I have an opportunity to hunt a cow elk on a buddy's ranch, and I was thinking about using my Marlin 30-30. If I decide to use it, I'll be keeping my shots within 125 yards and use a good bullet. Does anyone have experience with a 30-30 on elk or other large game?

The first cow I took was with a muzzle loader shooting a saboted .45 Nosler pistol hunting bullet going just over the speed of sound at 75 yards. When the smoke cleared I found her just 40 yards from where I shot her. The bullet passed right through both lungs and exited the other side.

If you use a good heavy for caliber bullet and are very selective about your shots, your 30-30 will do fine.

With those parameters you will be fine. I think it's a cool choice of weapon.

Use a good bullet and shot placement and you are good to go. I would use a 170gr just for a little more penetration from the higher sectional density if it were me.

The elk from Canada that held the top spot in B&C Non-typical in B&C for years was taken with a 30-30.

On a hunt like that I would most likely have my 38-55 Little Sharps. One of these days

I spoke to one of the guides in CO once, and he said they used 30-30's for most of their elk hunting. Closer ranges, though. But a 170 grain RN or good heavy bullet will do just fine with good shot placement.

Yep. I wouldn't hesitate.

Lots of Famlies. Have been feed from a 30-30.
You will be okay.

I'd do it.

Again...with your parameters, you bet. Ive killed exactly one elk with a .30-30 so my sample of one is not much to pull from, but he was within 100 yards, and he fit in the freezer just fine! If you are a hand loader I'd recommend Noslers 170 grain...if you can find any.

In that range, I'd wouldn't even worry about it, where to put all that meat on the other hand........

Let us know how it goes.

grew up in Washington State live in a little Town of Eatonville till I was 17 I hunted Elk every year and all my elk were taken with a 30-30 winchester 94 with iron sites it was the only gun i had besides a 22 it as more then enough put punch though the ribs and take out the lungs I dont know why a lot of people think the 30-30 is a small week gun I have take to bears with it as well i will use it to take my first hog on the 8-9 disabled vets father son hunting trip it wold be harder to take a large hog it you pull and catch that think armed shoulder I have herd the get think enough to stop most rifle rounds it you hit them but i have just going on hear say i have never hunted hogs yet but ill on ft hood i have all this sound milo for cat fishing i cam going to use it on hogs

It's called "in your belly".

I've seen several nilgai taken on the Laguna Atascosa NWR with the 30-30 Win, using both 150 & 170-grain bullets. All shots within 70 yards on stand, well placed, and the critters dead within 40 to 70 yards. The refuge nilgai are not spooky like private land nigai that get truck hunted.

All my elk ere taken 70-90 rang in clear cuts when th weather got bad the could come down a few thousand feet and rome the clear cuts you can set your want on th 4th day after seeing them 4 day from that at the same time they come through i wold get in front of them and bang then you think holly crap how am i getting this thing out of hear it makes a long and a tiring one. by first elk i shot on the middle school field i was eating lunch with a buddy the 5x5 walk out from the RxR tracks with a few cows lunch was over but we weren't moving till he turns for me i got my shot and dropped him it was 93 yrs per the rang finder on the school field during school the chief of police showed up pic to see what the hell was going on yelled am me for a few minutes then gave me his wife and said not guts on th e field try that now days i would get shot or go to jail but a 30-30 is way under rated my most at least i believe it is. it has been around for years in places like Washington and Organ were the woods are full of ferns and stinging needles that are almost as tall as 5fthi most times you see just horns or ears bounding through the ferns it make for a quick shot i love my 30-30 i wold get rid of all my gun if i had to but i could never part ways with it. my gand after on my dads side was poor farmer when he passed he did not have much a smooth bore ithac 12 ga and a 22 my dad got the 22 and wen my dad passed i got all his guns when and when my other grand father passes i get his 6-7 he as pluse some pistols from WWII and one for the Koran War no its not lugers it was the other comen gun the carried a revolver i believe it has be 20yrs sunce i had seen it some one in an other post mention people who sell amy guns and family member will be beat 2-3 grand to to keep them in the family and he is right they will last for ever and they will alway remember the times that had ever time they pick it up i know i do it like a part of him is with me hunting gain. and a 30-30 will last for a very long time but it was to be a winchester 94