Which 30/30?
 

A co-worker of mine has offered to let me shoot hogs on his property, but he tells me my 30-06 is too much gun. He offered to let me use his 30/30 but I don't want to impose on him that much. Besides, it's an excuse to get a new toy.

I searched way back in this forum and couldn't find a thread on 30/30's. So which one do I get. Winchester? Marlin? something else? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'll probably pick one up next weekend if I can decide what to buy.

And advice is appreciated.

Mike

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Marlin 30.30 is still in production. They have a side shell discharge which make for a better scope mount.

Marlin has a Micro groved barrel. I have heard this captures the pressure better and allows for a faster bullet speed. (I do not know if its true)

I like the Winchester for looks of the mechanics around the lever. The lever on a Marlin looks juvinile. However the Marlin is better and more accurate and tighter IMHO.

I just don't think its pretty.

Go with the Marlin---I will one of these days.

E-A

Re: Which 30/30?
 

First, I don't know why the guy would say that a .30-06 is "too much gun" for hogs. Anyway, it's a good opportunity to buy another rifle, IMO, only 1 way to go with a .30-30, Marlin 336!

Re: Which 30/30?
 

30-30 is pretty powerful.....I figure about 60% of a 30.06

I do not see any big deal in hogging with a 30.06 myself. If you had a friend that hand loaded....or could contact a custom handloader.....just talk to some of the guys at gunshows that sell reloads or find a local reloader......they could download/reduce load some custom 30.06 to perform just like a 30-30.....

I have pretty much just .308/30.06 so......if i were to add another 30-30 type rifle....I'd look at 45-70 or 44 mag in a Marlin Lever Action. 45-70 and 44 Mag are fantastic 150 yard rifles. Great in thick brush/woods.....moden 45-70 loads would be perfect for Moose in the brush......44 mag is a perfect woods deer gun.....or black bear or hogs.

If you have a 44 mag pistol that 44 mag rifle would be my choice.....otherwise 45-70.....think of it as a very accurate slug gun.

I love the Marlins much better than Winchesters. A 45-70 Marlin is a classic rifle. Unless you are out in a big open area cranking out 250+ yard shots....45-70 and 44 mag are awesome.

That is another thought 12 ga or 20 ga slugs on hog. Good excuse to get a slug barrel.....

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I've been leaning towards a Marlin on the little I have heard about 30/30's.

Rupric, on the slugs. I bought some rifled slugs for my 870 since I don't have a slug barrel. Any experience with them? From what I know they are for the standard 12 gauge but are not to be used in a slug barrel. Correct?

No .44 mag in my collection, just 357, 9M and 22.

Mike

Re: Which 30/30?
 

You're talking about adding another caliber to your collection anyway...so
Mr Ruprick is giving some very good info for this early in the morning!
I've always liked the Marlin 30/30's too.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Marlin all the way. Less expensive, more accurate, stronger action, more calibers to choose from, easy to mount a scope.

And how about one in .357 magnum/38 Spl for versatility?

Re: Which 30/30?
 

A lot of Deer have been taken with the 30-30, I would guess more with
that caliber than any other.

Just saying....

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I have a Marlin 357 Magnum lever action. I like it becouse it shoots the same ammo as my Ruger GP100 I carry both when i go pig hunting and 1 type of ammo.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I am curious why your friend thinks a 30-06 is to much gun.....is there ever to much gun?

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Have you ever shot one of these? They would be about as fun as could be. Little Kick and cheap ammo.

I've never seen one or held one but the Caliber makes it probebly fun as heck.

E-A

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Model 1894C...The magnum loads are substantial and 38 Spl are accurate and very quiet...picked one up at Big Five Sporting Goods for $425.

Depending on bullet weight, there are 400fps-800fps increases in velocity in a 18" barreled carbine versus a 6" barreled pistol.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure. However I did see some pics of a hog his son shot and it wasn't a very big animal. So my guess would be that he thinks a 30-06 would make too big of a hole in the smaller ones.

No there's never too much gun, but there could be too much gun in a certain situation. Try shooting a squirrel or rabbit with a 30-06, you'll be lucky to find what's left!

Re: Which 30/30?
 

