Caliber 30-30 use in Africa???

[Von S.]

For me it would be a "no go" with the 30-30 and Africa.

Tough to get me squirrel hunting anywhere without hunting with something that you pull a lanyard to make it go bang.

 

[BeeMaa]

Use an appropriate cartridge for appropriate sized game.
The perfect one gun battery for Africa is a 375 (H&H, Ruger...etc) you pick your flavor.
However if you chose to use a 30-30 be ready to possibly pass on a shot that may have been possible with another caliber.
You should have the hunt you want and if it includes a 30-30, make sure the PH is aware of your choice.

"Whew, I'm sure glad I didn't bring my 375"...said no hunter in Africa...ever.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

A good addition to any classic lever gun is a peep sight. Williams and Lyman both made no tap no drill options that can still be bought on ebay

Jeffrey, I put a little Leupold 1-6 green dot AR scope on mine, really enhances the aiming without spoiling the looks too much. Max 100 metres I would guess, but hunting is about eye lashes, not dot com.

 

[shark_za]

Again its all about where and what you are hunting. I would not want a 30-30 in the Kalahari or Karoo but will happily hunt with one in the Limpopo or Northern Natal bush.

I have only taken a Bushpig with one but I have friends who hunt everything with it. Kudu, Wildebeest, Zebra ect but that is where I would draw the line; I don't think I would shoot an Eland with one.

 

[Cam Moon]

@Firebird I really like the old wagon wheel pedestal!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I will disagree on the low powered scope for me. Mainly, for me-not everybody, a Red dot or peep sight is faster when up close and personal.

Watching those videos I recon a 30-30 lever action would have been a far better choice than the rifles they were using, or simply the same rifle with a red dot sight.

Yes I would rather something with a bit more clout than a 30-30, say a 356, 307, 375 Winchester in a Modle 94 lever action.

Rule 303
As much as I like those calibers I'm one of the few that doesn't like the Winchester model 94. The reason for this is I took a a bloody big chunk out of my trigger finger with one. Forgot to take it out for cycling the lever. That hurts. I'm fine for the fist shot just don't ask me to cycle it quickly, it ain't gonna happen. If I could get one in a 788 Remington fine.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Cam Moon]

What are you gentlemen's thoughts on pumps? Such as Remington 7600 for example.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

What are you gentlemen's thoughts on pumps? Such as Remington 7600 for example.

Cam Moon
Noisy, rattley, clunky and can't handle dusty conditions real well. but the 7600 is fast and accurate
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Cam Moon]

I'm not disagreeing, but Remington has a huge following with their 870, and those shotguns have to be in a fairly abusive environment as well. If they withstand the punishment why wouldn't their rifles as well? Are they much different in design? Or just that a rifle is more of a “precision instrument”?

 

[Fastrig]

Sure if he is experienced using them, biggest drawback is many clients never used irons or are not competent with them.

I love irons, grew up with them and they were all I used for years, but too many people think they are there for show and not use. You have to practice with irons, a lot, to be good with them but when you put in the time they become an extension of you and make shooting a rifle very much like a shotgun. Shoulder, point, shoot, dead critter. I’ve tried a red dot and have to say they do help when your eyes are getting older like mine, but 20 years ago I don’t know as if it would have made a difference over my irons.

 

[Fastrig]

Use an appropriate cartridge for appropriate sized game.
The perfect one gun battery for Africa is a 375 (H&H, Ruger...etc) you pick your flavor.
However if you chose to use a 30-30 be ready to possibly pass on a shot that may have been possible with another caliber.
You should have the hunt you want and if it includes a 30-30, make sure the PH is aware of your choice.

"Whew, I'm sure glad I didn't bring my 375"...said no hunter in Africa...ever.

100% agree. 30-30 is a beautiful light rifle and great for around white tail sized game, but against something that’s got claws and teeth, No bloody way unless you‘re an adrenaline junky. For a leopard, a .375 magnum may be bit of an overkill but certainly has the stopping power you want. Personally, I’d prefer the 9.3x62 with a 22” barrel firing a 230-250 grain quality round. Quick, light, much less recoil than the magnum, all of which make for a faster follow up shot.

