30-30 Question

[Sitting Bull]

Well, silly me sold a Marlin back a few years ago for a song and dance. Now I can't believe the prices of used lever actions. I decided to by new but heck if I can find one in Canada for sale. If you could find one what manufacturer would you choose and why?
Ruger if they ever make it up north, Henry, winchester Chiappa, Uberti, Pedersoli. Am I missing any?
Will prices ever come down to normal?
Anyway, just trying to scratch an itch, I just went through my reloading stuff and noticed I have all this 30-30 brass but no rifle.
Cheers

[Dick284]

I’m a Marlin guy, I would keep an ear/eye out for a pre cross bolt safety model 336.

And yes, the prices are insane, when they said you gotta pay to play, I’m pretty sure they never envisioned this!

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Dick284

I’m a Marlin guy, I would keep an ear/eye out for a pre cross bolt safety model 336.

And yes, the prices are insane, when they said you gotta pay to play, I’m pretty sure they never envisioned this!

This is the way I would go too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Smoky buck]

I also have a preference marlin. I own a one with a cross bolt safety and even though I would say the safety is a politically incorrect term that would cause someone to get offended if I typed it a the rifle is nice otherwise

My Dad has a hex barrel Henry and a model 94. My brother also owns a Henry and I have shot all three. I personally don’t care for the straight stocks or the tube feed but outside of that they are not bad. If I understand Henry also makes a side feed that might be decent

I wouldn’t touch a mossberg but I can’t speak for the other brands you listed

If it was me I would look for a marlin but that is my preference

And yup prices are nuts. I bought my Marlin for $500 barely used and they skyrocketed in price the next year. Even with the modifications I did to my marlin I could still sell it for a profit if I wanted to but I won’t

[fps plus]

If you want to mount a scope marlin . If a scope is no concern a marlin or Winchester

[obsessed1]

Im a marlin fan. I too sold off a good one out of necessity that i wish i could have back.

[tullfan]

I have a Marlin pre cross bolt. Bought it when I was 18. Had it 34 years. It goes bang every time I need it too and it’s like an extension of my arm.
My wife will have to sell it when I’m gone. Lol.

Tullfan

[brewster29]

I have sold some rifles I really regretted but my 1974 pistol grip and 1975 straight grip pristine pre cross bolt safety 336 Marlins are what I regret selling the most. I am currently looking to find another straight grip 336 in as good condition as what I had but now I’m going to have to choke up at least double which pretty much wipes out what profit I made on them. Not my best move…

I don’t even have a use for one but I just really like the older Marlins.

[Battle Rat]

Profit River just got a Marlin in for a friend.
He did have to order it last March though.

[wallz]

Just noticed one on BC hunting forum.


Marlin 336 30-30 JM stamped.
topped with a Leupold vx Freedom 1.5x4x20
Leupold Rings.
Older rifle in great shape. Hunted with for a few seasons.
Doesn’t like Leverevolution ammo but shoots everything else great.
$1350

[TBark]

Back in the early 90’s I found a Win 94 AE 3030 trapper at a pawn shop in Edm, 111 ave, maybe A1 pawn?

Paid $275 and I tried to get them to add the saddle scabbard, but the stingy bugger wouldn’t budge.
I had to pay the extra $40 for that, ha, oh well.

Still got the rifle and scabbard.
A handy little lever action, It fits well in my quad box.

TBark

[Dean2]

Own Winchester and Marlin. Like them both. Despite many who say they aren't very accurate, I have easily got better than MOA out of all of the levers I have kept.

The Crossbolt safety issue is a BIG red herring, if you really don't like them they are easy to remove and there are replacement buttons to fill the hole. Also, nothing forces you to use it, you can do the old half cock instead if you want.

For a scope the AE Winchester or the Marlin are my top picks. Now, all of the new Winchester 94s come drilled and tapped for scope mounting and have for some time. Prophet River has lots of new Winchesters for sale.

I have a Marlin in 45-70 for sale if you aren't stuck on a 30-30. I load my 45-70s to about 1400 FPS, which is also what most Remington and Winchester factory ammo is, and they don't kick much more than a 30-30. They still kill great though. It has a Leupold 1.5x5x20 on it and will shoot 3 shot clover leafs at 100 yards.

If you go shopping for used Marlins there is info you should keep in mind.

The riffle that shot the targets below was built Dec 2012, so built after production was moved to Illinois on the new CNC machinery. The later built Remington made ones like this one are far better built guns than the Marlin built JMs, and that applies to all of the 1895s, 336s etc., that were built the last 5 or so years that Marlin was running out of money and approaching bankruptcy. They are also head and shoulders better than the ones that were built the first 3 years Remington owned them and was trying to build the guns with the old Marlin employees on clapped out machinery.

Remington bought Marlin in December 2007. The Marlin Equipment was so worn out that Remington eventually shut down the Gardner plant at the end of 2008 and in early 2010 finally closed the North Haven plant for the same reason. Both of the old plants were turning out poor to very poor quality guns and Remington was getting the blame for the substandard quality of the "New Remlin" Marlin levers. Remington completely retooled with all new machines, new employees and CNC technology, setting up the new production in Illinois. After that move, the Marlins produced with the MR leading in the serial numbers were markedly better guns and on par with the old JM guns from pre 2002. I own both and have owned a lot of Marlin levers. You do not want to buy a Marlin made between 2002 and 2010 (and only 2010s that are post MR prefix as some 2010s were still made in New Haven) if you can help it.







