Shawn Posted January 2 Posted January 2 I'm going to buy my first lever action 30 30. Can someone give me some advice on which one is the best? Quote
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Best? Pre-64 Winchester 1894 Worst? Post 83 Winchester 94. Everything else is in between those two, and some are very good, but at that level, it's a matter of preference. I'd take a pre-83 94 over a Pre Safety Marlin, but a pre safety Marlin is a very good gun. It's just my personal preference. Any post 83 Winchester, (most easily distinguished by angle eject) ain't worth spit in my opinion. Cimmaron is marketing a 94 now with no safeties and with traditional top eject, but I am not sure who makes it or what its quality is. It is worth researching. Marlins with a safety I have no experience with, and commentary on them here on the Wire has been mixed, depending on when and by whom they were made. There are other things out there, such as Henry Repeating Arms, and other things that really look like Marlin clone, but I I can't comment on them intelligently due to lack of experience. Good luck. Quote
Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 even tho I relly like Winchesters , the best all around is A (JM) marked MARLIN , IMO CB 6 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted January 2 Posted January 2 My old 90s vintage Marlin 336 has been a fine deer gun! 4 1 Quote
Abe E.S. Corpus SASS #87667 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Shawn, I see that you are a new member. Just making sure you are aware that .30-30 is not a legal chambering for a “main match” rifle under SASS rules. If you are looking for a rifle to use in long range “side matches”, for hunting or some other purpose, great. 3 Quote
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 When we were little kids playing cowboys and indians, we called every lever action rifle a 30-30 3 1 Quote
Sedalia Dave Posted January 2 Posted January 2 If you're interested I have a Marlin 36A-DL in 30-30 that I would make you a deal on. Unlike later Marlins it still has the square bolt. I bought it with the intention of rebarreling it to 38-55 but that project fell through. Currently it's just sitting in my safe. I also have a nice receiver mounted peep sight to go with it. 4 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted January 2 Posted January 2 26 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said: If you're interested I have a Marlin 36A-DL in 30-30 that I would make you a deal on. Unlike later Marlins it still has the square bolt. I bought it with the intention of rebarreling it to 38-55 but that project fell through. Currently it's just sitting in my safe. I also have a nice receiver mounted peep sight to go with it. Be on your toes!! 1 Quote
Dacotua Posted January 2 Posted January 2 11 hours ago, Shawn said: I'm going to buy my first lever action 30 30. Can someone give me some advice on which one is the best? If I were to buy NEW - Ruger Made Marlin 336 If I were to buy USED - Older Marlin JM stamped 336 (Not freedom group) Reason : Easier to put a scope on these if you want to do hunting with them. You could buy a AE version of the Winchester Model 94 if you want. 2 Quote
Rip Snorter Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Got an announcement email this morning. Look at the new Henry - not for SASS, but interesting! Quote
Griff Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Winchester 1894/94. While I like my pre '64s, I find the later top ejects from '72/'73 to '1982 to have the smoothest actions. Just something about that coil mainspring that I like. If you're looking for accuracy, pretty much any of the Commemorative models from that time frame will be really accurate. Barrel lengths from 20" to 26" in an octagon profile will provide better accuracy than the carbines. Marlins are also known for good accuracy, again, the rifle versions vs. the carbines are generally more accurate. Ballard rifling is less fussy in loading cast bullets, but the Micro-Groove barrels are also great if you bullet to groove fit is good. OLG ain't wrong... but they don't have the classic "cowboy" look of the Winchester or Marlin. Nor is it or the Winchester 88 legal for SASS long range. 2 Quote
DeaconKC Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Judging from what I see going through the LGS I work at for new guns, the Ruger Marlins and Henrys are both really well liked. The new Rossi is also looking good but has no track record yet. Used guns, the JM stamped Marlins and pre64 Winchesters are both snapped up as soon as they come through the doors. Quote
Dantankerous Posted January 2 Posted January 2 14 hours ago, Shawn said: I'm going to buy my first lever action 30 30. Can someone give me some advice on which one is the best? Best for what, exactly? 1 Quote
