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

My late grandpa's 1918 model I referred to earlier. He shot 87 northern Minnesota whitetails with after buying it used in 1928. He said it was already pretty beat up when he got it, so it looks like he cared for it pretty well after that.

For me, THE ultimate classic .30-30 is the Winchester Model 64 especially in carbine length. Due, in no small part, that my father and his brother used identical rifles to put literally tons of venison on the table. My carbine below wears a Lyman 56A while my fathers sports a "climbing Lyman" 21.

I like and use receiver sights as much as any. Currently have two rifles with peeps (SKS and a Lee Enfield 303). Just sold a 20" 760 with a Williams FP.

I have an old Redfield lined up for a Marlin 336. In the meantime while doing some load dev on the 336 I've been using an old Leupold 1-4 in very low rings and am surprised at how well that set-up works and how much I like it. I may leave it as is and use it that way instead.

I shoot at least one deer a year with mine. It was passed down from my Grandpa.

I gotta say this has turned into one awesome thread. Congrats to all the hunters and they are all wonderful pictures. I’m envious of every one of them!

Thanks for chiming in!

Todd

Every gun safe should have a 94 inside.
Bob

Takedown 94 with a nice case coloring job:

I only have one 30-30. A hippie from out near Chikosna brought it to our homestead and sold it to my father who gave him 250 dollars in 1983. The hippie was planning on going full sourdough but found out it was too tough and needed enough money to get back to Seattle. The hippie had been out there for about four months and hadn't bathed for about two of them and smelled really bad. I think he wanted $100 but my father was fair.
It is a 1893 Marlin with a 28 inch octagon barrel. Its not in perfect shape but it works. I used it on vermin that bothered our livestock from the time I was 14 to 20 because the buckhorn sights work great and it points naturally. It is very accurate with 170 grain bullets. I shot a wolf that was attacking our dog and nailed it leaping in midair at about 15 paces. I shot several owls, coyotes and foxes that tried to kill our chickens.
I took that gun up into the mountains when I would get ticked off at everybody and siwash under spruce trees with just it as a companion. It was one gun that I made sure I got when my father passed on.
I need to get a couple of 94s but just have been waiting for the right opportunity. Ill put a picture of it up tomorrow.

Great story!

Well, there's workin' guns and then there's the rest, mostly fluff, even if a joy to tote.







I'm middle of the road most days...

I also got a Model 94 on my 16th birthday. I also sold it a few years later because I KNEW I needed more range to kill deer... I finally bought another 1942 model several years ago and use it all the time as a truck gun. Killed lots of hogs and a couple of deer with it in the limited amount of time I hunted it. It gets taken on walks several times a week

I knew this post was coming, had to get to page #4 to see your Win Model 54......Nice!

They're all nice, Doc! I love seeing all the .30-30 lever guns that come out into the light of day the second it's mentioned.

One observation: It's neat that people in the 21st century still recognize the grace and utility of a .30-30 lever gun, and that the word ".30-30" still causes immediate visions of Winchester/Marlin leverguns.

My leverguns are all Savages, but I now have the urge to add a M94 to the mix again. I think a vintage M94 .30-30 snuggled up next to the M54 would make a nice couple!

I'm kind of surprised that no one's mentioned the old workhorse Savage M340 bolt gun or the Savage M170 pump gun. Two "hardware store grade" rifles that discerning loonies turn their noses up at, but which had/have a well deserved seat at the .30-30 table also.

.30-30 = versatility IMO. I would be quite happy with nothing but .30-30's in my battery of rifles. Single shots and bolt guns for serious target/bench work (especially with cast bullets), and svelte little lever action carbines for woods loafing. A man could do a lot worse.

Apache think the 94 is an assault rifle I've heard.

I have a Marlin 1893 in .30-30, made at a time when Winchester were still calling the cartridge .30WCF. Marlin marked their rifles .30-30 to avoid referring to the competitor, and the name stuck.

Mine's in Sporting Rifle configuration - 26" half-octagonal barrel, half magazine, pistol grip stock and "shotgun" buttplate. It has been in the family for many years, and it handles really nicely for offhand shots. Accurate too - about 1 1/2" at 100 yards for five shots with its peep sights. I don't take it out often, but it has certainly done the job on the various deer, pigs etc I've shot with it. I should take it out for a walk more often.

I only saw 2 Savage M170s and neither were very accurate. It was hard just to get them zeroed. I did see several M340s as they were so inexpensive back then ( early 60's) None had a scope. Deer were just starting to come back in our area ( SE Texas) in huntable numbers. My first deer hunt I was 11yrs old. 20ga with buckshot, told where to sit and wait for the dogs to run one by me. I loved hearing the dogs race, the whole experience. Didn't kill one though. The next year I had a single shot H&R 30-30 that was one mean kicking little devil! About 4inches at 100 was its best ( or my best!). At 14 my dad bought me a used Mod 1148 12ga from a fellow for $60. OMG did that sucker kick! It was a humdinger for blasting squirrels out of 90ft tall pine tree, but I never got a shot with it. At 15 I had traded for a Universal M1 Carbine. Only ammo I could find was 87gr HP. I worried to death a small yearling buck withit. Finally, when I was 16, my dad "co-signed" for me to buy on time a 20" Octagon barreled "Classic", beautiful wood, with my own money. I then started killing hogs/deer with vengeance! I could head shoot squirrels out to 30yds, could hit a Skoal can lid at 50, sometimes the brass end of a shotgun shell same distance! But out at 100yds, "maybe" 3 inches. At 150 I was a random 24". My fired brass all had a "buldge" on one side, like the chamber was oval. It must have been a "Second" that the hardware store got. Anyhow, my longest shot was right at 90yds on a hog ( I hit him far back in front of the hips/in spine when he was running and finished him off up close with a head shot.) and I never shot a deer past 30yds in those woods! I could have chosen a 26" rifle version they also had there, but figured the carbine would work better for hunting with dogs and in the thickets. We also (my family were all Winchester 94 guys) only used the Remington Corlokt 150 or Winchester 150 Silvertips. It was felt that the 170 didn't open fast enough on those 90 pound deer. Hogs were always shot behind the ear and if not....I caught H-ll from Daddy! ha. It made some fine memories.

I did take this one out last year but the deer were not cooperating.

It was passed down to me and I refinished the stock and added the new recoil pad.

I always thought the model 64 Winchester was a handsome cuss but, one never showed when I had the jack in my jeans. Fifteen years ago an old buddy was terminal and getting rid of his collection. He offered his Marlin 336A to me and I was happy to respond.

Nice set up! I've always liked those Model 54 rifles, tried to even buy one once. The guy was just too proud of it even though he welded on a different bolt handle and it wasn't in the original stock.

savage 99 made in 1910 . 24 inch with tang peep.

guess my old glenfield is boring Ha lol