Walk a bout carbine

Buckeye63

Buckeye63

Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2018
Messages
2,259
My 336 in 30-30 has been my go to , while checking springs walking fence line … in a mountainous wooded area …. for decades
I once had a custom 6.5x55 Mauser with a 18.5 inch barrel that was my go to about 25-30 yrs ago
and Im thinking about another boltgun
Im learning toward a 16 to 20 inch barrel
1.5 to 2x fixed powered scope …
But trying to decide caliber … 308 ,6.5 CM , 243
7.62x39 ,350 L ,400L , 6.5 Grendel are mostly the calibers Im looking at
Deer , occasional Black bear , coyote ,, feral dog
are what I see .occasionally when Im out
( yep .. deer season and bear season ) I do have my license…
Only hunting rifles I own are 3 Marlin 336 in 30-30
I own no Bolt action hunting rifle

Just wanted to bounce it off u guys and see what might be your choice.. also I will enjoy the conversation
 
Last edited:
For a bolt gun, Id probably go Howa 1500 or Ruger American in 7.62x39. Just enuf oomph for black bear in a pinch without being abusive on the wallet or shoulder. Sufficient for deer and hogs at medium ranges. Mini-30 might be the ticket if your open to a semi-auto, though quite a bit pricier these days.

Though, if aggressive bears are the primary concern, Id much rather a have an AR10, Socom 16 or a 12 gauge packed full of slugs at my side.
 
For your stated purpose I’m hard pressed to quantify what a bolt would bring to the table that the 336 could not handle.

However…since you’re looking to add a bolt I’ll throw these out for consideration:

1: Ruger M77 in .44 Mag. I have one. Exceedingly compact, light and easy to carry with the ability to accept a 10 round magazine if you feel the need for it.

2: Ruger American Ranch. Affordable, light, accurate. Also can accept extended capacity mags. You pick the caliber. I have one in .223. I was truly surprised by the out of the box accuracy for its price range.

Lots of a lightweight, affordable all-weather options out there from HOWA, Vanguard, Savage etc. that could probably meet your criteria. None jump out at me because it’s a category I just don’t spend a lot of time researching. I have a practically new, wood stocked Vanguard in 30-06 I bought 18 years ago. Only shot to sight in. It’s a solid gun but doesn’t elicit any emotion otherwise….just like some other bolts I own.

I’d have to go to Tikka, Browning, a Ruger International or bolt rifles in that spectrum to pick it before the 336.

Wildcards not directly in your category:

1: NEF, H&R or Henry single shot break actions. I have a NEF. Again, easy to carry, lots of caliber options, affordable (mostly applies to the NEF and H&R), reliable and more than enough hunting accuracy out of any of them.

On a side bar if you don’t mind answering: how did you end up with 3 336’s in 30-30? ( if I read your OP correctly)
 
Last edited:
Frulk said:
For your stated purpose I’m hard pressed to quantify what a bolt would bring to the table that the 336 could not handle.

However…since you’re looking to add a bolt I’ll throw these out for consideration:

1: Ruger M77 in .44 Mag. I have one. Exceedingly compact, light and easy to carry with the ability to accept a 10 round magazine if you feel the need for it.

2: Ruger American Ranch. Affordable, light, accurate. Also can accept extended capacity mags. You pick the caliber. I have one in .223. I was truly surprised by the out of the box accuracy for its price range.

Lots of a lightweight, affordable all-weather options out there from HOWA, Vanguard, Savage etc. that could probably meet your criteria. None jump out at me because it’s a category I just don’t spend a lot of time researching. I have a practically new, wood stocked Vanguard in 30-06 I bought 18 years ago. Only shot to sight in. It’s a solid gun but doesn’t elicit any emotion otherwise….just like some other bolts I own.

I’d have to go to Tikka, Browning, a Ruger International or bolt rifles in that spectrum to pick it before the 336.

Wildcards not directly in your category:

1: NEF, H&R or Henry single shot break actions. I have a NEF. Again, easy to carry, lots of caliber options, affordable (mostly applies to the NEF and H&R), reliable and more than enough hunting accuracy out of any of them.

On a side bar if you don’t mind answering: how did you end up with 3 336’s in 30-30? ( if I read your OP correctly)
Click to expand...

At one time I owned over 35 Leverguns
In 25-3000 , 30-30 , 35 Rem , 375 Win , 307 , 356 , 444 , 45/70 .. 32 Special, 454 ,44 , 357 …
I used to collect them
I have owned dozens of boltguns … 375 H&H , 9.3X63 , 9X57 , 9.3x57 , 308 , 243, 7X57 , 358 ,350 Mag , 35 Whelen …6.5x55 270 , 30-06 , 338-06 & and Im sure more ….
I had gotten sick and ill health , lost my job and had to sell off my collection
I will never be able to replace them .. its been years ago …
 
351 WINCHESTER said:
I'm thinking that 336 .30-30 will be better as you know it and it is a very capable rifle especially in the hands of someone who has carried and shot it for decades. Personally I would not switch for all the tea in China.
Click to expand...

