Old lever action .30-30

[JVNKY]

I grew up in Georgia in the 1970s and 80's, where I learned to hunt with a Sears and Roebuck/J. C. Higgins lever action .30-30 with iron sights. I still have the gun. A few years ago, after many years of neglect, I decided to hunt with it a few times a year. I've taken a deer with it each of the last 3 seasons and hope to continue that streak this year. My x-bolt, which is my primary deer rifle today, is a much nicer gun. But I love how that old lever action .30-30 feels in my hands. And from time to time I like to hunt with iron sights. I suppose I'm wondering if anybody else here ever enjoys hunting with an old lever action gun?

 

[WG3]

Hunt with a Marlin 336 depending on where I'm at.

 

[catman529]

My only deer rifle is a 336 but I have a scope on it. Next gun will most likely be a ruger American 308 but for now the 30-30 does great.


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[TNReb]

I hunted with my Win94 30-30 a good bit last year. It's so small and light, it's perfect when I know I'm hunting a thick area or going to be stalking.

 

[Bodine270]

I still get out my old Marlin 336 with just iron sights for a couple of thick places I hunt. I really do enjoy hunting with it. Just something about an old lever gun.


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[Ridgeraider]

I took a nice 9 point last year with a 336, it has a scope but the gun it's self is older than I am. It's a 1970 model.

 

[Riverday]

i have 2 old style marlin lever action 44 mag, rifles , i still hunt every year with one of these guns..

 

[Widowmaker]

I have a 336 30-30 that has seen more of the woods than all my other deer rifles combined. With its compact size and quick handling it just fits my needs a lot more than others. But, mine is topped with a 4x scope.

 

[GreyGoose]

Got a winchester pre 64 that is with me every trip,now if I use it to hunt or not depends on were and how I'm Hunting. Killed a lot of deer with it over the last 30 plus years of hunting.

 

[lightsareout]

i inherited a marlin 336 from my father in law, I'm going to put a good iron peep sight on it get out with it.

 

[Hunter 257W]

I have an older Marlin 336 in 35 Remington that I have hunted with some the past 2 years when I'm planning on sitting in the woods and not field watching. I've yet to shoot a deer with it but I love the way it handles and feels. Hunting with a lever action is new for me since I always used flat shooting bolt actions before being that varmint hunting was what really got me into shooting as a young shooter. There's just something special about using a more traditional rifle to deer hunt with though that's more than dry ballistics charts with trajectories, ballistic coefficients, wind drift, etc. I haven't given up the use of scopes though as my 336 has a Leupold 3x9. Iron sights aren't practical for me any more - especially in low light.

You are right that in the 1970's and 80's, probably at least half the deer hunters in TN used lever action rifles. I used to never miss a chance to tell them they'd be better off with a bolt action chambered for a flatter shooting cartridge. Funny that I've now switched at least for part of my hunting to using the very rifles I used to downplay so much. I also have a modern (1990's manufacture) Marlin 1894 in 32-20 that is about as fun to shoot as a rifle can be. It would be legal to deer hunt with under current laws, and if there was absolutely nothing else available it could be loaded to meet the bare minimum to kill a deer but since I do have other rifles available I'd never consider it for deer.

 

[Steyrhunter]

I have an 1886 Winchester chambered .45-90, mfg date 1892, that was given to me a few years ago by my Uncle. Killed a big doe with it last year and will get use every year from now on. Hope to get a chance at a nice buck. Would love to be able to send him that picture. Everyone have a great season. Steyr

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

Yes I carry my marlin 35 all the time

 

[ROVERBOY]

I started out hunting with a marlin 336 .30-30 and killed a few deer with it.

 

[thomasmckinney12]

Got a pre 64 model 94 I carry alot now.

listen ..........God is talking he said use jackstands......

 

[smyrnagc]

I have a Marlin Glenfield 30A / 30-30 that I hunt with at least once every year. I too kept it open sights. I have had it for a long time...one of the first deer rifles I bought.

 

[Headhunter]

killed this immature buck with my 30-30 couple years ago.

