Marlin 336

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Case82

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I know this has probably been beaten to death, but I'm considering a basic 336 .30-30 for defense. I have a Glock 23 .40, but no rifle. I want a cheap, dependable, accurate rifle with adequate power out to ~150 yds.
I don't hunt & I'm not trying to build a battle arsenal, but at the same time I would like to have a rifle + sidearm in the event of a natural disaster, etc.
Let me know what you think.
 
Great gun, reliable, mine is accurate, and plenty of gun for 150 yards. You can't go wrong with one for less than $300. An SKS is a good choice too and its cheaper to shoot. But you can't go wrong with either.
 
Hey Bartkowski, wouldn't a lever rifle chambered in .44 magnum be cheaper to shoot than a .30-30? It would HAVE to be at least as effective in personal defense.
 
At 150yards I would rather have 30-30, closer than 75 I would like a 44. It would be cheaper, but an SKS is a lot cheaper than the both of them. All three of the guns mentioned are good options, but there aren't very many .44 lever actions near me for sale new or used, and they are generally more expensive too.
 
A 336 in .30-30 will serve very well as a good all-round rifle. Range can be extended by using Hornady Leverevolution ammunition.

You might also want to consider adding either upgraded sights or an optic of some type. Red dots work well, as do lower-powered scopes.

XS Sight systems makes a nice scout mount rail. They also make good sights, or you can go with Skinner sights, or Williams...or a tang sight...

And you might want to get set up reloading if you decide to shoot the .30-30 a lot. The cheapest factory ammunition I have seen is Federal GameShok- Walmart 20 to a box, $9.27 per box. I now reload.
 
I have been getting 30-30, 30-06, 7mm rem mag, and others for $5-10 with a rebate. I just buy some "for my parents and what not". The 30-30 is about $5 so its not that hard on your wallet.
 
Jeff Cooper was partial to the GPR - Gunsite Police Rifle - for a Urban Defense Gun. A GPR is a basic Winchester 94 in .30-30 with good sights and a Butt Cuff. Mine is a pre-64 and has a Williams Receiver Sight with a Williams "Big Game" Aperture - a Ghost Ring. Front sight is a square post centered in a Sight Hood. Very Fast and works good for shoot 1 - load 1 drills. The Marlin is a good choice.
 
Case,

I'm a big fan of 336.
We've got a little thread going about it over here.

For deer, there's little comparison.

But for SD, I'm a fan of Marlin 1894C in .357 mag.
(Nice for smaller deer at close ranges also.)

Nem
 
I have a Marlin 1894C also which is a great rifle, especially when paired with one of my three .357 revolvers and I believe it might be a better choice for strictly home defense. But I bought the 336 because I lacked a compact, handy full-power rifle. Like Case182, I don't hunt either, but I'd like to keep that option open. What I wanted was a general-purpose rifle and I can't think of a better choice than a lever-action 30-30. To quote Jeff Cooper (who's already been mentioned):
The new "weapon of the masses" seems to be the Chinese version of the Kalashnikov. It is not very accurate, nor very powerful, nor very well made - but it is cheap, and this matters very considerably. It is not as good a weapon technically or tactically as a Winchester or Marlin lever action 30-30, but it is a self-loader, and that makes a great difference to a lot of moderns who feel that they must have semi-automatic fire in order to "keep up."

Note that Mike Root, our man in Cuchillo, cleaned up the iron sight category at the last Keneyathlon with his 30-30. I do not think anyone is likely to do that with an AK47, or clone thereof.
Click to expand...
And to quote Cooper again:
This is the centennial of the great Model 94 Winchester, one of the outstanding artifacts of modern times. It is unsound to make the claim that any one instrument "won the West," but the 94 was the mainstay of the wilderness during the early years of the twentieth century, and in the days of my youth it was a rare household that did not contain one. This excellent weapon is still with us today, and rendering good service wherever it is found. It you do not own one, you should get one, and not only for the sake of sentiment. If the public scene turns nasty, as some say it may, you will be far better off with an M94 in 30-30 than you will be with an SKS, AK47, or an M16.
Click to expand...
Anyway, I've enjoyed the heck out of my Marlin and I think you will, too.
 
I have both a 336 and an 1894c and at 150 yds I'd want the .30-30. Also, the 1894c is very popular right now and you won't find one at nearly the price you can get a good 336.
 
Get a used 336 in 30-30, a used single stage press, set of dies, 500 brass, a few pounds of IMR 4895, couple of thousand large rifle primers and same number of Remington corelok 150g bullets. You will be set for ten years. Would cover all home defense and possible hunting needs. With a little shopping effort you could get it all under $600.
 
Seige Rifle

I think I'd go with a Mini-14, 300 rounds of ball ammo and 10 mags. When the seige is over you can always scrounge the dead for more ammo. Doubt either side is going to be carrying any 30-30 ammo. JMHO
 
I think I'd go with a Mini-14, 300 rounds of ball ammo and 10 mags. When the seige is over you can always scrounge the dead for more ammo. Doubt either side is going to be carrying any 30-30 ammo
Click to expand...

1) 300 rds of .223 ain't much.
2) Mini's are not known for their accuracy (there is contention that the new ones are better in this regard) or their cost effectivness. If you live in a free state, might as well pick up an AR-15
3) I contend that the .30-30 with Leverevolution ammunition ranges with the Mini-14, at least as far as effective range goes. Like I said before, the Mini-14 isn't known for accuracy. And higher capacity mags are unreliable, unless you can find the Ruger hicaps.

You can get the Marlin 336, plenty of ammo, and a reloading setup for what the Mini 14 and its accessories would cost. And get a better rifle in the deal.
 
Wow, this has turned into a nice discussion overnight. Some good points succinctly offered.

Balrog, in particular, those are great quotes from Col Cooper. Thnx. ;)
 
Mini 14

If you can't fend the hoards off with 300 rounds your gonna' be overun. Plenty accurate for human targets at 150 yrds.
Never had a problem with the rifle feeding, except when I tried my own reloads with thoughts of capping groundhogs.
I have a 336 in 35 Remington, belonged to my father, great deer rifle out to 150 yds. He always complained about the recoil. I've put maybe 20 rounds through it and never felt the recoil was all that bad.
Not a good choice as it's too slow to load.
ARs in this part of the woods are a little pricey.
Man, it's hard to argue with Mr. Cooper.
 
Mini 14

If you can't fend the hoards off with 300 rounds your gonna' be overun. Plenty accurate for human targets at 150 yrds.
Never had a problem with the rifle feeding, except when I tried my own reloads with thoughts of capping groundhogs.
I have a 336 in 35 Remington, belonged to my father, great deer rifle out to 150 yds. He always complained about the recoil. I've put maybe 20 rounds through it and never felt the recoil was all that bad.
Not a good choice as it's too slow to load.
ARs in this part of the woods are a little pricey.
Man, it's hard to argue with Mr. Cooper.
 
I have a 336 with the barrel shortened to about 18.5" and XS Ghost Ring sights as a general purpose rifle, and I feel it excels in that role. Very handy, accurate, and it has a nice smooth action.
 
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