Take down rifle benefit?

[Fergie]

I was looking at getting a lever action 30-30.

Henry makes one that is not a take down MSRP $850

Winchester model94 takedown 30-30 $1500

Both get very good reviews is the price difference just for the take down ability? Aside from being able to drop it into a backpack, is there other advantages of the takedown rifle?

Thanks!

[killshot44]

Henry's are usually priced less to start.
I think portability is the main benefit. Also it allows easy cleaning the barrel from the breech instead of the muzzle.

Plus when you're out of ammo you'd have TWO things to club the deer to death with.

[Fergie]

Great thinking, maybe if I find some rope I can make them into nunchucks! Then the deer can die laffing and all I have to do it throw them in the truck.

[killshot44]

Just use a Bore Snake and you're golden.

[Monster]

If for hunting and you want to stuff a rifle into a backpack you are really hunting, you are hiking with high hopes and dreams.

[Oceanbob]

Fergie....
That's way too much money for a 30-30. (iMO). While I like Henry Lever guns
They are expensive and heavy. I am not a fan of loading from the muzzle end either. I prefer a Marlin Lever that was built before Remington ' Took Over ' and moved the entire Marlin production to another State and lost many of the craftsman who elected to retire or not move.

These details are well known and if you really like quality Lever guns check out

http://www.marlinowners.com

The last dates of the Good Marlins were 2009 ish....some models a year difference plus or minus. Levers built after the Marlin acquisition are called
"Remlins". Fit and finish are substandard.

Original Marlins have a JM mark stamped into the left, aft end of the barrel.

That's what you want...

I bought this like new 2006 Marlin 30-30 off the used rifle rack at OC Armory
For $350. They were asking $375. It is pristine. No wear at all. Probably less than 5 rounds. Many people own levers and rarely shoot them. She's in jail
And I get her on the 24th. Just check gun stores or the classifieds.

30-30 is a great round.

Be well
Bob



PS...

A folding or take down 30-30 won't happen. Not for hunting. Too much money.

But, I wanted a Trunk Gun with some punch so I did by a Marlin (Remlin..haha)
'Youth Model' 30-30 from Buds Gun Shop. Not much money. Then I installed
Plastic forearms and butt stock that I bought from MidwayUSA. It's really short
And light weight. She rides in my trunk.

Marlin Cowboy limited in .44 magnum on the bottom. About $1200 these days.

Yeah, i reload.

I was looking at getting a lever action 30-30.

Henry makes one that is not a take down MSRP $850

Winchester model94 takedown 30-30 $1500

Both get very good reviews is the price difference just for the take down ability? Aside from being able to drop it into a backpack, is there other advantages of the takedown rifle?

Thanks!

[44fred]

No advantage to a takedown rifle unless you need to store it in a small space.
There are backpacks that are made to carry full size rifles.
You are comparing different models from different manufactures. If you're interested in a quality lever action 30/30, look into a JM stamped Marlin.

[44fred]

OceanBob
Nice pickup, $350 well spent.

[Fergie]

Thanks for the feedback. I was nervous because about Marlins because I read what was posted above here - quality control went to hell on what was a good rifle. Nice to know the date (2009) so I can look for an older one.

[Fergie]

I like your photos OceanBob! Nice gun choice for the trunk!

[Oceanbob]

OceanBob
Nice pickup, $350 well spent.

Thank you Fred.

I like your photos OceanBob! Nice gun choice for the trunk!

Thanks Fergie.

The actions on JM marked Marlins are like butter. This Trunk Gun Remlin action was not smooth. So when it arrived I deep cleaned the action (manufacturing oil) and reoiled her. Then I (while watching reruns of the Rifleman on Saturday mornings and having my coffee..) ran the LEVER a few thousand times. It snoothed up and then I cleaned it again and re oiled. It's great now. Removing the wood saves weight. The finish is MATT and not the pristine blue a real Marlin
Has. I also installed some Skinner Sights.





She's a handy little Carbine now. Short and accurate. Not expensive. I do have her in a Gun Sock (one of those $9 silicon fabric socks that slide over the full length; people seeng this in my trunk wouldn't think twice about it)

That bag on the buttstock is velcro attached and was about 10 bucks.
Inside is more premium hunting rounds, a small kniife, a fire starter with
Tinder and $40 cash.

Grab and go.

[NapalmCheese]

Takedown guns are a niche product now made almost exclusively for stuffing behind the seat of an aircraft.

Takedown guns are a niche product now BOUGHT almost exclusively so the purchaser can feel cool.

That being said, takedown guns are a byproduct of a long gone era where hunters would often travel to their hunting destination by train. It was polite to break your rifle or shotgun down into a smaller, easier to handle case; often made of leather or canvas and occasionally made of wood.

Nowadays there's not much point in paying a premium for one unless you're special (that is you travel by bush plane or something where space is at a premium).

As for which lever gun to get: I'm personally interested in everything BUT Marlin, for no better reason than I grew up with a Winchester and always felt like they were the 'original' lever gun and Marlin was just trying to copy them (wrong in so many ways but hey, I was young). That and the microgroove rifling can be a bit harder to work with if you are using cast lead bullets.

I wouldn't pay $1500 bucks for a new production takedown rifle, but I considered almost paying $2500 bucks for what I thought was an original Trapper (but now think is a fake, recently done or not).

[23 Blast]

Takedown guns are a niche product now made almost exclusively for stuffing behind the seat of an aircraft.

Takedown guns are a niche product now BOUGHT almost exclusively so the purchaser can feel cool.

That being said, takedown guns are a byproduct of a long gone era where hunters would often travel to their hunting destination by train. It was polite to break your rifle or shotgun down into a smaller, easier to handle case; often made of leather or canvas and occasionally made of wood.

Nowadays there's not much point in paying a premium for one unless you're special (that is you travel by bush plane or something where space is at a premium).

As for which lever gun to get: I'm personally interested in everything BUT Marlin, for no better reason than I grew up with a Winchester and always felt like they were the 'original' lever gun and Marlin was just trying to copy them (wrong in so many ways but hey, I was young). That and the microgroove rifling can be a bit harder to work with if you are using cast lead bullets.

I wouldn't pay $1500 bucks for a new production takedown rifle, but I considered almost paying $2500 bucks for what I thought was an original Trapper (but now think is a fake, recently done or not).

I was just about to say that the breakdown rifle (and shotgun) were for transport via train, where a long, skinny case would be unwieldy and probably be too long and awkward to store in most of the luggage bins. A breakdown rifle that could be stored in a case that more closely resembled a standard suitcase or clothes bag made more sense.

Today, it just looks really cool.

Oceanbob's lever guns are making my mouth water. I haven't yet owned a rifle cartridge lever, but have owned several Rossis, and once owned a Winchester (USRAC) 94 in .44mag. IIRC, I bought it new at Big 5 back in the day for under $500. Those Were THE Days!

[I Swan]

I like that a takedown design will let in fit in a large backback I have some so while on a motorcycle.

[Jjwisled]

You can also get a take down savage 99 in 3030 or a bunch of other calibers for that matter. I have one in 250-3000 and love it, haven't had a reason to take it down yet other than to admire the machine work that went into it and clean it.