Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Derek Wells on February 4, 2016 at 14:58

There is a certain romance attached to the Lever action .30-30's from the old Westerns a lot of us watched when we were younger and that is probably what attracted me first up. Tried a couple of Winchesters and moved them on, then acquired a Marlin 336T and would not part with it, such a handy carbine. I have not hunted deer (none in my area) but on pigs in scrubby terrain the 336T is really at home. If there were deer here I would certainly use the .30-30 if it suited the hunting terrain and the species of deer.(For something like Sambar I'd opt for a faster/larger caliber)

For many years I used a Williams Ghost-ring peep sight but as my eyes have gotten older - along with the rest of me - I've gone for a Burris 2 - 7 x 35   I did experiment reloading with the Hornady FTX projectiles but didn't get too far: had trouble with crumpled case necks and getting the crimp right. The bog standard .30-30 projectiles work just fine - for the shooting I do - anyway.

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on February 4, 2016 at 15:34

Nice looking rifle Derek.  I had a 336T many years ago.  I really like lever actions although I only have two now, an 1873 Winchester and a Marlin Golden 39A Mountie.  And I like the straight grip stocks better than pistol grips.  The straight grips just feel and handle better for me.

Your picture gives me an idea how to solve a minor problem I have.  My .30-06 is a New England Firearms Handi Rifle, a single shot.  I have a butt stock shell carrier on it.  It has a tendency to move around on the stock.  I can just make a hole for the sling stud to fit through and that should hold it in place.

Permalink Reply by John Kellogg on February 5, 2016 at 17:49

I have a 30-30 but I dont hunt with it. I dont want anything to happen to it.LOL I used to have an old Savage 30-30 that I hunted with and I loved it, It was my brush gun, I didnt worry about banging it on something. it had open sights which no longer work for me.I now use my Reminton 270 with a 3x9 44mm scope. I have a friend that has hunted with the 30-30 that he has had since childhood, The scope on it is so foggy I can hardy see anything thru it, but he can. He has killed many a deer with that rifle, and dont let anyone tell you the range is short on a 30-30. I have seen him take several deer at over 150 yards with it.

Permalink Reply by Bob Robinson on February 6, 2016 at 6:19

My dad used a 30-30 model 94 and harvested a lot of game with it, my older brother has it now. I have had several 30-30's a Winchester and Marlin's and still on occasion hunt with one. They are so easy to handle in the brushy areas I hunt and are deadly at shorter ranges that most deer around here are taken. I have trouble seeing the iron sights now but in good conditions still a deadly deer rifle. In areas that I hunt that offer longer shots I now use a scoped rifle for the tired old eyes.

Permalink Reply by johnny twoshoes on February 6, 2016 at 10:28

When busting the brush here in Pa you come across a ton of Marlin 336s, a few Mossberg lever guns too. The 30-30 seems to be the go to choice for those who participate in deer drives and such. A nice carbine that offers a quick second shot opportunity if need be and enough nock down power to do a deer in without a hitch. 

I'm a beanfield sniper so I tend to take a bolt gun chambered in a light and fast cal. When hitting the thick stuff I wouldn't mind having a good ol' 30-30 with me!

Permalink Reply by Derek Wells on February 7, 2016 at 15:06

Yes Charles a nice tight fit and the sling stud keep the butt stock shell carrier in place. I am not sure why Marlin only made the .30-30 in a straight stock for a short period, I'd reckon it would be a good seller ... you can buy Marlins with a straight stock in a whole range of calibers but not .30-30.???  Maybe the current owners might bring one back.

Charles Sample said:

Nice looking rifle Derek.  I had a 336T many years ago.  I really like lever actions although I only have two now, an 1873 Winchester and a Marlin Golden 39A Mountie.  And I like the straight grip stocks better than pistol grips.  The straight grips just feel and handle better for me.

Your picture gives me an idea how to solve a minor problem I have.  My .30-06 is a New England Firearms Handi Rifle, a single shot.  I have a butt stock shell carrier on it.  It has a tendency to move around on the stock.  I can just make a hole for the sling stud to fit through and that should hold it in place.

Permalink Reply by Ms Data on February 7, 2016 at 15:07

Of course it depends on the terrain where you live/hunt.  Nothing wrong with a 30-30 but they are brush guns for relatively close ranges. And isn't it ironic that we can all comment that our eyes aren't what they used to be?  Buckhorn sights are great if you are experienced with them and can use them to judge elevation - and you can see them - but there is something just-not-right about a scope on a lever action.  I don't hunt anymore but still have my .243 bolt action for generally smaller varmints and a lever action in .44 Magnum (just because I have a thing for handgun caliber lever actions) which is useful for camping in areas where I tend to share my campground with the occasional black or brown bear.  It matches up nicely with my .44 Magnum revolver.

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on February 7, 2016 at 16:52

i like having rifles and pistols in the same caliber but now have only one such pair (except for .22's of course).  I have a Model 1873 Winchester in .38-40 and a Ruger Blackhawk convertible in 10 mm/.38-40.

Actually I guess I have another matched pair.  I have a .357 rifle which of course will also fire .38 special.  So that can go with my S&W .38 snubbie.

Ms Data said:

I don't hunt anymore but still have my .243 bolt action for generally smaller varmints and a lever action in .44 Magnum (just because I have a thing for handgun caliber lever actions) which is useful for camping in areas where I tend to share my campground with the occasional black or brown bear.  It matches up nicely with my .44 Magnum revolver.

Permalink Reply by Billy Oneale on February 11, 2016 at 18:36

I have not hunted in about 23 years, but I do have a Marlinn 336 with a scope. I really like that rifle. All my others are 12 ga shotguns and a couple of 22 rifles. I was gifted a single shot bolt action when I was about 12. I shot it about 2 months ago to kill a skunk hanging around. That was the first time I had shot that gun in about 20 years. My sons shot it a few times in their late teens.