Opinion on this gun...

[RolandDeschain]

I love lever action rifles, especially Marlins - I just shoot them really well, especially on moving targets, plus I really like the exposed hammer thing for hunting. I currently have 2; a 336 in 30-30 and a 1894 in 44mag - both with 20 inch barrels, and both have killed a bunch of deer.

So I was killing time in Academy recently and saw this "shorty" model with a 16" barrel and just had to take a closer look. 4 inches shorter than a regular 336 so it was VERY handy...

SO question being - would you guys think the velocity/energy loss from the shorter barrel is worth the trade off in handiness? I have a 16" barrel Windham SRC AR in 308 and absolutely love it, but thats a 308... A 30-30 doesn't have near the velocity/energy to start with and wonder if it would be worth the trade off...

Also, if you already owned the 2 rifles I mentioned would you think it worthwhile to pick up another just to get the shorter barrel?

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/marlin%C2%AE-336-compact-30-30-win-lever-action-rifle#repChildCatid=938513

Opinions please??

 

[WAYNO]

I am a fan of the 16" lever guns. I hunted many years with a Winchester Trapper .30-30 with the 16" barrel, and no deer ever shot with it knew the difference.

To me, the handiness of the Trapper-length barrel is worth the velocity loss.

 

[Heliman]

Also, the Hornady Leverevolution ammo might make up for the velocity loss with the shorter barrel.

 

[Chief 101]

I like lever guns, they have served me well for many decades now. Don't think I ever used one for a long shot, mostly 65yds and in it seems. I never used one with a shorter than 20" barrel but if there was a disadvantage there I would say that I am so used to 20" carbines the shorter one would feel odd. I don't think any loss in killing power would be noticeable...make the right choice and enjoy it...

 

[Xsales]

Personally the shorter barrel far outweighs the velocity loss

I much more prefer portable, tactical, lighter weight of shorter models
The velocity loss I think would be minimal

 

[arfmel]

I’m in agreement. I really like the shorter barreled “Trapper” carbines.
Particularly in pistol calibers. The 16” .30-30 has a little recoil due to the lighter weight compared to a 20” barrel model.

 

[blume357]

I'm not even close to an expert on ammo... but as mentioned above I would think there would be ammo that would compensate for the shorter barrel....

 

[jgt]

I like a 16" barrel for revolver cartridges. Rifle cartridges, not so much.

 

[GunnyGene]

Rule of very rough thumb: 25fps change per inch of barrel length. Easily compensated for with ammo selection, especially with the wide range of .30-30 available. I'd be more concerned about the shorter sight radius with the factory buckhorn, but that can be handled with a different sight set up - Skinner peep for example. :) http://www.skinnersights.com/

 

[Cholo]

It's always worth it to pick up a new gun if you want it, especially one for less than $500 OTD. With that said, are you convinced that Remington has gotten Marlin's quality up far enough for you to even like it once you own it? I'd go over it with a fine toothed comb in the store. You know the usual: trigger, lever, loading gate, sights on straight, barrel right side up? :)

 

[Pat-inCO]

Went looking and found the following in a page from Chuck Hawks:
(Since we are talking 30-30 I deleted velocities above 3Kfps)

Other authorities have tried to take into account the different velocity
ranges within which modern cartridges operate. The Remington Catalog
2003 includes a "Centerfire Rifle Velocity Vs. Barrel Length" table that
shows the following velocity changes for barrels shorter or longer than
the test barrel length:

MV 2000-2500 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in
barrel length is 10 fps.
MV 2500-3000 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in
barrel length is 20 fps.

The 45th Edition of the Lyman Reloading Handbook also has a table
showing Center Fire Rifle Velocity Vs. Barrel Length. Their figures apply
to barrels between 20 and 26 inches in length and agree with the
Remington figures. The Lyman table shows the following approximate
velocity changes:

For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 1000-2000 fps range, the change
in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 5 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 2001-2500 fps range, the change
in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 10 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 2501-3000 fps range, the change
in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 20 fps.

