Got a .44 mag, do I really need a 30-30? Im addicted to levers!
- Thread starter mlehtovaara
- Start date
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
You know I have thought long and hard about this one, and can't say that I agree. I owned a Savage 11fcxp in .308 which is the same gun as the stevens 200 just with a detachable magazine. It was really accurate straight outta the box and I liked it alot. Light weight, and not something to worry about when hunting. The marlin is gonna cost me at least an extra $100 bucks and I just can't justify spending that. If I was gonna shooot for groups at the range alot maby I could, but even then a stock and a new trigger for the stevens will only run me a couple hundred bucks. My intended use is just strictly hunting and the occasional range trip. Not gonna spend any more than I need to on this one. It is a tool plain and simple. I have plenty of other toys.
- Location
- Winnipeg,Man.
Get the bolt .270..you will not be sorry, I have never been with my 1980 Browning .270...then get a few more levers for fun...like Winnie 25-20, 25-35, 30-30, 32 special... then marlin 25-20, 45-70 ...the list goes on....NEVER enough levers.
Wild-Wild-West
Member
Hi mlehtovaara,
This is Wild-Wild-West. I just happened across your Post here about your conundrum. Having owned both a Stevens 200 in .308 and a Marlin 1895 Guide gun, the deciding factor would be its intended use.
I personally didn't noticed much difference in the weight of either piece, except that the psychologically, the Stevens with my 50mm objective scope and a much longer barrel seemed to be much more of a burden to me to have to carry around compared to the compactness of the Guide gun. On the other hand, the groups out of the Stevens were outstanding compared to the short sight radius of the 18" Marlin. If you were going after targets at 200 or more, I would pick the Stevens. The ballistics of a 270 or 308 should be fine at that distance. You could probably do as well with the 45/70 Guide gun, but unless you scope it, your shorter sight radius and with open sights may be a disadvantage.
I wish I had kept my Stevens, and perhaps shortened the barrel to 20" as it would have been a nice field gun. However, with the cost of 308 lately compared to 30/30... I am glad I kept my Winchesters instead. At least, with Leverevolution rounds, they can be almost as effective as the 308...
Hope this helps... Sorry if I have added to tour confusion!
w.w.w.
This is Wild-Wild-West. I just happened across your Post here about your conundrum. Having owned both a Stevens 200 in .308 and a Marlin 1895 Guide gun, the deciding factor would be its intended use.
I personally didn't noticed much difference in the weight of either piece, except that the psychologically, the Stevens with my 50mm objective scope and a much longer barrel seemed to be much more of a burden to me to have to carry around compared to the compactness of the Guide gun. On the other hand, the groups out of the Stevens were outstanding compared to the short sight radius of the 18" Marlin. If you were going after targets at 200 or more, I would pick the Stevens. The ballistics of a 270 or 308 should be fine at that distance. You could probably do as well with the 45/70 Guide gun, but unless you scope it, your shorter sight radius and with open sights may be a disadvantage.
I wish I had kept my Stevens, and perhaps shortened the barrel to 20" as it would have been a nice field gun. However, with the cost of 308 lately compared to 30/30... I am glad I kept my Winchesters instead. At least, with Leverevolution rounds, they can be almost as effective as the 308...
Hope this helps... Sorry if I have added to tour confusion!
w.w.w.
