Beginners 30-30 marlin questions

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chorlton

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I've seem countless pages on the 30-30 lever action, but not too much on suitable ammo, and I understand lever actions are picky. I'd like to know what the best type and brand of ammo is:
for target/range
for hunting
for self defense
(and out of interest) for maximum penetration
 
Actually, 30-30 lever actions tend not to be finicky about ammo. It's the lever actions chambered for pistol cartridges that tend to be sensitive to cartridge OAL.

There are lots of good choices out there in 30-30. For the most part, you need to stick with flat point or round nose ammo due to the tubular magazine. The exception is Hornady's new line of LeverEvolution ammo, which uses a soft polymer "ballistic tip" to improve aerodynamic efficiency while still being safe for tubular mags. I've heard great things about it, but haven't personally tried it. It supposedly gives higher velocities and, therefore, flatter trajectories at extended range.
 
Agree with post above.

One thing to remember, each firearm has its preferences for accuracy. Some 30-30's do better with some brands than others (just like all guns do) and some 30-30's do better with 150 gr and some 170 gr. Depends on task, ranges and so forth.

I would try OTC same brand but different weights to see which your gun prefers.
For instance Federal, 150 and 170 gr. Get a baseline if you will. Another reason why I like to try ammo local, is if I find a loading that really works well - I can go back and get more of that lot number.

Ammo can and will vary from lot to lot.

If a buddy or two has 30-30, horsetrade some of yours to test thiers, then if one of thier works, you have saved a bit of time and money as well.
 
They all seem to do well with the basic 135-170 grain FP jacketed bullets. The tricky part comes when you try to work up cast bullet loads. There are a number of factors including the bore size, the bullet size, copper residue, and the type of rifiling that can effect the accuracy of cast loads dramatically. The Marlins usually use micro-groove rifling which favors the jacketed bullets. Over the past 75 years of the 30-30's long long history there's been more of a shift to relying on jacketed bullets for the cartridge. The commercial cast loadings have almost all vanished and the bullets that are available tend to be a bit underbored. I've had a devil of a time getting a reliable load for cast 170's in a variety of Winchester '94's.

To answer your question though a cranked up 170 hardcast would offer the most penetration, but is only making a thirty caliber hole. The most penetration from an expanding round is probably from the Partition hot loads offered by Federal in their premium line. Hot Barnes X handloads also penetrate very well. Though as a general matter you're looking at between 14" to 20" in expanded penetration through gel. That's ample for most game with a good broadside shot, but not enough for a Texas heart shot or if you have to get through too much shoulder.
 
I've got a Marlin 336 in .35 Rem. I've reloaded 200gr rn / 180gr fp / 220gr fp and all manner of pistol bullets intended for use in the .357 mag into the .35 Rem brass. The gun cycles them all perfectly, all the time.:)
 
yep , dittos. most of the winnys and marlins i've shot seem to be just fien with winchester or remmy in 150 or 170 grains. Allways within a 2 inch group at 100 yds.
 
My stock iron sighted Marlin336 30/30 is very finicky and only performs well with Federal 170's. 1" 3 shot group @ 50 yards and around 2" @ 100 if all the planets are aligned correctly.

170 Remingtons do OK but Winnys are dismal out of this rifle. Also tried the Serbian Monarch ammo. Very hard to eject, not close to Fed accuracy.

It doesn't seem to shoot any 150 loadings well, to date.

Yet to try the Hornady new tipped ammo.
 
the most accurate loads for my Marlin 336 have been the Fusion 170gr flat point, and the Hornady Leverevolution 160 gr. Winchester Super X 170 gr flat points perform decently well, just an inch or so bigger on the 100 yd groups.

150 gr loads, regardless of brand, aren't quite as accurate in my experience.

for hunting, i use the Hornady.
 
My Marlin likes the Rem 170-Gr "core-lokt" SP the best. Haven't tried the new Hornady "Lever-evolution" stuff yet.

Any brand of 150-Gr I have tried has looked more like a shotgun pattern than aimed rifle fire.

Your Mileage Will Vary
 
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