Caliber 30-30 use in Africa???

[HWL]

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

Brain is decisive....



HWL

 

[Von S.]

At one time the win 94 in 30-30 was the cats meow for eastern wtd. So it should work right famously on any animal its approximate size and weight.

The 30-30 has a bit more power at 100 yards than a .44 mag at the muzzle and if chambered in a single shot with the right barrel and scope it can be scary accurate.

 

[R.M.C.]

Can't see why a guy couldn't kill big cats with a 30.30 stoked with good bullets and there's plenty of those these days. If the PH goes for it

 

[norfolk shooter]

I have been thinking about taking a 30-30 to Africa too. But just for PG and then mainly the tiny ten so I know it will work as its fine on muntjac in the UK (same family as the tiny ten).

 

[R.M.C.]

If the PH has a .375 I don't see what the big deal is. I'd load it with 170 grain ammo and shoot em in the shoulder .

 

[Rule 303]

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, like you I grew up with irons advanced to peep sights and found these to be quicker and more accurate then irons. I then tried normal rifle scopes, not as quick as peep or irons but more accurate. I then discovered Aimpoint scopes. Quickest of the lot, more almost as accurate as a normal scope.

Now the eyes have some age it is red dots or standard scopes as I have trouble focusing on the front sight. By more accurate I mean you could place your shot more precisely, not such a big deal if heart/lung shooting a pig or goat sized animal.

Re the Rem pumps, the only draw back is some people continually short stroke them and need a heap of practice to over come this. Noise, well when the first shot is fired I would say every thing knows your there and yes they to my knowledge are reliable.

 

[Philip Glass]

A dream maybe but unless hunting PG from a blind I would not recommend it.
Philip

 

[RayAtkinson]

Not the big cats, meaning Lions, or leopard, that's ridiculas advise..

 

[RayAtkinson]

A 30-06 is a 30-30 at about 200 yards!! go figure that out..

I shot a lot of PG with pops rifle in Africa, some bit stuff like Eland, a 170 gr. Nosler or Rem monolithic Barnes HP will break both shoulder on some of the bit stuff..The don't travel with two broke shoulders...What I found out and allredy knew was slowing a 308 bullet down invites penetration..thats why the 160 gr. 6.5 killed so well as a rule..long slow bullet with lots of lead exposed is a scenario long forgotten by todays pundits...

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I think that 30-30 is bad caliber for Africa.

 

[Red Leg]

Can't see why a guy couldn't kill big cats with a 30.30 stoked with good bullets and there's plenty of those these days. If the PH goes for it

A 30/30 in a single shot with great optics would be adequate for a leopard. The shot will closer to fifty yards than a hundred, and a leopard is a southern buck deer in size (though quite a bit larger in attitude). In fact, I would rather shoot a leopard with a 30 cal almost anything than a .375.

However, a lion is a totally different thing entirely. I would never consider poking one with an anemic .30 caliber round of any persuasion (or a fast one either for that matter).

A 30-06 is a 30-30 at about 200 yards!! go figure that out..

I shot a lot of PG with pops rifle in Africa, some bit stuff like Eland, a 170 gr. Nosler or Rem monolithic Barnes HP will break both shoulder on some of the bit stuff..The don't travel with two broke shoulders...What I found out and allredy knew was slowing a 308 bullet down invites penetration..thats why the 160 gr. 6.5 killed so well as a rule..long slow bullet with lots of lead exposed is a scenario long forgotten by todays pundits...

It is - except we don't shoot game off the end of the muzzle with that 30/30. It is substantially less than a 30-06 at 200 when the 30/30 is at 100 meters. There is also a bit of a difference in SD between a 165 gr 6.5 and 170 gr 7.62 (and not in the .30's favor). No matter how we bend statistics, the 30/30 is at its best as a 100 yard and a bit deer rifle in fairly close cover. There are places in Africa where it could play a similar role with similar sized beasts. But I wouldn't try to make it into something it isn't.

 

[Von S.]

Can't see why a guy couldn't kill big cats with a 30.30 stoked with good bullets and there's plenty of those these days. If the PH goes for it

I imagine that if someone had a mind to they could take out some great cats with a 30-30 and if charged with that task I would take a head shot, but no matter who was backing me up with whatever it really isn't my caliber of choice for anything that has the potential of adding me to his droppings .

