30-30 anyone?
02-21-2007, 07:40 AM
#31
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location:
Posts: 106
RE: 30-30 anyone?
If your looking at just deer the marlin is a great way to go. I know lots of folks don't like the cross bolt safety on the newer guns but it has its uses. It makes unloading the gun a little safer and it useful for treestand hunting.
I know its a unlikely situation but an exposed hammer lever action droped from a distance on its butt is dangerous. The impact can bring the hammer and trigger back and fire the rifle. (had a friend who fell asleep in his treestand.) and worse is the muzzle is pointed up. So the cross bolt has some use in this instance.
The 30/30 is a great cartridge for about 90% of the deer hunting and its a classic as well. The marlins and winnys tend to be slightly smaller in the butt than do most full size bolt guns and that makes them a good choice for am 12 year old.
However, if you reload another bolt or Single shot is a more flexible choice. In most good dual use cartridges like 308, 7-08, 280 etc if you start with a light load using a light for caliber bullet (just the starting load in a manual) you will have a gun with very light recoil and just fine for deer. Once he is a little bigger ( or more of head strong teenager) just switch back to a more normal load and elk is on the menu).
If your 12 year old is a little small for a fullsize gun. You either buy a youth model noew and a fullsize stock later. or buy the fullsize now and a inexpensive youth stock like a ramline (make sure ramline makes a youth before you choose the rifle)
I know its a unlikely situation but an exposed hammer lever action droped from a distance on its butt is dangerous. The impact can bring the hammer and trigger back and fire the rifle. (had a friend who fell asleep in his treestand.) and worse is the muzzle is pointed up. So the cross bolt has some use in this instance.
The 30/30 is a great cartridge for about 90% of the deer hunting and its a classic as well. The marlins and winnys tend to be slightly smaller in the butt than do most full size bolt guns and that makes them a good choice for am 12 year old.
However, if you reload another bolt or Single shot is a more flexible choice. In most good dual use cartridges like 308, 7-08, 280 etc if you start with a light load using a light for caliber bullet (just the starting load in a manual) you will have a gun with very light recoil and just fine for deer. Once he is a little bigger ( or more of head strong teenager) just switch back to a more normal load and elk is on the menu).
If your 12 year old is a little small for a fullsize gun. You either buy a youth model noew and a fullsize stock later. or buy the fullsize now and a inexpensive youth stock like a ramline (make sure ramline makes a youth before you choose the rifle)
02-21-2007, 07:49 AM
#32
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: CO
Posts: 65
RE: 30-30 anyone?
ORIGINAL: NoKnees
If your looking at just deer the marlin is a great way to go. I know lots of folks don't like the cross bolt safety on the newer guns but it has its uses. It makes unloading the gun a little safer and it useful for treestand hunting.
I know its a unlikely situation but an exposed hammer lever action droped from a distance on its butt is dangerous. The impact can bring the hammer and trigger back and fire the rifle. (had a friend who fell asleep in his treestand.) and worse is the muzzle is pointed up. So the cross bolt has some use in this instance.
The 30/30 is a great cartridge for about 90% of the deer hunting and its a classic as well. The marlins and winnys tend to be slightly smaller in the butt than do most full size bolt guns and that makes them a good choice for am 12 year old.
However, if you reload another bolt or Single shot is a more flexible choice. In most good dual use cartridges like 308, 7-08, 280 etc if you start with a light load using a light for caliber bullet (just the starting load in a manual) you will have a gun with very light recoil and just fine for deer. Once he is a little bigger ( or more of head strong teenager) just switch back to a more normal load and elk is on the menu).
If your 12 year old is a little small for a fullsize gun. You either buy a youth model noew and a fullsize stock later. or buy the fullsize now and a inexpensive youth stock like a ramline (make sure ramline makes a youth before you choose the rifle)
If your looking at just deer the marlin is a great way to go. I know lots of folks don't like the cross bolt safety on the newer guns but it has its uses. It makes unloading the gun a little safer and it useful for treestand hunting.
I know its a unlikely situation but an exposed hammer lever action droped from a distance on its butt is dangerous. The impact can bring the hammer and trigger back and fire the rifle. (had a friend who fell asleep in his treestand.) and worse is the muzzle is pointed up. So the cross bolt has some use in this instance.
The 30/30 is a great cartridge for about 90% of the deer hunting and its a classic as well. The marlins and winnys tend to be slightly smaller in the butt than do most full size bolt guns and that makes them a good choice for am 12 year old.
However, if you reload another bolt or Single shot is a more flexible choice. In most good dual use cartridges like 308, 7-08, 280 etc if you start with a light load using a light for caliber bullet (just the starting load in a manual) you will have a gun with very light recoil and just fine for deer. Once he is a little bigger ( or more of head strong teenager) just switch back to a more normal load and elk is on the menu).
If your 12 year old is a little small for a fullsize gun. You either buy a youth model noew and a fullsize stock later. or buy the fullsize now and a inexpensive youth stock like a ramline (make sure ramline makes a youth before you choose the rifle)
03-02-2007, 11:05 PM
#33
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Illion, NY
Posts: 56
RE: 30-30 anyone?
Browning Micro-Hunter A-Bolt in 7-08.
Pricey, but a beautiful gun, lightweight, a gun that will last him a lifetime.
I don't like the idea of starting youngsters out with a lever action with half-cock safety (that's the hunter safety instrut. coming out of me).
And I have to concure with First-shot on the choice of caliber. One of my hunting buds shoots this caliber and I've had caliber envy for sometime now.
VTgao
Pricey, but a beautiful gun, lightweight, a gun that will last him a lifetime.
I don't like the idea of starting youngsters out with a lever action with half-cock safety (that's the hunter safety instrut. coming out of me).
And I have to concure with First-shot on the choice of caliber. One of my hunting buds shoots this caliber and I've had caliber envy for sometime now.
VTgao
03-11-2007, 04:56 PM
#35
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winnipeg, Mb, Canada
Posts: 1,309
RE: 30-30 anyone?
I started my first son on a Marlin 30-30 (336A) and it has been a good dependable gun for the last few years. I just posted on this site asking about the 7-08 as a first gun for my second son and the responses have been very possitive. Toss up...I guess it may come down to the action that he would perfer.
