Why Is the 30-30 Still With Us? (Video)

Why Is the 30-30 Still With Us? video by Ron Spomer Outdoors from 2021.

Summary:

In this video, I do an in-depth review of the Lever Action 30-30 Winchester. Don't laugh this dog hunts!

Hunting: Easy Carriers and Straight Shooters

Above, the venerable Winchester 94 made the MSN list.

It's hunting season in some parts of the United States.

Those who partake in the sport, or those who want to, should have a firearm suited for it. MSN has posted a list of rifles that carry easy and shoot straight in the woods.

 It begins with:

Hunting the woods is its own world. You’re not glassing big country or worrying about dialing turrets—you’re slipping through timber, easing along benches, and making quick shots in tight windows. A good woods rifle needs to balance accuracy with mobility, and not every bolt gun or lever-action pulls that off. The best ones feel like they disappear on your shoulder until the second you need them, then come up naturally and point exactly where your eyes already are.

These rifles earn their keep by handling well in brush, balancing naturally, and keeping their zero even after long days of climbing, bumping, and weaving through cover. If you spend most of your season in timber or thick country, these are the models worth carrying.

To read more, go here.  

Why There’s No Such Thing As The Perfect Rifle For Deer Hunting

Above, a deer munching on my elm trees. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Is there such a thing as the "perfect deer hunting rifle"?

According to a MSN slideshow post, there isn't. Personally, I don't hunt deer but I know several people who do. 

We have deer in and around our community (elk too). They constantly go after the lower branches of an apple tree in my front yard. A few months ago, some even managed to get into my fenced inner yard.

The posting begins with:

When it comes to hunting deer, the debate over the “perfect rifle” is endless. Some hunters swear by the power of large-caliber rifles, while others argue that precision and a well-placed shot are more critical than caliber size. But does the ideal deer rifle truly exist, or is it a myth? Many hunters might be surprised to learn that the best deer rifle could very well be the one they already own. The truth is, the “perfect” deer rifle is a deeply personal choice based on the hunter’s skill, preferences, and the environment in which they hunt.

To read more, go here. 

Winchester Model 94 .30-30 Woods Walk

 Winchester Model 94 .30-30 Woods Walk by Hickok45.

Summary:

The classic Winchester Model 94 is even effective for protection in the woods!

 Watch out for those dangerous water jugs!

Why Hunters Keep Coming Back To The .30-30

Above, my Winchester 94 with my grandfather's Winchester 62A I inherited. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Six years ago, I was staying in Albuquerque overnight as I had an early morning flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a cruise to Key West and Havana.

To kill time, I went to Ron Peterson's Firearms gun store to browse around. I spotted on a rack a Winchester Model 94 in .30-30 for sale. I had been looking to buy a pre-64 Winchester 94 for some time. I checked it out and it was made in 1962 (verified by its serial number) and in great shape. I put it on layaway and picked it up after I returned from the cruise. It is my favorite firearm.

Apparently, I was not the only one in recent years looking to buy a .30-30 lever-action rifle. Lever-actions have made a big resurgence in popularity.

The Avid Outdoorsman has posted an article on why hunters keep coming back to the .30-30. 

It begins with:

There’s something about the .30-30 that keeps it hanging around, no matter how many new cartridges hit the shelves. It doesn’t have the flattest trajectory. It’s not the hottest round on paper. But none of that matters in the woods where it counts. The .30-30 earned its place in deer camps because it flat-out works—and it’s never given you a reason to doubt it. You can talk all day about modern bullets and long-range performance, but for the kind of hunting most folks actually do, the old lever gun still makes a lot of sense. That’s why it keeps showing up in truck racks, scabbards, and meat poles across the country. And once you’ve taken a deer with one, odds are you’ll want to do it again.

To read more, go here. 

Mossberg 500E .410 Pump-Action Shotgun Review

MOSSBERG 500E 410 PUMP-ACTION SHOTGUN REVIEW by The Dog Pound with M-Dog

A couple of years ago, I came upon the Mossberg 500E shotgun in a stack of rifle cases left by my dad. I didn't know I had it. I tried it out and it is fun to shoot. It was made in the early 1960s before Mossberg added serial numbers. 

On the video, the summary:

The Mossberg 500E .410 Pump-Action Shotgun is a great shotgun for the new shooter / hunter to learn with or for the seasoned shooter / hunter to challenge themselves with.  This video will provide an up-close look at the shotgun and help you decide whether it’s right for you.  I hope you enjoy the video.  Stay safe and God Bless you and yours!

