Shooting a Marlin 30-30: SoCal

[Pax2525]

Hey I'm looking into getting the Marlin 336 30-30 lever action but I would love to try one first.

Anyone in South OC or SD area willing to help me out?

Thanks!

[iMigraine]

Don't own one but my sister does. Great hunting rifle.

Cons:

Expensive round for target shooting.
Big recoil for target shooting.

Just depends what you plan to do with it.

[1859sharps]

Remington (who owns Marlin) went through a pretty bad spot with QA on new production Marlins. I stopped following the story about a year ago and at that point things were improving, but bad samples were still getting out.

My advice, if/when you are ready to buy, ONLY buy from a place that will let you handle, work the action (carefully) and really give the rifle a good going over with the old eye ball looking for QA issue.

If at all possible, have someone familiar with these rifles with you to help sort out cosmetic QA issue that you might be willing to live with vs mechanical issues that can be detected without even shooting the rifle.

for the latest on this issue, assuming it is still an issue, jump over to the marlin owners forum. Just be warned, over there, there developed a culture of bashing Remington for the sake of bashing after a while. Basically some went a bit over the top with their anti Remington is the devil and the old Marlin was 100% perfect in every way and never made any mistakes ...which objectively we know is not possible. so read the posts with your critical thinking turned way up to sort emotion from good info. which isn't to say Remington and Freedom group are just the misunderstood victims here, they certainly earned a hit to public relations and valid complaints over QA, but things can get over the top a bit with some posters. you will see what I mean if you go over there.

[whatwhy]

Big recoil for target shooting.

I was told that the recoil was massive and all but I didn't find it all that bad? Was a bit disappointed

[junior40er]

My dad has one and let me shoot 20 rounds through it (I need to get him another box, not cheap) and I am in love with it.

It is a beautiful rifle, shoots amazingly and I am in love with it. He uses his to deer and pig hunt.

[Dutch Henry]

30-30 is a medium velocity job. Recoil is tolerable for all but the frail and many a youngster on his/her first deer hunt has carried a 30-30. The iron sighted rifle is a good choice for medium game taken from under 150 yards and it is still a top choice for the eastern woods hunter.

The 336, with its flat top receiver is good choice when considering the addition of optics.

[BajaJames83]

I have and love my 336 RC i live in north Sd county you can shoot if if you bring your own ammo.

[koni42]

Love my Marlin 30-30! My Dad got it for me when I was maybe 13 or 14 for deer hunting. Stay away from the Russian Ammo!!! I'd offer it up for you to shoot, but it was made in the 60's and I'm not sure that would give you a good representation of what you'd get at the store now a days. Not much for recoil, nothing to worry about. Lever guns are a lot of fun to shoot!

[p1choco]

Hey I'm looking into getting the Marlin 336 30-30 lever action but I would love to try one first.

Anyone in South OC or SD area willing to help me out?

Thanks!

I'm doing some "custom" work on my recently purchased Marlin. It was a little rough at first, but a little smoothing out here and there and it shoots like a dream. It's not a target rifle by any means but the recoil is very managable and it's fun to shoot. I can shoot you a PM when it's ready to shoot again and I'll let you try it out if you are still interested.

[junior40er]

it shoots very well. my stepdad was hitting 200 yard targets much easier and accurately than I was with my AR.

[Euphoria526]

Yeah my 336 was my first rifle. Love it!! Accurate and a blast to shoot!!
Of your up in la I har one you can shoot. Ammo is a bit pricey though

[Flyin Brian]

I would definitely take heed in the above advice of only buying a modern Marlin (Rem-Lin) if you can take a good close look at it first with no commitment to buy. The rifles that are being made now are no where near the quality and workmanship of the former company.

You can find used Marlin 30-30s for $400 or so if you put some effort into looking:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=373792365

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=374696186

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=374319786

[Rob7.62]

I bought a Remlin (marlin after being bought by Remington) a few months ago great gun fit and finish are spot on and couldn't be happier go to the store and handle a few

[saki302]

I have a Remlin .45-70 which has been great- with the exception of te screws. The screws are made with a shoddy steel and 'booger' instantly, even when using good driver bits (hollow ground).
If I were able to get a set of quality screws, it would be perfect (hear that, Wild West Guns?!!?).

If I were getting a .30-30 though, I would get a Winchester 94. I like the lines better, and the one sI have fired have all worked well.

Recoil is not light, but it's not bad. It's mostly because the weapon itself is lightweight.

-Dave