30.30 accuracy?

D

Danny45

New member
Just wondering if this is a fluke or not. I've had a couple of different Marlin 30.30 rifles and they were okay but not what you'd consider tack drivers. Maybe 2 to 3.5" at 100 yards.

A friend of mine has a Marlin 336 in 30.30 that is amazing. I keep pestering him to buy it but he won't sell it. I shot it this past weekend and at 100 yards (benched) this rifle shot a 1 1/8" group (3 shots). Actually, it shot better than that because I called one shot that opened it up. The other two were almost touching!

Anybody else have one this good? Or any ideas on how I can talk him out of this one??? :D


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"Charlton Heston is my President"

Danny45
NRA, NAHC, Buckmasters
 
My dad's 1950s vintage Win 94 can overlap the first few cold ones at 50 yards. 100 yard accuracy is limited only by the beachball size front sight. I aint putting a fine target bead on it or drilling it for a scope, so we will never know about the 100 yard potential for sure.


Tom
 
Most 30-30's are lever actions!
If you can find one in BOLT ACTION you can decrease the group size significantly. It's the sloppy action that makes then en-accurate.
 
Most 30-30 lever actions are more accurate than people give them credit for. Benching one properly will cut groups quite a bit.
For example, my 94 benched in the usual way with the forearm resting on the sandbags, will do about 2 to 2.5 inches, pretty much considered the average for lever guns. But, place the sandbag under the receiver about 1 to 2 inches in front of the lever and groups drop to the 1.25 to 1.5 inch range.
Bolt action 30-30's can be very accurate. My Winchester Model 54 will do 1 inch with full power cast lead bullets. Can't say whether jacketed would do much better, as all I shoot in any 30-30 is cast lead.
Paul B.
 
I have a Marlin 30-30 thats over 15 years old. I do have a scope on that helps with my groups. But the big deal is useing the RIGHT AMMO. I suggest that you buy some diffiernt brands and than try and see whats works best in your gun. It took some time but I use Remington 170 gr. and now my groups of 5 are under 2" even with alot of wind. Also theres no excuse for practice.
 
Earlier on, I mentioned that conventional lever action rifles with tubular mags can be very accurate if the magazine tube is free of restriction to the barrel. This can be done and still keep the tube in place. The .30-30 Winchester Model 94 especially will shoot very well if the barrel is freed up.

Jim
 
Okay.. I'm gonna open my mouth up here..

I've got a 30-30 barrel for my T/C Contender Carbine that is capable of punchin' a smiley face at a 100 yards. Of course.. I've gotta lay off the caffiene for a week to be able to hold it that still. :D I hear that a 30-30 is limited at about 150 yards.. but I have yet to see its accuracy past 100 yards as the local range is limited to such.

Being a single shot rifle affords me the ability to "experiment" with my 30-30 reloads which offers better accuracy as I often load ammunition that will not cycle in a lever action 30-30. ;) (I'm special. :D

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KaMaKaZe, Man you need an easier name! LOL Ya know, I'd think that the 30.30 in a Contender, with spitzers loaded would be very effective beyond 150 yards. I know from the ballistic tables for the standard 30.30 is not impressive. But with "hot" loads and spitzer bullets, I bet you could reach out there. Does anybody know about this? I've never compared them side by side but I'd think it would approach the .308 ballistically.

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"Charlton Heston is my President"

Danny45
NRA, NAHC, Buckmasters
 
My wife owns a Savage Model 340 (bolt-action .30-30), and runs pointed-nose handloads. I watched her shoot a sub 1" group a few weeks back, using 110gr Speer spire points. Gives me a reason to try harder with my Winchester 94 on range day...
 
Danny45. The 30-30 approach a .308 Win.????
No way. You can get close to maybe a .300 Savage using the 30-30 Ackely Improved, but not in a conventional 30-30 rifle. Not even in a bolt gun.
I have a Winchester Model 54 in 30-30, probably the strongest factory rifle ever made in that caliber. Pushing it to "gutbuster" loads will only gain me 50 to 100 FPS more, with very short case life. Not worth the effort. The loads were too hot for a Win. 94 or Marlin 336.
Mr. Ken Waters in his PET LOADS series said basically the same thing. 30-30 brass is too thin and too weak as is. You do gain some improvement by "improving" the round, but why bother? If you want .308 capability, buy a .308. Just my thoughts on the subject.
Paul B.
 
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