I know this wouldn’t be legal in Africa, but if you really wanted the perfect big cat rifle, I’d purpose build a light weight AR-10 in 338 Federal, 10 round mag, with a quality wide field of vision optic. I’ve seen the videos of how quick and fast those cats move when they are coming after you, and a good semi, using a 338 bullet, would be what I’d want in my hands in that situation. I’ll now pause while all the large caliber CRF DG rifle guys stop choking on their coffee

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

My ultimate rifle for all situations going forward is the O/U double. Fastest second shot in the business, beautiful aesthetics, light, reasonable cost for a double, good geometry to obviate recoil. In a word .... Perfect!

 

[Bushpig4Ever]

A previous senior game ranger, in charge of iMfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal used one. "It has an excellent balance, handles easily, and is one of the finest saddle guns I have ever owned.” He was referring to the Winchester Model 94.

 

[IvW]

My PH Gideon with Westfalen Safaris told me once it was his preferred rifle for going after wounded cats. Fast handling, light, and hard hitting at close range...

Cannot help thinking how many wounded ones he followed up and actually stopped with that combination......once off maybe, regular I highly doubt it....especially if cats includes lions.....

 

[shark_za]

The 30-30 has found a niche in Warthog, Bushpig and Impala hunting. Great if you are a meat hunter for these value animals, not much of a trophy hunter tool.

 

[IvW]

Yip....I would not want to stop a big wounded bush pig boar in corn with one though. Therefore I use 9.3x74R/12ga....

 

[Rick Cox]

Cannot help thinking how many wounded ones he followed up and actually stopped with that combination......once off maybe, regular I highly doubt it....especially if cats includes lions.....

No idea how many. And we are only talking about leopards. But Gideon is a very experienced leopard hunter. And a man of few words...

 

[IvW]

No idea how many. And we are only talking about leopards. But Gideon is a very experienced leopard hunter. And a man of few words...

He clearly also has bigger balls than me....

 

[Cam Moon]

He clearly also has bigger balls than me....

 

[RayAtkinson]

So were told the 30-06 is Leopard capable and good on Eland at up to 300 to 400 yards..Think about that, the 30-30 is as capable at 200 yards as the 06 is at 300 yards, go figure, lot of adise from those that have never used the 30-30 in Africa, some claiming its illegal...Also the 30-30 bullets have all been designed for the 30-30 with years of design, and they never fail as far as I know, and Ive used it a lot, along with the big bores..It penitrates extremely well with both 150 and 170 gr. bullets, I like the coreelokts, but Rem now has a monolithic hollow point that will shoot through a Eland or Moose, even with some angle to the shot, Im pretty sure its a Barnes X bullet, as BArnes sells such a bullet..
Would I shoot a Leopard with it, well Ive shot several Mt. Lions with a 30-30 and it knocked them for a loop every time, Mt. Lions is almost as large as a Leopard, but if your concerned, remember your PH probably has a 375 ready to back you up..My take is the 30-30 would expand fully on a Leopard and the 375 would make a broom stick size hole as it would not expand, so the 30-30 would kill even better perhaps, I know that's the case on small Texas Whitetail and Coues deer. Just my approach based on a lot of kills, but not on a Leopard, but I know a .270 or 7x57 is a better Leopard caliber that most big bores because they are more intended for light bodied game, thus my case for the 30-30 on Leopard and PG..I know a small number of people that have used it on DG, Eland, Elk, Moose and even Brown Bear and none of them have complained..Its been around a long time and its battle proven within its range of 200 yards, Even Pancho Villa knew that!

Carbina, Trenta-trenta (30-30)
Que los rebeldes portalan
Y decian los federales
que con ella no mataban

Con me trenta-trenta
Me voy a marchar
A engrosar las filas de la rebelion
Si mi sangre piden, me sangre loss doy
Por los habitants de nuestra nacion…

Carbine 30-30
that the rebels carried
And the federal troops said
that with her you cannot kill them

With my 30-30
I am going to leave
to join the ranks of the rebellion
If they ask for my blood, my blood I will give them
for the inhabitants of our nation..

Mexicos version of the battle hymm of the Republic..

As far as I know its the only caliber to wit a song was written..