.30-30 Winchester. Why so unpopular now?

I dont think the problem lies with the cartridge so much as the lever gun being seen as an inferior or antiquated firearm. I think the same goes for revolvers vs automatics. Like anything else it's always what's new an en vogue. Right now that's high tech looking semi autos and bolt action sporting gun/cartridge combos built well beyond the abilities or needs of the average shooter/hunter.

Who says it's unpopular? Not as popular as 30-06 but then nothing else really is that category. Occasionally run into a mouth breather that thinks it's obsolete but it's still being made and it's a versatile, rather inexpensive cartridge that you don't have to worry about getting when mouth breathers make a panic run on ammo.

Still have mine. Dad bought it for me about 35 years ago. I basically just carry it now when tracking. Nice and light

It's still my primary hunting rifle. First deer rifle my Dad taught me to hunt with 20 years ago. I'm attached to it.

I hunt with an iron sighted Marlin 30/30. It kills the shite out of deer within 100 yds. I've never understood the magnum craze. Just a waste of money IMO. You can only kill a deer so dead. Maybe these magnums kill em deader?

Deer have grown armor since the late 1800's, so the .30-30 is no longer able to kill the deer that live in the United States.

problem with the winchester is putting a scope on it. i tried looked at several set-ups and never could find on that was any good because of the top-eject. marlin is a different story when it comes to putting a scope on them. bro-in-law has a .308 marlin laminated and stainless that is pretty nice. i'm considering a lever action ruger 338 cal for the next acquisition because i want to see how many piggies i can punch a hole thru in one shot.

This:

quote:

---

Because no one hunts in the woods anymore. Everyone hunts from a box stand because all the damn woods have been cut. There are no more days of hunting out of a rickety ole wooded lean up on a white oak ridge.

---

plus this:

quote:

---

problem with the winchester is putting a scope on it.

---

Fewer "woods" and more hunting over lanes and plots, with 200+ yard shots. So many people anymore don't hunt anything but a lane and/or a plot.

I grew up hunting with a Model 94 Trapper, and will likely take it some this year, I've killed a sack full of deer with it. Excellent for hunting from horse.

With the new Hornady 160 gr LEVERevolution ammo, I see no reason you couldn't reliably take 200-250 yd shots. I think it is optimal under 150 yds, but certainly someone familiar with their gun could easily feel comfortable out to that range.

That being said, you would be pretty foolish to purchase a .30-30 to specifically use in a stand that routinely has shots out to 300 yds when numerous better rounds are available at that distance.

As for the decline in prevalence, I think that has to do more with it being seen as an antiquated round more than anything.