My favorite Bing bang of all time as a kid I shot one! Felt like a cowboy fell in loved. THE DAY I turned 18. I bought the pretty brass one from Walmart. That gun is the best thing I own. Usually as a kid you find something you want and you save up blah blah. And normally after 3 weeks you move on to something else. But I saved up for 10 years. Im not kidding. At 18 I pulled the little safe out with the old Kodak picture of me shooting it at 8. Took that box to walmart and bought it. My dream came true the day I bought that gun. ❤🇺🇸
@@ExcavationNation That's cool man! My first 30-30 was a Winchester model 94, '90s production. It was a sweet shooter. Took my first hog with it. I was 19 when I bought it. Sold it when I was 26. I missed having a 30-30 so much, I had to get another so last year I bought a Sears model 54 30-30 and it's just a rebranded Winchester 94. I've only tried PPU and Hornady in it but so far the Hornady is the better performer.
Yep. There are things you fall in love with as a child especially guns and cars and lots of inexpensive things as well. Until you get them as an adult you almost feel incomplete lol. For me it's a Colt Python. 357 and a Ruger Mini 14. I have 2 Minis and a .357 but not a Colt Python, yet ! It still bugs me about the Python and yet I have owned several Firebird/Trans Am ( I'm from the Smokey and the Bandit generation, lol) . The small things are say a Buck 110 knife and the Schrade Stockman. I wonder how many here own one of these knives?? Anyway have a great day!
Very hard to get tight groups without a free-floated barrel but the 30-30 is still one of my favorite because it is so fun to shoot. It kind of takes you back in time when hunting was a little bit harder. You can put thousands in a rig and go out and put the crosshairs on a deer at several hundred yards and make it look easy with an ethical shot at that range, but getting a Marlin or Winchester in 30-30 and putting venison on the table is priceless.
Thats why I love it its just like the 1800s wild west no fancy sights no over thinking just a gun thats not incredibly good at anything but its simple and reliable
My 30-30 is my baby. She's the only gun I'd run back into a burning house for. I know you say it's hard to get tight groups without a free floating barrel, but with the right ammo I can put a full magazine inside a dime at 50 yards with that rifle. I've got her set up with a high mount scope, because my eyeballs just aren't what they used to be with iron sights, but it's a tack driver. I've got other rifles set up for other things, but where I hunt, you can't really see too far beyond 100 yards unless you get in the exact right spot of a high ridge line.
My first deer rifle was a 30/30 Marlin. Where we hunt, you're walking/standing in pretty thick brush and you can MAYBE get a 100 yard shot at something. That rifle was compact and quick to bring up when you catch deer sneaking through it. The lever action was smooth and quick for getting the next shot ready also.
I've had my .30-30winchester model 94 since I was 12. I have a 3-9×40 mm Simmons on it and with my 160 FTX handloads shoots sub 1/2 to 1/2 MOA at 100yds. Dialed 3" high at 100 yds is 6-3/4" low at 200 yds. They hit the deer and the deer drops. No tracking with this round and that's any round or flat nose as well. The energy is amazing less than 200 yds
G’day once again, on all of my original 92’s and 94’s and a Rossi 92, have all had ghost ring sights put on, some by me and the others came that way. My 1906 build 94 in 30-30 has a Lyman ghost ring sight, as does the same year 92 in 44-40. My 1926 94 has a Williams ghost ring peep sight, the diopter is adjustable form 2mm to 12mm for target/hunting use. I have several others and the Rossi has XS Ghost ring sights and it’s in 44 Mag with 16” barrel. It will print my handloads into sub 1” groups at 100 off sandbags. If you want accuracy with open sights, nothing beats ghost ring or peep sights. They are a sight to see and use. I have been shocked how accurately you can group with them. Cheers.
Thanks for a great analytical video of the Marlin 30-30 groups. I have a Winchester model 94 chambered for the 30-30. When I shoot the Winchester PowerPoint 150 grain ammo and the Barnes Vortex 150 grain, I get groups that average about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch at 100 yards. Out to 200 yards it widens to about 1 inch. The rifle loves both brands of ammo!
The 200 yd human silhouette group told me all I needed to know. Even though the group was large. Every one of those hits was a kill shot. Very adequate for SHTF in a restricted state. Thank you for helping me make a decision.
Crazy timing on this video... I've just been playing with grouping with my Marlin 336. I had done this a few years ago when ammo was more plentiful, and Hornady American Whitetail was my winner. Always appreciate your videos WTW!
@@kurtchristopherson5231 My 336c groups good with Hornady American Whitetail up to 200 yards. Winchester Super-x, Remington Cor-lokt were good to go at 100 yards, and haven't tried further with them yet. Barnes Vortex and Federal Fusion did good at 50 yards (haven't tried them further yet). Hornady LeverRevolution sucked at 50 yards. I think the tips deform easily and throw off the trajectory.
