So I want a .30-30

I have owned several Winnys and Marlins over the years. Currently have a 1962 Marlin 336 and a 1973 mfg Win 94. The Marlin is my favorite. It has an excellent trigger, and shoots like a dream. The Winny ain't bad either.

 

If I were buying new i'd get a Mossberg 464, used probably a marlin for scopeability. That being said I have a 1962 Winchester 94 rescue. Action still a bit tight, but it shoots great and I wouldn't trade it for anything new.

 

I voted Marlin, as I had a Winchester 94, made in 1974, that I had all custom with a brushed nickel reciever, and barrel band, with the fancy walnut knurled stock, it even had a 1894 silver dollar embedded in the stock; the problem was I couldn't hit the proverbial side of the barn with it, no matter what load I used. I traded it in for a Marlin Cowboy 30-30 in 2003, replaced the ugly safety in the reciever with the screw sold by some guy in Wisconsin, and never looked back. It will shoot moa at 100 yards, and shoots exactly where I'm aiming. Ya just can't beat it.

 

I voted Mossberg on the strength of the company and the new product. I agree with everyone that if you had a line on older Winchesters (especially 1950s era) and Marlins that you'd be better there. The new "Winchesters" are very nice but they're very pricey and very well done reproductions. I don't care about the reproduction part since they are very well done but $1200 for a model 94 is a bit much!

 

I've had a Winchester and currentl have a 20+ year old Marlin and a Rossi Rio Grande. I like the Rossi the best. Excellent fit and finish and have found it the most accurate 30-30 I've ever shot.

 

One more vote for a pre-crossbolt safety 336. I just brought home another one a couple weeks ago, vintage 1963, in great condition, with a straight stock, and I love it.

 

Awesome find. A 336 Texan is next on my list to track down. Rare as hens teeth.

 

I like the Winchester 94. If you must get a new Winchester(one made since 1927), make manufactured in 1940 as your cutoff date. A heavily worn but still functioning early Winchester is a much better rifle than anything of newer manufacture and may not be that much more expensive. The trick is figuring which flaws are cosmetic and which are deal breakers.

 

I would love to have a Model 94 Winchester

 

I voted Marlin, but I bought mine before Remington messed them up. Still I would look for a used 336C. But in 35 Remington not 30-30

Jim

 

Easy answer for me is 336. My wrist just likes the semi-pistol grip.

Another one to look at is a Savage 99. No limits on bullet shapes.

Matt

 

I have a 1955 era M94, and it is the quintessential 30-30. If I were looking for a rifle to hunt with, it would be a pre-82 Marlin 336, but like Dr. Rob, Rossi would at the top of the 'new' list. I bought a new Rossi M92 last December, and after cleaning the action and stoning the surfaces of the bolt and receiver, it is slick as glass and feeds, fires and ejects with aplomb. I wouldn't hesitate to get the Rio Grande...

 

@rallyhound

Oh yeah. Admittedly, I probably wouldn't have bought a mossberg if not for the davidson's version.

 

If you want to scope it, get a Marlin, with its solid top receiver. If you want nostalgia and iron sights, go Winchester. Recent Marlins are, of course, something of a buyer beware proposition.

Personally, I think telescopes belong on bolt guns. One of the main reasons people like levers is that they're light, slim, and fast handling. A scope is destructive of all of those characteristics. Of course, I may feel differently when my eyes are 30 or 40 years older.

 

I'm a vintage type of guy. I have a 1949 Win 94 and a 1921 Savage 99 both in 30-30. The Savage is one of the first lever-actions to be able to take a scope because of how it ejects. Mine has an old fixed Weaver 2X post and literally shoots the lights out at 100-150 yds. IMHO the Savage 99 is by far the best all around lever-action rifle that ever was and is in many calibers. Still a lot of them out there at relative decent prices...

 

Holy crap! Tied up 59-59!

 

I'd bet on it! Been there, doing it.

 

I voted Marlin but it would have to be an older one made before the current corporate entity took over production.

 

I have two with peeps, two with scopes. Can't shoot them if I can't see the sights. I could see fine until around my 40th, and frequently posted just as you have.

 

Going to have to agree with many others. Pre Remlin 336 's are some sweet rifles. My 1981 336 30/30 is just one fine little rifle.

 

I would have voted Winchester, but since manufacturing of the M94 is now outside of the USA, I can't do it. Our economy needs our support. Marlin is equal quality in my past experience. I do appreciate the flat top for optics mounting. At present, if looking for a lever-action .30-30 Win, I would go Marlin. I like this model:

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/centerfire/336BL.asp

Geno

 

I would have voted Marlin 336 but it depends on when it was made. So I voted "other". Meaning other older Marlins like those Glenfields and Model 30AS versions which were economy model 336's. I inherited a 30AS back in 2002 that was made in the early 1990's. Shoots just as good as any 336 I've ever seen. They came with cheaper wood, (birch??) and no checkering and cheaper sights than a 336 but it's drilled and tapped so now it wears a 1-4x Leupold. They cost less than a 336 when new and will still cost less than a 336 today, assuming both are in the same condition and age. They are usually a good bargain if you find one in good shape and the seller isn't out to gouge you. They may be the economy model 336's but to me they are still 336's even if doesn't say 336 on it anywhere.

 

I believe that the objections to the "Remlins" is overblown. I have two of them; both bought in the last year and both of them will shoot rings around my pre-64 Winchester.
The safety issue?? Leave it on fire and drop the hammer to half cock. That's what you have to do to put the safety on the early Marlins..

 

Very true. A lot of folks don't seem to realize that you can hunt with the new safety in the same "safety" mode as you could with older rifles not having it.