Best 30-30 amo?
 

I have a Marlin 336SS.

In your opinion what is the best cartridge out there for this rifle? I don't have any experinces in this field and am looking for help. I have only shot a couple of boxes of some cheap shells for $9/box; both in 150 and 170 gr.

I am looking for accuracy and knock down power. Any help would be appreciated.

RE: Best 30-30 amo?
 

I guess it kinda depends on who you ask each person has their prefrences as do the guns. I have tried several out of my old model 94. I prefer Remington Core-lokts in 170 grain, my gun doesnt shoot very well with 150's or winchester ammo. Most 30-30 ammo is very very affordable compared to other rifle rounds. I pay like 7 or 8 dollars a box for my Remingtons. If you can find them another round you may want to try is the 30-30 starfires which are loaded with Barnes X-bullet, full copper rounds. I think some compaines even offer premium rounds in the 30, bullets like partitions. Since most 30-30 rounds are around or under 10 dollars a box the best advice i can give is get several and see which one shoots best out of your gun. I have taken several deer with mine with the 170 core-lokts, it really does the job.

Dave

RE: Best 30-30 amo?
 

my 336w likes 150gr corelocks(sp?) I shot a 175lb hog with one hast year at about 100yds he dropped in his tracks and when i dressed him his heart looked like spaghetti so id definatly say they`ll do the truck

RE: Best 30-30 amo?
 

I have a marlin model 30AW in 30-30, it likes the 170 grain Remington Core-lokt bullets the best asfar as accuracy on paper I can hold 1 inch groups with open sights at 100 yards. It also doesn't do to bad with a 170 grain winchester silvertip shoots about a 1 to 1.5 inch group at 100 yards. I prefer the remingtons because a box of them are $8.99 and the silvertips are $10.99 I have killed deer with both brands and have seen no difference in performance asfar as killing a deer better but the core lokt does make a bigger exit whole.

RE: Best 30-30 amo?
 

from what I just read the Marlin Model 30AW is the equivalent to a model 336W, I'd imagine you would probabily find either one of those types of bullest suitable for your 336

RE: Best 30-30 amo?
 

Thanks everyone.

HighDesertWolf; do you use the factory sights? That's great shooting without a scope! I don't want to install a scope on my gun. I tried a peep sight but in order for it to work I would have to put a dovetail spacer on the front sight; and I didn't like the way it looked. The buckhorn sight makes it hard for me to shoot consistant. I have thought about epoxying a washer on the buckhorn to create kind of a ghost ring view. I figured I could tape it on with double sided tape first to see if it would work.

RE: Best 30-30 amo?
 

Ammo: Try Federal Premium factory load with the 170gr. Nosler Partition bullet. Also, the Hornady factory ammo is good stuff for the 30-30. Remington Cor-Lokt in 170gr.
is also a good load. These all always shot accurately in my Marlin 30-30's, and performed well for hunting deer.

Sights: If you don't want a scope or peep sight you might want to check out Williams Gun Sight company. They make (or made) a replacement sight for the buckhorn on your rifle. It mounts in the dovetail, and you can get different sight blades for it too.
I always liked the shallow "V". They also make replacement beads for the front sight.
I had the larger white bead on my old 45-70 with the shallow V blade. Accurate, and very fast to work with.

Just FYI - Williams also makes the "FoolProof" peep sight, and it's a good one. Get the
twilight aparture with the larger opening. As for scopes, don't rule it out before taking a look a the Weaver 1-3x matte finish. Good scope for these rifles, and not too expensive.

Good luck.

RE: Best 30-30 amo?
 

Roll your own! I have a Marlin 336 and tried Rem 170 gr Core-loks factory loads . A dismal 4-1/2 " groups. I thought this sucks. Got some 30-30 dies and loaded up and my groups shrunk dramatically to just under 1-1/2 " and with 100 fps faster than factory ammo. I used Rem core-lok 170 gr bullets Rem brass,WW lr primers 33 gr H4895 . This is a Max load approach with caution. This gave me a 5 shot groups avg. 1-3/8" and avg. vel of 2370 fps.

RE: Best 30-30 amo?
 

My 30AW is an older one, before marlin starting using that folding buckhorn rear sight. it just has a stamped sheet metal square shaped rear sight with a notch adjustable for elevation and i just tap the the dove tail base side to side with a punch and hammer for windage. yes I shoot without optics. I see no need for optics for shots 100 yards and under besides open sights allow faster target aquisition.

RE: Best 30-30 amo?
 

I'm gonna agree with the majority. I've got a Winchester 94 Trapper 30-30 and have used the 170 grain Remington Core-lokts on several hogs with great sucess.