Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Never had a 30-30, if I want to try one, which maker is the one to try

I have a soft spot for the lever guns and understand their limits and their usefulness. I happen to like the M94s. I don't have any of the better ones but not all post-64s are junk either. (It's pretty easy to see if the internals are stamped or cast; the stamped stuff is pretty cheap). There were some good years between the stamped-internals models and the AE models which is what I like. If you share vision challenges like many of us have as we age, you can always use larger peep apertures and fiber-optic type front posts. A svelte, nimble lever gun is fun and can be handy in it's naked form. If you insist on glass, then a 336 is the way to go IMO.

Not a 30-30, but how does the Sako Finwolf stalk up against the levers mentioned here?

Man's got to have a lever action 30-30. Get an old model Marlin 336

2 Different critters. The Finnwolf is more like a Win M88. And both are way cool IMO. IMO, both are more inherently accurate rifle designs than the 336 or 94......

I have 2 Win 94s, a Win 55, Win 64, in 30-30. I have a couple of Marlins, but sold my 30-30 and 35 Rem in favor of a 356 and a 444.

The Marlins are scoped, the Winnys are not.I think the Marlins do better with the larger cartridges/bores.

As others have said, if scoped go Marlin. If Winny use a nice peep set up.....

If a scope seems too much and a peep sight doesn't suit one's eyes then one of the reflex sights might be a good solution.

I've used the Burris FastFire II and it works well for those of us with presbyopia (old eyes ). It's not the greatest for group shooting but it's light and mounts down low on the receiver. You don't need to focus on anything close, you just look through it out to your target and put the dot where you want to hit.

These pics are my old Model 1894 - the base that Burris makes hangs over the back of an 1894 so it's mounted forward but on a 336 it will be flush with the back of the receiver. That's important since it doesn't get in the way of wrapping your hand all the way around the receiver at the balance point.






Found this pic from Vic in Va showing the mounting position on a 336.

I like that a lot.

Find a good used presafety Marlin 336, mount a Leupold 1-4x20mm scope nice and low and be done with it.

This is my Granddad's pre '64 Winchester with a Marble Peep Sight. It's a special order rifle from Winchester back around 1907.

Any pre '64 Winchester or older Marlin 336 would be a good choice. I've owned a Marlin 336 chambered in 35 Remington, it was a good gun so I would not be afraid of one in 30/30. Although if I was going to scope the rifle I would lean toward the Marlin as it ejects the fired brass to the side not the top like the Winchester which ejects the fired brass out the top.

I'll throw out one contrary point. In places where folks stand hunt at short ranges, and have multiple tags, it may not be a bad deal to lighten up on calibers. I've been in stands where you touch off a short barrel .270, and deer disappeared for three days. Then a couple days alter shot a deer in the same stand with a .300 Savage, and there's deer around the next morning.

I'm using Dad's old .25-06 this year, but one or two deer is plenty for me. Were I out to fill all 5 tags, I'd seriously consider a smaller less blasty round. And the ammo is cheaper, and you need less powder. YMMV

Often over looked is the Henry. A little pricier, better quality than the Winchester or Marlin and made in the U.S. Heck of a lot better gun

Comes with Ghost Ring sight and D&T for scope is desired

http://www.henryrifles.com/rifles/the-henry-3030/

A 30-30 lever that weighs more than 9 pounds is made by a company that just doesn't get the point of a 30-30 lever.

The Henry I had had plastic parts and didn't work. Sorry but no thanks. I'd rather have a Western Field or Ted Williams.

Does Henry know that guns are commonly made from steel? (My sample of one has plenty of zinc and plastic in it��and some people wonder why Japan and even China make so many the things we want?)

I felt the same way but got macular degeneration and tried a peep sight with a ghost ring. Prefer it over a scope up to 100-150 yards.

there is a beauty on the rack at Jerry's Pawn and Gun in Ocala FL. I wiped off the drool, when I handed it back to the clerk.
http://www.jerrysonline.com/

can't beat an ole savage 99 with a k4 scope

I like 'em all, but the old waffle tops are extra nice.

Why do people dislike older Marlins with the crossbolt safety?

Have Win. and Marlins.. My favorite is the old Marlin with the 24 " barrel and half magazine.. with or without scope it is a winner