I had mentioned that my favorite caliber and load for leopard is a 458 WM and a fella chimed in saying that his friend took two with his 7mm, possibly to elicit a somewhat negative response from me on his friends choice except he never got one for as far as I'm concerned what is carried is a personal choice. Some guys have mentioned using a 22lr for cats and such, my thoughts on that are"better them than me".

 

[R.M.C.]

I'm not hunting cats with a 30\30 lol. I'm just saying if a guy had the inkling to shoot a leopard or maybe even a lion with one it would probably die if hit in the vitals. It's definitely not my first choice for cats but I would rather have a 30\30 than archery gear lol . For someone who has hunted cats multiple times to decide he wants to collect one with his favorite lever gun I consider it more of a stunt than a hunt lol. And I'm not sure how many PHs would let it fly.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

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

I've got the same problem bob, it's very difficult to get my hand in a standard Winchester leaver for that matter a ruger no1 will gouge my hand also.

 

[BeeMaa]

In fact, I would rather shoot a leopard with a 30 cal almost anything than a .375.

Would you humor me and please expound on this statement please.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Shot placement - lion:
- minimum calibre 338Win
- recommended calibre 9,3Mauser, 375H&H, 416.

 

[Red Leg]

Would you humor me and please expound on this statement please.

A typical 270 or 300 gr SP from a .375 has the potential to perform more like a solid than an SP on a leopard. Remember, most are pushing 140 lbs - not 200. A good thirty with a 180 gr bullet will almost always cause more internal damage (a 150 at such close range could be too much of a good thing). Moreover, when it comes to centering the exact rosette, most of us are usually a bit more precise with something other than a .375. I shot mine with a .338, and should I hunt another, it will be with a sub-moa .300 Win Mag.

Mine died, but he did it fifty yards away. The follow-up in a ravine under an acacia canopy late on a moonless night is not something I care to repeat. The .338 made a .338 hole going in and a .339 hole going out. The animal was quite dead when we got to him - but the getting there .................

 

[Velo Dog]

Fellow Rifle Enthusiasts,

The .30-30 is essentially a miniature .450/400 NE, aka: .400 Jeffery 3” NE, (appearing pretty close to scale).
Therefore, it seems to me that the .30-30 would be a fine cartridge for hunting smaller African species, such as certain “buck and boar” in thick African bush conditions.

However, the potential sticker in my shoe, just my luck would be that, when I was hunting smallish bush critters with this “light rifle”, I’d encounter a zebra, a waterbuck or an eland.
All that having been said, a trim and classy looking, .30-30 double (or single shot), might be a lot of fun for stalking duiker, warthog, impala, reedbok and similar sized critters in thick riverine forest or jungle environment.

My hair would stand straight up if I was carrying only a .30-30 and I was to encounter a cheeky lion (or grizzly bear).

Best Regards,
Velo Dog.

 

[JLF]

The 30-30 can kill a leopard ... but what every hunter who deigns as such must ensure a death as quickly as possible.

 

[BeeMaa]

A typical 270 or 300 gr SP from a .375 has the potential to perform more like a solid than an SP on a leopard. Remember, most are pushing 140 lbs - not 200. A good thirty with a 180 gr bullet will almost always cause more internal damage (a 150 at such close range could be too much of a good thing). Moreover, when it comes to centering the exact rosette, most of us are usually a bit more precise with something other than a .375. I shot mine with a .338, and should I hunt another, it will be with a sub-moa .300 Win Mag.

Mine died, but he did it fifty yards away. The follow-up in a ravine under an acacia canopy late on a moonless night is not something I care to repeat. The .338 made a .338 hole going in and a .339 hole going out. The animal was quite dead when we got to him - but the getting there .................

Roger that.

Just so my understanding is correct.
The thin skin doesn't open up a soft nose enough to cause damage.
Combine that with the fact that the relatively thin body and now a soft is essentially a solid.

Assuming a one gun safari with a 375 or 416, what (if anything) would you recommend?
Probably best to just use my PH's 308WIN.