun in 30/30 or 35 Rem. might be as good as it gets for following up on wounded leopards or hunting them over dogs. I’ll shoot a few that way and find out for myself.

As a sidenote, I know one person who was killed by a black bear that had a bad shot put on it and another who was busted up and mauled pretty badly. I also had one bear that killed all four of the dogs that I had out on it without them ever stopping it. Leopards are not bears but wounded animals with fangs and claws are wounded animals with fangs and claws. Not all bears run away and not all leopards turn and fight

Raccoons can kill a hunting dog. That is why you never hunt raccoons with a single dog. Especially around water.
I also agree with you observation about scopes. Scopes have no business on a moving target. Maybe a red dot.