Caliber 30-30 use in Africa???

[SoVa]

I think it would be cool to take a lever gun to Africa but I would go with a 45-70 if I wanted to use a lever gun there.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I would not hesitate to use a .30-30 lever in Africa, given reasonable caveats regarding range, bullet type, and species.

I have only used a lever action in Africa in two trips. My levers have been a Marlin GBL (.45-70), a Marlin MXLR in .338 Marlin Express, and a Savage 99 in .300 Savage. That's the 99 in my avatar.

 

[spike.t]

.30-30 in Africa,....great for jackal and baboon..... but what else?
Some guys try to hunt Africa with the worst cartridge possible.

HWL

Mmm..your opinion is based on what out of interest?....love people talking shit.....

 

[spike.t]

I would not hesitate to use a .30-30 lever in Africa, given reasonable caveats regarding range, bullet type, and species.

I have only used a lever action in Africa in two trips. My levers have been a Marlin GBL (.45-70), a Marlin MXLR in .338 Marlin Express, and a Savage 99 in .300 Savage. That's the 99 in my avatar.

Jeez still waiting for you to bring em here ...

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Jeez still waiting for you to bring em here ...

I need to pay my divorce and I may have to seriously consider a trip to your neck of the woods.

 

[Ruraldoc]

I have a fine old Savage 99 in 300 Savage, it kills just like a 308 in my experience but I would limit shots to 250 yards with it.

I have also used 44 Magnums a good bit. A Marlin carbine as well as Smith and Ruger revolvers. I have used the 44 for hogs, deer and one bull elk.

The elk was a New Mexico 4x5 bull near Chama. A single 250 grain Nosler hit him in neck and went through the spine and exited.

Killed him instantly. The furthest 44 shot I have made was 65 yards. But the 44 with the right bullets is a real killer at close range in my experience.

I have only used bullets in the 240-250 grain weights. But I’ve not recovered any of them to tell you what they look like. Every one has exited. No critter has gone anywhere,

 

[Flbt]

I have a fine old Savage 99 in 300 Savage, it kills just like a 308 in my experience but I would limit shots to 250 yards with it.

I have also used 44 Magnums a good bit. A Marlin carbine as well as Smith and Ruger revolvers. I have used the 44 for hogs, deer and one bull elk.

The elk was a New Mexico 4x5 bull near Chama. A single 250 grain Nosler hit him in neck and went through the spine and exited.

Killed him instantly. The furthest 44 shot I have made was 65 yards. But the 44 with the right bullets is a real killer at close range in my experience.

I have only used bullets in the 240-250 grain weights. But I’ve not recovered any of them to tell you what they look like. Every one has exited. No critter has gone anywhere,

If they still make them and you can find the the 270gr Speer gold dot jsp works really well

 

[Trogon]

I think it would be appropriate and enjoyable chasing warthogs and impala during a cull hunt pushing brushy creek drainages. Should be a Marlin-made rifle though! I own 336's in 30-30 and 35 Remington and like them both.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I shot my largest moose (60") with a Marlin 336/.35 Remington.

 

[Trogon]

I shot my largest moose (60") with a Marlin 336/.35 Remington.

@Tundra Tiger I have to ask, what bullet? I've killed a couple whitetail does with the Hornady FTX and both were down instantly out about 100 yards, but bullet integrity was not good. I had difficult time finding the Remington 200 grain Corelokt, which I'd have liked to try.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I love a 30-30, They just work. It seems to kill better than the ballistic charts say it should.

 

[Lee M]

@Tundra Tiger I have to ask, what bullet? I've killed a couple whitetail does with the Hornady FTX and both were down instantly out about 100 yards, but bullet integrity was not good. I had difficult time finding the Remington 200 grain Corelokt, which I'd have liked to try.

In my early years i took quite a few whitetail and a black bear in PA with my grandfathers .35 REM pump with 200 grain core lokt. In late Jan 2025 i brought her out of the safe for the first time in 30+ years and took a mountain lion in Arizona. The 200 grain core lokts performed as i remember from the 1980s. Both are classic PA deer calibers that my friends still use.

I think the 30-30 or 35 REM would be fine inside 100 yards for most small/medium sized plains game. Not sure I’d consider taking these over any gun in the faster .270, 7mm, to .30 caliber range as you never know how far a shot will be. But i am a sucker for old guns with family history.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

@Tundra Tiger I have to ask, what bullet? I've killed a couple whitetail does with the Hornady FTX and both were down instantly out about 100 yards, but bullet integrity was not good. I had difficult time finding the Remington 200 grain Corelokt, which I'd have liked to try.

That was before I picked up reloading again. I was using the Buffalo Bore ammo. 220 grain, and it had some kick to it. Battery crapped out on my rangefinder, but best guess was about 150?

 

[HWL]

....love people talking shit.....

Probably....you did this to much already.

HWL

 

[Ruraldoc]

I have Marlins in 30-30, 35 Remington, and 44 magnum.

Have used the 35 Remington more than the other two. I like the 200 grain Remington Core Lokt and the 200 grain Hornady FTX bullet.

They are both real killers. My 35 Remington killed a charging 292 pound boar at spitting distance after he was wounded by a client with a handgun.

The 35 remington on North American game is like the 9.3x62 in Africa.

It works on everything without excessive recoil or blood shot meat. It just makes a big whole straight through critters and so far nothing had gone anywhere.

My cousins and uncles hunted with Marlins in 35 Remington equipped with peep sights and ivory front beads when I was growing up. At least 100 deer/ hogs with this combo that I can remember.

I tested the penetration of my 35 Remington with 200 grain Core Lokts. It penetrated only 2 inches less than my 9.3 x62 with expanding bullets in dry paper at point blank range.

I would not use a 35 Remington on African dangerous game but it would be about perfect for brush country plans game up to and possibly including eland.

 

[Ruraldoc]

I was talking to an Outfitter friend in Utah who is pretty famous for hunting mountain lion as well as leopard with hounds.

We were talking about a future hunt, and he said a Marlin in 35 Remington was the perfect gun for cats with hounds in the West.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I took a mountain lion in Arizona a couple months ago, using a 90 year old Winchester Model 94 in 30-30. One shot from about 20 yards, using 150 gr Remington Core-Lokt.
The lion hit the ground and ran about 20 yards.

 

[Rule 303]

I use to shot pigs out past 100mts with my Model 94 in 30-30, then put a peep sight on and extended the range to 200 mts. I sold that 94 and bought one in 356, put the peep on that. good to at least 250 mts. That was in my younger days now I have trouble with the front sight, it is blurry. Can't see why these rifles and cartridges would not be useful in Africa.