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Old January 17, 2013, 08:43 AM   #1
ncpatriot
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Good Lever Action 30 30

I won't get one any time soon but will eventually buy a lever action 30 30.

I have seen Marlin 336 models on sale fairly often, sometimes in the $300 range & thought that would likely be what I would get. But someone on the "worst gun" page said a Marlin LA 35 was the worst gun he'd owned & had lots of issues with it.

What are some LA's that any of you have liked & would buy again?
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Old January 17, 2013, 09:17 AM   #2
jaughtman
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Got several.....

Including a Marlin and Winchester - never had a failure or stoppage or breakage with any of them. It really depends on what you are going to use it for - if you are going to hunt a lot with it, and put a scope on it, go with the Marlin as it has the solid reciever and you can mount a scope center-line. If you want just a handy, walking-in-the-woods rifle/keep in your car or truck rifle, get the Winchester as it is lighter, and points a lot better than the Marlin. Or so as I did and get both. I always scoff at the people that now consider the 30/30 underpowered - the last deer I shot with one (this year) went clean through him and out the other side.

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Old January 18, 2013, 10:25 AM   #3
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I've owned 2 Winchester. Both functioned flawlessly, one was accurate, one was not.

Moving over to Marlin I wouldn't hesitate to buy an older one but in recent research for a friend who is looking to by a new .30-30 it seems that the new Marlins have fallen on hard times and the Mossberg 464 is now preferred for reliability, accuracy and function. Kinda strange cause when the new Mossy's came out they were kinda dumped on. They've gotten better, Marlins gotten worse, pick your poison. Personally, I look hard at the used market.
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Old January 18, 2013, 01:31 PM   #4
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I just picked up a Ted Williams Sears branded Model 94 and I love it. Scoping would not be easy and would probably ruin the gun's balance. As it is, I am going to put a peep sight on it and call it good.

To me, it shoulders better and carries better than the Marlin or Mossberg. I too would look at the used market before anything off the shelf.
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Old January 18, 2013, 01:37 PM   #5
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The best shooting dirty-dirty I've seen, shot, or owned is my Glenfield Model 30A Absolute tack driver, never any failures of any kind. I think it was made in 1974. I have experience with the New Marlin 336 also and not a thing wrong with them either. The top eject Winchesters in my experience we all great rifles for putting meat on the table. The Hornady ammo made the 30-30 SO much better IMHO
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Old January 18, 2013, 01:42 PM   #6
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Deerslayer I had a 30A I bought at a garage sale many years ago and it did shoot very well. Mine had the button mag on it. I think not having the long tube mag attached to the end of the barrel helped the accuracy.

I still don't remember why I sold it. You don't see them much anymore and when you do they seem to start at $300 and go up from there. I regret selling it.
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Old January 18, 2013, 02:10 PM   #7
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My Winchester 94 is one of my favorite rifles and wih the Hornady Leverevolution ammo, it is my go to hunting rifle.
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Old January 18, 2013, 02:14 PM   #8
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^^^ Yes Sir, they are simply awesome.... Every deer I've taken with that round was DRT. But back on topic. The Model 94 is now angle eject, are they not? Thus you can mount a scope on top of the receiver vs the old side mounts?
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Old January 18, 2013, 04:37 PM   #9
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If I were looking for a .30-30 I would be looking exclusively for an older marlin 336. The quality of the older marlins is superior IMO. I own one in .35rem that was made in the early 70's. If you're not dead set on a .30-30 you should consider a .35 if you can find one. Dont put much stock in those "worst gun" threads. Every gunmaker lets a few lemons slip through QC at the factory. Just because you hear one guy who had trouble with a particular gun doesnt mean they were all that way. BTW the Glenfields mentioned in the above posts were made by Marlin. But whatever you end up with, shoot the Hornady LEVERevolution through it. It IS all its cracked up to be.
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Old January 18, 2013, 05:26 PM   #10
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Quote:
BTW the Glenfields mentioned in the above posts were made by Marlin.
Thanks for including that info, I forgot to in my earlier post. I think the Glenfield was a more basic rifle than the Marlin of the same vintage. Cruder iron sights on the Glenfield. But no matter with that Burris Fullfield II I have on top, who cares about the irons
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Old January 18, 2013, 05:29 PM   #11
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I gave my 70's marlin 30/30 to my 15 y/o son. Sorry I did. It groups sub 1" at 100yds with winchester white box 150gr soft points and a 4x bushnell. It also has the sweetest trigger of any gun I have ever owned including a target worked 1911. My boy had 2, 1 shot kills on whitetail this year and as someone else mentioned 30/30 has probably killed more deer over the years than any other caliber. I love the Marlin microgroove 30/30. In winchesters defense I have never shot one. I would stay away from Marlins around the transition period. I thin early 2000's. I have heard of very poor quality during that time frame.
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Old January 18, 2013, 06:17 PM   #12
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Winchester '94 top-eject with Williams aperture sights. Very good shooter!

