Which .30-30 to buy?

Status
Not open for further replies.
I think that you done good with the 94. I have 3 of them and love em. I have winchester, marlins and rossi lever actions and I would have to lean toward the winchester myself. With the Rossi coming in second. If you got what you wanted then that is all that matters. Keep us posted as to how it shoots.

kenken
 
It sounds silly but it always irked me the way the Winchester 1894 "disembowels" itself when you cycle the action.
I prefer the Marlin 336 action for a .30-30 WCF rifle.
 
Well I ended up getting the Winchester, a gold strike and not a golden spike (1996 not 1969), as much as the Rossi really appealed to me! I hope I have made the right choice!

The Rossi did have a nice action and was new, but I was lead to believe than in perhaps three years the Rossi might be getting worn out!

But the the 94 .30-30 is second to none bar perhaps the 336!

Being a commemorative version however, as was pointed out to me by the gent in the Gun shop, the stock is not really designed for shooting, being short and with angular and not round edges! This is why I question if my choice was right!
Rossi wearing out in 3 years. :rolleyes:

More anecdotal BS from somebody probably who has never as much as held a Rossi firearm in his hands.

You read more "parroted" derogatory nonsense about Rossis than any other brand on gun forums...........90% of it undeserved.
 
I would think the Rossi would last much more than 5 years, unless you shot it almost constantly.


To my understanding, they make pretty good guns. The action might not be quite as strong as a Marlin, but not by that much.
 
Andy, buyer's remorse is pretty common in all of us. :cuss: Here's what I'd do:

Check to see if your Commemorative is actually increasing in value. In the US, most don't, especially if they've been shot. Since you plan on shooting yours, there's no reason not to fix it up the way you want.

Examine the wood in yours. Is it walnut or birch/poplar, etc. stained walnut? If it's the latter, there's no reason you can't shape the angular stock outlines into something more pleasing.

Is the length of pull satisfactory to you? Most 94s have a shorter LOP, which is fine for shorties like me, especially with winter clothing.

If you want a longer LOP, or if you don't want to mess with the stock on the gun, there are several sources for replacement stocks, including Boyd's and a host of others that pop up from Google.

Have fun with your '94! Years ago, in a trade, a post-'64 '94 was included. The serial number shows it was built in the '70s, the receiver is of some kind of non-magnetic mystery metal, and there are at least 5 screw-holes indicating that scope-mounts or receiver sights or what-have you were attempted/mounted by previous owners. And, of course, it rattles.

Since it was almost a throw-in, I meant to clean it up, sell it for a modest profit and someday get "a good one." But a trip to the range showed it shooting gopher-head groups at 75 yards. Since then, I've carried it (and killed) in several deer hunts.

I'm an anomaly in the PacNW....all my hunting buddies use '06, 300 Win, etc. But the ol' 30-30 sure works like it's supposed to, is easy to carry, and deadly at woods ranges. The new Hornady Leverevolution ammo does what they say it will.

Congrats!
 
The post-'64 Model 94s seem like a bargain to me. I picked up a mid-70s Model 94 on GB with a Burris scope and sling for $250 delivered. I haven't taken it out yet, but it's very clean with only the typical corrosion on the sides.

Even the pre-'64s can be had in the $350-450 range.

I've seen some of the commemorative ones, fired w/out the boxes, going for the high-$300s to low $500s. It's a fun gun with a great history and, assuming this one's as solid as I think it will be, I'll probably add another some day. If money was free, I'd get a Browning 1886 in 45-70, but as it's not, I'll probably settle on a Guide Gun at some point.
 
I owned the Win 94 and the Marlin 336. I also own some Rossi, but not a lever rifle. I sold the Winchester last year and never looked back. Kept the Marlin and I like it. My Rossi's shoot fine and I'd have no problem buying one of their levers.

But, if you could find one, I'd be looking at a Savage 99 as the real king of the lever guns. In Savage 300 or 308, it'll shoot further and more accurately than the others. I own one of these and it's my all time favorite "do-all" rifle. Mine's in 308 :)

And in case you need to stick to 30-30, there were a lot of Savage 99's built in 30-30 back in the day. Some even with octagonal barrels and few as take-down models :)
 
Most 94s have a shorter LOP, which is fine for shorties like me, especially with winter clothing.