 

[smyrnagc]

killed this immature buck with my 30-30 couple years ago.

Nice! Where did you get the camo cover for your gun?

 

[cozy23]

My only rifle is a 1955 model pre 64 winchester in 32 Special. Always wanted a lever action. This one will stay in the family.

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[southernhunter]

I have owned several Marlin lever guns 30/30, 35 , 2-44mags,357mag ,444 and 2-45/70. They are the only guns I have missed once I traded them off. All where j/m guns. I took my biggest buck to date with one of the 44 mag's

 

[Headhunter]

killed this immature buck with my 30-30 couple years ago.

Nice! Where did you get the camo cover for your gun?

I believe they are kane gun chaps. the wood on my 30-30 still looks brand new and it is close to 30 years old.

 

[JVNKY]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. Keep 'em coming! It's nice to know I'm not the only one that still likes to hunt with these guns! I hunt fields with my .308, but I actually enjoy sitting in the woods with my old .30-30 even more. It's hard to explain, but that gun just feels good in the hands! Loved the photo of the beautiful big buck!

 

[dirtyhands]

It's not a 30-30 but I hunt with a reproduction 1886 in 45-70. It's my favorite rifle and with an 18" barrel it's perfect for stomping around in the thick where I hunt.

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

Alot of deer killed with a Lever 30/30.

 

[PillsburyDoughboy]

My only deer rifle is a 336 but I have a scope on it. Next gun will most likely be a ruger American 308 but for now the 30-30 does great.


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You will think the difference in the two guns is like night and day.

The Ruger and other bolt actions just fit most people better especially when the right LOP is achieved. Less kick with short action cartridges. Bolt guns are generally speaking more accurate and when one learns to manipulate the bolt properly they are faster than a Lever. Wider range of loads available because you are not restricted to round nose. Overall just a better gun.

With that said its hard to beat a 45/70 lever gun for just about anything on the planet to hunt.

If I could make a suggestion.. take a hard look at the 6.5 creedmore. >308 is great don't get me wrong but you can do just about everything and more with the 6.5 and flatter trajectory.

 

[Win94]

I usually carry my 30-06 bolt rifle, but I really enjoy taking one of my levers every now and then. I'll take the Marlin 336 in 35Rem with a 4x Nikon or the pre-64 Win94 in 30WCF with irons of course

 

[SKFOOTER]

Killed my first deer, a six point, with a Winchester Model 94 .30-30 in 1974. Still have the gun and it looks as good as the day I bought it at Gibson's in Jackson, Tn.

 

[TnBob]

I have 4 JM stamped Marlin 1894 lever rifles. A 357, two 44s and a .41 Magnum. I really want to shoot one with the .41. The man I got it from killed several hogs with it. I've hunted for years with a stainless Rem Model 7 in 7mm-08. Think it might get to rest this year. My first buck in 1977 was shot with a Mossberg lever 30-30. Wish I had that one back! :roll:

 

[catman529]

My only deer rifle is a 336 but I have a scope on it. Next gun will most likely be a ruger American 308 but for now the 30-30 does great.


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You will think the difference in the two guns is like night and day.

The Ruger and other bolt actions just fit most people better especially when the right LOP is achieved. Less kick with short action cartridges. Bolt guns are generally speaking more accurate and when one learns to manipulate the bolt properly they are faster than a Lever. Wider range of loads available because you are not restricted to round nose. Overall just a better gun.

With that said its hard to beat a 45/70 lever gun for just about anything on the planet to hunt.

If I could make a suggestion.. take a hard look at the 6.5 creedmore. >308 is great don't get me wrong but you can do just about everything and more with the 6.5 and flatter trajectory.

is 6.5 ammo easy to find? Reason I want the 308 is I've seen it kill at 2-300 yards across open fields with dead accuracy. That's all I would need it for, I don't think I could even hold steady for a longer shot


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[Matador]

Killed my first buck with a 94 win. 30-30. I have a Win 94 carbine that goes with me every year.