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Old January 19, 2013, 07:10 AM   #13
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Deerslayer you're exactly right. Glenfield and Marlin is the same as Stevens and Savage for example. If I were looking for a .30-30 and found a Glenfield, I would not hesitate one bit about buying it. Glenfield 30A's were produced from 1973-1983, back when Marlin made better quality products than they do today IMO. So you'd simply be getting Marlin's "heyday" quality in a little plainer version.
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Old January 19, 2013, 10:38 AM   #14
Jack O'Conner
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Glenfield

Go to GunBroker.com and type in Glenfield 30-30. You'll get to view some of the most intersting 30-30's ever built! Pricing is very affordable.

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Old January 19, 2013, 01:48 PM   #15
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Old school! Mine is a Marlin M1936 (just an upgraded M1893) "sporting carbine" built in 1941, with the old square bolt. Excellent in all areas: function, accuracy, ease of carry, etc. Way cooler than the 336...!



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Old January 19, 2013, 03:37 PM   #16
steveNChunter
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Nice rifle BCarp. Id say those are getting hard to find, better hold on to that one
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Old January 24, 2013, 05:34 PM   #17
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Yes, the used market is always where I gun shop. I have only a few and 1/2 of them are used. I have no $ these days for new ones.
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Old January 29, 2013, 03:02 PM   #18
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I just placed a Glenfield Model 30 in layaway. Barrel was nice, finish in used but good condition, one small barely noticeable crack about 1 1/2 inch in length in rear stock. The price was right $270 OTD.
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Old January 29, 2013, 03:55 PM   #19
Jack O'Conner
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Marlin's model 336 has a long and proud history of quality design and craftsmanship. In contrast, Remington's take over in recent years has hurt the reputation for quality.

Used Marlin's are fairly easy to find. Enjoy the discovery process.

Glenfield rifles have always been a bargain

Jack
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Old January 29, 2013, 06:15 PM   #20
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I've got an old 70's era 336. Ballistically not my cup of tea, but its action is smooth and reliable, and despite the 70's era tasco scope sitting on top of it, it groups pretty well. Even slayed a few pesky deer back in the day before I inherited it. I find it hard to believe anyone could have a serious complaint about the model, unless you got a rare, rare lemon.
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Old January 29, 2013, 09:32 PM   #21
APreacherandaCowboy
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I have my grandfather's 336 he picked up the first year they were called that. Still works perfectly and shoots even better. The deer can't tell any difference between a shot out of a 70 year old 30-30 or my 3 year old .308.
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Old January 29, 2013, 09:37 PM   #22
reynolds357
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I like my 336 just fine. It is not the most accurate creature in the world, but its good enough for deer in the woods.
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Old February 13, 2013, 06:24 PM   #23
jessedehaven04
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i got to say im a winchester 94 nut, ive loved that gun since i first saw it, everything about it, over the years ive never had a problem with it, i am at odds over which one is better with my wierd hunting buds who own the 336's but hey nobodys perfect. but we have never had any major problems with either model they are both good guns, i understand the 336 is easyer to disassemble but you cant go wrong with either model
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Old February 13, 2013, 06:42 PM   #24
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i own one 30-30 a savage model 99 nuff said
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Old February 14, 2013, 02:59 PM   #25
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Can't go wrong with a Marlin 336. My father's 336 has never failed, and my old Marlin 30-30 is around 50 years old, still my go to short range rifle.
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