Savage 340 30-30, why am I so intrigued by this rifle?

S

SARuger

New member
I always thought that a 30-30 bolt gun would be fun. Its a great caliber/cartridge for the mountains and brushy areas of SW VA. But to me the lever gun was always heavy at the end of the day. I often thought it would be nice to have a bolt gun in the same caliber.

I have never held one let alone shot one but I have always wanted one. They pop up locally from time to time for any where from $250-350.

Thoughts? Should I fix the itch or pass? I hear they are as heavy as a lever gun...

Pic for attention stolen from the web ;)
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They probably are as heavy as a lever. When I was a young boy my Father hunted with the carbine version of this rifle, I thought it was pretty cool. He sold it to get a 30-06 to extend his range (30-30 vs 30-06) but I have always wanted to find a nice replacement. His had the plain un-checkered stock with a 4X Weaver post. As I remember, it directed some 170gr Silver Tips with some good results!;) Good luck, you got my vote as to getting one.
 
I know your post is specifically about bolt guns, but I always thought a Ruger #3 in .30-30 would be an awesome deer gun! Short, handy, light as a feather & nice looking. Rimmed cartridges like the .30-30 just seem to be a natural for single-shot rifles. BTW: at one time, Ruger chambered the #3 in .375 Win & .30-40 Krag.

JIMHO
 
Buy it, Try it. If you don't like it, sell it.

Years ago a friend of mine had one chambered in, I believe, 222 Remington.

It was an accurate little rascal and did in a large number of woodchucks.

If I came across one in either caliber locally at a decent price I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
 
For me, Its just that I want one. Probably a range toy/discussion piece. I have other guns I hunt with. Usually my .44 SBH or my slug gun.
 
Well, if you showed up here looking for someone to tell you not to buy it - you've come to the wrong place!

I'd get it just to play with. I like the unusual and unique, especially rifles.
 
pointed bullets

Don't think you could load it to any more power than the lever gun it"s a one lug bolt, but you could load pointed bullets which would extend your range .
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I had a couple of these when I couldn't afford anything better. Not especially accurate, not especially well made. Don't miss them.
 
If you want a bolt action .30-30 pony up the money for a Remington M788 like I did.

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I pulled the Leupold M8 4X off and installed a 2-7 Monarch, you'd think that this rifle is a varmint rifle the way it shoots. It'll usually stack cheap Winchester or Remington ammo into clover leaf patterns. It also likes the Hornady Leverevolution ammunition as well. The magazine length and throat on these rifles make it hard to shoot any spitzer bullet other than the Hornady flex tips out of it. Traditional spitzer bullets require trimming the brass way back to keep from seating the ogive below the neck, and then you have a very long bullet jump to the lands. I imagine the Savage 340 or any other variant of that rifle will have the same issues as my 788.

If you can find one a M54 Winchester would be an awesome option for a bolt action .30-30. I've heard that rifle is tough to scope without reworking the bolt handle though.. I've also seen one example online of a M70 in .30-30 Win, and that would probably be the hands down best bolt action .30-30 ever made.
 
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Of course you buy a 340, Then you can shoot these!!

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Here is what you get when you load 125gr FMJ pulls from 7.62x39.

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Nothing special, but it is fun to play around with 30-30 loads in a what if kind of way.
 
Those are some nice looking rifles!

The deal I was looking at fell through because of the distance to travel but another has come up local for $250. That M788 can shoot too! I have never seen one for sale around here.
 
Yes, Savage 340s are pretty cool and they shoot well. They are not any lighter than a lever action, but were way cheaper to produce. I had a chance to pick one up last year and passed, but I would have jumped on a Remington 788 if I had the opportunity. All in all, I would say go for it if you got the itch.
 
I'm going to pick the one up local this weekend for $250. Of course I found a good deal on a Henry .22LR yesterday as well. Thats the way it always works :D
 
Original factory clips for the 340 can be a life long quest for. For 30-30 use. I think. Those who prefer a Bolt action over any other receiver would find such a rifle (340) the "bee's knee's."_ These bolt action, removable magazine fed, economical rifles as I recall. Were not at all desirable back in its day. But as time & personal tastes in firearms change. These days. It appears the model 340 is desirable amongst a small fragment of the shooting sports clientele.
 
The SOB's friggin' shoot. A Savage 340(doesn't use a 'clip') will shoot circles around any lever action for one. The weight is irrelevant. The .30-30 shines, big time, out of a bolt action.
 
Taylor told you right. Save for the Remington 788. Its a better rifle. I don't think either one will be lighter than the lever gun. And my Marlin 336 will stay under and inch and a half with ammo it likes. I bought one box of winchester silver tips that stayed right around the one inch mark.

If you are looking for lighter try and find and older remington modle 7. I have one with the walnut stock and 18.5" barrel. With a VX-1 2x7 on it it weighs right at 7.5 pounds. Mine is in 7-08.

I just weighed all my deer rifles. Two 30-06s, a 7x57 BDL and a 700 ADL in 243. Plus the Marlin 30-30. All weighed between eight and eight and three quarters of a pound. The model 7 was the lightweight winner. But don't expect to find one for anything close to the same price as the Savage 340. They are expensive now. I paid $450 for mine about 8 years ago. But thats a deer killin' round.
 
I will own my first one tomorrow, if the rifle checks out good. I have always wanted one so I'm treating myself for Christmas :D

From what I read, the M788 was only made for three years in 30-30 so that will be hard to come by around here and it will come with a cost. Most folks here in the mountains know their guns!
 
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