That's something I'll consider, no need to add another caliber and a good rifle to hunt hogs with.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Slugs in Shotguns

Rifled slugs in smooth shotgun bores only.....they work pretty good out to 50 or even 75 yards....it is probably more of a function of the poor sights on a shotgun barrel. If you had one of the smooth bore barrels with rifle sights - it might even be capable out to even 100 yards. You would have to give it a try.

Add a fully rifled barrel and iron sights or even better a FR barrel with cantilevered scope mount and add a variable 1.5 - 4.5 X long eye relief scope.....and you can easily take 100 - 150 yard shots with accuracy that will rival a true rifle. I use a Hastings rifles barrel on my 870 Rem 12 ga and a Bushnell 1.5 - 4.5X and Remington Buckhammer Slugs....2 in groups at 100 yards.....well under 5" at 150 yards......I'd take 175 yard shots all day from a supported hold. I shot a very large Southern Mich 8 point buck 2 years ago at exactly 100 yards = it went 2 bounds = 10 yards and piled up dead.

The Buckhammers are not made for extreme range....but carries it's wad/buffer on the back of the lead down range for added accuracy....the are not real aerodynamic but very repeatable.

Hornady makes some SST or STS? Sabot loads that use I think a 300 grain/45 Cal pistol bullet.....a fairly pointed bulled - it might even have a ballistic tip.....they get the velocity way up ther and it shoots very flat like a rifle....I've heard of shots out to 200 yards with high accuracy.

I do not get these long of shots where I hunt with my shotgun ....so i go for the Buckhammer = the most powerful shotgun slug you can buy....otherwise i'd give the Hornady sabot loads a good look.

Carbine Rifles with Pistol Calibers

Count on about 50% more velocity due to longer barrels in the carbine over that of the pistol.....that means about 2X the energy. You could get nearly 2000 feet per second with a 357 in a carbine....a fairly flat shooting little rifle ......and you can get/make custom 357 loads well over 200 grains.....you could even use 35 cal rifle bullets (like my 358 Winchester.....a 308 necked up to 35 cal). I actually like 357 over 44 mag in some loads....more penetration with the 357 in its very heavy 200 grain bullets.

A lot of folks do not give the 357 enough respect as a hunting round.....in a carbine = great for deer....and you can still shoot your 38 specials for fun....

You can make some great pistol loads for the 357 using the heavier Elmer Keith style lead bullets. I'd shoot deer with them - but you better have great shot placement - this is even true with 44 mag....

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Entry hole would be the same size....exit could be larger or the same depending on the type of bullet and loading used

I have owned both guns...30-06 and 30-30 marlin.....sold the 30-30 quickly (didnt seem to do anything great....did most things sorta good)(one of the only guns i ever sold)

my personal thoughts would be to either use the 30-06 with appropriate ammo if your long range shooting.....or use a pistol ammo type gun if its short range

That being said i know guys who regularly take hogs with 22mag ammo from tree stands.... but something is to be said for knock down power if your hunting on the ground

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Article on short barreled winchester 357 carbine with 180 grain at 1800 FPS.....this is fully up ther with 30-30.....so not problem on deer/hogs, etc. Handloads will give bigger numbers.

I'd buy a Marlin.

1800 x 1800 x 180 / 450,000 = 1300 ft-lb energy......many think 1000 ft-lb minimum for deer.....I tend to agree....

http://www.gunblast.com/Winchester-Ranger357.htm

Winchester Model 94 Ranger Compact .357 Magnum


by Jeff Quinn

photography by Jeff Quinn & Boge Quinn

October 5th, 2004





Here at Gunblast.com, I receive hundreds of emails every week from readers who want information on various gun-related subjects. We welcome questions and input from our readers, and try to answer each one carefully. One question that I get asked pretty often, both by email and in person goes something like this:

"What would be the best rifle to get my son (or daughter or grandkid) for his first deer gun?"

