Break action or bolt action? Brand?

Break action or bolt gun? Brand?

  • Break action

    Votes: 10 32.3%

  • Bolt action

    Votes: 19 61.3%

  • Revolver

    Votes: 2 6.5%
  • Total voters
    31
Status
Not open for further replies.
Tinybob

Tinybob

Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2017
Messages
339
Location
South Arkansas
I'm putting a question out there for opinions on a choice of rifle chambered in 30-30. I'd like to find an inexpensive rifle for deer hunting and occasional plinking with hard cast bullets. Not interested in a lever gun at all, not a hater, just a personal choice. This will not be a target rifle so accuracy is not that big of a deal past 100yds. Thank you for taking time to help out!
 
I think it comes down to a question of personal preference. A break action is simple and reliable and with many manufacturers you can change calibers by simply buying a new barrel, but for me there's just something about the feel of operating the bolt that connects to a romanticized 19th Century ideal that never actually existed but which is still a part of my psyche, so I would choose bolt action every time.
 
Ok. I have to ask. Why do you want a bolt or break action in a consummate lever action cartridge? It’s an interesting idea. Just curious why you chose that cartridge.

My vote is for a break action.
 
Ummm.... a revolving .30-30 rifle? Not a bad idea, but I don't think such a thing has ever been.....:thumbdown:
.....and unless you have a line on one of those old Savages, or an equally rare Remington 788, you're gonna be hard pressed to find a bolt gun either. In fact I think you would have an easier time locating a .30-30 pump gun. Savage 170 maybe, don't know if the Remington 760s were ever chambered in -30.
Sooooooo, break action it is, just on availability.
 
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Neither bolt nor break action. Feeding isn't great in rimmed cartridge bolt guns without Rotary mags, and I've never really enjoyed a break action rifle much.

Browning 1885 High Wall in .30-30 would be my choice.

In choosing only from your list, a BFR would be my choice, but then again, that's a handgun, not a rifle, so I'm not sure if that was really your intention in making the poll.
 
Yet another vote for the Savage/Stevens 340, 325, and similar products.

They are inexpensive, good shooters, versatile, and fun. Mine got a little trigger work and a Williams peep sight. It's about a 2 MOA rifle.

It's lighter than most break-action rifles.

It will never have a lot of resale value, but I don't think that is important.
 
denton said:
Yet another vote for the Savage/Stevens 340, 325, and similar products.

They are inexpensive, good shooters, versatile, and fun. Mine got a little trigger work and a Williams peep sight. It's about a 2 MOA rifle.

It's lighter than most break-action rifles.

It will never have a lot of resale value, but I don't think that is important.
Click to expand...
I just passed on a decent Savage 340 at the pawn shop for $200, but only because they had a .243 Model 99 right next to it for 400......
The 340 was a cheap gun by the standards of its day, but built like a tank compared to some of today's tupperware toys.
 
BigBore44 said:
Ok. I have to ask. Why do you want a bolt or break action in a consummate lever action cartridge? It’s an interesting idea. Just curious why you chose that cartridge.

My vote is for a break action.
Click to expand...
For me the level gun is too much trouble to unload when I need to do it quickly.(don't want to get charged with "road hunting") Also I want a stronger action than the lever.

I do understand that I don't have to load the mag full, but that only solves the unloading issue.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Ummm.... a revolving .30-30 rifle? Not a bad idea, but I don't think such a thing has ever been.....:thumbdown:
.....and unless you have a line on one of those old Savages, or an equally rare Remington 788, you're gonna be hard pressed to find a bolt gun either. In fact I think you would have an easier time locating a .30-30 pump gun. Savage 170 maybe, don't know if the Remington 760s were ever chambered in -30.
Sooooooo, break action it is, just on availability.
Click to expand...
The revolver idea wasn't actually a rifle. I was thinking about a "BFR" from Magnum Research just as a wild card.:)
 
denton said:
Yet another vote for the Savage/Stevens 340, 325, and similar products.

They are inexpensive, good shooters, versatile, and fun. Mine got a little trigger work and a Williams peep sight. It's about a 2 MOA rifle.

It's lighter than most break-action rifles.

It will never have a lot of resale value, but I don't think that is important.
Click to expand...
NIGHTLORD40K said:
I just passed on a decent Savage 340 at the pawn shop for $200, but only because they had a .243 Model 99 right next to it for 400......
The 340 was a cheap gun by the standards of its day, but built like a tank compared to some of today's tupperware toys.
Click to expand...
I do like Savage rifles a LOT.
 
