ORIGINAL: Red Lion
Yeah it could be that I got a bad batch of ammo. My 30-30 does well, 2" groups @ 100 yards, with the 150grn fusion ammo, so know it is not the rifle. I am not too concerned though, as I really only look for my 30-30 to be a 100 yard rifle anyways.
Actually, LeverEv accuracy out of non-XLR rifles has been a hot topic on the Marlinowners forum. Some guns like the ammo and some don't. My 336T shoots LeverEvs with "acceptable" accuracy but not as good as the 150 gr Federals that I had been shooting. The terminal performance is the reason that I will never shoot anything else in my 30-30.
Something to keep in mind is that the LeverEv ammo was designed to be shot in the Marlin XLR rifles that have a 1:12 twist in a 24" barrel where as standard 336 rifles have a 1:10 twist in a 20" barrel (my 336T has a 18.5" barrel). From what I have read, no one can say for sure why some "standard" 336 rifles like it and some don't, but it does seem it is true.
My suggestion to anyone wanting to shoot LeverEvs in "standard" 336 rifles is to try them and judge what accuracy is "acceptable" to you. In my case, I can shoot 1.5MOA or under with them in my gun which is fine for under 100 yard shots on east Texas deer, but I was able to "clover leaf" with the 150 gr Federals that I had been shooting.