That is a very good question, and one that could have many possible, and correct, answers. That is also a question to which I have lately given much thought, as I have a new grandson. A first deer rifle is a big deal to a kid, and should be carefully considered. I have seen some well-meaning but otherwise misinformed Dads start their young sons out with full-sized rifles that are too powerful. Not too powerful in the sense that it kills the deer too dead, but in that it is too much gun for the novice shooter. Starting a twelve year old out with a .300 Weatherby magnum is foolish. The gun is just fine for a seasoned expert, but the weight, recoil, and muzzle blast are intimidating for a new hunter, and that level of power is unnecessary for deer hunting. The big three hundred magnums are fine for long range deer hunting, but shooting at game at long range should be discouraged for all but the expert hunter. Even if it weren’t for the recoil and blast, most big game rifles today are just too bulky and awkward for a young shooter to handle.

Traditionally, many hunters start out with a lever action .30-30 carbine, and with good reason. The Winchester and Marlin carbines are very handy rifles, and the .30-30 Winchester has been the personification of a deer cartridge for almost 110 years. The rifles are as much a part of the thirty-thirty’s popularity as is the cartridge. The lever action carbines are, in a word, handy. I like the little guns, and I have a few that are chambered for the excellent little cartridge.

However, after much careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that there is a better cartridge for the young deer hunter: the .357 Magnum. The .357 Magnum has been with us since 1935 as a handgun cartridge, and to a lesser extent has been used in a few long guns. In a handy little carbine, the .357 Magnum takes on a whole new personality, offering much more power than from a revolver, along with low recoil and muzzle blast. There are a few good lever action .357 carbines available, and all are pretty good, but the Winchester 94 Ranger Compact has a few features that make it better than most for a young shooter.

The 94 Ranger Compact is basically the same action that John Browning invented back in 1894, with a few minor changes. The new action now has a rebounding hammer and a top tang safety that blocks the hammer from contacting the firing pin when in the "on safe" position. This is much better than the crossbolt safety that was incorporated into the design a few years ago. The tang safety is relatively unobtrusive, and really only bothers old timers like myself who have been accustomed to the original design. Still, as I stated, it is much better than the ugly crossbolt safety previously used.

The Ranger Compact also has Winchester’s "Angle Eject" action that allows a scope sight to be mounted in the normal, above the action position. Being left-handed, I really appreciated this change when it came along. I was never able to use a scope on a 94 with the original straight-out-the-top ejection, as they mounted aside the action to clear the top for ejection. I also think that a young deer hunter deserves a good scope sight on his rifle. It is good for any shooter to learn to use open sights, but a good scope makes hitting in low light easier, and a new hunter should be given every chance at success. I sometimes hunt with open-sighted rifles, but I can hit farther with more precision using a scope, as can most hunters. The Compact comes with an offset hammer extension to help cock the hammer with a scope mounted. It also has a good set of open sights, just in case. The Marlin also allows for easy scope mounting atop the action, but it is a heavier gun that costs more than the Ranger Compact.

There are a couple of more features of the Ranger Compact that make it especially useful to young hunters, or anyone of smaller stature, and that is size. The Compact wears a sixteen-inch barrel, and has a shorter length-of-pull than do most rifles. The pull length, that is the measurement from the butt plate to the trigger, measures just twelve and one-half inches on the Ranger Compact, making it much easier to mount properly and quickly for a young hunter. I stand an inch under six feet tall, and have pretty long arms, but I find the shorter stock on the Compact very easy to use, especially when wearing heavy clothing. Weighing just five and one-quarter pounds, the gun balances well, and comes to the shoulder naturally, like a good bird gun. The buttstock is finished with a good synthetic rubber pad, which helps to absorb the already minimal recoil. The overall length of the Ranger Compact measures just over thirty-three inches. It is indeed a handy little rifle.

While the 94 Ranger Compact is available chambered for the .30-30 cartridge, I prefer the .357 magnum chambering for a youth gun, for a couple of reasons. First of all, a hunter, any hunter, needs to practice. Rifle practice is also fun, especially for younger hunters just getting started. They love to shoot, if the gun doesn’t punish them too badly. Give a new shooter a hard-kicking rifle that doesn’t fit him properly, and he is very likely to develop a flinch, miss his targets, and would rather stay home and watch music videos than go hunting. The .357 Magnum in a carbine, is very light on recoil, while packing plenty of punch for whitetail deer, even the big ones.

