Scored a Marlin 30-30 Lever Action!

JimIsland · 12-15-2012, 16:51

I've been wanting one for a while and found a sweet deal on one so I grabbed it. it's the 336C model. I'm thinking about leaving it iron sights. For those of you that have one what's your thoughts on this? I have glass on all my long guns except my Ruger Mini 30. If I did decide to scope it, should I stick with a low power scope since the 30-30 cartidge is not considered to be a long range cartidge?

BTW...It came with a real nice genuine leather strap to give it a "cowboy look"!

countrygun · 12-15-2012, 16:54

XS sights. Great peep/ghost ring and a definite improvement on the front as well,

I can't think of scoping a 30-30 But if I did it would be with an XS scout mount and a 2x scope or if I went "traditional mount, a Weaver v-3 1X3 variable.

bac1023 · 12-15-2012, 16:57

Congrats!

I wouldn't go crazy on scoping a lever 30-30. Just get something basic.

JimIsland · 12-15-2012, 16:59

Great advise...thank you. I have XS sights on 4 of my Glocks and love them. I'll check em out

Pier23 · 12-15-2012, 17:18

My Marlin is staying iron. The 30-30 ballistics are whacky enough that I don't think a scope would help me. If I can't see it I'm not gonna try to hit it.

bac1023 · 12-15-2012, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pier23

My Marlin is staying iron. The 30-30 ballistics are whacky enough that I don't think a scope would help me. If I can't see it I'm not gonna try to hit it.

The 30-30 is decent out to about 125 to 150 yards. A basic scope can help.

The lever design itself is not the most accurate in the world, however.

The LEVERevolution ammo from Hornady has greatly improved lever ballistics and accuracy in recent times. Before, you had to use flat or very rounded bullets in the tubular magazine for safety reasons, which hurt ballistics and accuracy.

http://www.hornady.com/store/leverevolution

countrygun · 12-15-2012, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pier23

My Marlin is staying iron. The 30-30 ballistics are whacky enough that I don't think a scope would help me. If I can't see it I'm not gonna try to hit it.

While I agree with the decision to keep them iron I don't find the ballistics "whacky". Just like any other cartridge it is up to the shooter to get used to them. I have no problem with a 30-30 sighted 2'3 inches high at 100 yds being a deer getter at 200 yds. It can even be stretched a bit if the shooter knows the gun, but unless I had my trusty M-1 that is about my limit for iron sights anyway. Maybe if I replace the factory front nigh sight on my SOCOM16 .....

JimIsland · 12-15-2012, 20:05

I have some bolt actions in .308, 7mm-08, .223 so I'm all set for 150+ yards. also recently had an AR15 6.8 SPC built so I'm going to keep this one iron. I went snooping over at the Marlin Forum and there seems to be a lot of guys that like the Skinner Iron Sights. I might check those out.

Ruggles · 12-15-2012, 20:48

Love the lever action rifle. Just feels right to me. I do not however like them with scopes, throws off that sweet balance they have to me.

Besides I ain't seeing no scope on this one......

And if Rooster don't need one you don't sir!

JimIsland · 12-16-2012, 18:35

LOL!! Love it....thanks I needed a chuckle today.

rockabillyrider · 12-16-2012, 18:39

http://www.skinnersights.com/

jrd22 · 12-16-2012, 18:43

I had one stolen a long time ago, still miss that gun.

collim1 · 12-16-2012, 18:48

Only scope i would want is a straight 30mm tube 2.5x, small, light, with quick target acquisition.

Something similar to this http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shoot...5-4x20mm-30mm/

countrygun · 12-16-2012, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by collim1

Only scope i would want is a straight 30mm tube 2.5x, small, light, with quick target acquisition.

Something similar to this http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shoot...5-4x20mm-30mm/

I wish more people would catch on to the Weaver k-2.5 It's a great scope but I generally suggest the V3 because so many people are hung up on "variables". I have piled up so many 3X9s on rifles I've bought used (like I can find a use for 9x in my hunting

) that I now insist that the dealers, when I buy used from a shop, take the ^&*% things off and keep them. I'll keep the rings and bases and add a decent scope myself. I've hunted all over Oregon in my life and never taken a shot that would have needed more than 4x although, in eastern Oregon a 6x MIGHT have been useful.