Hope that helps. :)

 

[Selena]

It's been to my meager experience that the shorter barrel rifle has better "pointablity" and a lot quicker to get a sight picture. But then I figure if I'm going to be making long range shots I'll be using the Enfield anyway.

 

[Dave P.]

It's been a long time but I had a Thompson Contender in 30-30 with a 14 in barrel.
It would be between 2050 and 2200fps with 150 grain loads that were not "hot".
Memory says the 180 grainers were right around 2000fps.
Dave

 

[Bull Barrel]

You can't use 30-30 on deer! Its not powerful enough!

I'm sure many have heard that.

I have been waffling on my next purchase and have decided on a lever action.
Now, which one?

 

[BrewsterII]

I love my "JM" Marlin 30.30 and my Winchester Trapper in .44 Magnum.

The Trapper shoots dead on at 75 to 100 yards, I really like it, won't sell it.

I choose which one I'll use depending on the terrain I'll be hunting. The trapper is a joy to carry, short, light and compact. :)

 

[powder smoke]

Hunting rifles is a good topic, imo when woods hunting a short barreled lever gun is my choice, I shoot them well they are quick handling and come in a variety of calibers.
Hunting open country a bolt action rifle seems to be the weapon of choice. Either way
personal preference rules the day! their is no right or wrong. ps

 

[powder smoke]

You can't use 30-30 on deer! Its not powerful enough!

I'm sure many have heard that.

I have been waffling on my next purchase and have decided on a lever action.
Now, which one?

Love to have a nickel for every deer that has been put down by a 30 30. ps

 

[GunnyGene]

You can't use 30-30 on deer! Its not powerful enough!

I'm sure many have heard that.

I have been waffling on my next purchase and have decided on a lever action.
Now, which one?

This one:

Henry side gate

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/side-gate-lever-action/

 

[RolandDeschain]

Thanks for all the opinions guys. Seems the 16 inch 30-30 is pretty popular with the guys that own one. Since I already have 4 deer rifles, including one in that caliber, I really don't have a big urge to get another one, but will keep it on my want list in case I change my mind. I do think it would be a fun gun to hunt with. Really good tree stand and brush gun, which is exactly my application. (better stop talking like that or I will talk myself in to buying it).

Regarding the Marlin - they just seem to fit me. I really don't worry about issues with the Remington thing - they should have it worked out by now, and worst case is if they don't I just send it back. I would have plenty of time to work out the kinks. I am one of those that DO like the hammer safety- really handy for unloading and for crawling into your tree stand. (No - I don't do the rope thing - that is what the sling is for)

For the 30-30 buffs here - I came across this excellent article on 30-30 cartridges and killing power. Very detailed. Mirrors my own experience in that the 30-30 is a good deer gun but at certain angles it CAN be kind of lacking in the penetration department.

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.30-30+Winchester++.30+WCF.html

FWIW - I used the LeverEvolution ammo for a couple years in my 44 mag rifle and quit after finding too many slugs stuck just inside the hide on the far side. Its basically a hollow point bullet with a plastic plug core. Better penetration from the plain old 240 grain white box. And in the 30-30 its plain old 150 or 170 grain power points or core lockts for me because they do the job without the gimmick.

 

[BrewsterII]

You can't use 30-30 on deer! Its not powerful enough!

I'm sure many have heard that.

I have been waffling on my next purchase and have decided on a lever action.
Now, which one?

This one:

Henry side gate

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/side-gate-lever-action/

The OP was asking about a "Trapper" style, as in a 16" barrel, :) not 20".

I'd like that Henry more if it had less ornate checkering (or none at all) and the brass was more of a matt finish. That thing would reflect like a mirror in the field. The side loading gate and magazine tube are nice features though.

