RE: Best 30-30 to get?? (1st Gun)
 

winchester 94

RE: Best 30-30 to get?? (1st Gun)
 

another vote for a Marlin 30-30, dpv is right about the 30-30 vs the .35 rem the ballistics are considerably better.

RE: Best 30-30 to get?? (1st Gun)
 

If you MUST have it in 30-30 and you MUST buy new, then buy what you'd like between the Marlin and the Winchester.
If you can be persuaded to get something in other than 30-30 then my first choice for you would be a used Marlin in 35 Rem as stated above.

A Savage 99 in 300 Savage or .308 would be the best in my opinion, but you'll have trouble finding one in your price range without a bunch of shopping.

And if you don't mind shopping a bunch and possibly spending more, try to find a Winchester 88 in .284 Win.......very sweet.

RE: Best 30-30 to get?? (1st Gun)
 

I started hunting with a 30-30 myself and because of that I must advise against it for a one gun hunter.I hunted for two years with the 30-30 and quickly grew tired of it's short range limitations.I would instead look at cartridges like the 7mm-08 or 308 that are much more versatile and offer more range than the 30-30.

RE: Best 30-30 to get?? (1st Gun)
 

I would find a good 7MM-08 or .308 also! If you are set on a 30-30, the Marlin is head-n-shoulders better than the Winchester 94, and thats comming from a Winchester fan!
Just realize the 30-30's limitations as a 150 yard gun, and you'll be fine! I don't want the limitations myself though!

RE: Best 30-30 to get?? (1st Gun)
 

My favorite 30-30 is the NEF single shot for about two hundred bucks. It does a very good job to 200 yards with 125 grain Nosler Ballistic tips and the various 130 grain SS pistol bullets. This is a Hand loading option only as you won't find them factory loaded. I hand load everything and sometimes forget that not everyone does. For levers I prefer the Marlin but would be quite happy with the winchester as well. I can't work lever guns very well with my bum shoulder.

RE: Best 30-30 to get?? (1st Gun)
 

Marlin, unless you can find a Savage bolt action. I had a bolt action savage for alot years and I wish I had never gotten rid of it. Very accurate and can reach out a little further than a lever.

RE: Best 30-30 to get?? (1st Gun)
 

Marlin. Good luck.

RE: Best 30-30 to get?? (1st Gun)
 

Many years ago I lived in PA and the 30-30 lever action was pretty common.
Now living in Montana the 30-06 and 7MM's bolt actions along with a few others seem to be the weapons of choice.I see very few 30-30's.
I think they were raised on mainly Whitetails East of the Mississippi and this is the guns their fathers brought them up on.
BassNBucks didn't post where he is from but I bet a nickel it's East of the Miss.

RE: Best 30-30 to get?? (1st Gun)
 

Heres another vote for the win model 94, its well balanced, lighter, and in my mind better looking than the Marlin.
For all those that hate the 30-30 keep in mind that not all of us hunt the wide open plains, where I hunt I can't find a place to sight in my .308 without shooting over water because its all thick guts and ridges. The 30-30 does fine and if I'm not near water I prefer it with its iron sights over my scoped 308.