30-30 question

C

Coop de Ville

New member
Please ignore the other post, like this one, that I accidently posted as a reply somewhere else... What a day.

I've been trying to decide between 2 rifles as my first long gun. A Marlin 336 in 30-30 or the Savage Scout in .308. I am looking for a good all around take with me rifle that will work out to 200 or so yards. So far the Marlin is winning due to the ammo seeming to cost less (at least what I can find). Also, I really like the handiness of the levergun, FWIW.

Anyway, I keep seeing "don't use in tube magazines" on all the 30-30 ammo I've been coming across. I can see why having the bullet point against the primer of another round doesn't seem too smart, but they've been doing it for years, right? So, what rounds can you load the tube with or is there even a tube to begin with?

Thanks for your help, -Coop
 
Most 30-30 rifles have a tubular magazine. Most 30-30 ammo that I have ever come across was flat point or sometimes soft lead round nose to be used in the tubular mags. Do not use spitzer or hollow point ammo in a tubular mag, for the obvious reasons you already know. As far as price per round, the 308 probably is somewhat more expensive and is more powerful. The Savage Scout and the Marlin 30-30 are like apples and oranges. Different weapons entirely.
 
Coop - I have a 336 made in 1984. No worry's with the tube magazine if you stick with the blunt noses. The Marlin is the smoothest lever action I've ever shot, this compared to the Wichester 94 and Savage 99 actions. Also, my 336 has the sweetest trigger. As far as accuracy, off the bench with open sights I'm able to keep all in the black at 100 yards, consistently. That's real good for me with any rifle!

Noban
 
You guys are making me cry. I just had to part with my old Marlin .30/30 thanks to the tax man. I wonder if I can buy it back...
 
If I were picking, I'd go for the .308. Surplus ammo is far cheaper than any 30-30 ammo you'll find, and it's a better performer at 200 yards. You won't be shooting that much hunting ammo that you need to worry about the difference between it and 30-30, so the cheap practice ammo makes the difference. There are also a huge amount of choices in .308 ammo for almost any game you could hunt in North America.
 
You can try an alternative approach, getting a little bit more range and accuracy out of the .30-30, without the recoil and weight of the .308. Keep your eyes peeled for either the Savage Model 340, Remington Model 788, or Winchester Model 54, all bolt action guns chambered in .30-30. My wife owns a Savage 340, and it uses detachable box magazines, just like the Remington 788. She's not an accuracy freak, but she has no problem shooting gallon milk jugs full of colored Jell-O at 250 meters. The only problem is, none of these rifles has been in production for quite a while...
 
Coop,

I've used a Marlin 30-30 (circa 1950's)for years while deer hunting here in Oklahoma. It's a hard gun/caliber to beat for short range, thick brush hunting. The round is heavy enough to tear through limbs and adequate to knock a deer on it's butt with correct bullet placement.

However, if you're looking for 200 yard shots, go with the 308. On dead-on,level sighting, a 30 - 30 bullet will smack the dirt a good fifty yards before reaching your 200 yard target but the 308 will hit the mark, or very close to it, in my experience.

b
 
Another problem with the typical 30-30 carbine, they're a kicker for the wimpy cartridge they shoot. My bolt action .308 Tikka is a lot nicer to shoot than my M94 30-30, and it's a lot more accurate too. :)
 
I used my Marlin 30-30 to bring down many deer. It's a good gun for the thick north woods type of hunting I do. My son uses it now. I've never been impressed by Savage quality just by looking at how their guns are built.
 
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