Certainly such things are of no use on a 30-30

collim1 · 12-16-2012, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrygun

I wish more people would catch on to the Weaver k-2.5 It's a great scope but I generally suggest the V3 because so many people are hung up on "variables". I have piled up so many 3X9s on rifles I've bought used (like I can find a use for 9x in my hunting

) that I now insist that the dealers, when I buy used from a shop, take the ^&*% things off and keep them. I'll keep the rings and bases and add a decent scope myself. I've hunted all over Oregon in my life and never taken a shot that would have needed more than 4x although, in eastern Oregon a 6x MIGHT have been useful.

Certainly such things are of no use on a 30-30

Nothing more aggravating than forgetting your scope is still on 9x from the range and raising up on a deer. Hard to place the shot when all you see is hair and fleas.

countrygun · 12-16-2012, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by collim1

Nothing more aggravating than forgetting your scope is still on 9x from the range and raising up on a deer. Hard to place the shot when all you see is hair and fleas.

A quick story here.

My Dad and I were hunting with a friend of ours one year in Eastern Oregon. A BIG mule deer popped out of a thicket. Dad whipped his Winchester 88 with a 4x scope on it and couldn't take what he felt was a good shot because it was too close for even a 4x, all he saw was hair. Our had a "pivot mount on his rifle and slapped the scope over and took the beast with irons. It was the largest buck the locals had ever seen.

Dad always wanted to get a pivot mount on his 88 but things always came up and after Winchester dropped the model accessories like that got scarce. I managed to finally find one in a local shops "buy out" of a closed shop's stock. Dad was really happy to see that his rifle was set up the way he wanted it. He passed before the next hunting season unfortunately.

glock2740 · 12-16-2012, 19:53

Congrats! I LOVE mine.

Goat 36 · 12-16-2012, 19:59

A nice Marlin thuddy-thuddy is at the top of my short list.

Congrats and enjoy.

JimIsland · 12-16-2012, 21:10

Good story Country. Glad your Dad got that trophy before he passed. I think I'm going to throw those Skinner sights and play with it a while and get to know it.

countrygun · 12-16-2012, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimIsland

Good story Country. Glad your Dad got that trophy before he passed. I think I'm going to throw those Skinner sights and play with it a while and get to know it.

I have looked at the Skinner's and may put them on my 39t or 1895 Marlin. At the time I ordered my XS set Skinner was backordered.

For me, the Marlin is more fun than my AK to plink with. If I can pick a random target at an unknown distance and hit it, that shot would have translated to "BACK STRAPS"

JimIsland · 12-16-2012, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrygun

I have looked at the Skinner's and may put them on my 39t or 1895 Marlin. At the time I ordered my XS set Skinner was backordered.

For me, the Marlin is more fun than my AK to plink with. If I can pick a random target at an unknown distance and hit it, that shot would have translated to "BACK STRAPS"

Funny you say that. In the past 2 months I've purchased a 7mm-08, Ruger Mini Ranch, AR15 6.8SPC, and the Marlin 30-30. I'm looking forward to shooting the Marlin above the rest!

Caver 60 · 12-16-2012, 23:29

I'm with the low power, good light gathering ability people. My Marlin 30-30 had a low power scope even before my vision went south years ago. Lord only knows how many deer it's taken with just one shot, usually hitting the heart. Keep it sighted about 1 1/2 inches high at 100 yards. It's no tack driver, but it's plenty accurate for my purposes. I normally only use 150 grain bullets on deer.

Even my 06 and 270 only have a 4 power scope on them.

Dawolf · 12-17-2012, 06:51

I hope your is one one of the good Remlins.

mac66 · 12-17-2012, 07:18

OP, if you decide to stay with irons, take a look at the William's peep sight. It will go on the receiver in the two rear scope mounting holes. If you take the insert out it functions as a ghost ring as well.

TacticalTshirtsREP · 12-17-2012, 10:13

Have you considered a "scout" type mount? A long eye-relief scope forward near the hand-guard. Or maybe even a red-dot at that location?

My Marlin Co-Piolot has that and I still have the irons fore and aft.

TTR