Another advantage that the .357 has over the .30-30 is that of ammo availability and cost. To start off a new shooter, the .357 can use low recoiling and inexpensive .38 Special ammunition. This allows for quiet, relaxing practice that lets the shooter concentrate more on the fundamentals of shooting and less on muzzle blast and recoil. The young hunter can also load the Compact with .38 Special lead semi-wadcutter ammo for small game hunting with his deer gun. I know of no better way to practice for deer hunting than by hunting rabbits and squirrels. The light .38 Specials will anchor a squirrel or rabbit on the spot, without destroying any more meat than would a .22 long rifle bullet.

As far as power, the .357 Magnum using the right ammunition is in the same class as a good .30-30 load, while shooting a bullet of larger diameter. From a sixteen-inch barrel, factory thirty-thirty ammunition from the big ammo manufacturers drives a 170 grain bullet at just under 1900 feet-per-second (fps). The .357 Ranger Compact, with the same length barrel, drives a 180 grain bullet in excess of 1800 fps, and this too is using factory ammunition available from Buffalo Bore. I tested the Ranger Compact over the chronograph using a variety of factory ammunition, along with two handloads, with the following results:

Load Velocity (fps)
Grizzly Cartridge Co. 180-grain cast lead 1502
Buffalo Bore 180-grain cast lead 1812
Cor-Bon .38 Special 125-grain Jaketed Hollowpoint 1437
Handload 125-grain Jacketed Hollowpoint 2003
Handload 180-grain Hornady XTP Hollowpoint 1831

The carbine extracts much more power from the .357 than is obtainable in a revolver. The reason for including the lightweight Cor-Bon hollowpoints I will get to later.

My favorite hunting handload is with the excellent Hornady 180 grain XTP bullet at over 1800 fps from the little carbine’s 16-inch barrel. Before the emails start flying in, no, I will not give out the exact load data for this handload, as I have not had it pressure tested. I will state however, that it is perfectly safe in my particular rifle. Extraction is easy, the primers are not flattened, and case head expansion is normal. I am using CCI 550 magnum pistol primers and Hodgdon Lil’Gun powder in this load. The XTP bullet really holds together well for deep penetration, but expands beautifully. When zeroed in at 125 yards, the bullet is only two and one-half inches below the point of aim at 150 yards, where it is still traveling 1360 fps. Out to 150 yards, the bullet is never more than two and one-half inches above or below the line of sight. This is where I would draw the line on range, especially for an inexperienced shooter, as the bullet drops almost one foot below line of sight at 200 yards. However, even with a flat shooting high velocity rifle cartridge, I would not encourage a young shooter to shoot any farther.

For accuracy testing, I mounted a four power compact rifle scope in Millett rings. This little .357 Ranger Compact grouped five shots within two to two-and one-half inches at 100 yards with any load tested. That is acceptable hunting accuracy for big game. Testing the light .38 Special ammunition at thirty yards, it would group into one ragged hole, making for an excellent small game rifle at that range.

All loads tested functioned perfectly in the 94 Compact. While not really a big factor in deer hunting, the carbine holds nine .357 Magnum rounds in the full-length tubular magazine.

That brings us to another really good use for this little Winchester, and that is Homeland Security. This little carbine would make an excellent weapon for home defense, or to carry in a vehicle for the same purpose. Having a total capacity of ten rounds of .357 Magnum ammo readily available, along with the ability to reload without taking the weapon out of the fight, makes this a good choice for a defensive carbine. With practice, a shooter can get off ten shots in under five seconds with the little Winchester. For use inside of a home, the Cor-Bon 110 grain Plus P hollowpoints should work very well, without the danger of over penetration, and the recoil is very light.

There is one more really attractive feature of the Ranger Compact, and that is the price. You can purchase one of these, along with a good scope and mounts, and a case of ammunition for less than most bare bolt action rifles. The .357 Magnum combines low recoil, minimal muzzle blast, and adequate power for deer hunting, along with unmatched versatility to double as a small game rifle, inexpensive plinker, or a handy home defense weapon. The Ranger Compact is a reliable, versatile, lightweight, and handy little carbine, and I am buying this one for my grandson.

