deciding on a 30-30 deer rifle help

[rm1911]

deciding on a 30-30 deer rifle help

[smittty]

I have two or three different types of 30-30 lead free factory ammo and they all shoot really well out of my son's rifle. 200 yard zero has me 3" high at 100 yards and it's predictable.

I'm content with the 30-30 and it's one cartridge for both my son and I. I see no reason to complicate my ammo situation.

Thanks for the replies, and as the poll numbers show the Marlin won!

[Calif Hunter]

It doesn't answer your question about the choice between those two rifles, but I also have a Savage 340 in .30-30, with a scope. It shoots 170 gr Rem Corelokts over IMR4064 into 5/8 to 3/4 inch groups. I think I paid $125 for it at a gun show. Ultimately, I found the scope mount and some extra magazines. I tried some light weight (125 - 130 gr) spritzer bullet loads but the Rem Corelokts shot the best. I have not tried any leadpfree loads but I imagine they would shoot well as nothing I tried shot much over an inch.

It carries like a .22 rifle....

[biker777]

You spelled Winchester wrong in your poll.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^

[smittty]

It doesn't answer your question about the choice between those two rifles, but I also have a Savage 340 in .30-30, with a scope. It shoots 170 gr Rem Corelokts over IMR4064 into 5/8 to 3/4 inch groups. I think I paid $125 for it at a gun show. Ultimately, I found the scope mount and some extra magazines. I tried some light weight (125 - 130 gr) spritzer bullet loads but the Rem Corelokts shot the best. I have not tried any leadpfree loads but I imagine they would shoot well as nothing I tried shot much over an inch.

It carries like a .22 rifle....

[M1NM]

30-30 needs to be in a lever gun WITHOUT a scope. Winchester is the logical choice. A JM (?) Marlin should be ok. If you are going single shot your only choice should be a Ruger No1.

This is one I picked up that is 7x57 Mauser NIB

[RNE228]

Savage 99. Saw one last year at LLBean over in Maine. In 30-30.

Prefer the 99 over the 94 style rifles. Of course I prefer 300 Savage and 250 Savage over 30-30.

I'm set on 30-30, no need to contemplate another caliber. It is rare in a bolt action and only seen in much older model guns. There's a Ruger No. 1 in 30-30 but its over 7 lbs and $$$.

The G2 Contender is nice because its only 5.5 lbs and can be taken down.

The Marlin is legendary so no convincing needed. I wish it weighed less!

[RNE228]

Savage 99, Winchester 88, and Browning BLR did that long ago. Savage 99 did pointy bullet in 1899 with internal rotary magazine, adding a box magazine much later.

It's cool what Henry is doing, but they are not the first in that game.

Was at Sac Valley shooting pointy bullets today; Sav 99 in 300Savage. 1956 vintage rifle

Henry long ranger.
It has a detachable mag. You can use pointed bullets.

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/the-long-ranger/

[RNE228]

Makes it almost comparable to 300 Savage, which has been around since 1920.

[MissiontoMars]

Hi Smitty, my vote is the 336. Do you have any thoughts on the Henry 30-30 with loading gate, tho? Very fine looking and shooting rifle.

I have a 336 that is very accurate and comfortable to shoot, but i’m eventually going to add a Henry, and a miroku winchester.

[panzerman]

I have an old Coast to Coast bolt action carbine 30-30 that shoots amazingly well out to about 150 meters with a little 4x optic and a Win 94 30-30 with 24"bbl that shoots amazingly poorly at 150 meters with iron sights both using the Hornady LeverRevolution 160 gr round. Despite the age of the cartridge I really love shooting 30-30's and one cannot argue that used within its range limits it has taken an incredible amount of game.

[Mojaveman]

One more vote for the Marlin 336. It's ergonomics are good and if you're a good shot it will make a nice deer rifle out to 100+ yards. The .30-30 is still a fine cartridge for that purpose. A small 4x scope will increase your range out to about 200 yards.

Like lever action rifles. I think it's the cowboy in me.

[smittty]

I prefer the side loading gate so I'm not in love with the henry rifle.

The miroku winchesters are the best winchesters imo but $$$$. I think if I was willing to pay that much I'd probably get a take-down. My friend has a deluxe take-down in 45 LC and its very classy and fine shooting gun.

[repomanNWP]

I love my Marlin 30-30, its a great brush gun, I put a Skinner peep sight on it and its deadly out to 200 yds even with my terrible eyes; a good shooter with better eyes I'm sure could extend that range significantly.

[smittty]

I love my Marlin 30-30, its a great brush gun, I put a Skinner peep sight on it and its deadly out to 200 yds even with my terrible eyes; a good shooter with better eyes I'm sure could extend that range significantly.