Old Lever-Actions That Balance Better Than Modern Copies

Above, my 1962 vintage Winchester 94 is a comfortable carry. 

Are today's modern versions of classic lever-action rifles as good as the earlier ones?

That depends upon whom one is talking to. Some are saying that the old lever-actions balance better than modern copies.

That is a topic of a slideshow article by MSN. 

They begin it with:

Modern lever-actions might bring stronger steels, threaded barrels, and optics rails, but something often feels off when you shoulder them compared to the originals. Old lever-actions were built for hunters and riders who needed a rifle that carried naturally, swung smoothly, and stayed steady in hand. The balance wasn’t an accident—it was the product of design choices that put handling ahead of bulk or accessories.

If you’ve ever carried a vintage Winchester or Marlin through the woods, you know the difference. They come to the shoulder quicker, point naturally, and feel lighter than their actual weight suggests. Modern reproductions often look the part, but once you mount them, the balance isn’t quite there. Hunters and collectors who keep the old rifles around aren’t doing it just for nostalgia. These rifles still handle in a way that’s tough to replicate, even with today’s machining. Let’s look at the classic lever-actions that continue to prove their balance is unmatched.

To see more, go here. 

Best Deer Hunting Calibers

Above, one of the deer that got into my yard a few months ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We're now in the second half of September, in some areas it is already deer hunting season. In others, it begins at the end of the month.

It is starting to feel like autumn where I live in New Mexico. Deer are plentiful around here and annoying some in my community as they are munching away their gardens.

One may wonder, what are the best deer hunting calibers for Midwest Whitetails? We mainly have mule deer in New Mexico.

Game & Fish answers that in an article posted today.

It begins with:

Temperatures are beginning to dip, and the change in weather can only mean one thing to the avid outdoorsman—hunting season is upon us. More importantly, deer season is right around the corner. Behavior patterns are beginning to shift, bucks are shedding their velvet, and hunters across the country are sitting on the edge of their seats awaiting the explosive action that only the rut and opening day can bring.

The Midwest region of the United States is notorious for producing record numbers of whitetail deer, with many trophy bucks earning their keep in the famed Boone & Crockett Club record book. As you are aware, different regions of the United States have their own unique terrain characteristics and hunting regulations. Hunters in each region naturally gravitate towards a selection of popular calibers each season, placing trust in their choice and its ability to fill their freezer. Read on as we take a closer look at six of the top choices for taking down whitetail this season.

To read more, go here. 

Hunting Ain’t What It Used To Be

Above, James scanning the area for a coyote during the
"Great Coyote Hunt" of 2018. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I am not a hunter. I do understand the necessity for it, such as thinning out elk and deer herds so they don't overrun their food supply.

The closest thing to hunting was seven years ago when two neighbors and I went out several mornings to shoot a troublesome coyote. Although one neighbor got off a shot, he missed. The coyote took off.

From what I have been reading, the sport of hunting has changed. 

An article in Wyoming's Cowboy State Daily discusses the changes made to hunting and, according to the writer, not for the better.

It begins with:

Hunters of a certain age might wax nostalgic for a simpler time. Back then, hunting tags were readily available at the local store and knocking on a local rancher’s door and politely asking permission to hunt on his land usually worked.

Nowadays, hunters must plow through online page after page of digital regulation books months in advance, just trying to figure out which tags to apply for. And even when they’re successful in drawing their most-desired elk or antelope tags, getting hunting access can be a headache. 

Many private landowners are much more selective about who they allow onto their land, so public land hunting spots get mobbed.

At age 84, Dan Kinneman of Riverton has seen his share of changes on the Wyoming hunting scene.

For years, he was a hunting outfitter in the Dubois area.

He doesn’t like going up that way to hunt anymore. It’s changed too much, and from his perspective, for the worse. 

To read the full article, go here. 

5 Lessons Learned From A Century With the .30-30 Winchester

Video from Beam Firearms. 

Summary:

After more than a century in the field, the .30-30 Winchester is still proving itself. I’ve seen plenty of new calibers and “next big things” come and go, but when you’re in the brush, chasing whitetail, or packing light for a long hunt, the .30-30 keeps showing why it earned its place in American hunting history.

In this video, we’re breaking down five lever action rifles chambered in .30-30 Winchester that continue to hold strong in 2025. Each one represents lessons learned over years of real hunting and field experience.

The .30-30 Still Rules the Mountain (Video)

From Richard Firearms: 

Top 5 Best .30-30 Lever Guns Still Dominating in 2025! (Video)

From Firearms Zone: 

What's the Best Cartridge for Deer Hunting?