For more information, check out:

Winchester Firearms: http://www.winchesterguns.com/

Grizzly Cartridge Company: http://www.grizzlycartridge.com/

Buffalo Bore Ammunition: http://www.buffalobore.com/

Cor-Bon Ammunition: http://www.corbon.com/

Hornady Bullets: http://www.hornady.com/

Jeff Quinn

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Love my stainless Marlin 30-30. Thought about getting it in a pistol round but figured some day the grabbers will make it hard to get pistol ammo. After shotguns and .22 rim fire, the ubiquitous 30-30 will be the last cartridge they target. It's cheap too.

BTW, being from CT, I can understand a land owner not wanting a high powered round like a 30-06 used, too long a range.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Henry! Very good rifles!!
http://www.henryrepeating.com/images...3030_title.jpg
-0j0-:getdown:
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Jack/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Jack/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png[/IMG]

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Your co-worker may think a 30-06 is overkill but I have never seen anything that was over-dead....lol. Puts me in mind of the silly laws we used to have for deer hunting in Indiana where a 30-30 out of a Marlin 336 was much too powerful but a 35 Whelen out of a 16 inch Contender was much safer.

I too would vote for the Marlin, I have shot one a bunch and I also am a huge fan of the LEVERevolution ammo.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Boys in Mississippi just start a little mash corn working, then they take a 50 gal barrel and cut it length ways (make a trough). When the corn is bubbling then those guys will ride the roads until they find fresh hog sign. Then they will put the trough out and fill with the mash mixture. Usually late afternoon, the next moring you go to the spot and pick up the drunk hogs. Tie the feet together and taking them home. By the way better have a strong built pen, when the pigs wake up hung over they are p*ssed big time and will destroy a pen if it's not built right. Corn fed for a few weeks and that gets the gamey taste out.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I used to trap hogs. The guy who bought mine said he sold them to an exporter who had a European market for them. He said wild hogs wouldn't profitably put on weight in captivity with corn or anything else, didn't comment on the flavor. I have eaten smaller hogs and they were OK, boars and any hog over 100 pounds smells like someone peed in a campfire when you cook them.

If someone said 30-06 is too much gun for hogs he must have meant that a scoped bolt gun was unwieldy in the brush.
I've had a couple Winchester 30-30's and liked them all except for the flimsy front sight. Marlins have the same flimsy front sight which is not suitable for climbing trees and trudging thru thick brush.
Putting a scope on a little lever rifle defeats the purpose IMO. That said, the top eject is no disadvantage for me. The Winchester looks more like a traditional lever rifle. There may be some truth to better accuracy and durability with Marlins....if so many people say so.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/x3/x18629.jpg


I like .30-30, Marlin and I like .357 in Marlin 1894C

I also like the idea of 45-70 or .44 Mag

Depends what you want to do after the hog hunt

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Make sure you give us pictures of these after your hunt!
(I'd have posted them on my last post but it took a while to find them. They're from my younger days)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...79/hogtusk.jpg

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Get a Marlin! I have an old Winchester that my dad gave me. Comparing it to a friend's Marlin, the Marlin is more accurate and the recoil is far less noticeable with it.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Marlin .30-30. No question about it.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I've got the Marlin .444 short barrel, its smooth as silk, the fit and finish is beautiful and it diden't even need a trigger job.Class act!:ok:

Re: Which 30/30?
 

You southern boys have some really ODD hobbies! :23_28_100s:

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I just read Ruprics post on the "Winchester Model 94 Ranger Compact .357 Magnum". Rupric still suggests getting the Marlin though. I think I will go with the 357 Marlin, all things considered. Price, availability, and cost of ammo, versatility of ammo and performance favor the 357 in my eyes.

As soon as I get the hog, Mtnman, I'll post pics. By the way I called a buddy of mine whose brother and law cooks a lot of fresh hog. He normally buys them from a store, but I know once some friends of his shot a hog and gave it to him. He butchered it on the back of his pick up and fried it up that evening. My buddy tells me he remembers it tasting fine. He was surprised it wasn't gamey.

The coworker who offered to let me hunt also knows some one who will process it for me. I think I will give that a try just to see how it tastes. I'll report back with that info too.

Thanks to all who replied, after reading posts from many of you over the years, I trust the advice from a lot of members here over any writer.

Mike

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I came down to Texas, Dallas area about five years ago from Illinois. They have little bitty corn stalks here compared to what the fields in Illinois put out. Hell there's hardly anything that grows around here so I don't know what they're eating. Thanks for the good luck.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Marlin 336 all the way.

