Good morning....

I'm a relative newcomer to this forum and own a beautiful Marlin 30AS 30-30 with a small 4x32 scope on weaver mounts.
http://members.aol.com/ammonc/Marlin30AS-with4x32.jpg
See, this was a co-workers rifle that he has owned since the mid 80's. He used to deer hunt here in Virginia, then for some reason, he hung it all up, and put the ole "thutty-thutty" in the closet. Then you know how things go... He got married, had a kid, etc... Then his wife talked him into selling the rifle.

This was about 2 years ago (to make a long story short), where we talked at work about him no longer hunting, and me still hunting here in Virginia. One thing led to another and he talked about his old "closet classic" Marlin 30-30. He let me borrow it to take it to the local range with a half a box of rounds. If I liked it, and if I wanted it, then the selling price would be $250 bucks. Rifle, scope, locking case, ...everything. :D

Let me just say in praise of the 30-30 lever guns... As soon as I fired that first shot at the range, I fell in love with it. It just felt right. There was some sort of historic, nostalgic, feel to it or something. It was one of those things where I just had to have it.

So, I instantly become the 2nd owner of this beautiful legendary Marlin 30-30. It is a tack driver at 50 yards and shoots excellent groups at 100 yards with the 4x32 scope. When I first went hunting with it in the woods and ridgetops here in Virginia, I felt some kind of bond with the legendary 30-30. I felt like I was part of a long tradition. Like, how many other hunters before me have walked through the woods of Virginia armed with a 30-30?

The 30-30 may seem outdated to some, but to me it is just a classic rifle that just keeps on keepin' on for well over 100 years!

Butch A.

Hats off to you.

I've got a Model 30 Glenfield, (basically the same gun as you've got), and she's one of my treasures.

I've also got a 1986 model M94 AE Winnie Ranger in 30-30 that's been my trusted companion for many years.

The 30-30 is, indeed, legendary. She'll never let you down if you hold up your end, which I'm sure you'll do.

Good luck and good shooting.

Hats off to you.
The 30-30 is, indeed, legendary. She'll never let you down if you hold up your end, which I'm sure you'll do.

Thanks... The way I feel about my 30AS, is the same way a buddy of mine feels with his Marlin Camp Carbine 9mm rifle. (Granted, it's only good to about 50 yards, no longer in production, but it is the snappyest li'l shooter I have ever seen!)
Last weekend, the two of us were at the range and after getting sighted in, we decided to switch rifles for a bit. He shot my Marlin 30-30, and I shot his Marlin Camp Carbine 9mm. He too fell in love with the 30-30 and said something like, "Ooooh yeah, I gotta get me one of these!" :cool:

Butch A.

That's the romance of the levergun...just feels right!

You've got yourself a really nice rifle there!
I am a HUGE fan of lever rifles, and the thutty thutty is up there with the biggest favorites. I have a 1968 Winnie 94 top eject, and a Marlin, well really a FOREMOST; made by Marlin for JC PENNEY.

http://pic10.picturetrail.com/VOL326/682422/5659534/96367481.jpg

It's essentially a 336, except it's marked "Made for JC Penney. I too have scoped it with a 4x scope in see under rings, and equipt it with a set of williams Fire sights, that work soooooooo well at low and brite light!

Now you need to start to reload for the 30-30, and work the cartridge up to it's potential!

Good hunting with your fine rifle!

Best,
Chris~

I still take mule deer annually with my 1970's vintage Glenfield 30A in 30-30. Different stock than yours featuring a squared lever. But performance is same of course. Place your bullet to strike above the heart and through both lungs and the deer will typically bound away for a couple jumps before toppling over. Doesn't really matter ammo type or bullet weight for deer sized animals. 30-30 gets 'er done!
TR

You've got yourself a really nice rifle there!
Now you need to start to reload for the 30-30, and work the cartridge up to it's potential!

Thanks.... that's what I am going to start doing! I ordered the big reloading book made by Lee. Then after reading and reading and studying more and more, I'll get a reloading kit with the dies for the 30-30.

Believe it or not, the best round that I have found that my Marlin 30AS likes, is the 170gr Remington Core-Lokt. I got really excellent groups at 100 yards with it.

Butch A.

Both my 30-30's prefer the 170's for accuracy.
They will shoot 150's, but not as well as the 170.

i have worked up a load using Marshall's 160 fp that is a tackdriver, even out to 100!

From my experience percentage wise, my cleanest deer kills have been with the 30-30. I don't mean quickest knock down. The 30-30 doesn't destroy too much meat and does the job nicely if the shot is reasonably placed. There is no massive destruction, like I have seen with the 270, 308, the 30-06, 300 Win Mag, 7mm Mag etc etc. high velocity blast em in their tracks stuff.

If your field is such that you don't mind a higher risk of having to track down a deer, I think the 30-30 is ideal up to 175 yards. Even longer for a reloader.

I know I will get chastised by those who have some clean kills from their 30-06, yet I will ask them -- what percentage are clean and what percentage are overblasted? I have used most of these rifles and have seen kills from many others. My conclusion is that the 30-30 is just enough to do it right, if you do it right.

Still, if I am surrounded by thick brambly woods that are the duce to plow through - the 30-06 is a good choice for "bring em down here and now" mode. But then so is a 12 gauge, Yuck. Shotguns are for meat. Rifles are for hunting :)