Dacotua Posted January 2 Posted January 2 15 hours ago, Shawn said: I'm going to buy my first lever action 30 30. Can someone give me some advice on which one is the best? I assumed since he said 30-30 he wanted it for range time and or hunting. (I assume if he was going to use it for CAS, it would be a pistol cartridge). Quote
Rooster Ron Wayne Posted January 2 Posted January 2 That's a Chevy Ford Dodge question. It all depends on who you ask . And what you want it for . I am a Winchester Man . I'm a Marlin Fan . I love my Brass Henry's . I have owned my Savage 99 for 40 years . Enjoy the one you get first ' But it's harder then you think to only have one lol . Rooster 1 Quote
Rye Miles #13621 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 15 hours ago, Hoss said: Win 94 or Marlin This ^^^^^^ Quote
Alpo Posted January 2 Posted January 2 4 hours ago, Griff said: I find the later top ejects from '72/'73 to '1982 to have the smoothest actions That's nice to hear. I've heard, for decades, about how wonderful the pre-64s are. Having never handled a pre-64, I couldn't tell you. I have two 94s. A 1972, and a 1981. And they both work just fine. Quote
Hoss Posted January 3 Posted January 3 I’ve had (or had) all in 38-55 win 94 commemorative model. Built in the 80s. (No safety) Uberti-Cimmaron 94 carbine. (No safety) marlin 336 CB JM made in 70s. Has crossbolt safety) all 3 are good rifles. The Marlin is “gooder” ! Quote
Will Kane Posted January 3 Posted January 3 8 hours ago, Abilene, SASS # 27489 said: When we were little kids playing cowboys and indians, we called every lever action rifle a 30-30 Thudy thudy. 3 Quote
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted January 3 Posted January 3 9 hours ago, Eyesa Horg said: My old 90s vintage Marlin 336 has been a fine deer gun! So's my '71 vintage 336 ~ bought new in my late teens. I have Winchester 94's, and I like 'em, but the Marlin is still my favored mid-range field gun. It lends itself quite well to both iron sights (I always preferred the Lyman receiver sight) and scopes. Mine came with a scope, which was soon replaced with the receiver sight; and fifty-plus years later back to a low-power scope. The Marlin (and by dint of it being a knock-off, the Henry) is quite solid, and MUCH easier to strip for cleaning or clearing. Remove a single screw, the lever and bolt slip right out, and the ejector can be easily removed. BTW ~ I've know a few older Henry owners who experienced difficulties with ejection or even broken ejectors. Replacing the ejector with an actual Marlin part seems to cure the problem. 2 1 Quote
Nickle Posted January 3 Posted January 3 Pre 64 Winchester without a doubt my choice. I'm guessing that you're talking about cowboy shooting and cast bullets. The Marlins you can take the bolt out easy but with the winchesters you won't have to. I like the open top winchesters. You can see and get at minor problems in the action way better. Marlin pretty hard to access or see inside from the side eject port. If you do have to take a pre 64 apart for black powder cleaning every so often there are books and videos to walk you through it. 1894 winchesters are slicker than Marlins and can be slicked up even more. With cast bullets I've never been a fan of micro groove. Quote
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted January 3 Posted January 3 Well... On the subject of Micro-Groove rifling (sometimes irreverently but humorously called "Micro-Scratch" by some), it actually works quite well with correctly sized cast-alloy bullets loaded for proper velocities. In my experience even less lead fouling than with "normal" type rifling. Very accurate. Produced for some fifty years, from their introduction in the 1950's until Remington took over Marlin production in 2007. On THAT subject, the "Remlins" have a less-than-stellar rep. Some of the earlier Remington produced Marlins indeed were atrocious; however, throughout their run, many (probably most) were quite acceptable. I gave my son a '95 Cowboy that was every bit as good in construction, fit and finish, and performance as any JM. Now, when I selected it, I did pass on a couple of others in the store that were less pristine in the "f&f" department - but I suspect they probably worked well. And the Ruger produced Marlins are reputed to be the best ever. Also not Micro-Groove. Again, I have both Winchesters and Marlins. And again, I like 'em both, but find the Marlin to be the smoother action - a single sweep of the lever; the Winchester is essentially a "two-stage" lever swing. And I never needed a book or video to disassemble a Marlin; pretty intuitive. Might be recommended for a Winchester; more complex and with more parts. Here's a good comparison article, entertaining and worth reading: https://www.fieldandstream.com/guns/winchester-model-94-vs-marlin-336 2 Quote
