So I may have muffed up...

[Josh]

I sold my very lovely Marlin 336 to Ian a few years back. At the time I did not "need" a 30-30... well now the itch is back. After looking around I can not seem to find a decently priced 30-30 anywhere... up in PA any levergun will bring 50% more on the used rack. There are zero Marlins anywhere (except the new ones), ditto for any 94's in shooting condition, heck I would be interested in a Savage 340 or H&R...

When did the 30-30 rifle become so scarce?

 

[fiver]

well they ain't really making a ton of them.
you got that mossburg [464?] that came and went, henry's making one [I think] and rossi does the rio-grande.
only seen the mossburg once and didn't like the plastic parts.
I won't even discuss a Remington made anything unless someone rebuilt it, and Winchester wants as much as a collector grade original pre-1900 rifle for a new one. [I'd buy the rem 30-30 bolt gun though, the 788 airc]
the savages pop up every now and then and stevens made the model 25 which is similar for about 3-4 years,,, 60 years ago.
I wish now I'd bought that second 340-A I looked at about 25 times before the LGS closed.

I'm still amazed that a pre-64 win has price tags on them like they do, they made about as many of them as Kalashnikov made ak's
but every one acts like they are a rare piece of American history.

what is happening IMO is everybody is sticking their guns back in the closets and leaving them there. [saving them for when they need them] they just ain't gonna spend 30 bucks on 20 rounds of ammo for target shooting so they just sit there unforgotten.
plus they don't need to trade them in to buy a new $300.00 bargain rifle.

 

[Josh]

I did handle a Mossberg 464 straight stock 20" at the local shop, but at $400 it seemed a tick steep. I will admit I liked the action design, a nice mix between the 94 and 336. I may have to bite that bullet if I can't find a nice used rifle. As much as I will shoot it the plastic parts wouldn't be horrible, and Mossberg has been known to turn out an accurate barrel.

 

[Ian]

Dang, now this feels like when I was dating my buddy's hot ex-girlfriend in high school. Fun but slightly weird. No, you're not getting her back .

 

[Josh]

Dang, now this feels like when I was dating my buddy's hot ex-girlfriend in high school. Fun but slightly weird. No, you're not getting her back .

I didn't ask, but I bet if I offered enough I could get it

I admit I F'ed up solid on that one, if you ever DO sell it, I expect to be the first one you talk to... LOL

 

[Brad]

I looked at a few in the past week and a JM marked Marlin, new, was 699. A used Marlin runs 4-450 and a used Win is just plain asinine in price.

Glad I bought a used Marlin 336 years back for 300.

I am a firm believer that all gun prices have gone bonkers lately. A used 30-30 for under 400 is just plain unobtanium.

 

[yodogsandman]

There's a couple under $400 here. They'll ship to your FFL. The $345 Marlin 336a checkered w/safety is 95%.

http://www.ktpguns.com/results.php?manufacturer=any&caliber=30-30 WIN&action=any&model=any

 

[JWFilips]

Josh,
You just have to fall in to a sweet deal like I did. I have a 336 Marlin in 35 Rem that my Dad bought for me in 1964.
Though the years I\it was my only rifle for deer: hunting first with my older brothers then with their children. My oldest Nephew who is 7 years younger then me (I'm 63) told his Dad two years ago that he wanted me to have his Marlin 336 in 30-30 ( Circa early 1970 vintage) He said he didn't want to hunt anymore and wanted "Uncle Jimmy" to have it because he appreciates rifles.
"He will shoot it ...not just take it out of the closet one a year for the first day of PA deer " ( Like the 80 % of the hunters around here do)

So I graciously accepted....knowing all well & good I would set it up for Cast bullet shooting! So know I'm the proud owner of two 336's
BTW the 30-30 turned out to be a great cast bullet shooter ( however I still favor my 35 Rem)
Jim

 

[35 shooter]

This thread has reminded me i would love to pick up another 30/30 lever myself. I've owned several through the years and let them all go at one time or another.
I'm keeping the next one!!

Lots of used ones on the shelves around here, but most weren't taken care of very well. Most are missing either a rear or front sight too for some reason i don't quite understand, or the front sight bead broken off.
Makes you wonder what Bubba was using it for...pry bar i guess.

Hope you find a really nice one Josh!

 

[JWFilips]

Josh,
Since we are not too far distant: I will keep an eye open at my LGSs! A few hours distance may work to your favor!
Jim

 

[Brad]

I screwed up a few years ago. I passed on a new in box Marlin in 375 Win at a gunshow for 900. A year or so later I bought a Win 94 in 375 Win for about the same price.
I should have gotten the Marlin, they handle recoil so much better.

 

[freebullet]

I feel your pain. I was looking pretty hard for a lever in 357. For about a month the only bargain I could find was a new rossi. Passed on that & ordered the ar9 parts. Still missing a 357 lever gun. Passed on one last year I should have bought.

 

[Ian]

I really, REALLY wanted a good .357/.38 levergun back before 41P took effect so I could apply to SBR it and make one heck of a neat little quiet truck gun or pack rifle. My first choice would be a Unicorn in the form of an 1889 Marlin in .38 Special only. Second choice a '92 copy costing what a good M1A would bring. I don't like the '92 Winchester at all, so that eliminated a lot of things. I love the '73, and there are repros of adequate quality out there, but the comb drops far too much for my build and one of those would really look dumb with half the barrel sawed off and a titanium can screwed on the end. Seems I'm just too picky to have such a gun.

 

[Josh]

Thanks for the replies guys, JW I appreciate your extra eyes. Anything in 30-30 will work... H&R or savage 340 even.

I did find a nice Marlin 44 mag today for $650, but after reading Brad's thread... nope... I shall pass...

 

[Ian]

I have a decent Savage model 99 in 30 WCF....decent except for the bore. It's pitted and worn throughout and has no rifling left in the last few inches of barrel toward the muzzle, probably was shot with a lot of corrosive ammo early in its life and not cleaned. I haven't shot it yet. Maybe I should saw off the barrel back at about 17" or so and see how it shoots.

 

[Josh]

This has become the "lets talk about all the sweet 30-30's we have because Josh is sulking and we can drill that screw in further" LOL

I will find one, my big reason to find one is I found an entire 50 cal ammo can full to the gills of loose pack factory 30-30. I have well over $500 in the can, so a $300ish rifle makes sense!!!

 

[JonB]

I remember when you could find a good looking 30-30 marlin for $300
ahhh, the memories ...Good times.

 

[JonB]

I do know one thing, about three years ago, I stumbled onto a 1894s in 41 mag for $1000. I didn't even know they made it, in that caliber. I bought it and I would have thought I would have regretted spending so much. Nope, but if I would have passed on it, I surely would have regretted it now. I have since, seen one here and there on GB for considerably more $$$.

 

[Ian]

Anyone have experience with the Savage 170 slide-action rifle? One of those would be pretty neat to have, particularly if you shoot wrong-sided like me (one reason I like leverguns for many jobs outside of punching paper at the range).

 

[Josh]

I remember when you could find a good looking 30-30 marlin for $300
ahhh, the memories ...Good times.

That's wrong... but it made me laugh.

I want a 41 Mag lever rifle, I plan on getting one of the Henry rifles once funds allow. Even if they aren't made for long I will own one.