That is my cartridge
I own a Texan , 30AS and a Spikehorn
I just wanting a boltgun /carbine
 
Buckeye…Wow. REALLY sorry about that turn of events which led to the sell off. I’m a huge lever gun fan myself and it took me years to cobble together the middling collection I have.

I really do like that Ruger M77 in .44 Mag (although it’s not one of the calibers you listed). Carries like a lever. I never scoped it and don’t plan to.
 
6.5 Creedmoor would do in a light rifle, but it won't like a carbine barrel unless you loaded it special and accepted the velocity drop.

A good 140 gr. load would take care of your needs.

A lightweight carbine chambered in it escapes me.
 
Gun-Reck said:
6.5 Creedmoor would do in a light rifle, but it won't like a carbine barrel unless you loaded it special and accepted the velocity drop.

A good 140 gr. load would take care of your needs.

A lightweight carbine chambered in it escapes me.
Click to expand...
That set-up would be similar to my custom 6.5x55
 
Just a suggestion, but it appears your well served with your Marlins. Were it me, and you made no illusion to reloading I would start. Cast bullet, lite powder charges great squirrel, groundhog eliminators, I like a little 90gr cast with unique for about 1300 fps for that kind of bumming around, with a stock cuff stocked with hot 130s and a couple 165 paper patch at 2400 i have avaliable every possible cartridge i could need for roaming around.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
For a bolt gun, Id probably go Howa 1500 or Ruger American in 7.62x39. Just enuf oomph for black bear in a pinch without being abusive on the wallet or shoulder. Sufficient for deer and hogs at medium ranges. Mini-30 might be the ticket if your open to a semi-auto, though quite a bit pricier these days.

Though, if aggressive bears are the primary concern, Id much rather a have an AR10, Socom 16 or a 12 gauge packed full of slugs at my side.
Click to expand...
I have upon a couple of occasions ran up on a Black Bear or two or three … they ran like a rabbit when they caught wind or sight of me
Luckily no mad momma bears or young males
 
Risky buisness said:
Just a suggestion, but it appears your well served with your Marlins. Were it me, and you made no illusion to reloading I would start. Cast bullet, lite powder charges great squirrel, groundhog eliminators, I like a little 90gr cast with unique for about 1300 fps for that kind of bumming around, with a stock cuff stocked with hot 130s and a couple 165 paper patch at 2400 i have avaliable every possible cartridge i could need for roaming around.
Click to expand...

On that note, a .357 carbine, like the Ruger 77, would due.

The 158 gr. Federal JSP load expands on deer and hogs at closer ranges, and punches nice neat holes in rabbits.
 
Mk-211 said:
If you can find one, look at a Spanish FR-8.

Click to expand...

I used collect Milsurps .. I have owned a couple in the past ..
And a few Jungle Carbines

Their was a chain discount store in my town back in the late 80’s early 90’s that sold Milsurps
I remember buying Mosins for $55 , 1917 Enfields for $200 , Enfields for $60 to $75.00
Swedish Mausers for $100 and Jungle Carbines $100 FR-8’s $150
I got to know the manager.. we would go through his stock and pick out the good ones …
I also remember $85 SKS’s .. I still have a couple of them
 
Last edited:
Based on what you need it for, unless you need 250-yard+ reach it looks to me that you have an ideal walkabout rifle in your trio of 336’s. :thumbup:

The only bolt gun I have that would meet your requirements would be my Ruger M-77 RSI in .243.
The newer Hawkeye compact 7mm:08 may be an option if you really want a new bolt rifle in a new caliber. :)

Stay safe.
 
I owned a Ruger Ranch carbine in 7.62x39
I really liked it .. but traded it off … with the idea of buy another.. but I failed to do so
Honestly that carbine is on my list … in that chambering .. I still have my scope for it .. 2.5 powered … or something
But part of me is sorta waiting on the 400 Legend
Im a huge 40 S&W & 10mm fan
And Winchester came so close to releasing a 400 Winchester in 83/84 .. to go with the 375 Winchester
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
  • Locked
What is the best caliber for medium to large game for a first timer??
2 3
Replies
56
Views
2K
RevGeo
R
Buckeye63
  • Locked
Trying to decide 6.5 CM or 308 Win
2 3 4 5
Replies
107
Views
4K
LoonWulf
LoonWulf
BP Hunter
  • Locked
a gun for the woods
2
Replies
49
Views
3K
K1500
K
O
  • Locked
Hornady LEVERevolution ammo
Replies
18
Views
3K
Wild Country
W
7
  • Locked
new scope for deer season (30-30 shooting Leverevolution)
2
Replies
42
Views
2K
Robert
Robert
Back
Top