30-30

[Ron Burgundy]

Can a 30-30 be used for coyotes? I want to by a lever action rifle and maybe hunt coyotes with it. Can you get long range out of one? Is it practical? Really I just want to buy a nice lever action, but I might as well get something I can use?

[Boyz in the Woods]

There is a new 30-30 bullet with a soft pointed tip that allows ballistics closer to a .308 round. The older round nose bullets are not very accurate past 100 yards.

There are lever action rifles that use a clip style magazine rather than a tubular magazine that will allow you to shoot more long distance rounds like .308 or .270. I think Browning makes them.

BOYZ

[BobT]

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The older round nose bullets are not very accurate past 100 yards.

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I beg to differ. The 30-30 is probably one of the most under-rated calibers there is. When I had mine, I sigted it in at 100 yds and it only dropped about 7" or 8" at 200 yds. Hold high on the shoulder and it should do the job.

Bob

[roosterslayer]

A 30-30 will work for yotes but i dont think it will be very fur friendly. if you plan on save hides i would stick to a .223, 22-250 and even the .243 isn't to bad if you stay away from the shoulders. But will the 30-30 work for yotes? It sure will.

[SJU70]

Yeah, You can get the Savage Model 99 in .22-250, .243, .300 savage and some others...also the Sako Finnwolf...I had a buddy with one of those, there hard to find, but come in an asortment of calibers.

[DRH1175]

I have a 30-30 and I agree that it is way underated. I have killed plenty of deer with quick one shot kills. And for Coyotes Hornady makes a neat new round as stated above that seems to be pretty flat out to 300 yards. Also Remington makes a 55 grain Sabot for 30-30 that would be simular to any varmit gun out there. Obviously if you had the money and were out to buy a Varmit only I would get a 22-.250, .223,.222, or one of the other great calibers however for a dual purpose you would be fine with the 30-30 and you can't beat it for Deer period! I have a .270 bolt and I still opt to use my 30-30 for deer.

[BobT]

I appologize that this may be taking this topic a bit off track but since it has been brought up I'd like to comment.

I used a Marlin 336C 30-30 for 20 years until I decided move up to my 30-06 bolt. Of all the deer that I have taken using the 30-30 I have never, and I mean never, had a deer take so much a one additional step. They all dropped dead in their tracks. I find it hard to suggest that my shot placement was always that good and attribute the success to the killing power of the cartridge. Since I have started using my '06 I have found that about 50% of my deer have run a short distance; less than 30 yards but they moved nonetheless. In my experience hunting in northern MN I have found the 30-30 to be probably a better choice over the '06. I have seen deer hit with .375 magnum only to get up and run again. Don't underestimate the 30-30 cartridge.

Bob

[jltimm]

I also once used a 30-30, and after having several wounded deer, I switched to the 30-06 and have yet to lose a deer to an insufficient caliber.

[harvey lee]

My father used a 30-30 for next to 40 years and he has shot more deer with that gun than I probably ever will.He would drop them with no problem.He also used it for coyotes in the winter and shot many.The coyote bullets were accelator type and I dont remember the grain weight.

I have a 22-250 and a 243 which are probably better for yotes,but he did just fine with his lever 30-30.

Most guns will do the job if you pratice and shoot the right bullet.

[HunterLee]

If you are really after coyotes get a 22-250 or 204, if you want a lever action they make a browning in the 22-250. I dont care what kind of bullets you get for the 30-30 it wont hold a candle to a good high powered varmit rifle. We hunt alot of coyotes and we each have our own rifle, mostly 22-250, but i am the odd ball with the 204, and if my new shells ever get here from cablea's i will be a happy camper. My dad has the browning 22-250 in the lever action, but we have a tough time hitting with that gun, kinda light and jumpy, and not a nice crisp trigger pull, heck he'd probly sell it to you.

[Ron Burgundy]

I just want a lever rifle. If it will take care of yotes, great. Then again the HR Ultra Varmint 223 single shot looks pretty nice.

[roosterslayer]

that is the exact rifle that i shoot and it really likes the 60 grain vmax. shoot me a private message.

[Ron Burgundy]

For some reason I can't send a private message. I don't plan on buying one any time soon. Just doing some research in slow time at work.

[roosterslayer]

Well, if that is the rifle you want let me know, i have around 50 rounds down the tube and it is topped with a 4X12 bushnell.

[Cooter]

I think it'd be cool to hunt 'yotes with a .30-30! I myself would hunt them with the same load I hunt deer with just to get good and familiar with it.

[sachem longrifle]

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I appologize that this may be taking this topic a bit off track but since it has been brought up I'd like to comment.

I used a Marlin 336C 30-30 for 20 years until I decided move up to my 30-06 bolt. Of all the deer that I have taken using the 30-30 I have never, and I mean never, had a deer take so much a one additional step. They all dropped dead in their tracks. I find it hard to suggest that my shot placement was always that good and attribute the success to the killing power of the cartridge. Since I have started using my '06 I have found that about 50% of my deer have run a short distance; less than 30 yards but they moved nonetheless. In my experience hunting in northern MN I have found the 30-30 to be probably a better choice over the '06. I have seen deer hit with .375 magnum only to get up and run again. Don't underestimate the 30-30 cartridge.

Bob

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I think the big fat slow bullet allows more expansion inside(IMO). I use a Kentucky rifle muzzleloader with a 50 caliber with ball and patched. Every deer I shot dropped. I also had a 270 and although it was an effective deer killer, The deer did run a little ways when shot. Not far, but no drop in their tracks shot

[Ron Burgundy]

I have to shoot deer with my 870. No rifles in zone 3.