.30-30 from a 16" barrel

[Jesse82]

how would a 16" barrel affect .30-30 ballistics as compared to 20"?

I recently purchased a Marlin 336A & am considering having the barrel shortened & adding ghost ring sights.(for a short, hardhitting HD,SHTF carbine)

 

[Essex County]

Back in the seventies I had both a 94 and a 336 professionaly shortened and recrowned, and both were quite handy and made great truck guns. I shot woodchucks and one deer with the 94 and chucks and a couple of Fox with the Marlin. I paid no attention to balistics back then and came to the conclusion it didn't matter much for My use. Today I wouldn't bother. Essex

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I would look for one of the recently discontinued youth model
336 "Pronghorns" before shortening a full size 336. Even if you decide
to add a full length adult buttstock, it is cheaper than getting
a gunsmith to shorten the barrel and magazine tube, relocate the front band, and re-install the front sight.

 

[R.W.Dale]

http://www.realguns.com/archives/120.htm

As you can see from the chart in the above link the difference between a 14" and a 20" 30-30 isn't all that much

 

[Z_Infidel]

I had my 336C shortened to just under 18", and the mag tube shortened so that it just holds five rounds. It is a very handy, quick-handling carbine and I don't think I'd want it any shorter. Don't forget your sight radius will also be shorter with a shortened barrel.

 

[retrieverman]

The youth model Marlin is a 336Y and is called a "Spikehorn". I have one for my daughter and bought another for a friend's son. There is one on Gunbroker now if you are interested.

The Spikehorns have been out of production for a few years and are hard to find, and they have been selling at somewhat of a "premium" compared to standard Marlin 336 rifles. I have not checked on having a gunsmith shorten a barrel, but I am fairly confident that it would be more cost effective to pay a little more for a Spikehorn than have a gun cut down.

I also have a 336T that has an 18 1/2" barrel and have killed a ton of deer and hogs with it. It is super handy and has been my main deer rifle for a few years, but I have recently bought a 336SS and am transitioning to the stainless gun for ease of care.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I sit corrected on the "Spikehorn."

 

[B.D. Turner]

I had a Winchester Wrangler in 32 win special with a 16" barrel it shot great just wish I had another one.

 

[mustanger98]

...Winchester Wrangler in 32 win special with a 16" barrel...

I like mine... really oughta take it out after deer some time... too purty to take to the woods though.