The 30-30 lever action rifle is a fine deer hunter but still, what can it handle? What is the biggest game it can bring down? Can it kill an Elk?

With a well-placed shot, it can kill pretty much any large animal, although it would not be MY first choice. It is all about shot placement. Heck, you could kill an elk with a .223.with a well-placed shot (in the head).

Anything from a mule deer down, under 150 yrds. Larger game or more range, you will need at least a 30-06. Up close and a very well placed shot could kill an Elk. l would still go for the 30-06.

White tail deer under 100 yards...

Wild hog under 100 yards as long as the pig is not larger that 250 pounds in my opinion..

The little old 30-30 at brush hunting distances will kill anything with the right shot placement. People have used them guns all over in Canada and the U.S. They are the old stand by for people who live in wilderness areas.

Yes it could bring down an elk within a modest range, & with the right shot placement. You have to remember that prior to the late 1800 is most rifles where chambered in the same ammo that handguns where, with the exception of large black powder cartrige loads in Sharps Rifles & others. Im sure that plenty of large game was taken with a 45 long colt, or similar out of a lever gun. Prior to that muzzleloading rifles were the only thing available, & yes they too took plenty of large game. Would l choose a 30-30 to hunt elk, or take down a grizzly.No Probably not. If the only thing l had to take down a grizzly in self denfense l would be glad to have a 30-30 rather than nothing else. To be an ethical hunter l would go with something bigger.30-06, 300 win. mag, etc.

well, it is known for men of the wild west to take brown bear with it, but is really not recommended, I've seen a moose taken with it too, but probably not as good as other choices.
it can kill a elk, but no farther then 100 yards, because of it loses a lot of energy past 100 yards & is not reliable for deer past 150 yards, so 100 yards , just to be safe.
l believe, but can not find any solid evidence of it, but l believe some, people have attempted & succeeded killing elephants with it, so.

I've seen countless hunters take game as big as elk with a .30-30. It has the power at ranges up to 200 yards to take whitetail, mule deer, antelope, and elk.

Yes, it can kill an Elk. It can even kill an elephant. However, l do not believe hunting anything bigger than whitetail deer at 100 yards or less with a 30-30 would be ethical except in a survival situation.

l have killed bear with my .30 30 not my first choice but then again l prefer an arrow

Lots of elk, moose, caribou, grizzly bear, polar bear, & even whales have been killed with .30-30 WCF bullets.

But that does not mean that l consider the .30-30 to be the optimum choice for elk, moose, caribou, grizzly bear, polar bear or whale.

If u r a good enough hunter, & a good enough shot, u can get away with using a .30-30 on any of the hooved game, with the possible exception of musk ox & buffalo. But the .30-30 really shines as a deer & black bear cartridge.

If all l had was a .30-30 & a chance to go after elk or moose, I'd expect to bring home meat. But since l have other rifles in more powerful calibers, I'd leave the .30-30 in the cabinet when heading out for game larger than deer.

Doc

The old 'thurty-thurty' has accounted for more deer & Black Bear than any other modern caliber. Elk? Sure, within range. Problem is an Elk might not let u get close enough for a clean shot with a .30-30. The newer .308 Winchester (dimensionally similar to the .30-30 but rimless) is actually a better choice where you're likely to encounter larger game than say Mule Deer.

l own two Winchester 1894 .30-30s, an 1894 Winchester Trapper in .44 Magnum & a stainless Browning Lever-action in .308 Winchester. Any of these r great when say just checking the pond or hog-traps. But the .308 is definitely the most versatile. If l were hunting Elk I'd opt for at least a .30-06 though.

H

If you had a moose in at close range, a 170 grain bullet from the 30-30 would kill it.

A well placed shot can take down just about anything.

Yes. a .30-30 is okay for elk. But a .300 caliber or a .338 is even better. If you use your .30-30 get the appropriate load for that animal. And check out the game laws of the state or province you will be hunting in to see their firearm requirements for elk.