I have been considering getting this rifle for a few reasons:
1. time tested lever action
2. the 30-30 round is ideal for MO hunting
3. not gonna break my bank as far as an affordable gun goes
I have other rifles but I want this one to be my sole hunting rifle since it's set up to kill bambi or other crewatures that taste delicious. I enjoy my 303 and my 8mm mausers, but they are not really hunting rifle ya know. I will always enjoy a mauser action, but this one would be my main deer rifle. any pros or cons I should know before buying this rifle? There is a good size gun show up in the beltimore area so I am hoping to find one there.
Get one you'll love it! It'll do the job with ease out to 125 yards. My Marlin .30-30 is one of the guns that I'll never get rid of. That's how much I love mine
One of the best guns ever built, IMO. The new flex-tip ammo turns the old 150 yd. "dirty-thirty" into a 300 yd. shooter and has brought a ton of the old lever guns out of the closet again. I say jump on it and don't look back.
I like bigger bullets too, why do you think I love the 8mm mauser so much? But the 30-30 is alo more ideal for hunting in central Missouri where there is lots of brush. I might have to check out Bass Pro up By Ft Meade and see if they got any used ones in good shape. The only 30-30 experiance i got was from my buddies model 94. I thought it was a great shooter, but i would rather have the pistol grip stock and the ability to have a scope if need be. So, wish me luck this weekend at the gun, or bass pro. Thank for all the inputs.
Andrew
I've rarely used it, I would never choose it first, BUT my Marlin 336C .30-30 Winchester was my very first firearm, ever. I bought it about 5 years ago, when I was only 18, and gasoline was $1.98 a gallon. I will continue to own that rifle, until the end of forever.
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"I am starting to see that liberalism and totalatarianism are essentially the same thing." -TXplt
I remember buying gas when it was a lot cheaper than that Mantrid. But, it seems that the verdict is buy a 336 in 30-30 WIN. Hopefully if I aint working this weekend I will be buying one
The 336 is a fine workhorse of a gun. I have an old 336 in 35 rem that i'll never part with even tho it's been ages since it's been out on a hunt. (pre-microgroove). been considering casting lead bullets for it so it can see more range time as a renewed project.
I'm with LeftHand on this one 100%, if you can find a used 336 that's pre remington (pre 2008 if memory is right) you'll be better off. since remmy took over I'm sending 1 to 2 back every year for "issues".
something may be going on, maybe with my wholesaler or the manufacturer, but I have not seen a 336 sent to me since Christmas sales cleared them out. so, at least so far this year I have not had to send one back, because I have not had any to sell..... kind of strange....
...I wish I could remark on the accuracy, but since the Marlin was scoped and the Winchester was not. The comparison would not be balanced.
That's why Winchester stopped trying to compete with Marlin...and now makes "Collectables" made in Japan instead of hard-working rifles.
Ease of scoping a Marlin (post-1955)...very easy
Accuracy of their button-rifled barrels...high!!
Solidity of action...HIGH!!
On the upside, you can often find Marlins in .30-30 or .35 for around $300-400 almost anywhere
I found my 1952 Waffle-Top Marlin 336 (.30-30) marked at $200 in a pawn shop and traded an old banjo for it...that I had $85 in
This is why they call 'em Waffle-tops...originally done to cut down on glare...
The 30/30 cartridge is one fine old standbye. It has been developed over more than 100 years and does a great job because of it. You don't need the new Hornady stuff to make a 30/30 run. As far as which to get a Win or a Marlin. I have 2 Win 94's and one 336 Marlin in 35 Rem and both are great rifles. I like the 94 because it is light and fast and I dont need a scope on a rifle thats going to be shot at 120 or so yards. A peep works great for me. No matter which one you choose you'll be amazed at how well it kills critters well and quick. Frank
The Marlin is a classic used by perhaps hundreds of thousands of hunters over many years. It is reliable and accurate. I will agree for the sake of argument some have probably needed repairs although I have never heard of any needing a repair. It is easy to mount a scope on this rifle.
Please check out the ballistics of the .30-30 to make certain it is the best cartridge for your hunting environmnet. It is fairly easy on the shoulder.
.30-30 , ya really can't go wrong, been doing it's job well for over a hundred years, just found a cast load for mine (94 AE Winchester) I use mine to hunt with, Deer and hogs mainly, it'll do it's part if you do yours.
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