Savage 340 30-30, why am I so intrigued by this rifle?
- Thread starter SARuger
- Start date
SARuger you have to use a side mount with the Savage 340, there isn't a rear receiver ring to drill and tap. The rear ring is split for the bolt handle to slide through. Weaver still makes the side mount for these rifles.
I don't think anyone has suggested he can get a M788 for anywhere near the cost of a Savage 340. We've either said "pony up" or "save up" for one. Right now I can purchase brand new Savage Axis, Remington 783, and Ruger American rifles starting at $200 and not exceeding $325. So if you're wanting a Savage 340 in .30-30 it isn't because you want a cheap rifle, it's that you want a bolt action .30-30.
natman said:
I don't think anyone has suggested he can get a M788 for anywhere near the cost of a Savage 340. We've either said "pony up" or "save up" for one. Right now I can purchase brand new Savage Axis, Remington 783, and Ruger American rifles starting at $200 and not exceeding $325. So if you're wanting a Savage 340 in .30-30 it isn't because you want a cheap rifle, it's that you want a bolt action .30-30.
I've had a few of these over the years. They are a fun, compact little rifle. I personally like them with the open sights as the side mounts seem sort of funky to me, but to each his own. I gave my last one to a friend for his kids to learn to shoot with. He is loading light cast loads for them and they have a ball with it.
Thank you! I see that now. I have had to deal with the side mounts before, no worries.
I do appreciate the advice on the M788. But this is a fun toy and I'm not a collector by any means.
The Savage 340 has intrigued me for years since I was a kid. Lugging that Marlin 336c through the woods with a scope and see through rings on it was a chore. I always wanted the brush/field capabilities of the 30-30 in a lighter bolt gun. It took me 37 years to get around to one.
I bought the M788 as a toy to play with as well, as I doubt I'll ever take it hunting much. I like shooting it at the range and ringing the 300 yard gong consecutively for a full magazine, then having someone ask me what I'm shooting. You should see the looks I get when I say it's a .30-30. It's pretty priceless to say the least.
There is nothing wrong with the 340 and it has the Savage barrel nut so you can do some pretty neat things with it. I've even seen one converted to 7-30 Waters slinging 120 grain spitzer bullets. It would be neat to make a bolt action .22 Hi Power or .375 Winchester as well. Then there is the BRM family of cartridges you could possibly get to work on the 340 action.
There is nothing wrong with the 340 and it has the Savage barrel nut so you can do some pretty neat things with it. I've even seen one converted to 7-30 Waters slinging 120 grain spitzer bullets. It would be neat to make a bolt action .22 Hi Power or .375 Winchester as well. Then there is the BRM family of cartridges you could possibly get to work on the 340 action.
Geezerbiker
New member
I've had one for a long time and then as did a friend of the family. One day he said if you give yours to one of your grandsons, I'll let the other have mine. Now my twin grandsons have an almost matched pair of these.
BTW, don't put the Weaver side mount on one of these. It's designed for a larger diameter receiver and will never line up with the bore. Mine came with one and I ended up putting a peep sight on it.
The later models came tapped for a scope mount and these are available and are vastly superior to the weaver side mount on this rifle.
Tony
BTW, don't put the Weaver side mount on one of these. It's designed for a larger diameter receiver and will never line up with the bore. Mine came with one and I ended up putting a peep sight on it.
The later models came tapped for a scope mount and these are available and are vastly superior to the weaver side mount on this rifle.
Tony
2damnold4this
New member
A friend of mine has a Savage 340. He was having some extraction troubles so after we tweaked it, we shot it at 25 yards for function. Got a dime sized, one hole group of five shots. I thought it might have a fluke, but two more five shot groups on different targets also made dime and nickel sized groups.
shuvelrider
New member
The same gun was made under the Stevens name, when Savage bought them out they continued the gun as the Mod 340. I have one of each and they are fun, I load mine with 110 grain bullet for a lighter load and general plinking.
Is this the scope mount/rail that I need? I have been searching but get different answers.
Sun Optics 340A scope rail
Sun Optics 340A scope rail
If someone saw a model 70 in 30-30, that's one of the holy grail guns to M70 collectors. Another that is more common but would still not be cheap is a Winchester m54 in 30-30. Wichita made a run of them back in 1925 but they didn't sell so Winchester dumped them for $25 a piece. 
I found one at a gun show with nice patina, well worn finish and checkering and a factory installed receiver sight. Gun did look a little rough but the bore was like a shiny new dime. I've won quite a few buck and free lunches on our "Burrito" matches that a group of us cast bullet shooter use. Iron sights only at 50 yards thank you. Couple,of times they threatened to ban that rifle from the shoots as I kept winning. No, it ain't for sale. Once you get used to that creepy trigger it's a tack driver.
Paul B.
I found one at a gun show with nice patina, well worn finish and checkering and a factory installed receiver sight. Gun did look a little rough but the bore was like a shiny new dime. I've won quite a few buck and free lunches on our "Burrito" matches that a group of us cast bullet shooter use. Iron sights only at 50 yards thank you. Couple,of times they threatened to ban that rifle from the shoots as I kept winning. No, it ain't for sale. Once you get used to that creepy trigger it's a tack driver.Paul B.
The Savage 340 commonly had a rough action and a trigger pull ranging from bad to terrible. But it was accurate, could use pointed bullets in .30-30, and was pretty successful. It seems likely that the success of that rifle turned the company's thoughts toward bolt actions and led directly to the lineup of rifles the company makes today.
Jim
Jim
SARuger said:
That is the correct mount and will work with your rifle. Now the question is is your rifle D&T for that scope mount. Need to see a picture of the left side of your receiver to be sure. Not all Savage 340's were D&T for scope mounts. Since you say there is only three screws on that side of your rifle, that makes me think your rifle wasn't drilled for a scope mount from the factory.
This image is a 340 that isn't factory drilled for a scope mount, but is drilled for mounting of a peep sight to the receiver.
A factory drilled rifle will have the woodline of the stock drop lower along the receiver. You'll also find a lot of 340 rifles that were D&T for a scope mount where the mount holes were drilled through the factory roll stamping on the left side of the receiver. A factory drilled receiver will have the mounting holes below the roll stamping like this rifle.