Pat Riot Posted January 3 Posted January 3 I would consider a Henry. Smooth action and excellent customer service. https://www.henryusa.com/henry-firearms/ 2 Quote
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted January 3 Posted January 3 I have had a 1921 vintage 94 with a 26 inch octagonal barrel since about 1980. It looks almost like new with only a tiny splinter missing on the top of the right forearm. Owen Money worked on it when I got it and it runs like custom gun. I can't imagine a better .30-30, though I also had a Savage 99 that is fine second choice. I wish I hadn't sold it. Quote
Pat Riot Posted January 3 Posted January 3 @Shawn since you’re new here and Welcome, by the way, we don’t know how much firearms experience you have. So, I am going to assume you have a little and give you some advice. Before you run out and buy a vintage 30-30 I highly recommend you do a couple of searches. First. Search for a parts diagram of the gun you are interested in. Second. Using that diagram pick out some springs and internal small parts from the diagram then do an Internet search to find those parts. Third. Reevaluate your choices at that point. For guns like Winchester 94’s, Savage 99’s, etc. parts have dried up and are no longer available or are very expensive. I highly recommend you go with newer model firearms if you don’t have a lot of firearms experience or experience repairing your own firearms. New Marlins and Henry’s as well as Rossi’s and Uberti’s (sold or imported by Taylor’s or Cimmeron) would be better places to look. The guns are new and come with warranties. 1 Quote
Nickle Posted January 3 Posted January 3 With a pre 64 the cartridge carrier comes up when you open the lever. On old jm marlins the carrier comes up as you close your lever. The marlins stick a bit when you close the lever and the carrier comes up. The marlins are more clunky compared to a pre 64. I have owned and used pre 64 ,model 1894 winchesters all of my life in different calibers and they are completely reliable and I've never had a bad one. I've had junk marlins or marlins with problems. Personally I won't have anything to do with post 64 winchesters although I see Taylor's are making new reproductions of the 1894 which might be good. Same with Marlin. I've had to much newer junk marlins that I'm Personally just done with the brand. As far as being able to strip down a pr 64. I've learned to do it so I'm thinking others can as well. 30wcf isn't a blackpowder cartridge and seals well so it's not like you are going to have to strip it all the time to clean it like a 73 Quote
Rough 'N Ready Rob Posted January 3 Posted January 3 Not sure on this, but I thought 30-30 was not allowed for SASS long range, modern cartridge, 38-55 on up. I like my Marlin 336 38-55, prerunner of the 30-30, same case before they neck it down. Works good for long range 300yd. and hunting. Rob Quote
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted January 3 Posted January 3 Shawn never said whaat he was going to use it for. That might change a few opinions and / or answers. Quote
Rough 'N Ready Rob Posted January 3 Posted January 3 12 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said: Shawn never said whaat he was going to use it for. That might change a few opinions and / or answers. Yes you're right, that would help. Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted January 3 Posted January 3 32 minutes ago, Rough 'N Ready Rob said: Not sure on this, but I thought 30-30 was not allowed for SASS long range, modern cartridge, 38-55 on up. I like my Marlin 336 38-55, prerunner of the 30-30, same case before they neck it down. Works good for long range 300yd. and hunting. Rob Huh, I was under the impression that 30-30 WAS legal for long range with lead projectiles. Quote
Pat Riot Posted January 3 Posted January 3 30-30 or .30 WCF (Winchester Centerfire) was developed for smokeless powder use in 1895. This is why it’s not a SASS approved round. A lot more info here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-30_Winchester Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted January 3 Posted January 3 Looks to me that 30-30 IS legal for long range. Found in Page 30 of the Handbook: “Rifle Caliber” competition rifles must use traditional, period, rimmed cartridges. No cartridge chambered for use in any SASS approved main match revolver or rifle may be used in the “Rifle Caliber” competition, except the .56-50. Thus, .30- 30 (.30 WCF), 38-55 Marlin & Ballard, .43 Spanish, or .45-70 Government cartridges are legal, while a .375 Winchester, .444 Marlin, .32-20, or .44-40 are not legal. Shotguns using slugs are not allowed in the Buffalo Single Shot competition. 3 2 Quote
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