Above, a deer who showed up in my yard three weeks ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although I don't do any hunting, deer or otherwise, I have friends who do. Each year, they go out on deer or elk hunts. Being able to do so is by lottery in New Mexico. I have a deer skinning rack in my backyard, left by a previous resident.

So, with that being said, Game & Fish has posted an article listing the best cartridges for deer hunting. 

They begin it with:

Some 35 million strong, the whitetail deer is the world’s most populous big-game animal, pursued annually by about 11 million deer hunters. The deer cartridges we use are important, driving sales and new developments, and influencing shooters and hunters worldwide.

Cleanly taking a deer is rarely a matter of extreme precision. The vital zone is not small. For most of us, shooting distances at deer aren’t far. Properly ventilating your venison is largely a matter of keeping your cool and making one reasonably good shot when the chance arises.

How well you place that shot is far more important than what you’re shooting. That said, it’s important to have confidence in your choice. Around campfires, we argue endlessly and split our hairs, comparing one cartridge to another. There are dozens and dozens of good deer cartridges, old and new. Too many for one article, in fact. Some of us like to thump our deer with larger calibers, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, except as necessary, I will avoid discussion of cartridges with bullet diameters larger than .30. They work well but are not essential for deer.

To read more, go here. 

American Gun Culture: Be Rich, Be Frank

Above, several lever-action Winchesters on display at the Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

In American gun culture, there are two kinds of people: plinkers (target range shooters) and hunter. I am in the former category.

Being an animal lover, I wouldn't go out and hunt for sport, but I understand the purpose of it and can't begrudge anyone who hunts.

I came across a story on one man's experience with his Winchester 94. It is a good read.

It was posted at AmmoLand yesterday and it begins with:

About 4 years ago, an online acquaintance I eventually knew In Real Life named “Rich” (last name withheld for his family’s anonymity) and I were chatting about firearms. He mentioned he had a Winchester Model 94 lever action in .30-30, octagonal barrel, takedown, open sights, that his Great Grandfather had bought new in Seattle in 1898. Rich had no heirs who would care to have it. So, we kinda agreed that if and when he ever considered disposing of it, that he would call me, as I live just 40 miles away.

Two years passed, and Rich called: “I have four kinds of cancer, and I’ll be out in about 3 months.” Tragic. He had had a fascinating and good life, a loving wife and daughter, a great place in the woods, a 1973 Ford F250 HiBoy in pristine condition … and a gun collection.

“How’d you like to come buy me out?” he said. “What all do you have?” I asked. He listed out about 22 firearms, including the Model 94. “That’s a few more than I can handle, but can I bring a relative and friend?”

To read more, go here. 

Why These 5 Hunting Calibers DOMINATE The Sales Charts (Video)

 From Watch Lovers:

 

Why These 5 Hunting Calibers DOMINATE the Sales Charts

5. 30-30 Winchester

4. 270 Winchester

3. 30-06 Springfield

2. 308 Winchester

1. 6.5 Creedmoor

The Best Lever Action Rifles of 2025

Above, a collection of classic lever-action rifles on display
 at the Billy the Kid Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Originating in the 1800s, lever-action rifles have been around ever since. Some are classic old favorites. Some are new on the market. Regardless, lever guns are here to stay.

Field & Stream (Richard Mann) tested and reviewed lever action rifles currently on the market and posted the best picks for 2025.

They begin with:

Most of the talk in the rifle world these days about bullets with high ballistic coefficients, high-magnification trajectory-compensating riflescopes, and rifles guaranteed to deliver one-hole groups. But while today's long-range practitioners argue about the best high-dollar tripod to shoot from, there are folks out there filling freezers and putting antlers on the wall with lever guns just like their grandad used to use. 

The lever-action rifle has evolved a fair bit over the last century, and with refined designs and modern ammunition, it's now more capable than ever. Maybe somewhat surprisingly, in the midst of today's long-rage craze, manufacturers are still introducing new lever-action rifles, and hunters are buying them up as fast as they hit gun-shop racks. There’s a wider variety of lever guns to choose from now than at any other time in recent memory. So, which one should you get? To help you with that, I've narrowed the field to a manageable number. Below are my picks for the nine best lever guns currently on the market.

To read more, go here. 

Deer Hunting Lever Actions To Try

Above, Winchester lever-action rifles displayed at the Billy the Kid Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Lever-action rifles and deer hunting go hand-in-hand. If one is looking for a new deer rifle, there are many brands to choose from. 

