Deciding On A New 30-30 Levergun

[Jimbo357mag]

I am looking to buy a new 30-30 lever-action rifle. I am trying to decide between the Marlin 336C with Walnut stock and the fairly new Mossberg with Walnut and Pistol Grip. Any experiences, opinions, pros/cons appreciated. 8) 8)

...Jimbo

 

[Heliman]

Hard to beat the proven 336 Marlin when it comes to lever guns. They are dead on reliable and reasonably to very accurate.

I have no experience with the Mossberg.......

Good luck on your choice!

Dave

 

[wwb]

Mossberg doesn't really say much about it on their website. They do say it's American-made. It's obviously a top-eject... probably a copy of the Winchester '94.

My choice would be the Marlin.... and if you figure to EVER put a scope on it, it becomes a no-brainer.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Ditto to what WWB said. I love my Marlin 336.

-- Sam

 

[gclefton]

My Marlin 336 is a very enjoyable rifle. Its side ejection allows scope mounting and use, although I have a peep sight on mine.

Another vote for the Marlin 336.

GC
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[pisgah]

My vote goes to the Marlin. And check out pawn shops. Used ones, vintage 1950s-'60s-'70s, are among the finest leveractions ever made, IMO, and can be found very reasonably priced

 

[PackinPreacher]

Another vote for Marlin.

 

[trapperon]

Marlin for sure. I would go Marlin even over a Winchester 94! Very accurate and SO simple to take down for thorough cleaning. Great to see interest in the levers too!

Keep us posted

Ron

 

[Yosemite Sam]

One thing: Even though I own and love the Marlin, the Winchester style is a little thinner and svelter in the foregrip. I have heard of people thinning the wood on Marlins, but of course you lose the checkering doing that. If that feel is important to you, you might want to try to handle a few before you buy.

Apparently older Winchesters feel even nicer than modern ones, hence a lot of the love for that style. It should be noted that even Winchester came up with the AE (angled eject) models to better support scope mounting, since doing it to a top eject is not much fun.

-- Sam

 

[pisgah]

>I have heard of people thinning the wood on Marlins, but of course you lose the checkering doing that.

Just keep in mind that checkeing is a relatively new feature of the 336. If you go back a few years to when, IMO, even Marlin was making them better, the vast majority were uncheckered. Some folks love the fat forend -- and believe me, back in the early '50s they were much fatter than today -- but if you don't then slimming one down is an easy job.

 

[don44]

I have several Marlin lever guns.... can't beat 'em.

 

[Rocdoc]

Have never been able to warm up the Mossberg offering for some reason even though a big fan of Win 94s. I also vote for the Marlin.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Thanks for all the replies. They are exactly what I was thinking too. I like the looks of the Mossberg, but I already own a Winchester and I want a lower scope mount than what I can get with it. I think I really appreciate the dependability of the Marlin more than anything. I also don't plan on shooting cast so that is ok for the Marlin as well with the micro-groove barrel.

I'm going to pull the trigger on the Marlin. It's On Sale at Davidson's and will be here for 'Fathers Day'. ...Dern-it, and I said I wasn't going to buy another gun in the 'Lounge' today. 8) 8)

...Jimbo

 

[Yosemite Sam]

FWIW, I've been shooting hard cast lead in my micro-grooved .30-30 without issue. Just find a load that doesn't lead it up.

Trail Boss is a great powder for shooting lead in rifles. I use it in my .45-70 to make loads that you can actually shoot all afternoon. Or for a while, at least...

-- Sam

 

[Old Judge Creek]

Marlin!

 

[gatling]

I love my Marlins. Try to get an older one (at least old enough to have been made by the real Marlin; the Remington-made Marlins are reputed to have lots of quality problems).

My 336 Octagonal, of which 2414 were made in 1973.

My 45 70 Guide Gun...gotta love the wood on this one!

Lots of good info on marlinowners.com.

 

[keyston44]

Don't buy a Remington made Marlin sight unseen. Be sure to visually inspect it first. Even better, make sure it has the "JM" proof mark on the left side of the barrel by the receiver to make sure it's a true Marlin made rifle.

Key

 

[Floridaoutdoors]

here is a vote for Winchester Trapper

Short barrel and very compact.Angle eject allows for standard scope mounting.

Will have to be used

and another vote for Marlin Guide

 

[Joe S.]

love all my marlins. have had one winchester (same design as the mossberg) and wasnt a big fan. they shoot ok, just not a marlin

i do prefer the pre safety marlins. and now that remington owns them, i prefer the pre remington marlins...

 

[Joe S.]

gatling, that octogon barrel is UNREAL!!! i love that!

 

[4MUL8R]

You can also enjoy fellowship at www.marlinowners.com. Lots of interesting threads there.

 

[phonejack]

on a marlin you can remove a screw from the lever ( it comes off) and then you can remove the bolt for cleaning and you can clean the barrel from the rear.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Guess I should let you guys know that I bought the Marlin and I really like it. The forearm is a little darker than the butt-stock but all seems well and tight. I like the feel of the gun as the forearm is not as wide as some of the older ones I handled. The action is swell. The trigger is well you know, Marlin. I am waiting for a scope right now and will take some pics and go to the range in a couple of weeks. Thanks for all the good comments. I wish Ruger still made some leverguns.

...Jimbo

 

[JustsayMo]

Another vote for the Marlin

 

[Lloyd Smale]

my vote is a used winchester.

 

[toysoldier]

There's a new dog in this fight---the Rossi Rio Grande. G&A just ran a review of it, looks like a Marlin clone. The Rossi websight also shows 45-70 and .410 versions.

That said, I recently found (after looking for over 15 years) a straight-stock Marlin, at a garage sale, for $300.

 

[wwb]

There's a new dog in this fight---the Rossi Rio Grande. G&A just ran a review of it, looks like a Marlin clone........

Shooting Times covered that one a couple months ago. It looks like a Marlin clone, alright.... enough so that I'd bet the parts are interchangeable.

 

[Del J]

Marlin would be the way to go for me. I shoot four different models, never owned a 30-30 but a 336 in .35 Remington. All are solid guns, fit and finish always acceptable. But as a post above stated, new models made after the sale of Marlin may required some close inspection. Looking for a used gun may be a good option.

 

[sigp220.45]

I was looking for a Winchester when I found this 1977 Marlin. With the straight stock and skinny fore end it handles like a Winchester, but has the Marlin advantages.

Plus, it was only $295. My vote is the Marlin.

 

[DavidMc116]

Ruger #1 in 30-30