30/30 not enough?

[mister_wilburn]

I will be picking up a new rifle at the end of next month. The question is which one. I have my eyes on a Marlin 336 in 30/30. Well, actually I have my eyes on a few types in different calibers. My intentions are to use iron sight, and to limit my shooting to under 200 yards (my visual limit with iron sights is about that on a good day.) Is there any advantage to a 270 or 260 at closer ranges? My primary purpose for this rifle will be deer hunting and range shooting. I feel as though the 30/30 is more than enough gun for deer up to 150 yards or so, but thought I would see what other people think. I'll pick up a more long range rifle later in the year more than likely. Another reason I like the 336 is the price, $318 at the local walmart, its a pretty good deal.

thanks

 

[Stinger]

Sounds like you made the right choice. Stop thinking about it and go buy it.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

The 30-30 is just about the perfect deer caliber <200 yards, and modern ammo design has only made it better! I don't have the hard numbers, (but by my guess) the 30-30 has accounted for more Whitetails than the next two or three most popular deer calibers...combined. New uber-magnums are nice, but it's HARD to argue with that kind of success. Good Luck!

 

[B.D. Turner]

My choice would be the 30-30 also. The 336 when loaded with the new Hornady Leverevolution ammo puts the 30-30 out to a 300 yard hunting rifle.

 

[ECVMatt]

I think it is a good choice...

You might get better accuracy with the other calibers, but the .30-30 will get the job done. I love that round and shoot it often.

I would grab your rifle, get a good supply of ammo and have fun!

Matt

 

[Tom Servo]

The .30-30 is an under-rated cartridge. It's fine for what you're suggesting, with a potential for greater distances as well.

It wouldn't still be so popular if it wasn't.

 

[Seafarer12]

Whatever you hit inside of 200 yards won't know if your shooting a 30-30 or a 300 mag.

 

[Wesson Smith]

+1 on the Hornady Leverevolution, B.D.

If you get a 336 mister_wilburn, make sure and try this ammo out
ASAP. It's great stuff. I have a 336XLR (which I love), and the Hornady LE
is as flat and true as the day is long out of that rifle. Although it is my understanding
that the 336XLR was designed in conjunctiion with Hornady to optimally shoot the Leverevolution round,
I've heard glowing reports on it with the standard Marlin 336A. BTW, there's a "336 Club" here in Rifle Country
that has a lot of great informational posts on the 336 by fellow THR Marlin owners.
Good luck either way, but if you get one I'm absolutely certain you won't
regret it. Just my two bits, for what it's worth.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

336 in 30-30 is great. But I would like to point out that there's nothing wrong with a .270 or even a 30-06 for your needs. I personally like 30-06 over .270 because of the availability of surplus military ammo to get out and shoot more often.

Upside of a bolt-action 270 or 30-06 - flatter shooting, easier/safer to unload (You have to put the cartridges into battery to unload a 336), longer range, tend to be more accurate - but that might be from reasons other than the rifle.

Upside of a 336 - price, great handling, already has the iron sites (compared to many low-end bolt guns), a classic rifle - everyone should own one (I'm all for handing them out at birth - possibly with Social Security Number engraved - can use as proof of citizenship).

Get a 336 and shoot it!

 

[pingpingping]

you will love your new 30-30!

 

[SST]

Most of my rifles are custom. However, you will be happy to know that 90% or more of the deer I've taken in the last 44 years could just as easily been taken with a 30-30, and it's entirely possible that they would have been just as dead!

 

[TimboKhan]

The .30-30 has only been around for a little over a century, so I guess the jury is out on whether or not it is a good deer round.

Joking aside, you will be satisfied with the .30-30. It is more than enough gun for deer, and the lever action is pretty handy to haul around in the woods. Besides all that, if you end up wanting a scope, you can scope a Marlin with no particular problems. The Leverevolution ammo is a signifigant upgrade in terms of accuracy, but even the old roundnose lead rounds will get the job done. I would also add that it is my understanding that the .30-30 is one of the easier calibers to reload, though I personally have no reloading experience to back that claim up.

 

[Shawnee]

 

[Shawnee]

+1 for the Marlin 30/30. And you'll like it even more with a Williams arpeture sight on the rear end.

 

[chieftain]

First EVERY ONE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE 30-30.

Mine is a Winchester 94, but I think the 336 is a stronger action.