Target Shot with My JM Marlin bought new in the 1980s.

[Athabasca1]

Excellent post Dean2. Good info.

[graham1]

For the record, I have a marlin 336 in 30-30 manufactured in 2007 that has been an excellent rifle.
I have zero complaints about accuracy or function of the rifle.

My $0.02

[W921]

The pre cross bolt safety Marlin is bit clunky compared to pre 64 Winchester but the Marlin is way easier to take a part and put back together

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by graham1

For the record, I have a marlin 336 in 30-30 manufactured in 2007 that has been an excellent rifle.
I have zero complaints about accuracy or function of the rifle.

My $0.02

Good to hear you got a good one. that certainly was not the usual experience. I have handled a lot of guns from that period and the fit and finish on most of them was very poor. If a guy took the time to sort through, you could find the odd one that was a better specimen, but I still would not call them great. Glad yours shoots and functions well. What kind of groups are you getting at 100 yards?

[jednastka]

My daughter has my uncle's 1950s Marlin 336 in 32 WIN. A few years ago I refinished the stock with Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil, and replaced the scope on it. Other than that, nothing has been done to it. Most of the original bluing remains.



Given all the references to pricing through the roof, what is it worth?


Vic

[Battle Rat]

Don't pass on a cross bolt safey.
They are easily disabled and and I drilled/tapped the safety on mine to add a saddle ring.

[Sitting Bull]

Thanks for the replies. The thing that gets me now are todays prices. Wow! Since Remington's closure and the pandemic, prices are unreal.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Sitting Bull

Thanks for the replies. The thing that gets me now are todays prices. Wow! Since Remington's closure and the pandemic, prices are unreal.

You should have bought your 30-30 in 2019 before prices went crazy

[jungleboy]

I have had a couple Marlins and a couple Winchesters. My 3030 is a mid 70s version Model 94. I like the Winchesters better ,simply because for me they carry better. I never like that lever hinge on the Marlins as it made the carry position off balance.
Probably makes no difference in the big scheme of things since my go to rifle is a bolt action anyway.
I bought my 94 about 12 yrs ago and at the time I thought $400 is a bit crazy but hard to find anything cheaper that isn’t beaten half to death. Glad I got when I did.

My Sons first rifle was a Marlin 336 which he bought with his Ralph bucks . I had to nearly force him to buy it knowing he would blow the money away on junk if I didn’t. He still has it and swears he will never part with it, so that was a win.

[curtz]

It's not a Marlin or Winchester but years ago I bought a Mossberg 464 for $600. I don't shoot it a lot but am happy with it for what it is, a bush carry gun. My a-bolt is my main hunting gun.

[Mavrick]

I have a few JM Marlins built in the mid 70’s, ( hard find now days) a few pre 64 Winchester’s and a MR serial number Marlin guide gun. As said earlier the MR shoots very well and the fit and finish is as good as any production gun out there, so I would not shy away from one if you can find it.

Also the Italian guns are well made reproductions so don’t be afraid of them, although they can be a bit pricey.

[graham1]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Good to hear you got a good one. that certainly was not the usual experience. I have handled a lot of guns from that period and the fit and finish on most of them was very poor. If a guy took the time to sort through, you could find the odd one that was a better specimen, but I still would not call them great. Glad yours shoots and functions well. What kind of groups are you getting at 100 yards?

I haven’t put it on paper in several years. I sure don’t think I was getting the results you are though. I use a peep sight on it.

But you’ve got me thinking now. I’d like to compare it to an older one and see if there’s much difference. And I’ll have to get it to the range in the spring to see how it does there.

[Crowsnest]

Have a jm stamped 336 w 3030 date of manufacture 2009 , fit and finish I find excellent, functions great

[tranq78]

Myself and my 2 sons each have a Remington Marlin 1895. That's 3 45/70's. They all work just fine. None of the quality control problems.

I can't stand the short sight radius buckhorn sights though. Replaced them with XS Sight Systems.

Sent from my SM-G781W using Tapatalk

[waldedw]

I have a model 94, circa 1973 it's top eject so no scope, the only time I pack it is when I'm pushing bush for the boy's, light handy and fast and if I do get a shot I know it won't be much over 50 yards.
Win 94 - 30-30.jpg

[shooter55]

big lever fan; I really like the Marlin; have both 30/30 and 45/70 and solid guns. I've got an old Savage 300S that is pretty cool. Henry makes a great lever, have a 45colt and solid construction and great shooter. If I had the choice in hunting between my Marlin and Winchester 30/30, Marlin hands down

[Pioneer2]

Originally Posted by jednastka

My daughter has my uncle's 1950s Marlin 336 in 32 WIN. A few years ago I refinished the stock with Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil, and replaced the scope on it. Other than that, nothing has been done to it. Most of the original bluing remains.



Given all the references to pricing through the roof, what is it worth?


Vic

Before or after you refinished it?

[elkhunter11]

The last 30-30 that I owned was a Marlin 336xlr in like new condition, that I bought for $600. I told the guy that he could get more, but he wanted quick cash, and a local sale, so I bought it, even though I had no use for it. I sold it with a couple of weeks for $900, and the buyer never even tried to bargain with me. My other 30-30 was a very clean 1952 model 1894 that my father bought for me in 1972 for $75, I sold that one about 20 years ago for $500. I prefer the Marlins for cleaning, since the bolt is easily removed.