Can I use modern ammo?

N

nine fingers

New member
I have resently come into possession of my grandfather's model 1893 Marlin 30-30. The barrel is stamped "Special Smokless Steel". The rifle is in mint condition (family history says grandpa only used it twice). I don't know the exact date of manufacture, but I guess it to be in the late 1910s to the mid 20s.

My question is: can I safely shoot it using modern ammo?
 
If the gun can still shoot and is in good condition I'd say "Yes". I have never heard of someone buying super hot loads for a Lever Action 30/30. Maybe somebody makes it but Most ALMOST ALL 30/30 ammo is safe to shoot in a gun like yours.
 
Because it is in mint condition and is a family heirloom, I wouldn't shoot it. That's from a collector's viewpoint only; it would be perfectly safe to shoot with modern ammo.

FWIW, I "resurrected" a total junker of a Winchester 94. It was made in 1902. I put on a work glove and held the gun around the corner of the house from me and pulled the trigger. Nothing bad happened at all. Since then I've put a couple of boxes of 150-grain through it; shoots about as well as I'd expect any 94 to do.

:), Art
 
It fine to shoot

With factory ammunition, its ok. When I think of how many Mauser 93's and 95's had been fired with similar pressured cartridges (7 x 57 and .257 Roberts), I cannot see how a rifle made in 1900 would be unsafe.

FWIW, my family has an old .250 Savage, model 99 with rotary magazine, Schnable fore-end and was made before the "War to end all Wars". Its very accurate and is a great deer rifle. It is well-worn and due to scope mounting, has little collector value. Its use is limited to fair weather days and so should yours.
 
Since Grandpappy apparently was either not much of a hunter, or not enamored of .30-30 WCF Marlins, I'd say leave it in as is condition and let it's value continue a slow but relatively sure climb.

But, if you really want to hunt with it, it should be perfectly fine with modern factory ammo (I'd stay away from the Accelerator loads though).

Doc Hudson
 
I don't see why not....

I have shot Lee Enfields dating from 1913 and 1920 with both modern (Winchester, Hansen) and surplus ammos with no ill effects! As long as the ammo generate the pressure that the gun was designed for, I don't see why we can't shoot old guns.

Johannes
 
Sorry, Aristophanes, that "Special Smokeless Steel" means that the barrel is made of steel designed for smokeless powder pressures. Modern .30-30 cartridges will work fine. Actually, the .30-30 was always a smokeless powder cartridge, and the second "30" refers to the weight of the charge in smokeless powder, not black powder.

The ammo box marking is a standard one, used even for the most modern cartridges for which old guns were never chambered.

Jim
 
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