308 vs 30-30
- Thread starter Austin97
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You can get any of them in a carbine !
Yea, there are far more short lightweight bolt actions than there are levers. In fact I cannot think of a single short, lightweight levergun currently being offered. Most have 20"+ barrels and weigh more unscoped than any of my bolt guns with a scope and mounts on them.
Most folks have an image in their heads of lever actons as lightweight fast shooting guns. In reality they are one of the heavier guns made and almost the slowest in rapid, aimed fire.
Most folks have an image in their heads of lever actons as lightweight fast shooting guns. In reality they are one of the heavier guns made and almost the slowest in rapid, aimed fire.
Mike1234567
member
Some interesting reading at the link below. Read the page from the bottom up because that's the order in which the poll results follow.
Report On a Poll For Which Is the Best White Tail Cartridge
Report On a Poll For Which Is the Best White Tail Cartridge
Another vote for "it's the gun not the caliber". I do not question that that .308 hits harder and has more bullet options.
However, I am a lefty and poor. My go-to brush gun/truck gun/camping gun is a Marlin 336 in 30-30. The reason being that 30-30 levers are easier and cheaper than .308 levers, and I don't like mucking with a right handed bolt if I don't have to. Bolts are slow and cumbersome for me to shoot unless I am at a bench rest.
For my purposes and ranges, a 30-30 works just fine. I can afford the gun, I can afford the ammo, and I can operate the firearm quickly and effectively.
However, I am a lefty and poor. My go-to brush gun/truck gun/camping gun is a Marlin 336 in 30-30. The reason being that 30-30 levers are easier and cheaper than .308 levers, and I don't like mucking with a right handed bolt if I don't have to. Bolts are slow and cumbersome for me to shoot unless I am at a bench rest.
For my purposes and ranges, a 30-30 works just fine. I can afford the gun, I can afford the ammo, and I can operate the firearm quickly and effectively.
hardluk1
member
I used i old rem 788 in .308 in the swamps of florida when young. Still use it when range is short today, I have a 2 to 7 power scope on it and that does aid in picking a line thru brush many times. I have killed deer at 20 feet and at 150 yards down a creek bottom that might not have been done with open sites. You can get today a 16" and 18" barrels on bolt rifles but even a 20" can still be a short rifle. A marlin 336 with a 20" barrel is 39" long. If you want a short rifle get a H&R in a big bore. and I have never short rifle more than one time at game.
Wished i had bought a remington 18" barreled 308 pump years ago. It has every thing you could want on a close range rifle. Fast action, compact, free float barrel and more options in cartridges to pick from.
Wished i had bought a remington 18" barreled 308 pump years ago. It has every thing you could want on a close range rifle. Fast action, compact, free float barrel and more options in cartridges to pick from.
1goodshot
Member
What about a 308 marlin?
Purgatory
Member
I've heard it defined before, but have forgotten and can't find anything on it at the moment.
Without straying too far from the OP, what does the 'R' mean in the 7.62x51R?
Amazing to me that the metric measurement is the same when the casing looks so different, besides the length.
I know the 7.62 is the .30 cal projectile, but what is the 51R?
Is it just a slightly different powder measurement?
Without straying too far from the OP, what does the 'R' mean in the 7.62x51R?
Amazing to me that the metric measurement is the same when the casing looks so different, besides the length.
I know the 7.62 is the .30 cal projectile, but what is the 51R?
Is it just a slightly different powder measurement?
51 is the length expressed in mm. R stands for rimmed. If you look at any R or rimmed case you will clearly see the difference.
The length is basicly the same but the shoulders are vastly different as is the neck and taper. And the rimmed base makes it look vastly different as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62×51mm_NATO
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-30_Winchester
The length is basicly the same but the shoulders are vastly different as is the neck and taper. And the rimmed base makes it look vastly different as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62×51mm_NATO
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-30_Winchester
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Most often, I use a bolt action youth model .243 with a 1.5- 4x scope for deer hunting. It's light and easy to maneuver. Shooting into brush isn't reliable with any caliber, but shooting in between brush is feasible. I also have a 30-06 which works great, but it don't kill them any deader.