Personally I'd stick to an older Marlin or Winchester but hey, variety is the spice of life! :)

 

[Chief 101]

Its easy to take one of your existing Marlin's and cut it down....that's likely what I would do if I wanted one...just sayin...

 

[Bull Barrel]

You can't use 30-30 on deer! Its not powerful enough!

I'm sure many have heard that.

I have been waffling on my next purchase and have decided on a lever action.
Now, which one?

This one:

Henry side gate

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/side-gate-lever-action/

Gunny, thank you for the link. We have been looking at Henrys. Takes more shekels but they are very nice. And the wood for the stocks come from forests not far from here in MO.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Roland I agree, Remington struggled early on with the Marlins, but I've heard positive reports the last couple of years. The 2 that have been through my hands were nice rifles. No complaints what so ever. I'm like you I have some leverguns already including 30-30 and 35 Remington, not to mention 45-70, and the pistol cartridges, so I'd probably pass on the 16" but I also know how impulse buying works. That's how I end up with duplicates of somethings. One is good, two is better or as they say in the tactical arena, one is none, two is one, and three is perfect.

 

[GunnyGene]

You can't use 30-30 on deer! Its not powerful enough!

I'm sure many have heard that.

I have been waffling on my next purchase and have decided on a lever action.
Now, which one?

This one:

Henry side gate

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/side-gate-lever-action/

Gunny, thank you for the link. We have been looking at Henrys. Takes more shekels but they are very nice. And the wood for the stocks come from forests not far from here in MO.

Keep in mind that it's likely Henry will, over time, incorporate this new design into other centerfires. Maybe as soon as next year. So you might want to wait a bit and see what they do - and what the competition does. :)

 

[muzzleloader]

I'd get it. I passed on a 45 colt Trapper years ago (20?) because I thought $500 was too much. I do my Michigan deer hunting with a 20 inch 357 Max Encore. This is the handiest setup for woods hunting I have.

 

[Paul B]

Although I quit hunting with the 30-30 years ago, I not only have a few but use them as "fun guns". At last cpunt, two M94s circa 1911 and 1981. two M64s, circa 1918 and 1957, probably the best balance version/takeoff of the M94 Winchester every made. JMHO. :mrgreen:
One Winchester M54, a bolt action that looks rough on the outside but the bore is as shiny as a brand new dime. Very accurate too. Then there's the one lonely Marlin 336 Texan. Guy had it at a gun show and a price I could not turn down.

I don't shoot much jacketed ammo in them much preferring to use my home cast bullets. I can load them to factory levels and they'll kill deer just fine. I found an RCBS #30180-FN 30 caliber mold that casts a 190 gr. bullet in my alloy and I can easily duplicate the original .303 Savage load of 190 gr. bullet at 1950 FPS, Oh, and I have had a couple of old Savage 99s in .303 Savage. I even still have the dies to load the round. Ammo isn't easy to find and when you do it's pricey as hell. Last time I saw some at a gun show it was $50 for a box of 20. It's been over 3 years since I've gone to a gun show and I'll bet it's higher now. :(

A few years back friends and I used to have a weekly shooting match which we called a "burrito" shoot. Loser bought lunch. Rifles were M94s and M336s for the most part. I used my M54 and won a few but never did make low man and have to buy lunch. Simple rules, Standard bullseye target (8" IIRC) standing on your hind legs and shooting like a man. Iron sights only. My M54 had a receiver sight. Bullets were mostly jacketed but I used my home cast bullet and never felt handicapped. Maybe one of these days I'll get up early enough so I can go out to my shed and run a batch of bullet for the 30-30. By early I mean be out and casting by 4 AM. That shed gets awfully hot by 10 AM this time of year.
Paul B.

 

[Colonel Daddy]

Also consider the Winchester 94AE 16" in .45 Colt. Never hunted with mine but love shooting it. Son and I trade it back and forth so it isn't for sale. He'll wind up with it some day.