For a more traditional/really tuff hunting gun without a scope, should I get a muzzleloader or a 30-30? This is for big game.

[Chewylouie]

For a more traditional/really tuff hunting gun without a scope, should I get a muzzleloader or a 30-30? This is for big game.

[jhjimbo]

If this is your first center fire you can get a NEF shotgun/combo .50cal muzzle loader. Then pick up a 30-30 barrel on E-Bay.
I have them and they work good. Lots of other barrels are available and often found on E-Bay or GunBroker. Besides the .50cal i have the .223,.308,.45/70,22-250 and 12ga. I did put scopes on all of them eventually.

[Chewylouie]

It is not my first center fire. I have a .30-06, but would like another option.

[Ol Krusty]

I would prefer a lever action myself in a 45-70, but a 30-30 would be my second pick.

[DSMbirddog]

I would lean towards a 30-30 or 45-70 lever action. Not that ML aren't good for tough hunting but they can be finnicky in bad weather. ML also require quite a bit of cleaning and maintenance to keep them trouble free.

[FirstBubba]

The .30-30 is a superb mid range, mid velocity, mid power, all purpose cartridge.
It's capable of taking anything in North America. It's short, light, low recoil and simple.

[Chewylouie]

How accurate is it? Or does it depend on the model?

[Drover1]

When you say “tough” and “traditional” hunting, I think muzzleloader, since its history dates back well before the 30-30 or any centerfire cartridge. The 30-30 has a lot of tradition behind it too, but that tradition is more recent, and it certainly is more efficient as a hunting firearm. If you want to really go traditional, get a replica of one of the original black-powder rifles instead of the modern models. If you want to go more traditional and more difficult than that, get a long bow.

[FirstBubba]

I don't know if any one brand is any more accurate than another.
Personally? I prefer the Marlin 336. My gramps 1947 M336 RS is as accurate as my bolt rifle when it was scoped.
For plain old "tough & rugged", you might look at a S/S NEF Handi-rifle. Just about as simplistic as you can get.

[Quinton Schmelzenbach]

My great-grandfather hunted his whole life in Africa, where he worked, with a Savage 30-30 lever gun. He was superb with it. (Taking five impala with five shots in as many seconds, by shooting behind their ear.) I would recommend that.

[Chewylouie]

Drover1- I actually already hunt with a recurve bow. If I were to get a muzzleloader, it would not be an inline.

[JustTakeMeHunting14]

well like others have posted before a 30-30 is good for midrange. I personally consider it a deer gun so I feel that more versatility can be found from a muzzleloader where you can fire magnum loads and muzzleloader is a lot more broad as far as firearm caliber than a 30-30. That said, the usual caliber for a muzzleloader is a .50 which is more than enough for most game in my opinion. Go for the muzzleloader.

[Treestand]

My Pick A Savage 99/358 Brush Gun, much better then 30/30,35Rem.

[WA Mtnhunter]

Treestand, that's a big 10-4!

[Quinton Schmelzenbach]

Treestand: you have some serious brass to pull that trigger many times in a row!