I like the 150gr HP that Winchester puts out. Good deer round, and not a bad anti personnel round either. (our Florida Deer were on the small size, usually under 100lbs.)

Yup, the 30-30 lever gives you the redneck assault rifle too. Most noted trainers and Grand PoBah's in shooting think very highly of the 30-30 for those matters too. Don't scare the women folk to bad when you pull it out either.

So what do you get.

Fast handling
A soft recoiling rifle.
Best deer rifle ever and very good on Black bear too.
Inexpensive
Plenty of history
looks good
Light
Shoots good
Fun
And in a pinch will put down bad guys effectively too.

What's not to like.

And once again I believe, everyone needs at least one.

Go figure

Fred

 

[rangerruck]

not only is that a great choice, but if you want more speed/trajectory/energy downrange, I believe they make the Leverevolution pointed rounds to fit this as well, do they not?

 

[SSN Vet]

You have to put the cartridges into battery to unload a 336

hence the cross bolt safety!

this is exactly why it's there and the only time it should be used.

 

[_N4Z_]

I also have heard glowing reports about the pointy LeverEvolution (sp?) ammo, but have yet to try any.

My 336 30-30, like many others, has a micro groove barrel. I have found that for inexpensive new factory ammo, it really prefers 170gr. Federal Powershok. It will also run well wtih 170gr. Winny Powerpoints.

Additionally I've noticed that my micro barrel will drop off in the accuracy dept. when copper builds up. Think it has something to do with the fact that the rifling is shallower that traditional ballard.

Keep the barrel clean of copper build up and it will make you grin.

Two thumbs up for 336

 

[MiddleAgedKen]

What the rest said. I think my next rifle might be a 336.

 

[foghornl]

My Marlin (Mdl 30AW) shoots best with the Rem Core-Lokt 170-Gr. Haven't tried the new Hornaday Lever-revolution stuff yet, but other folks I know that have swear by the stuff.

I did try some of the 55-Gr or so "Accelerator" stuff several years back...It is a .22-Centerfire-class bullet in a .30-cal sabot. I would have done as well past 50 Yds to pull the sabot bullet out of the case and throw it at the target.

 

[Z_Infidel]

The 336 is a great choice for your specified needs. The cartridge will do the job at the ranges you listed and the rifle is plenty accurate enough. If you want the same handling characteristics as the 336 but with a little more oomph you might also look into the .308 Marlin Express. Marlin offers the 308MXLR and 308MX rifles chambered for this cartridge. It will get you close to .308Win performance from a lever gun. However, the ammo will be more expensive and possibly harder to find -- at least for now.

I personally shoot the Hornady LeverEvolution in my 336XLR with very good results, and shoot conventional .30-30 ammo in my 336C. The iron sights on Marlins are useable, but there are many options available for improving on them: ghost ring sights, more visible notch/post sights from Millet, etc...

 

[Eb1]

I say that if you get the 30-30 you will be please, but if you want a little more boom get a 336 in .35, and if you want a little more boom get a Marlin 308 express, and if you want a big boom get a 45-70.

All of these guns are classic and suit any need you can think of for hunting.

Marlin 308 express (classic) but new

 

[B.A.M.F]

Iron sights

I shoot my 30-30 with irons too. Except that i changed out the factory irons with the xs ghost ring sights. A hundred times better. You will be able to make the 200 yards shots easily. Good round good gun. go for it.

 

[mister_wilburn]

Thanks alot for all the comments. The 336 will definately be my next gun purchase. Hopefully, at the end of march. I will have to pick up some LeverEveolution rounds to test them out. There has been a good bit of talk about aperture sights. Do the XS ghost ring sights have both windage and elevation adjustment points?

 

[O.S.O.K.]

I love the 30-30

It was my first deer hunting caliber and does a fine job dropping the buck.

The one thing that I see that makes me suggest another caliber is your location - West Texas.

You are going to have a lot more opportunity hunting out there to take longer shots - like 300 yards. The deer will also be able to see you coming and this will make it much more difficult to get closer.

For that, you really should be looking at a .270 with a 3x9 scope. I suggest a Savage rifle with Nikon Prostaff 3x9 scope - they now come with the bullet drop reticle which is a no-brainer way of getting "on" at longer ranges with your rifle zero'd spot-on at 100 yards.

A .270 Winchester is really the perfect cartridge for the job IMHO.