That is the subject of an article posted by AOL titled, "Looking For A New Deer Rifle? Try These New Lever Actions".  Several of them have been around for decades.

They begin with:

The lever-action rifle is something of an anomaly when looking back through history. The American Civil War showed its efficacy as a fighting weapon, but it never truly saw widespread military use. Still, they persist as a fun way of shooting or hunting. Today, we’re looking at the best lever-action rifles around.

To read more, go here. 

Winchester 94 A Woman's Favorite Deer Rifle

Above, Winchester 94 .30-30 rifle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have rarely, if ever, noticed articles on the Winchester 94 by women shooters/hunters.

One has just been posted at Outdoor Life by Alice Jones Webb. It is about her hand-me-down Winchester 94 that she inherited from her grandfather. It is her favorite deer-hunting rifle.

It is a pre-64 made in 1942.

Here's a snippet from her article:

A Hand-Me-Down Cowboy Gun

I was only 19 when I inherited my grandfather’s beat-up old Winchester 94. My uncle claimed the gun had a lot of character. I thought it looked like it had been dragged 100 miles through gravel, soaked in a mud puddle, and then left to rust in a dusty corner. 

I’d had my heart set on a shiny new semi-automatic rifle chambered in something fast and topped with some high-class glass. Mine would be a rifle that would turn heads at the deer check station and mark me as a serious deer hunter. But that fantasy was crushed by this rusty, scratched-up old cowboy gun that spit empty cases out the top, making a top-mounted scope thoroughly impractical. 

Now that I’m older, with decades of deer seasons under my belt, that Winchester 94 chambered in the immortal .30-30 is one of my prized possessions. I still think that flashy guns, hot rod cartridges, and shiny new optics are fun to shoot. But shooting isn’t deer hunting. 

I now realize that Winchester Model 94 was exactly the gun I needed. 

To read the full article, go here. 

The Myth of the Perfect Deer Hunting Rifle

Above, the Winchester 94 has been used for deer hunting
since the late 19th Century. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Deer hunting. That's one shooting activity I could not to bring myself to do.

I understand the sport has its place. The purpose is to keep deer populations from overpopulating their food supply. 

Friends here in Jamestown, New Mexico do occasionally go out deer (and elk) hunting. I sometimes see deer in our subdivision.  

MSN has posted an article (with photo slideshow) on, "The Myth of the Perfect Deer Hunting Rifle".

They begin it with:

When it comes to hunting deer, the debate over the “perfect rifle” is endless. Some hunters swear by the power of large-caliber rifles, while others argue that precision and a well-placed shot are more critical than caliber size. But does the ideal deer rifle truly exist, or is it a myth? Many hunters might be surprised to learn that the best deer rifle could very well be the one they already own. The truth is, the “perfect” deer rifle is a deeply personal choice based on the hunter’s skill, preferences, and the environment in which they hunt.

 To read more and see the slideshow, go here.

Winchester 94: America's Favorite Hunting Rifle

Above, my Winchester 94 made in 1962. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Regular readers of this blog know that I purchased a pre-1964 Winchester 94 in .30-30 Winchester. Before purchasing it in Albuquerque five years ago, I had been on a lookout for one for some time.

The rifle was in great shape and the price was right. It was a deal I couldn't refuse. It was built in 1962. I confirmed its age through its serial number at a Winchester serial number database while at the gun store.

It is fun to shoot. Although there are plenty of deer in my vicinity in New Mexico, I confine my shooting to target plinking at our community shooting area.

Gun Digest recently (three days ago) posted an article on the history of the Winchester 94 that is worth a read if one is even remotely interested in acquiring one. It even explains why the pre-1964 Winchester 94s are coveted by collectors and enthusiasts.

It begins with:

We take a closer look at the Winchester 94 lever-action, the most iconic American hunting rifle ever made.

In some hunting circles, it was once considered a rite of passage to be able to silently cock back the hammer of a lever-action rifle. More often than not, it was the hammer of a Winchester Model 1894, more commonly known as the Winchester 94.

With over 7.5 million made since the model’s introduction in 1894 the Winchester 94 is easily the most popular deer rifle ever produced, and there was a time when almost every American hunter had one in his gun rack, safe or hanging from the window of his truck. Compared to shotguns and bolt-actions, lever-action rifles aren’t as popular with hunters as they once were, but the Winchester Model 94 remains in production to this day and still holds the title of the single most iconic American hunting rifle of all time.

To read the article, go here.