I bought mine at a great price second hand. If I were buying new I'd be forking out the extra for one in Stainless steel but that's just me.

I believe that the 30/30 rounds ballistics is very similar to the 7.62x39 aka the AK round. It's plenty good enough for mid-range.

You can top up the magazine tube at any time. You don't have to worry if you have enough magazines. The rifle isn't heavy to carry. It comes up to the shoulder very nicely. The recoil is very mild.


Yep. I love my Marlin 30/30 (check out the video in my Sig)

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Go with the marlin, I use an 1895ss for deer in the arrowhead of Minn. I never had a problem with the front sight. Its got a hood. Also put a scope on it, cause where we hunt it gets very thick, the scope makes it easier to tell antlers from branches. used a sharps carbine a few years ago to take an eight pointer. but i like my Marlin best.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

OK, I got the Marlin 336 mainly because I couldn't find the 1894C, paid about $425.00 including tax.

Now my question is what kind of scope to put on it? A friend suggested putting a aimpoint on it which I am considering, but if I go with a scope should I get a 3X39? 4X39?

What do you all use?

I'm in training for a couple weeks so won't be able to get off for my hog hunt until the training is finished. I have to do it in the middle of the week because my coworker who is letting use his property has his days off in the middle of the week.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Grow okra, or plant some fruit trees, pears do well in and around DFW.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

A scope isn't really necessary for a fast-handling brush gun like the Marlin. The iron sights work fine...if you still have good eyesight.

That said, a good low-power scope will help you take advantage of the fine Marlin accuracy and still maintain the fast-handling qualities. My 30-30 wears a Leupold 2.5x and will group three Winchester 170 Power Points into 1 inch at 100 yards.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I'll look in to the 2.5X, thanks.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Another vote for the Marlin 336. The best ammo to use, by far, is the 160 grain Hornady LEVERevolution. This round has revolutionized tubular magazine rifles and in my 336 shoots 1.25" groups at 100 yards all day long. It's now my go to gun for deer and hogs in the woods.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I don't use a scope, but I replaced the iron sites with a peep sight. Here's the model I purchased at Midway:

Williams FP-336

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Is this one the 336? It says "Glenfield" in the description...

http://secure.adpay.com/clicknbuy.as...52&region=2081

$285 with Scope. Almost new too!

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Its funny, people always say the 30-06 is "too much". Why was the 30-06 used by the US Army to kill 150-200 lb men but too large to kill 300 lb pigs? just sayin!

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I bought a Marlin 336 for $400.00 at Academy sports, two weeks later Dicks had it on sale for $300.00 with a scope! I didn't want to wait for a sale though because I needed it for my hog hunt that week.

The hunt was a shut out, it was cold and rainy the whole time, I sat in a little blind they had set up where me and my gun got soaked to the bone. Didn't see one hog and had to take the gun apart to clean it when I got home. Still enjoyed it though, there was nice scenery looking out over a large fishing pond. I hope to get back out there again.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

The Glenfield 30A and 30AS is basically a no-frills Marlin 336 that was sold by places like K-Mart, J.C. Penney and Western Auto. About the only difference between a Marlin 336 and a Glenfield is the stock (birch instead of walnut) and the sights. Marlin discontinued the Glenfield line in 1983.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I believe they marketed some that were sold at Sears as Glenfields - same gun though.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I bought a new Marlin lever action .22 when I was a teenager. About 35 years ago.

Walnut stock and excellent quality. I vote for the Marlin.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...n/P1010255.jpg

my 336 stsainless steel got the Robar teflon coating.....smooth as butter

my 39a....one of those gun every liberty lovin american should have IMHO.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Marlin 336 with a scout scope mount.

Great rifle set up.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Just a piece of advice for anyone looking for used rifles or shotguns, wait after hunting season is over. There might be guys hanging the sport up, or selling to raise some quick FRNs. I might go .30-30 shopping this winter, always wanted one!

Re: Which 30/30?
 

A round that is very similar to 30-30 ballistically and in power is the 7.62X39. If you have an SKS there are aftermarket 5-round mags for hunting (a requirement in some states).

