30-30 Marlin

Chuck7 · 01-11-2005, 07:06 PM

I bought one of these rifles from Walmart last summer. It has a short barrel so I was expecting a pattern about 3inches. The range I go to is only 50 yards but honestly the rounds fit into the size of a nickel. I was using a Bushnell 9 power scope. I shot a buck with it and it died instantly.
I really love this gun.
Chuck

Virginia7 · 01-11-2005, 08:32 PM

Marlin has the BEST 30-30 there is, and most, with the right ammo, are capable of much better accuracy than they get credit for. Damn fine rifles.
BTW, congrats on your deer.

jdreddish · 01-12-2005, 06:17 AM

My Marlin 30-30 is the only rifle I would never sell. I love mine !

ButchA · 01-12-2005, 07:31 AM

Ditto! The legendary Marlin 30-30 is one sweet rifle! [8D] Lightweight, easily manuverable, and rugged as all heck. Over a hundred years old and millions of deer have been taken by the ageless 30-30.

Butch A.

Moose_Maximus · 01-12-2005, 08:56 AM

Welcome to the wonderful world of Marlins!

Now get yourself an 1894C in .357 magnum. Talk about a fun gun!

JeffS · 01-12-2005, 03:54 PM

I have 3 Marlin lever actions and they are all surprisingly accurate. I have a 30-30, .35 Remington, & .450 Marlin. Where I hunt I just leave my .35 up at the house, and everybody who hunts up there always likes to grab it to hunt w/ instead of one of the bolt action rifles there if I'm not using it. They are easy to carry, accurate, and really rugged.

Ruger-Redhawk · 01-12-2005, 05:08 PM

Those Marlins are a fine lever action,Winchesters can't compare to the Marlins or the Browning BLR's. I've never been a fan of Lever actions but the Marlin or Browning would be my choice.Congrats on your deer Chuck.

Ruger Redhawk

dog1 · 01-12-2005, 05:23 PM

Chuck7,

All the replys posted are on the money about the Marlin 30-30. Let me make a suggestion about a cartridge for it. I use my marlin as a go to gun when going gets nasty hunting whitetails and hogs. For years I used only the 150 gr bullet and about 10 years ago I bought a box of Federal 125 gr hollow points (Winchester also loads a 125 hollow point). I have killed deer out to 139 steps and deer and big boar hogs as close as 20 feet. I've never had one run off, never. I'm not saying the 125 is the best, but it's all I use now.

dog1

Chuck7 · 01-12-2005, 05:37 PM

Thankyou sir,
I hunt in a very difficult gator infested area. Only 17 deer killed out of 5000 hunters. I was in my stand reading my Bible and I thought after I read 3 chapters of John I'm going to use the Primo can once. when I was on chapter 5 I heard the high loud step of a deer high stepping through the swamp. With my heart racing I slid my New Testament down my shirt and put the cross hairs on the vitals . The deer was walking only in thicker cover and I thought for Peet's sake shoot! I squeezed off the Marlin and the deer fell over like cardboard box during archery practice. I had to carry it 3/4 of a mile through 2 feet of knee high water. Scary and exciting. Yeah I LOVE my Marlin.

Ajax · 01-15-2005, 06:48 PM

Congrats on the deer... I've been hunting with my Marlin 336 in .35 for about 3 years now and took my first deer with it this year. I shot a spike at about 70 yards with open sights. I can't bring myself to put a scope on this gun but i'm a pretty good shot with the iron sites.

I love the 336... i'm thinking about getting annother in 30/30 just to have more ammo choices.