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.30-30 ammo
- Thread starter sodapop
- Start date
RedneckFur
New member
You wont go wrong with the 30-30. I use 150gr. soft points, and my dad's 120gr. handloads when I can get some. (he doesnt load much anymore)
The 336 is a very accruate rifle, in my openion. I own one, but have installed scopes on several. I've got 1.5 and 2 inch groups with my 336w, and managed a 1 inch group with and old 336c once. Guy woudlnt sell me the rifle after i showed him the target.
An animal wont taste bad unless its been run alot. Down in some southern states, they run deer with hounds. Deer taste very gamey when they've been running for an hour. A 20 yard sprint wont make much difference in the taste, i think.
The 336 is a very accruate rifle, in my openion. I own one, but have installed scopes on several. I've got 1.5 and 2 inch groups with my 336w, and managed a 1 inch group with and old 336c once. Guy woudlnt sell me the rifle after i showed him the target.
An animal wont taste bad unless its been run alot. Down in some southern states, they run deer with hounds. Deer taste very gamey when they've been running for an hour. A 20 yard sprint wont make much difference in the taste, i think.
So, I bought the Marlin today!!
336C, walnut stock, $400, beautiful. For some reason, I really like the fat foregrip. I feel it gives me more control when I'm aiming at a "deer" (a blank spot on the wall). I can't wait to shoot some groups and try out some ammo!! I think I will install a peep reciever sight, a scope I think would ruin the handiness, and my eyesight is still pretty top-notch. The action is a little stiff, and I pinched my fingers a little the first several times working it. My friend told me not to oil it, that I should just keep working the dry metal until it smoothed out on its own. Is he right?
The gentleman at Gander Mountain told me that the .30-30 is not a good whitetail cartridge. Excellent for coyotes and varmints, he said, maybe small whitetails, but not a good all-around deer getter. He told me that a .308 or a .270 is much better. I then noticed that the Remington 700 .270 on the shelf was $750. I smiled at the gentleman and told him my heart was set on the Marlin. "Okay," he said, "as long as your 20 feet from the deer you're shooting." And then he went into some story about how when he was kid he shot the same buck with a Win 94 for three seasons in a row, wounding it each time, but the buck kept living until someone brought him down with a .30-06 a year later. However, all the experienced hunters who obviously know what they're talking about say the .30-30 is an excellent whitetail cartridge, that it does its job if you do yours, and I think that's all you can ever ask of a rifle, no matter how powerful or accurate. Either the gentleman was trying to sell me the more expensive rifle, he is a lousy shot, or he is a good story teller. Or all three. I suppose they're all just as likely, but man, does that Marlin feel good in my hands! I hope Wisconsin is FULL of whitetails this season!
Thanks for all the great advice guys!!!
336C, walnut stock, $400, beautiful. For some reason, I really like the fat foregrip. I feel it gives me more control when I'm aiming at a "deer" (a blank spot on the wall). I can't wait to shoot some groups and try out some ammo!! I think I will install a peep reciever sight, a scope I think would ruin the handiness, and my eyesight is still pretty top-notch. The action is a little stiff, and I pinched my fingers a little the first several times working it. My friend told me not to oil it, that I should just keep working the dry metal until it smoothed out on its own. Is he right?
The gentleman at Gander Mountain told me that the .30-30 is not a good whitetail cartridge. Excellent for coyotes and varmints, he said, maybe small whitetails, but not a good all-around deer getter. He told me that a .308 or a .270 is much better. I then noticed that the Remington 700 .270 on the shelf was $750. I smiled at the gentleman and told him my heart was set on the Marlin. "Okay," he said, "as long as your 20 feet from the deer you're shooting." And then he went into some story about how when he was kid he shot the same buck with a Win 94 for three seasons in a row, wounding it each time, but the buck kept living until someone brought him down with a .30-06 a year later. However, all the experienced hunters who obviously know what they're talking about say the .30-30 is an excellent whitetail cartridge, that it does its job if you do yours, and I think that's all you can ever ask of a rifle, no matter how powerful or accurate. Either the gentleman was trying to sell me the more expensive rifle, he is a lousy shot, or he is a good story teller. Or all three. I suppose they're all just as likely, but man, does that Marlin feel good in my hands! I hope Wisconsin is FULL of whitetails this season!
Thanks for all the great advice guys!!!
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Charshooter
New member
I'm an old timer on the 30-30 and like the 170 grain Remington Core-Loct so much that I have bought this bullet and handloaded it for years. I have always liked the 170 grain best, but I will be candid here and admit after good luck with the 170 I have not used the 150 grain in 30 years.
When I need longer range, I use a 308 with 165 gr and 180 gr for brush country where shots may be longer. I think the 30-30 is one heck of a deer number and I also use a marlin and for many years shot open sights, but last year I scoped my 30-30 because my eyes are not as good as they used to be and when I can get close enough to use open sights, I use either a 44 or 35 rem in a Marlin. I love those Marlins!
When I need longer range, I use a 308 with 165 gr and 180 gr for brush country where shots may be longer. I think the 30-30 is one heck of a deer number and I also use a marlin and for many years shot open sights, but last year I scoped my 30-30 because my eyes are not as good as they used to be and when I can get close enough to use open sights, I use either a 44 or 35 rem in a Marlin. I love those Marlins!
