The 30-30 lever gun

[Hookeye]

Had a Winchester Canadian Centennial 94.
Sold it.
No regrets.

 

[Enfieldno4mk1]

I have been considering a 30-30 lever action as well. Not really for any other purpose than to shoot at the range occasionally and just for the fun of it. I don't have a lever action and thought it would be kind of fun to have one. You can never have too many guns.......

 

[VN Vet]

I think every firearm collector should have a lever action rifle or two. Some of them can be works of art. Winchester 94s keep going up in value too.

 

[rgrimm01]

No love for the Henry lever action rifles?

 

[darend505]

Love lever guns! Had two, sold one, looking for one to replace what I sold already!

 

[Cavman]

Ive got two. I love them. I am still holding onto hope that one day indiana will allow 30-30 to be a legal round. I usually take mine coyote hunting in case theres any close shots I might be able to try

 

[Claddagh]

When I was a kid back in MO, you could bet that about every rural household (and many "city" ones) would contain at least three firearms: a shotgun of some type, a .22 rifle and a "deer rifle". If you bet on the latter being a LA in either .30-30 or .32 Win. Spl., you wouldn't lose very often.

I was sort of an anomaly, as although my own "deer rifle" was a Marlin 336, it was in .35 Remington. Still have it and it still gets out to play every now and again even though I can't get around well enough to hunt regularly anymore.

Things change. Last time I was visiting Down Home, most of the racks I saw in the pickups on the country roads and on the ATVs seemed to be wearing a Ruger Mini, AR, or an SKS of some sort.

But I'd still bet even money that if you looked in their closet/safe at home you'd find some sort of 'legacy' .30-30 in there. And most of them would be a Marlin or a Winchester LA.

 

[Hookeye]

No love for the Henry lever action rifles?

You mean the Brooklyn Erma?

 

[Gunaria]

I figured you all would be chompin at the bit to use a 30-30 now that they sell zombie ammos in that calibear.

 

[sdh]

I have a win 94 in 30-30, win 94/22, marlin 39 .22, and a Henry .357. I love the old lever guns. I have recently reloaded some leverevolution 30-30's but I haven't shot them yet.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Get one and use it for squirrel!

-J-

 

[abraham743]

Get one and use it for squirrel!

-J-

it really cuts down on the skinning after the hunt

 

[UncleNorby]

What's this about 30/30s kicking like a mule? All the 30/30s I have shot were pop-guns. Almost no recoil. A 30/06 has what I'd consider moderate recoil, and they kick twice as much as a 30/30.

 

[williamnewman1]

What's this about 30/30s kicking like a mule? All the 30/30s I have shot were pop-guns. Almost no recoil. A 30/06 has what I'd consider moderate recoil, and they kick twice as much as a 30/30.

i agree to an extent, that is perceived recoil , as far as actual i have no idea between the 2 ...................in my experience the 30-06's or 308's all have recoil pads/bipods etc, my 30-30 on the other hand is just the butt-plate and me , so i "perceive" more recoil, that's just my

 

[kalboy]

The 30-30 is a great woodland varmint gun, esp for the handloader. Cool as well as very handy to carry , rugged and just all around useful. Recoil is mild to moderate, about like a 410 shotgun or maybe a 20ga with light loads.
I have the Mossy 464 and a Rossi Rio Grande and have owned Win and Marlin in the past. These do work well for deer, I have killed a few over the years and none have required a follow up.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

What's this about 30/30s kicking like a mule? All the 30/30s I have shot were pop-guns. Almost no recoil. A 30/06 has what I'd consider moderate recoil, and they kick twice as much as a 30/30.

Put me in the "I don't like the felt recoil of a 30/30 lever action rifle".

And I'm a big feller.

I don't mind a M/N M-44, however...at least in a standing position.

It's probably just been too long since I've shot a 30/30, though. I definitely remember not liking it.

It could certainly be attributible to the design / ergos of most lever action rifles, though. They're just not designed to mitigate felt recoil.

-J-

 

[UncleNorby]

Still, I'm only talking about felt recoil. I do remember shooting a 30/30 for the first time many years ago. I was shooting a 22 rifle with a friend and his dad let us shoot a few shots each from his model 94. Compared to the 22, yes it did "kick", but it was nowhere near what I thought it would be. Compared to just about any other 30 cal gun I can recall shooting, the 30/30 kicks the least. Shot my buddy's Marlin 94 in 44 mag last fall. It kicked more than a 30/30.

 

[Claddagh]

FWIW, in my old 336 with the standard hard plastic buttplate factory 200 gr. .35 Rem. loads seem to smack my ancient shoulder a bunch harder than 170 gr. .30-30s do from what is essentially the same rifle. Heck, even the "warmish" 300 gr. Federal .45-70s and Remington 405 gr. JSPs outta my early "ported" 1895 Guide Gun aren't as bad, but a lot of that has to be because of the Pacmayr "Decelerator" pad, too.

 

[rnmcguire]

My wife got me a used Marlin 336 for Christmas and it looks brand new inside and out. The serial # says it was made in 1998. I know it's been fired but prolly no more than a few rounds. You can definately get good deals on these in Indiana. I love the way it looks and feels and it was always on my bucket list of guns.

 

[restonlane]

I have wanted one too - classic