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 would tend to support that idea.

1955 336 SC .30-30. Some of the nicer wood I've seen on a factory stock, much less a Marlin lever action.







Shoots pretty good for an old lever gun, too.

vurrry nice. vurrry nice indeed.

I'll also say that every 94 or 336 I ever shot was a really good shooter. I've got a post 64 Ted Williams that is the ugliest gun ever made and has all the stamped lifters and roll pins that the purists hate. But that ugly thing will shoot 2 inches all day everyday with a Williams receiver sight.

This old post-64 has been absolutely problem free, and is reasonably accurate. I don't know how many deer have died because of this thing, but they continue to do so.

I agree- hard to find them like that.

I had posted earlier about accurizing lever guns but all they need is to have the magazine tube "untied" from the barrel. As the barrel heats up it wants to expand and if it's joined tightly to the mag tube that adversely affects accuracy.

That Marlin I posted above would string shots 4" high when I first got it. The mag tube was wedged solid on the barrel stud supporting it. All I did was enlarge the hole just ever so slightly so it was a slip fit, then made sure the two screws on either side of the forend cap had light and equal pressure and it started grouping as shown.

Same with Model 94's or barrel band .336's. Make sure the front barrel band isn't constricting the barrel and give a little room under the rear band and most all 94's and 336's can put several shots into 2" or less, sometimes much less.

There was an article in an old Gun Digest, I want to say the 25th Anniversary edition, where they tried different things to see what would make lever actions shoot. They even put a match grade heavy barrel on one and it shot almost as well as bench guns of that era. The main thing, though, is to give the barrel some clearance to move where it wants to.

Winchester model 94

"Sears"chester

Now that is nice. Perfect balance and you can wrap your hand around the action about as well as a man can with with something he grabs every day. You can jack 7 loads out in two blinks of an eye. It's a joy to hold in your hand and whip it around.

Have had a Marlin 336 for over 30 years I, and my 3 sons have all used it from time to time. Has accounted for many deer including a 140 B&C blacktail. Brought it out this year to celebrate my 50th year blacktail hunting. Still does the job.

Can't beat that track record. And welcome to the 'fire treejack!

I've had several Model 94 Winchesters and Model 336 Marlins. I prefer the Marlin.

The one I now have I bought from a fellow 'fire member and it is scoped and shoots both Winchester 170-grain Power Point factory loads and my handholds with 170-grain Core-Lokts into close to an inch.

The one I should have kept, but sold it like an idiot, was a Savage 24 with a .30-30 over a 12-gauge. And of course, they quit making them.

I've got a post '64 Winchester model 94 and a Winchester model 64-A, (the second version of the model 64) the pistol grip version with a 24" barrel. Both shoot as well as I can hold but the 64-A has a VERY nice trigger.

Years ago I put Lyman 66 (?) peeps on both (no drilling or tapping required) to help with the "older eyes" syndrome and that made a big difference for me.

Mickey, would you mind if I borrowed that ABSOLUTELY SUPERB LINE ?

I love the looks of the 30-30, I'll own one some day.

Greg, Be my guest, my friend.

obviously, my eyes are worse then. open sights are pretty much useless to me.

Carried serial numbers in my wallet a few years until I found a nice Winchester 94 30WCF made the year I was born, and that is what I choose for a 30-30.
If wanting to scope one, it would be the Marlin

I agree. Nostalgia maybe, but that's about it. The 30-30 and Win 94, 64, 55 are synonymous. When one says 30-30 you think Win 94.

As for the Marlin, mine are in 35 Rem, 356, and 444. And I prefer all to the 30-30 Win.....

Clear, simple, easy to understand. Go with this!!!