I would go the single shot route and look for an H&R Handi-Rifle or an older Topper Model in .30-30.
 
Varminterror said:
Neither bolt nor break action. Feeding isn't great in rimmed cartridge bolt guns without Rotary mags, and I've never really enjoyed a break action rifle much.

Browning 1885 High Wall in .30-30 would be my choice.

In choosing only from your list, a BFR would be my choice, but then again, that's a handgun, not a rifle, so I'm not sure if that was really your intention in making the poll.
Click to expand...
I would love to have a high wall, but I figure that's out of my price range. I figured the feeding would be an issue with bolt gun, but considering just for a repeater with detachable mag. Looking at break action because a rimmed cartridge does better than rimless there.
 
I didn't think to put in the original post that I plan on using open sights. Also the original thought for the cartridge was a 10" TC Contender, but I don't want to blow my ears out when hunting.
 
My dad has an old 340, I don't think its a very good rifle. I would go with a handi-rifle based on your poll. I have to ask- why 30-30? A 308 would offer so many more options in regard to choices and availability of rifle and ammo, not to mention performance.
 
I highly recommend a T/C g2 carbine in 30/30 or a contender. I have two contenders and I adore them.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/mobile/product/17238/redirect

I have a pistol with a 13" MGM 357 maximum barrel that shoots a 180 grain XTP into 1"-1-1/2" groups at 100 yards with a 4x scope. I also got another frame that I am going to make into a rifle with a 30/30 AI barrel and a custom stock. My plan is to get a custom barrel made with my daughter's name engraved on the barrel and give it to her when she turns 16. My father in law has a 30 Herrett pistol which is a shortened 30/30 and a 22lr he used to shoot silhouette with, and an encore in 270 win.

I love handi rifles as well but they are really hit or miss accuracy wise. Contenders are tack drivers and the triggers are phenomenal.
 
I voted bolt action because break action rifles sometimes suffer from weird accuracy issues, particularly vertical stringing.
 
I was just posting about this in another thread, handi rifles can tend to string vertically because of the way they lock up. Even if the breach face gets dirty they don't lock up the same. Contenders and Encores are not as sensitive in this regard because they do not lock up on the breach face but rather on the spring loaded lugs under the barrel. They are however sensitive to the fit of the hinge pin. A .0005" oversize $10 pin usually takes care of that.
 
someguy2800 said:
I was just posting about this in another thread, handi rifles can tend to string vertically because of the way they lock up. Even if the breach face gets dirty they don't lock up the same. Contenders and Encores are not as sensitive in this regard because they do not lock up on the breach face but rather on the spring loaded lugs under the barrel. They are however sensitive to the fit of the hinge pin. A .0005" oversize $10 pin usually takes care of that.
Click to expand...
Just saw that in the Henry thread. I hope they do add 30-30.
 
Tinybob said:
Just saw that in the Henry thread. I hope they do add 30-30.
Click to expand...
Well, I know its a lever gun, but the 99 Savage action is much stronger than the 73 Winchester or 330 Marlin, AND they were available with detachable magazines (C series guns), AND they were available in .30-30, AND they have a great availability of open peep sights AND the option for optics. So, just saying, a 99 might meet all of your criteria. Additionally, it would actually be easier to find one of these than any of the other (non break action) alternatives we've been discussing.....
Both of mine are like lasers at the range. 1 moa easily!
Food for thought, :).
 
Break actions can eventually "shoot themselves loose". I have an H&R Ultra Slug Hunter that shot itself loose. The hinge fit became loose and the barrel would wobble a bit when the action was closed. Fortunately I purchased H&R's $10.00 lifetime warranty when I purchased this gun and H&R did an excellent repair under warranty. Bolt guns are not prone to shooting themselves loose.
 
Tinybob said:
For me the level gun is too much trouble to unload when I need to do it quickly.(don't want to get charged with "road hunting") Also I want a stronger action than the lever.
Click to expand...
Wait a second.....

1: A lever gun is to much trouble to unload quickly. You don’t want to get charged with “road hunting”.

Answer: Ok. So unless I’m missing something, that’s a pretty incriminating statement. Sounds like you’re worried about being pulled over and having a loaded rifle in your vehicle. How about you just don’t drive around with a loaded rifle? I can unload my 10+1 1894 in 44mag in about 8 seconds. My 5+1 444 in about the same amount of time. And it takes about 15-30 seconds to load them.

2. You want an action stronger than a lever gun. But you want to shoot a “primarily” lever gun cartridge. That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me either. But to each their own.
 
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