If you want a longer LOP, or if you don't want to mess with the stock on the gun, there are several sources for replacement stocks, including Boyd's and a host of others that pop up from Google.

Well I am a shorty too, so I don't think the LOP will present to big a problem. I was thinking of buying a boyd stock for it!
 
I own 3 Rossi model 92s and one of their Rio Grande rifles in .30-30 WCF as well as their exposed hammer SXS 12 gauge Coachgun in 12 gauge and am very pleased with all 5 guns.

Some guys will go on the rag bashing guns that they've never even shouldered because they weren't made in the USA.

If the Korean &/or Chinese made parts and components are assembled in the USA that's OK though. :rolleyes:
 
"There are literally hundreds of examples of Winchester 94 rifles made around 1900 that still fire fine." Not true....should have said, "there are...literally millions of Winchester 94 rifles that still fire fine" !!!

You made a fine choice. If the stock doesn't fit....or if you want to save the commemorative stock for re-sale, there are a plethora of after-market (or used) stocks you can fit using only a screwdriver.

I'm an old guy, and don't hunt as often as when I was younger. Still, I like to get out into the woods and at least sit on a stump on a nice late summer/early fall day. As I was reducing my "inventory," I found myself reluctant to let go of a 1970's (you know, the "bad years") 94 Win.

Of course, I kept it. It's easy to carry, easy to load for, and shoots small fist-sized groups at 100 yds. Even though the receiver is made of mystery metal, the rest of it is in good shape, and the stock is a nice walnut. I use a Williams peep sight. Last fall, eschewing my trusty re-loads, I knocked down a nice buck with Hornady FTX (Leverevolution) factory bullets; those cartridges knock group size in half.

Enjoy!
 
I will not comment on the Rossi or the browning as I do not own one or have practical experience with either of them. I do on the other hand own the Winchester in 30-30 and a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington. I am pleased with both of them, so either one of them would be my recommendation to you.
 
Just an update, the WIN 94 is shooting very well 1500 rounds latter. i haven't looked back once I found a decent load!

But now I can't make my mind up which I like more the 92 or the 94!
 
andym79

So was the Winchester you bought the Klondike Commemorative Model? Good to hear that it's worked out really well for you. I'm also partial to the Model 92.
 
Yes it was the Klondike Commemorative Model. The only thing that could make it better would be having 4 more inches of barrel, but that just means I have to be that much better with less sighting radius!

The 92 is a recent edition (1903 38-40, and it shoots really well) and its giving the 94 a run for its money for my favorite rifle!
 
Last edited:
I have a 92 rosi in 45 LC love the gun, action smoth, accuracy good, fit is good, but it isnt a 30 30, i have a couple of pre 64 winchester 94s great guns, also have a Marlin 336t, great little gun but I do shoot some cast and hate the microgrove rifling.
 
The old Winchesters are quality. The old Marlins are too before they sold out. The Rossi? I do not know, I shot one years ago and was not impressed. I would pick the Winchester, because the Marlin feels clumsy to me. Throw them up and see which one feels best to you. I would think that accuracy is equal between the two depending upon condition.
 
I have a Rossi ss 92 in 357 and the last two times I was shooting it someone tried to hand me a roll of 100 for it. My Rio Grande 3030 is also stainless and shoots just fine. I put a Williams peep on it. My 20+ year old Rossi 88 38 special is still going strong too. Just like my 1100 and 700 Remington have done for over 50 years. Knowing how to shot and care for a gun does wonders.
 
I own 4 rifles in .30-30, and 3 of them are Winchester 94s. I have had good luck with all of them. I can recommend them. They are very easy to carry which is probably my favorite thing about them. Most other lever guns seem bulky in comparison to the Winchester (this is my main compliant about the Marlin, it feels "fat" next to a Winchester)

My 4th rifle is a Savage model 99, which I also like. Not sure if these are an option in your area but might want to consider it as well if you're looking at lever actions. One nice thing about the Savage 99 is you can shoot pointed bullets thanks to its rotor style magazine (as opposed to the tube style mag on most lever guns that require you to use flat point bullets)
 
Wait a minute, I just looked at the date and now I see this was a really old thread, and that the OP had already made his choice. Feeling silly. Anyway, if you are looking for another lever gun to add to your collection, think about the Savage...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top