anyone notice the Mossberg lever action .30-30 announcement?

[Otony]

It is in the Feb/Mar issue of Petersens Hunting. Just a blurb, no photo, but it says it is a top ejecting traditional lever action. Sounds vaguely Winchester 94-ish to me.

I remember that Mossberg made a .30-30 lever somewhat similar to the Marlin 336 some years back (70's? early 80's?), but this sounds like a completely different rifle.

Anyone else see this, or have any more info?

Otony

 

[50caliber123]

sounds interesting. I wonder if it'll be priced like the mossberg 100atr? An affordable, brand-new, American-made levergun sounds good.

 

[kjeff50cal]

Oh if Mossberg would buy Winchester/FNs tooling for the '94 and happen to build it in the Texas plant..... well you can dream.

 

[MiddleAgedKen]

Aye, 'twould be a consummation devoutly to be wished.

 

[ArmedBear]

Dear God, please don't let it be made in Turkey or something.

 

[MCgunner]

Hmmmm, I'll keep an eye on this one.

 

[ArmedBear]

It does sound very different from the old gun, which did look a bit like a Marlin but with noticeably clunkier lines.

Here's the old 472, also sold as Western Field I think. I've handled them in the shop; my first thought was, "What's with the ugly Marlin?" But then I saw the name "Mossberg" on the barrel.

 

[Cosmoline]

Here's my desire--A straight up pre-64 Win 94 with the traditional varieties and chamberings. Go back in time before all the angle eject USRAC nonsense and the weird post-64 metals. No frills, no nonsense. Lean and mean. And a good solid set of iron sights. I would buy that!

 

[ArmedBear]

I know this may sound wrong, but a top-eject pre-64 94 with a scout mount could be kinda cool, too.

I understand why they'd do the AE thing, but if I want a conventionally-scoped .30-30 rifle, a Marlin was and is a better choice. If I want a Winchester, I want something different, i.e. a carbine.

 

[MCgunner]

Me, all's I'd want for sights is to be drilled and tapped or a lyman or williams receiver/peep.

 

[Ash]

The Mossberg 472 was more like a side-ejecting winchester. It looked like a Marlin but the guts were more related to the Winchester.

Ash

 

[ArmedBear]

Doesn't exactly sound like the best of both worlds, then.

 

[paintballdude902]

DEER God, please don't let it be made in Turkey or something

fixed

 

[Smitty in CT]

Their catalog is out, the guns are being made in CT!!

http://www.mossberg.com/content.asp?ID=601&section=media

 

[Ash]

And that is not the older Mossberg design. Interesting.

Ash

 

[ArmedBear]

A few interesting things.

1. The .30-30 will weigh 6.7 lb. with a 20" barrel and 38.5" OAL. If you want a straight-grip carbine instead of Marlin's more rifle-oriented design, the Mossberg fills that niche. Henry should just forget about selling their new overpriced beast that weighs 8.7 lb.

2. There's going to be a .22LR version that, in spec's anyway, sounds a lot like the Mountie in terms of weight, capacity, and geometry. It's not as attractive as Marlin's 39 series, or a takedown, but it could be a great little gun! Mossberg used to make some good-shooting all-steel .22's for budget prices; I've still got one from when I was in high school. It's good to see them back in the game, not just stamping "Mossberg" on a cheap import.

3. The centerfire gun is a top-eject, but made for a scope. Should appeal to those who miss the Winchesters.

Anybody know what the receivers are made from?

What about prices?

 

[mp510]

2. There's going to be a .22LR version that, in spec's anyway, sounds a lot like the Mountie in terms of weight, capacity, and geometry. It's not as attractive as Marlin's 39 series, or a takedown, but it could be a great little gun! Mossberg used to make some good-shooting all-steel .22's for budget prices; I've still got one from when I was in high school. It's good to see them back in the game, not just stamping "Mossberg" on a cheap import.

That sounds interesting. I can't wait to see what it looks like

 

[jesse485]

PLEASE tell me they will make it in handgun cals (.357, .44mag, .45 Colt/ .454 Casull). Indiana passed legislation making it legal to deer hunt with a rifle in certain revolver cartridges (no highpower for us).

 

[ArmedBear]

Why?

The Marlin 1894 is a great carbine for pistol calibers, and it's actually made to fit them properly (Marlin makes 4 different lever gun receivers for different classes of cartridges).

The last thing we need is another Winchester 94 that doesn't really fit pistol calibers but is offered in them anyway.

I'd rather see Mossberg establish the new gun as a good rifle first, then look at other rounds.

mo510: go to Mossberg's site. The Buyer's guide has pictures of each lever gun. It's a tad more boxy-looking than a Marlin or Henry.

 

[kentucky_smith]

The last thing we need is another Winchester 94 that doesn't really fit pistol calibers but is offered in them anyway.

A cheap '92 clone however...

 

[ArmedBear]

Hear, hear.

If you ask me, if FN wants to make levers again, the first thing they should make is a quality American-made 1892.

 

[jesse485]

Why?

Well, when has more choice EVER been a bad thing? I like Marlin and Mossberg, but I tend to prefer Mossberg's products. Price competition is always good for the consumer.

 

[ArmedBear]

when has more choice EVER been a bad thing

When a company makes a product that doesn't work very well just to fill a page of their catalog, and you make the mistake of buying said product instead of a good one. Or when a company brings a potentially good product to market before it's ready, and it's bad for both the company and the consumer (e.g. Remington 597 with the bad original magazines).

Marlin's 1894's are made very well. I doubt Mossberg will have the fit and finish. But if they're 200 bucks, I'll look the other way. Even 299.

 

[TexAg]

Mossberg needs to make a 16" .30-30 version, or Marlin needs to reintroduce theirs before Mossberg does. Thats is an empty spot in the current market.

 

[ArmedBear]

That's interesting, TexAg.

Marlin has actually introduced longer barrels, and discontinued any straight-grip .30-30s. Seems they think that the LE ammo is what is driving the .30-30 market, and rifles instead of carbines are in demand. But as you said, nobody is addressing the short carbine market at all; it could be a good niche.

I don't know what a short barrel will do ballistically with a .30-30, especially LE ammo. Off the cuff, though, I think I'd rather have a .44 Magnum in a 16" barrel -- and my 18.5" .357 lever gun is already very much a compact both in size and handling.