The 30-30 club, are you in?
- Thread starter John Y Cannuck
- Start date
Since this 30-30 club is evolving into Winchester-Marlin stories as well, I will add some remarks about them.
Until very recent years 30-30 virtually meant Winchester lever actions. Winchester Models 1894 and 94, completely ruled the roost. If someone said he had a 30-30, it meant he had a Winchester.
I was fortunate enough to have a good personal knowledge of central and northern BC in the 1950s. At this time the hinterlands were laced with trappers and prospectors who lived full time in their cabins in the bush, as well as a good smattering of bush Indians. All of the Indians had a rifle and it was always a Winchester 30-30. Many white trappers and prospectors also had a 30-30 and it too, was a Winchester. Oops, I forgot, one trapper I knew had a Savage 99 in 30-30 calibre! I can't ever remember seeing a Marlin lever action that any of these people owned.
The remote trading posts in the bush had it simple. They only had to keep one type of big rifle in stock, of course a 30-30 Winchester.
The only reason I can think of as to why this was so, must have been because Winchester was there first, and the old time trappers, including the old time bush Indians, were the most independent and practical people alive. The Winchester worked great for them, so why change? The trading post operators, and even the hardware stores in small towns kept this tradition going, like why stock two similar rifles when one type was all that was needed?
Now, many of us are taking a second look at the 30-30 levers, especially as to mounting a scope on them and doing more accurate shooting and I think I am safe in saying that the majority of people now think an older Marlin 336 with the bulls eye in the butt stock, is a better rifle than a 94.
But dang it man, you can't beat the tradition of the Winchester 30-30!
Until very recent years 30-30 virtually meant Winchester lever actions. Winchester Models 1894 and 94, completely ruled the roost. If someone said he had a 30-30, it meant he had a Winchester.
I was fortunate enough to have a good personal knowledge of central and northern BC in the 1950s. At this time the hinterlands were laced with trappers and prospectors who lived full time in their cabins in the bush, as well as a good smattering of bush Indians. All of the Indians had a rifle and it was always a Winchester 30-30. Many white trappers and prospectors also had a 30-30 and it too, was a Winchester. Oops, I forgot, one trapper I knew had a Savage 99 in 30-30 calibre! I can't ever remember seeing a Marlin lever action that any of these people owned.
The remote trading posts in the bush had it simple. They only had to keep one type of big rifle in stock, of course a 30-30 Winchester.
The only reason I can think of as to why this was so, must have been because Winchester was there first, and the old time trappers, including the old time bush Indians, were the most independent and practical people alive. The Winchester worked great for them, so why change? The trading post operators, and even the hardware stores in small towns kept this tradition going, like why stock two similar rifles when one type was all that was needed?
Now, many of us are taking a second look at the 30-30 levers, especially as to mounting a scope on them and doing more accurate shooting and I think I am safe in saying that the majority of people now think an older Marlin 336 with the bulls eye in the butt stock, is a better rifle than a 94.
But dang it man, you can't beat the tradition of the Winchester 30-30!
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They are hit and miss. Sent back a bunch with the front sights 15 degrees off. Sad really, Marlin was a good make till Remington got involved.
And Thank-you for a beautiful picture my Friend !!
Fit that 94 with a tang or receiver mounted rear peep sight that has a smaller target aperture insert. You may just be very surprised at how good a target rifle the 94 can be.
Savage 99 in 30-30 from my father. He put more meat in the locker with this than any other. His uncle used to tell him to slow down on the shooting with it as my father could chamber and shoot so fast that his uncle told him one day he will have bullets passing one another in the barrel if he wasn't careful. Had a '94 as well, but that left the cabinet when a friend wanted it more than I needed it.
