thinking about a 30.30

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txcookie

txcookie

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I have always wanted a lever rifle but know nothing about them. I want the 30.30 as its cheap and plenty of pill for what I chase in deer and hogs. Any Advice?
 
nothing to complain about... some folks are partial to marlin, some winchester... seems to be pretty mutually agreed upon that everyone likes the older models better than the newer ones though. I never had any complaints about the ones I've owned and they were all newer.

they're small, shoulder and point well, easy to operate, you can put one in the pipe and lower the hammer... I like 'em just fine. One of my older friends took 4 moose with his, so even though I prefer personally a 30-06 for my hunting round, if it'll take 4 moose i think it'll take a deer and a hog!

popular quote is that the 30-30 has probably killed more deer than any other cartridge in existence!
 
depending on how deep your pockets are, you can get really spendy quick with those things! I'm sure the experts will be along soon who can school you on the finer points of the different makes and models, but i've owned 3 different ones and they've all went "bang" when I pulled the trigger.
 
Find a good used Marlin 336, made before the crossbolt safety came along - it'll do everything a .30-30 needs to do.
 
One word: Leverevolution.
That is all, besides Marlin 336 (which is the only one I've ever used).
Greg
 
I am a big .30-30 guy. I really like the round and what it delivers. I had a lot of fun in TX quietly walking through the brush and jumping deer and hogs with my Marlin 336. Most shots came close and most things dropped close to where they were shot. It is easy on the ears and shoulders, plenty lethal for the intended targets, and a joy to carry in the field. I try to convince all my friends that it is Un-American to not own at least one .30-30 rifle.
 
A lot of people trash talk the 30-30 as nothing but an underpowered wounder of deer. In my experience, this sort of comment is most likely to come from the guy that shows up to hunt 70 pound deer in thick cover (where 75 yards is a LONG shot) carrying a 26 inch barrel, .300 Weatherby magnum with a 6-24 power scope.

While 30-30 is by no means my favorite caliber, a hunter that understands and abides by its limitations and uses it in appropriate areas, doesn't really give up much to faster shooting, more powerful calibers.

My personal preference in 30-30 lever guns is the Winchester Model 94 Trapper model with a good receiver sight and an ivory bead front. A fiber optic would probably work better than the ivory bead, but to me they just don't look right, kinda like headlights on a covered wagon.

The short 16" barrel and receiver sight work very well for me in the areas that I consider appropriate for 30-30 use.

As much as I like the Winchester 94, if you're planning to scope the rifle, the Marlin is probably a better choice unless you favor the "Scout" type scope.
 
The best "deal" for a 30-30 is to seek out the old store brand Marlins, Western Auto, Coast-to- Coast and a host of other house name brands. Numrich/world gun parts has a great cross reference for who built what.

Those old rifles that once gathered dust in the beater/ bargain gun racks were far better built than the "stuff" that is being made in the last few years wear the Marlin brand.

In days before Gunbroker/Armslist ect these where a great way to get a god deal on a well made rifle.
 
The last nine or ten deer that I've killed were with a Marlin 336 in 30-30 or 35 Rem. I prefer the older pre-Remington Marlins. A pre-1982 is even better because it doesn't have the crossbolt safety. Pawn shops and gun stores usually have one or two pre-1982 Marlin 30-30's sitting in the rack.
 
Nothing feels better in my hands than a 94 winchester. That being said, I am looking for a nice pre safty Marlin, because as my eyes get older, sometimes I just need a scope. So for me it simple, iron sights Win. 94. If you want a scope, Marlin. I can not comment on the current Mossbergs or Rosi, other than the ones I have handled have not impressed me.
 
Can't say I blame you for wanting a 30/30. There a darned fine rifle. Like others have mentioned the older model Marlin 336 's are some very good shooters. Mine is a 1981 pre crossbolt safety that is on my list of never to sell rifles.
 
I've owned several lever guns in 30-30 . (Winchester Model 94's and Marlin Model 336's.)

The older the better applies for the most part. A pre-1964 Winchester 94 is better made than any of the Model 94's that followed.

The Marlin 336's made 50 years or more ago will also be of better average quality. Look for a good used one is my advise also.
 
30-30 is pretty good all around cartridge. Mild recoil for the most part; maybe the upper limit an average shooter could withstand over extended periods of time. I know its a good deer cartridge, and you can find it in many wally-worlds which always a plus; they are fairly cheap, but be careful it can add up easily. As other have said the Marlin 336 is an excellent platform for the cartridge: cheap and you can find them in any gun-shop.
 
30-30 is my TOP choice of rifles for hunting deer within forests and foothills. It slays 'em nicely without destroying a lot of good shoulder meat. Recoil is moderate, ammo pricing is still affordable too.

TR
 
The .30-30 is an excellent cartridge but not glamorous enough for some folks. I have three and am always open to getting another. Actually there's a nice older Marlin at a local shop that has caught my eye. You just about can't walk into a pawn or gun shop without tripping over a rack full of used .30-30's. I would suggest handling both Winchesters and Marlins and choosing whichever you like best. Put a Williams Foolproof receiver sight on it and go shooting.
 
HOw much are the market prices on excellent Marlin 336s and Winchester 94s?
What year when their quality went downhill? I ve seen quite of them in Walmart in the 1990s, where those already of poor quality?
 
Shouldn't be a problem finding a good used example for under $400. The Marlin I was looking at was just over $300. The only ones I generally avoid are the later Winchesters with that hideous crossbolt safety and the new Remington-owned Marlins. I don't care for the low end models with birch stocks but that's strictly personal preference.
 
I've got a newer model Marlin (the cheap one with the birch stock). It's been a great shooter. I'm not saying there aren't lemons out there, just that the new ones aren't ALL lemons.
 
Not all of the new Marlins are of bad QC, but I would not buy one with out being able to inspect it.

I myself have a Marlin 336 made in 2003 and it is just gourgeous. Not sure why others don't like the cross bolt safety, have never had a problem when shouldering and firing with mine.
P.S. I find this is a good meat getter that does not experience excessive meat loss.
 
Marlin or Winchester and Leverevolution as per above. I would suggest a pre 2005 Marlin if you go that direction. While shooting properly sized cast bullets through Marlin micro-groove has been proven just as effective as other forms of rifling, sizing can be a little hassle so if you are going to shoot cast, maybe a Winchester is a better option. If you really want to see what the 30-30 can do, it is, for some unknown reason, the absolutelly most accurate H&R Handi Rifle caliber and in a single shot not only can you load it much hotter than in a lever gun, but you can use any .308 spitzer bullet you like. Just another option to consider.
 
a different but similar thought

Not to hijack the thread, but maybe to throw an alternate opinion in...
While the 30-30 has probably accounted for more deer as a caliber than all of the others put together, how abut a vote for something like a 99 Savage?

It can be had with a tang safety and in calibers like the .308, and allows for the use of bullets with points....

About the same length as a 30-30, but more power in the package.
 
txcookie said:
I have always wanted a lever rifle but know nothing about them. I want the 30.30 as its cheap and plenty of pill for what I chase in deer and hogs. Any Advice?
Click to expand...
Any of the .30 WCF lever rifles are fine rifles, which ever you choose you won`t be disappointed with the .30 WCF if you use it within it`s range.............
 
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