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I'm looking at buying a Marlin 336 in 30-30, but I'm having a hard time justifying the price difference between the one I really want and the one that'll just get the job done. The one I want is the 336 SDT (or STG... can't remember which is which, one is straight grip, the other is pistol grip, and my ability to browse for guns online is severely restricted at work): stainless steel, gray laminate stock, 16.25" barrel, limited production of 501 pieces, and around $720.

The one that will just get the job done of course is the basic 336 with blued steel, walnut stock, and 20" barrel, which I can buy used for around $300. I don't know how much it would cost to cut the barrel down to 16.25" and dovetail it for a new front sight, but I'm sure it's less than $420.

Is the limited production, stainless steel, laminate stock, and factory 16.25" barrel worth a $400+ premium?

The local Bass Pro Shop has a Marlin 1894 in .44 with the same stainless steel and gray laminate stock, but an 18" barrel, which is tempting, and there's also a used 1895 45-70 guide gun available locally for $500. Not sure if I need something that big though. Bass Pro also had a Puma .45 (M92?) on clearance for $399 (marked down from $599). The finish wasn't as nice as the Marlins, but it was a light, easy handling weapon.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

get the one that will make you sneak downstairs in the middle of the night to hold.

get the one that you will stop in the middle of a shit day at work, think about, and make the day go faster....

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Just pay for the standard, blue 336 so that you can apply that extra money that's burning a hole in your pocket to config it as a scout rifle. Throw on a nice peep-sight and then add the XS Lever Scout Scope Mount with a nice 2-3x scout scope. It's a rifle that will service many needs.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Perhaps it's phrased as such, for the simple fact that the pig isn't shooting back at you.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Marlin if you want to scope it. The Hornady LEVERevolution is great ammo and adds velocity and range to the 30-30.

As for rifled slugs, you can shoot them out of any shotgun barrel rifled or not. You can also shoot the sabot slugs out of a smooth bore...just won't be as accurate.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Shoden,
Go for a nice used blue 336 and spend the rest of the money on ammo to feed it with.
Should be some good deals on older 336's at your local gunshow if you have those.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

I was really close to going with a Marlin 336, but since I'm not planning on scoping it, the solid top receiver wasn't a huge advantage over the Winchester 94. I ended up buying a Winchester 94 AE Trapper 30-30 with 16" barrel, 1894-1994 centennial. Of course, that also means I have the dreaded (hated?) cross-bolt safety, but since I've never used a traditional lever action before, it doesn't really bother me.

In addition to the overall short length, I like the narrower stock and light weight compared to the 336. It's really a very compact, easy handling rifle. Plus, being used, I don't really have to worry so much about the stock getting dinged up or scratched while out hiking through the brush.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

1. Why 30-30? I'd go for 308 for maximum compatibility with available large quantities of ammo.

2. Get one with a box magazine vice tubular. I'm told if you use "pointy" bullets in the tubular magazine you can get misfires in the magazine....

3. I've been coveting the Browning BLR but haven't fired one yet. I've got my grandfather's 32 Special Model 94 Winchester but haven't fired it in over 20 years....

;-0

Re: Which 30/30?
 

A friend of mine has a Marlin 336 30-30 and he said he uses some kind of plastic-tipped "pointy" bullets made for tube magazines (maybe LEVERevolution). Factory ammo, not reloads. The plastic tips are not supposed to ignite primers, he said.
He says he gets smaller than MOA groups from it. He's a much better shooter than me.

BTW, I heard the Browning BLR's kick like a mule.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

Very happy with my 336 + LEVERevoltion.

Re: Which 30/30?
 

damn it boy, you should have goten one in 35 rem. 35 cal 220gr pill + 2200fps= supper dead piggie

Re: Which 30/30?
 

skyvike,
The Winchester model 88 in .308 is a nice box magazine lever action to check out.
Savage also made their model 99 in 308. It is a rotary internal magazine in the original design. Brass rotor prior to 1950, (I think), and steel after.
All the rotary mag models had numbers stamped on the shaft and a witness hole in the receiver allowing you to see how many rounds were left in the gun.
Later in their production a detachable box magazine was standard. Many of the older 99's in certain calibers fetch a pretty high price but you can still find a decent deal on one of the late models. They are fast handling and very accurate too.