Henry Rifle Forums

Just bought a Golden Boy 30-30. Great gun. Has anyone used this for Elk or Moose hunting?

can an elk or moose be taken with a 30-30, absolutely .... the 30-30 cartridge has been in use in untold numbers of rifles since since 1895 .... if you treat hunting with a 30-30 as you would with a bow, it is certainly capable .... a clean shot through the lungs well within 100 yards, will do the job

It shoots the same caliber round as a .30-06, just within a far lighter to carry and FAR less recoiling package. As JEB stated, at ranges under 100 yards, and with a well placed shot, it’s definitely do-able. It’s really up to you comfort level. Personally, I feel .30-30 is best suited to deer at most, but I have other calibers to work with for bigger game. If it’s all you have, just get it zeroed at 100, and practice practice practice until you are super comfortable. .30-30 is my first choice for hunting mammals as 99% of that is deer for me. It is a perfect choice for that. We lost way too much meat to unnecessary trauma caused by taking smaller blacktails with a .30-06 last fall. I need to buy my hunting partner a .30-30!

Over the past 126 years the lowly underpowered 30-30 has taken everything from gophers to grizzly bears.