30/30 Marlin

Castle

New member
I need to know at what distance should I sight in my Marlin 30/30. I have topped it with a 3x9 Simmons scope. Thanks for your help.
 
That's a lot of scope for a .30-30 ;)

When I used my Marlin way back when I was limited to short-range shots. I set it at 100 yards and found for my needs those ranges didn't come up. At that point I realized that the ranges were so close that the scope took away from the rifle especially in low light situations (time of day or dense wooded).

Rick
 
What type of area are you hunting. If you will be hunting green patches or down in the woods off a tree stand, I would probably not go for more than 50 yards. Thats what I have my Winchester 30-30 set at. I have a Marlin 30-30 also, I have it sighted in for 150 yards, for hunting clear cut areas.
 
Castle,

Being the rifle in question is what it is, I recommend that you sight it in at 100 yards, point of aim point of impact. Any less and you still have no worries..any more and you can adjust slightly. The .30-30 is a good cartridge out to about 150 meters..any more and you are asking too much. I myself have a Win. .30-30 and have chosen to leave it naked...just iron sights....in my area, if I get a shot beyond 75 meters or so, I am lucky. It's just to brushy here. So the rifle actually becomes more unwieldy with a scope attached.
 
Castle, both my Marlin .30-30, and my Winchester Trapper (a real Win., not USRA), have Williams 5d receiver sights. I don't like a scope on these handy, light rifles. If you do, fine. Here's a quote.

"A .30-30 sighted to hit the point-of-aim at 100 yards will put the bullet almost 10 inches low at 200 yards, whereas a .30-30 sighted in to hit 3 inches high at 100 yards, will be only 3 inches low at 200. The man with a rifle sighted in for the shorter distance will miss a buck with a good hold at 200, whereas the man with the rifle sighted to hit 3 inches high at 100 yards, will connect at both ranges.

"Some hunters will say: 'In my neck of the woods, 200 yard shots are rare. Most of the deer are killed at 100 yards or less. Why sight in like that?'

The answer is that no one can hold well enough on a deer at 100 yards to be aware if his rifle is shooting 3 inches high or not. BUT, on that long shot out around 200 yards, he'll miss every time with a rifle sighted for the short distance."

("No One Else Can Sight A Rifle For You. Here's How You Do It." Written by Jack O'Conner., Outdoor Life, Oct. 1947)

I've been shooting .30-30s for 45 years and I agree with the late, great Jack O'Conner. Mine are sighted for 3" high at 100 yards, and I've never been disappointed with that sighting.

FWIW. J.B.
 
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