By the way,
Is it possible to wear out a Micro-groove barrel? I know the .30-30 is not a high-pressure cartridge, but I was wondering if it is possible to shoot a Marlin out, especially with the shallow rifling. When I'm shooting on the bench, should I let the barrel cool after each group? Should this be a concern of mine? Does accuracy degrade after a lot of rounds? I don't plan on shooting 100,000 rounds out of the Marlin in my lifetime (maybe in the rifle's lifetime), but after 5,000 or so, will accuracy being to suffer? Someone told me that only 3,000 rounds out of a .243 will begin to wear its accuracy down. Is this true with the 30-30? I have access to a private rifle range and I plan on shooting the Marlin A LOT.
Thanks again!
Also, out of curiosity, does a Marlin .30-30 with a 24 or 26 inch barrel exist other than that ugly XLR, or are they all 20 inch carbines? There's something about stainless guns-- they just don't seem right to me. For sure, they have very real and practical advantages, but they look unwholesome.
Is it possible to wear out a Micro-groove barrel? I know the .30-30 is not a high-pressure cartridge, but I was wondering if it is possible to shoot a Marlin out, especially with the shallow rifling. When I'm shooting on the bench, should I let the barrel cool after each group? Should this be a concern of mine? Does accuracy degrade after a lot of rounds? I don't plan on shooting 100,000 rounds out of the Marlin in my lifetime (maybe in the rifle's lifetime), but after 5,000 or so, will accuracy being to suffer? Someone told me that only 3,000 rounds out of a .243 will begin to wear its accuracy down. Is this true with the 30-30? I have access to a private rifle range and I plan on shooting the Marlin A LOT.
Thanks again!
Also, out of curiosity, does a Marlin .30-30 with a 24 or 26 inch barrel exist other than that ugly XLR, or are they all 20 inch carbines? There's something about stainless guns-- they just don't seem right to me. For sure, they have very real and practical advantages, but they look unwholesome.
Charshooter
New member
Small fast calibers do brun out barrels faster, but a 30-06 will hold up well, I heard over 5000 rounds. That is a good question about the micro groove barrell and all I can say is that I put about 1000 rounds through mine and it still shoots perfect.
I think there might be a difference with the micro groove, but consider that the 30-30 is rather mild, I doubt it is a concern. It will be interesting to see what response you get from anyone who has read or actually has shot one out.
I think there might be a difference with the micro groove, but consider that the 30-30 is rather mild, I doubt it is a concern. It will be interesting to see what response you get from anyone who has read or actually has shot one out.
Northslope Nimrod
New member
Enjoy your Marlin.
I carry mine (or my Winchester 94) deer hunting all the time. I also carry my Marlin Elk hunting occassionally. Its not a great elk caliber, but personally, at 100 yards and under, I'd rather have my 30-30 than a .270.
My uncle lost an elk last year he shot at about 15 yards with a 7mm. Again, I think a 30-30 at that distance would have been better. Just my opinion.
I carry mine (or my Winchester 94) deer hunting all the time. I also carry my Marlin Elk hunting occassionally. Its not a great elk caliber, but personally, at 100 yards and under, I'd rather have my 30-30 than a .270.
My uncle lost an elk last year he shot at about 15 yards with a 7mm. Again, I think a 30-30 at that distance would have been better. Just my opinion.
My uncle lost an elk last year he shot at about 15 yards with a 7mm
I don't know you or your uncle or want to blast you or him, but if a elk is lost at 15 yards don't blame any capable caliber. It wasn't the guns fault.
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Hey y'all,
Just finished up with school and **finally** got a chance to shoot the 336. I bought a box of federal fusions 170g, Leverevolution 160g, remington corlokts 150g, and found some old winchester 150 g. round noses that might have been around since the 1930's. I shot with iron sights from 100 yards and managed 2-3 inch groups. The fusions were pretty decent, I averaged around 2.5 inches or so with them. The old winchester ammo shot pretty decently, too, the best group being around 3 inches. I was a little disappointed with the leverevolution ammo, the groups averaged more than 2.5 inches. I don't know why, but my Marlin doesn't seem to like them, which is a pity. I thought the leverevolutions were supposed to be super accurate out of Marlins. But then again, I was shooting open sights with a nice hefty tigger. My rifle, however, seemed to prefer the corlokts over the others. One of the corlokt groups was 1.3 inches, and that's the bullet I will hunt whitetails with. They say you can't do much better than a corlokt.
I think the rifle needs a little tigger-smoothing. A reciever ghost-ring sight is next, and I will see if I can shoot a pig or two while waiting for deer season.
Thanks for all the great advice guys, and happy hunting!
Just finished up with school and **finally** got a chance to shoot the 336. I bought a box of federal fusions 170g, Leverevolution 160g, remington corlokts 150g, and found some old winchester 150 g. round noses that might have been around since the 1930's. I shot with iron sights from 100 yards and managed 2-3 inch groups. The fusions were pretty decent, I averaged around 2.5 inches or so with them. The old winchester ammo shot pretty decently, too, the best group being around 3 inches. I was a little disappointed with the leverevolution ammo, the groups averaged more than 2.5 inches. I don't know why, but my Marlin doesn't seem to like them, which is a pity. I thought the leverevolutions were supposed to be super accurate out of Marlins. But then again, I was shooting open sights with a nice hefty tigger. My rifle, however, seemed to prefer the corlokts over the others. One of the corlokt groups was 1.3 inches, and that's the bullet I will hunt whitetails with. They say you can't do much better than a corlokt.
I think the rifle needs a little tigger-smoothing. A reciever ghost-ring sight is next, and I will see if I can shoot a pig or two while waiting for deer season.
Thanks for all the great advice guys, and happy hunting!