Sears 30-30 Bolt Action (Savage 340)

It's a rifle made particularly for shooting deer-size game at less than 200 yards. If that's what you wanted, I'd say you got your money's worth out of the $100 price. If you'd rather have a super-accurate benchrest rifle for shooting tiny groups, a long-range sniper-type, a fast-shooting "tactical" defensive rifle, a large calibre big-game rifle for Alaska or Africa, or some other type of shooting iron, you should be able to sell it for a bit more than you have invested in it and buy something else to fit your wants and needs.

If you feel like selling it, you may find a shop that will take consignments. You reach a fairly large, gun-buying market and it may move quickly for someone looking for a budget rifle.

Try using the Remington 150gr CorLokt .30/30 bullet. It's more "pointed" than most other .30/30 appropriate bullets. They also are typically accurate and perform flawlessly on deer if you do your part. I've shot/loaded for several of those rifles and can't say I ever had problems with them feeding. I'd suggest a new magazine.

Another bullet I've had excellent success with in the .30/30 is the Sierra 125gr PtSpt now called a "pro-hunter". It's a flat-base spitzer and is also effective on deer at .30/30 velocities. If cost is no barrier, the Nosler 125gr is very good.

When I started loaded center fire ammo, I started with the 130gr Speer HollowPoint in a Remington M788. Also got my first three-shot 1-hole group with it too. I imagine that it too is a good "deer" bullet at .30/30 speeds.

I had a Savage M340 back in the late '70's and early '80's. Got it for less than $100 and sold it for more. It was near MOA accurate and fed well from the magazine. My favorite load is one I still shoot in a .30/30 though with a slightly different powder.
I used the Lee 150gr FNGC cast from w/w and lubed with 50/50 alox over 30gr of IMR3031 for ~2,100fps. It was 2moa accurate and was very inexpensive to feed. I taught my wife to shoot with it. She was mad when I sold the rifle but changed her mind after she killed her first deer with my (now her's) M98 Custom Mauser in .257Roberts.....

I now use the same bullet/mould (my first mould bought in 1976) in a Marlin l/a over 32.0gr of RL15. Just last week I re-mounted a new scope on the rifle and got a 3-shot 1" group (all three were in a 1" target dot" at 100yds.... Not bad for a 36yr old mould and rifle....w/"home-made" bullets!!!

That's why I'd keep the M340. Turn it into a dedicated "cast bullet" rifle. You'll quit buying $$$ "copper monolithic" bullets once you see the performance of a cast bullet on our "little" deer....

I will give you $150.00 for it

My old Savage 340 was a shooter, 1 MOA. I sold it to my Uncle who needed it and I needed the money. I loaded a 150 Sierra Spitzer in it, was good for at least 250 yards with that bullet, though I don't know how that bullet would have worked on deer. Only deer I shot with it was 80 yards with a flat point.

NOW days, I'd load it with a Nosler BT, 150 grain over 34 grains IMR 3031. My .30-30 12" contender has taken 5 deer cleanly with this load. That bullet works well at 2100 fps pistol speeds, let alone from a rifle. Longest shot was 90 yards. I've shot a couple of deer with the now discontinued 135 grain Pro Hunter, worked okay at .30-30 speeds from my SKS.

NRA lube is 50/50. Alox and beeswax.
Available in stick form from RCBS (rifle lube), Lee, Javelina, and I suppose others.
I also use SPG. Don't ask me what's in it. (I'm told steric acid, lanolin, and other components....).

Just bought a Stevens 325 which is the predecessor to the 340. So far it likes the Hornady LeverEvolution ammo, which is what I happened to have handy for my lever.

Good basic gun...
A home gunsmith project,,,
If you want to be different and reload have it rechamber for 30/30 ackley imp...

37 grains of 3031 will push a 150 grain bullet 2500 to 2600 fps....

A friend of mine has this rifle and the hornady leverevolution rounds and Core-lokt rounds work well in it. He hasn't tried Winny PowerPoints or Federal so not sure about those rounds.
Gets great groups at 100 yards.

Personallly, if I wanted to keep the rifle, and was serious about making it shoot well, I would switch that scope out for a cheaper Leupold, Bushnell Elite 3200, Nikon Prostaff, or something sililar. I just don't trust that scope. Just my opinion.

I've messed with a couple of these and probably have a third on the way.

As others mentioned its a rifle that's accurate enough for deer out to a couple hundred yards.

These are not the rifle to make super 30-30's out of. They have a very weak stretchy action, slow bores and very limited magazine length and a positively retarded bedding system.

They are merely a light handy cheap 30-30 that happens to not be a levetaction, no more no less




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