Mine might very well become mine. Most of my deer hunting is in thicker brush. Before the 336 I was using a heavy barrel Savage and an M14 with open sights. Most of the shots I will be taking are well within 100 yards. Iron sights are harder to knock around than a scope.
30/30 Marlins and Winchesters
- Thread starter sealhunter
- Start date
Mine might very well become mine. Most of my deer hunting is in thicker brush. Before the 336 I was using a heavy barrel Savage and an M14 with open sights. Most of the shots I will be taking are well within 100 yards. Iron sights are harder to knock around than a scope.
I will quite happily say mine is my primary rifle I grab first out of the safe. If I'm going hiking or fishing in the mountains, one always comes along. It's also the rifle I happily carry every Fall when I have a deer tag in my pocket. However with that being said I'm not really much of a deer hunter. I go through the motions and formalities, and I buy my tags every year. But I don't take it all that serious and could care less if I shoot anything or not. Heck, I even passed up a pretty good shot last year, and truth be told I didn't lose any sleep over it. But there is just somthing right about walking along a creekbed or thicket with a levergun.
- Location
- Back in the Peace Country
So... of all you you that love the 30-30 how many use it as their main rifle??
Gauging what I have seen in the field I would say very few.
Of all the big game animals I have shot, I have used my Marlin 30/30 RC on 90% of them I'd say. I know what ones I didn't use it on,...and I can count them on both hands, and even half of those were taken with either a 450 marlin or 45/70.
I used a 300 wsm on two animals,... a 30/06 on one,...7mm rem mag on one... and a .35 remington on two.
I reckoned 5 animals or so taken with a rifle other than a Lever action marlin.
With the 30/30 I have shot rabbits, deer, moose, elk, bear, caribou,..porcupine
I shoulda said lever 30-30
You are actually right in your thoughts. But if one must scope a lever .30-30, the Marlin makes a better choice IMHO. Both practically & looks.
NAA.
I don't have a main rifle for hunting. I have several old Winchesters in various old (pre-1900's) calibers and take whichever one I'm in the mood for. However, my Winchester 30-30 is what I take wilderness canoeing and camping and what I hunt with if it is raining and I don't want to get my more valuable old Winchesters wet. I guess you could say that my 30-30 is my main general purpose, working rifle.
- Location
- Yellowknife, NWT
ipscgraz
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I sold my 94 but kept my 336, only partially because it goes well with my Marlin 45-70.
I never did learn how to shoot those bloody buckhorn sights...I put a red dot on it.
Maybe I'm wrong but I thought the 94 was a little lighter than the 336.
I never did learn how to shoot those bloody buckhorn sights...I put a red dot on it.
Maybe I'm wrong but I thought the 94 was a little lighter than the 336.
My father's only deer rifle and go too rifle has away's been a mid 70's 94 in 30-30 since he got it new and it has put a lot of deer in the freezer over the year's with 150 grain Winchester hollow point's. He like's gun's and has alot of shotgun's and rimfire's but like someone said he's not a gun nut but a hunter who know's what work's. I have a 340 Savage in 30-30 but never shot annything with it yet because I'm still useing his old #1 mk 3 303 for deer and a new Remington 243 but I have a 94 .22 and would like too get a Marlin 30-30 lever because their is just something abought a 30-30 win lever and you never hardly see a deer annymore than 100 yard's here.
Well over 30 years of hunting and 99% with 30-30. Borrowed 308 for my first deer and then bought 30-30 and have used one ever since. Started with a winchester but changed to Marlin Model 336 RC. I just liked the action better on the Marlin and now that my eyes are poor I have added a scope. Have also taken moose with no problem.
My father hunted for 50 years and always carried a 30-30.
My father hunted for 50 years and always carried a 30-30.
My buddy told me years ago you don't have a gun collection in Canada unless you have at least one 30-30. I have a few in mine but this old girl kinda calls to me. Not a Marlin or Winchester, but I don't think that surprises anyone here
I have a 30-30 Marlin that is my "swamp gun". I use it when we pound bush or on quiet still hunts through the swamp. It's short, fast, light, and can deliver a quick follow-up when required. I have a Williams peep on it and love it. Use it within it's limits and its a very good deer rifle. I've managed to head shot a few grouse with it over the years too.
I also drag it along on hunting trips that are require a distance to travel as my spare in case the scoped gun gets damaged.
If you don't have a dirty-30, put it on your list.
I also drag it along on hunting trips that are require a distance to travel as my spare in case the scoped gun gets damaged.
If you don't have a dirty-30, put it on your list.
Lee Enfield
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
It's a sickness, first you start with an 1894 SRC, then a few 1894 rifles. 
Once you get into the M.55, M.64, 1893, M'36, 336A, 1899 then it's out of control.... 
Once you get into the M.55, M.64, 1893, M'36, 336A, 1899 then it's out of control.... 
300Spartans
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Canada of course
There should be a section on our forum just for lever rifles!
I would love to have a 30-30 just for the cheap shooting. The ammo certainly has gone up for it though couple months ago it was 13 $ for a box of 20 at Canadian tire I looked yesterday while waiting to get my tires fixed they were at 18 $+ a box, that’s just outrageous. For that price I would rather just get a 308 or a 30 06 for that matter.
Yah from what I have seen there isn't much of a price gap between basic cartridge type these days.
I would think the big payout would be with reloading 30/30 in comparison to other cartridge types...much less powder.
