Marlin 336 30-30

[Roadkill]

(Also posted in Hunting Forum) Left work at 2:30, was in the woods at 3:30, at 4:15 they started moving, Shot a 125 lb two pointer and a 100+ lb doe. Both were standing shots, I had to work my way across a pasture keeping seedling pines between me and them, kept low, went slow, found a shot through the trees but had to wait for them to cross, got the first one at about 125 yds, thought I missed when it ran to the right, second one came from left at about 175 yds, rechambered, shot, it went down, as I walked up to it I saw the first one down on my right about 50 yds, still struggling, shot it again, went to other one shot it in the head. Could have easily got a third one at about 30 yds that jumped after the last shot and stopped and turned but I let it go. That's three for me, I'm done for the season. Used a Marlin 336 30-30, handload 150grain soft points with 29g of IMR 4895. First one was a heart shot, second both lungs. Again, these were standing shots. Both bullets went completely through both animals. Do not underrate this gun and the 30-30 cartridge.
rk

 

[MechAg94]

Good huntin'

 

[AZRickD]

RK,

I have all sorts of rifles, 1/4MOA Savage 10FP, a FAL, AR, AK, SKS, etc, any of which I could hunt with here in Arizona. But my favorite out-in-the-woods rifle is my Pappy's now 40-year old Marlin .30-30. Great to carry and shoulders well.

What do you think would be the best load (powder, bullet, velocity) for hunting and what is the hottest you would feel comfortable loading up to (given the opportunity)?

Rick

 

[Roadkill]

I'm not a great one for experimenting. I generally find a well rated combination just a little above the median load but under the max and stay with it. Then I adjust my shooting and gun to that load. These were the longest shots I have tried with the 30-30. Up till then max was about 125 yds. What surprised me was at the ranges listed both soft point rounds went completely through on solid hits.

rk

 

[rbernie]

Dropped two does midday on Saturday with my Marlin 30-30; first one at 45 yards, second one at 55 yards. Flushed both from their bedding in heavy No'Texas scrub, stalked 'em as they moved around, and shot 'em when they got stupid. Visibility in the scrub was about 30 yards; my 10x binoculars were unneeded for this hunt. I used a Weaver 2x pistol scope mounted scout-style (AO mount)on the Marlin; it was a good choice.

Load was a 150gr Hornady over 34gr H4895 (book max - work up with caution). Neither one made it 10 yards before expiring. The shot on the second doe was a quartering shot that entered thru the left shoulder and broke it down; bullet stayed intact and exited the far side. Meat damage was minimal; credit the 30-30's lower velocities for getting the job done without exploding Bambi's insides.

Nothing wrong with the 30-30.

 

[Roadkill]

Good shooting! The shoulders will go on the smoker this evening. My garage looked and smelled like a slaughterhouse before I finished up last night.

rk

 

[bearmgc]

Great shootin all! 30-30 did it again. I enjoy listening to the stories of the hunt.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Just goes to show you that what worked a 100yrs ago still does today!

My favorite load for the .30/30 is RL-15. Without a doubt, this is the very best powder for this cartridge with 150gr and heavier bullets.

Your load of 29gr of 4895 is definitely mild. My brother uses 33.5gr in his Win. m94, for 2,300fps.

My load of 35.0gr of RL-15 gets 2,390fps from my 20"bbl. You will note that this is factory nominal velocity for factory ammo from a 24"bbl.

36.0gr is max, but from my Marlin/Glenfield M30, 35.0 gives much better accuracy. Accuracy is about 1.25" w/3 shots at 100yds. It opens to 2"+ with the max load of 36.0.

I use the MidwayUSA bulk Remington Cor-lokts in 150gr., though I find the Sierra and Hornady's, and Nosler's are slightly more accurate.

Last season on the Tuesday after the opening of gun season (Oct.23, 2004), I killed a 100lb doe at 25yds, and a 175lb 10pt buck at 95yds, each with one shot. The buck was shot while he was inspecting the dead doe! The doe was shot in the left (near) shoulder while trotting towards me. The bullet blew out a portion of the tip of the humerous and clavicle (shoulder blade) adjacent to the entry wound, making a 2" exit wound next to the entrance wound. The bullet transited the chest and torso, lodging against the pelvis (hip bone). The bullet was lost while processing the deer, but looked just like the Remington ads. My brother two years previously did the same on a 125lb doe with Hornady 150gr RN with his load.

The buck took his through both humerous bones and took out the heart and adjacent lungs. 3" exit wound on far side where bullet exited. Several persons I showed the deer too ask me what kind of .30cal MAGNUM I had shot them with !!!!!!!

Just a good match of bullet performance to application. After 100+years the ammo and bullet manufacturers have got it RIGHT!

FWIW, my Marlin will out-shoot all but two of my bolt actions, which roughly match it.

I too prefer the way these rifles handle and point.

However, my preference runs to the .35 Rem. cart where the possibility of large pigs is exists. Just a preference though, as I am sentimental about the .35 !!!

 

[JohnKSa]

Great post.

 

[Mannlicher]

Another vote for the Marlin 336 and the 30-30

Early afternoon on this past Thanksgiving day, I shot a nice fat 6 point from a tree stand in North Fla. I don't think I was in the stand 15 min, when he ambled out of the swamp. Range was about 25 yards. He was killed with one shot, hardly moving after the hit.
Rifle was the Marlin 336Y that I bought earlier this year. I love the 16 inch barrel, but added to the Youth stock's length with a 1 inch Walnut spacer.
I used my handloads. Remington case, 34.5 grains of IMR4320 powder, and the Speer 170 grain Hot Core FP. With this load, the little lever gun is a one MOA shooter.

 

[bsp915]

great info!

 

[shdwfx]

Ahem.

Deuteronomy 18
10 There shall not be found among you any one that ...
11 ... or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD



...and welcome to THR!