Of the two you mention, either is fine. I shot a deer in the thick woods last year with my muzzleloader with a 28" barrel. It seems you don't need a short barreled quick repeater to get the job done.
Of the two you mention, either is fine. I shot a deer in the thick woods last year with my muzzleloader with a 28" barrel. It seems you don't need a short barreled quick repeater to get the job done.
Dylon Fisher
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I don't know why everybody thinks .30-30s are just lever. I got a bolt .30-30. I plan on gettin a 308 soon.
BrocLuno
Member
I own both calibers in easy handling lever guns. The 308 is in an old Savage 99 with a 3x9 scope and the 30-30 is in a Marlin with a fixed 4 power scope. They are both fine. The 308 will reach out there a bit better. The Marlin is a tad (very small tad) easier to hand carry as the receiver is a bit thinner so it's easier to one hand.
If I could only have one, it would be the Savage 99. But, since I can have more than one, I do
I like shooting either. I've never found there to be a problem with ammo selection or availability. The Marlin is easier to clean.
I'd get which ever is more comfortable to shoulder and shoot. The deer will die either way as long as you hit the vitals. Probably more deer killed with 30-30 than any other single caliber in the last 120 years or so. I'd say it's a proven platform
If I could only have one, it would be the Savage 99. But, since I can have more than one, I do
I like shooting either. I've never found there to be a problem with ammo selection or availability. The Marlin is easier to clean.I'd get which ever is more comfortable to shoulder and shoot. The deer will die either way as long as you hit the vitals. Probably more deer killed with 30-30 than any other single caliber in the last 120 years or so. I'd say it's a proven platform
Actually that would be the .307 Winchester. It is literally a rimmed .308 Win (made to fit in a lever gun).
For what the OP wants I would say a .30-30 lever carbine for a short fast handling gun. I have a Mossberg 464 carbine that's nice and short. Marlin makes a few too.
Another good rifle in the .308 would be the Ruger GSR scout rifle. A nice quick rifle with a lot of possibilities.
Lateck,
Another good rifle in the .308 would be the Ruger GSR scout rifle. A nice quick rifle with a lot of possibilities.
Lateck,
madcratebuilder
Member
A "brush gun" is not about shooting "through" brush but about a short, easy to maneuver rifle that's easy to carry through brush and heavy forested areas.
Most game encounters when hunting heavy brush are less than 50yds, a 30-30 lever gun is my choice.
Most game encounters when hunting heavy brush are less than 50yds, a 30-30 lever gun is my choice.
The problem with the .307 Win is that the rifles it was chambered in were short of action. The .308 Marlin was developed specifically to get similar performance with a better bullet from a normal .30-30 sized action. There is a pretty significant difference between the FTX bullets meant for the .30-30 and the .308MX. The .307Win can use the .30-30 version, but not the .308MX version, and still function through the magazine. Not a huge deal for a true brush gun, but for someone wanting a more flexible rifle with longer legs, it's something to consider. That said, my .308MX Marlin is a basket case. I couldn't recommend one at this point.
Because as you said. The .307 can use the 30-30 version and not the .308 MX version. Being that the .307 is equal to a .308 I think it would open to soon.
I said in another post that we have loaded Speer 170 grain FN meant for 30-30s using IMR4064 in .30-06 for a poor mans Ballistic Tip, and also for youths in the family we'd load them down to around 2450 fps. Nevertheless I think there are better bullets than the FTX design. i.e. Not a fan of Hornady bullets in .30 caliber.
I said in another post that we have loaded Speer 170 grain FN meant for 30-30s using IMR4064 in .30-06 for a poor mans Ballistic Tip, and also for youths in the family we'd load them down to around 2450 fps. Nevertheless I think there are better bullets than the FTX design. i.e. Not a fan of Hornady bullets in .30 caliber.
03Shadowbob
Member
Cosmoline,
Kinda what I did but I went with a 35Remington. In the brush, a lever action is very quick on target and handles great. A semi-auto carbine could be better than a lever gun though.
Kinda what I did but I went with a 35Remington. In the brush, a lever action is very quick on target and handles great. A semi-auto carbine could be better than a lever gun though.
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