AboutSteven L. Ashe Expertise Hunting firearms and how to choose what you need. How to build a reasonably priced custom rifle. What calibers must you have to hunt anywhere. How to train bird dogs. How and where to hunt. How to find good guides. How to view and enjoy hunting as a sport.
Experience
Past/Present clients Worked with a number of novice bird dog people who went on to win championship status with their dogs.
Expert: Steven L. Ashe Date: 6/10/2008 Subject: turkey hunting
Question hi,
i have been hunting for a little while now and i was thinking about buying a marlin 336c(30-30 version) for deer hunting but, i also want to start turkey hunting. So i would appreciate it if you could tell me if you could hunt with a 30-30 or what.
Answer Hello Justin,
In the US, hunting with a rifle and what game can be hunted with a rifle, varies not only from state to state, but from county to county. Suggest you contact your local Game and Fish Commission office for answers to your questions.
While the Marlin 336C in 30-30 may be a great woods rifle, with which to hunt deer, I prefer a cartridge that has more range. Many times, even in a wooded area, you may spot deer at beyond 200 yards. In the case of longer shots, the 30-30 comes up very short. For deer, I want a 270Win., 280Rem., or even the old standby 30-06, which can be used to take any game animal in North America.
That said, the 30-30 Winchester cartridge is not a great choice for hunting turkey, where rifle is permitted to do so. Turkey present a small target, many times, just the head. A varmint rifle, shooting a 22 cal centerfire cartridge would be what I would want to use. Something like a 223 Remington chambered rifle, or 22-250, that has pin point accuracy to make head shots, kill cleanly and not do a lot of meat damage. If I had to choose one cartridge for both deer and turkey, I'd likely pick the 270Winchester cartridge, as an all around great cartridge that is very accurate and deadly on just about anything that you care to hunt, except for the most dangerous of bears.
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