Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Gotta love the classics! The great 30-30

Every time a Creedmoor post is made, a 30-30 quietly dies in a dark and dank closet somewhere.

Back in the 90’s when I was in high school, you could get used 94’s and 336’s for $250-$350 all day depending on condition. I even picked up a 94 from a broke compadre for $125 one time. I Killed several white tail and hogs in East Texas with it, but when I became a broke hombre myself, it went down the road. I e always wanted another but I always expected to find one for that long past and mythical $250-$350...

It took years but I finally got a good deal on a 1970’s model 94 30-30 in really good shape and it has been a kick in the butt getting to re-learn the fun of these rifles.



My main goal is to bust an elk with it one of these days, but past that I’m just really looking forward to packing a rifle with a little soul again. Within 150 yards the 30-30 is a hammer in its own right and I can’t image how many dinner tables have been set the world over thanks to a 170 grain FP traveling at 2200 FPS.

Post up your 30-30’s and 30-30 kills!

Todd

First deer rifle around 1986, from my grandpa who taught me to shoot. The picture is from 2015 which is the last buck I shot with it. It was a lot more fun and rewarding than a lot of my bigger deer. I also have his which has 87 notches in the stock.

I’ll NOT rain on your parade. I promise.

My only 94 was bought new in 1972 for $ 70.00
I killed a few Does with it but didn’t keep it long.
I don’t have a single pic of that 94 nor of any deer it took.

I moved on to a Win 670 in 243 which was a very god Rifle. HOWEVER magazine
articles made me feel it was a second rate El Cheapo Gun. WISH I’d never read about them.

From that I bought a new 700 BDL 270 in 1976 for $ 125.00 << REAL <<

That’s my history with any 30/30. I know and admit they’ve killed TONS of
game.

Jerry

My 94 (actually an 1894) was given to my grandfather in 1912, as a 12th birthday present. My dad gave it to me.





P

Good to see 94s equipped with proper sights. A Receiver sight really helps with the rifle's potential.

Bought this one as a wee lad in 1970, and it's still knocking them down. A steady diet of 3031 and Hornady 170 FPs keeps it happy, happy, happy.

Your not kidding about it being in good shape!

I own a Marlin and a Winchester. This is my 1947 flat band.

Killed this Moose with my Marlin 30-30. Vermont 2004

I'm like jwall,
except I still have mine.
A 100 year gun from Marlin with a coin factory embedded in the stock.

Killed my first buck with it.
30_30's were for kids, I mowed lawns and skipped school lunches to buy a 243.
Much better range, ya know.

35 years and a bunch of guns, deer, and two elk later,
there were only a couple of those deer that would have overly challenged that Marlin.

Cool moose Mike! Lots have fallen to .30-30s. but I would guess not too many recently.

The .30-30 has always been good to me. I've taken probably about 15 deer with this Marlin and this hog as well. I primarily use it as a walking gun as it's sweet to carry.

170gr corelokts or a 170gr interlock handload has always been my load of choice.

2005 Sullivan county PA. My bear, My Son, and my Winchester.

My favorite .30-30 is a little different. I haven't killed anything yet with it though.

Grew up using a Mod 94 Classic carbine ( bought in 1968) killed deer/hogs, but with the Remington 150CLKT. Have owned many through the years, more Marlin 336s than Mod 94s. I think that Buffalo Bore 190fn would be a fine one on elk too. I never got to kill anything, but I loaded the Hawk 190fn ( but the .030" jacket) in the last 336 I owned. I had it going 2200 easy and it was very accurate. For 200yds and under, a 30-30 is an awesome deer round that doesn't tear them up bad. And for really close woods work, those little carbines are about the fastest handling rifle one can use. I'm always on the lookout for a nice 30-30...but I just can't turn loose of the almost $500 they are seen at! I too am spoiled by those $200-$300 deals!

All very nice, I have played with levers a little bit. 22's, 348, 358, 444, and currently a 45-70 that my son has claimed. I have been looking for the right 30-30, althougn there are plenty around, just have not found the one.

I prefer the pistol grip stock for myself as the straight stocks just do not fit me. Someday I will have a 30-30, fitted with appropriate peep sights. Do not plan on reloading for it art all. Find a factory load it likes and buy a couple cases of ammo and have at it.

Thanks to everyone for posting.

Between Winchester, Marlin, T/C and NEF I have seven 30-30’s. I don’t hunt with them all the time but I do enjoy them.


I shoot 170 Hornady or 170 Remingtons from mine.

I know of nothing more pleasureable than walking the mountains with my 1941 M94 stuffed with 170 gr corelokts. There is nothing that this won't take care of.

I wanted to play with something a bit different, so bought a Henry single-shot, 30-30. I have put quite a few loads through it, trying to hop it up a bit. I returned to pretty much the original type of load, using 150 Interlocks. It shoots great with a SS 6x on it. Gonna kill a couple does with it. factory Core Lokts shoot real well, too.

I have a couple 94, 32 specials, but my eyes don't work for iron sights, anymore.

I have been trying to find a nice pre 64 for $500-550 for awhile. It hasn't been happening. Even post 64's I'm running into are $450 and those are good rifles but not what I wanted. I ran into the '47 flat band a week ago and it was $750. Way beyond what I had budgeted for a model 94. But I just had to have it for some reason so I splurged.

[quote=moosemike

Killed this Moose with my Marlin 30-30. Vermont 2004

Very Nice Mike !

Jerry

Had a M94 Ranger back in the day, two ton trigger pull and all. I used 31141 cast bullets to kill several deer with it and sent it down the road once I started shooting some varmint rifles with light triggers. Bought a bubba'd Marlin 30-30 a few years ago and had the ruined barrel bored out to 38-55. Makes a great cast bullet game rifle.