Kind of mirrors and supports Paul Harrell's video on the 30-30. Much more accurate and able to reach out farther than many of the commenters in this vid think. There are still people claiming that this round is only accurate to something like 75 yards. I am guessing they never owned or hunted with a 30-30 and are just repeating old wives tales. Zero at 125 and you can hold iron sights right on at 50 100 150 with a reasonable expectation of success.
Bro,is yer camara image backwards ? (At the beginning it looks like the loading gate is on the opposite side ,and yer hat and ammo are spelled backwards ,but when yer shootin'...it was right ) keep up the great videos!!! Later !
@@jameshill3278 I was going to make the same comment about everything being backwards when he was home. I've got a friend that I give hell all the time about wasting target paper as he makes a lot of one hole groups. No paper wasted here, he shot all over the place. Owning a Marlin 336 that I bought for my dad when I was very young and got when he passed I know they will shoot much better groups than what he got here.
, not to be rude , but where I hunt, you don’t get 150yd shots, maybe maybe 80-125 at best after all the leaves have fallen. Most of my shots have been in 35-75 yd range,(plus or minus a few yds). Yeah iron sights.
@@mrdinme.4768 Here too. My longest shot ever was 55 paces. My shortest was about 8 feet. (and I missed haha) Iron sight for most of my hunting. Recently put a barrel mounted peep on my 336, and use it as a ghost ring. Have not had it in the woods yet, But it is sighted and ready for when I am.
Never fired one myself but guessing you should be able to keep them in a pie plate at 200 yds,that's a pretty good range for most game animals.Maybe not pronghorn or mountain animals,would tend to make you a better hunter having to get a little closer.
Love these videos. I took a deer this fall at about 46 yards. I knew that the bullet would be a little lower than it was at 100 so I knew exactly where to hold. Inspired by WTW himself!!! Thanks WTW thanks for producing the content! Big time help.
The second rifle I bought is a Marlin 336 , it’s my all time favorite rifle , I put a bigger loop lever cuz I have big hands and the factory lever was too small , ammo is hard to come by and more expensive , good thing I saved all my brass over the years cuz I just started reloading it , great video 👍🏽
30-30 always seemed fine for doing what it was designed for - 150 or less yds in the bush. 150 gr was always a flat shooting load in that range, especially 50 and 100 yds (most of the time). Not a sniper rifle by a long shot. 30-30 loses it's flatness really fast with heavier bullets like 170 & 180 gr. Was suprised with the hornady, gonna try that, as mine is a Marlin. Up here in Canada, finding ammo for 30-30 is no challenge at all, and $1 a shot is the usual cost, even during Covid and Riot times.
I have a 30-30 story for you. My daughter In-laws great uncle during WW2 along with other men, guarded the Hoover Dam with their Winchester 30-30 rifle's from Japanese fighter's.
Read something like that before…. the US government gave canada a bunch of 3030 winchesters for the militia too use that was gaurding the coast… if im remembering correctly
3:29 If I didn't realize your camera has reversed the image, I'd be wondering where you get a left-handed 336. Best results in my 1973 336A .30-30 has been Leverevolution for factory loads, with Remington pretty far behind in second place, and 34 gr. of H4895 behind Sierra 150 gr. flat nose for handloads. I have some handloads with LVR and 160 gr. Hornady FTX, but I haven't tried them yet. My rifle pretty much likes them hot. Maybe because of the long barrel. When I spend more time at the range, I get all factory stuff shooting OK to pretty darn good at 100. That trigger takes some learning for bench shooting.
Never saw a left handed Winchester .30-30 before. Joking!! I saw a video the other night of a guy using 150 gr. ammo in a Winchester .30-30 and his groups were horrible. The .30-30 was meant to use the 170 gr. ammo due to the rifle twist. I don't care who says what. 150 gr. bullets are better suited to the .308 or the .30-06.
That’s a real nice Winchester you have there. I totally agree, you don’t put a scope on a Winchester lever gun. I have a marlin from 1980, I love it. I now have a scope on my marlin because of my age and eyes. It shots pretty good compared to a bolt gun. I haven’t purchased ammo for it in awhile and $100 a box is cray. But I am sitting pretty good in the ammo dept. I learned from my elder’s years ago about ammo. It old goes up and never comes down. So I purchased years ago. Thanks for doing the 30/30. Who tee who!
I heartily recommend the Marlin 336 in 30-30! I bought the Winchester 94 years ago and it constantly threw hot brass up and it came down my collar. But the Marlin ejects out the side. And I prefer the Marlin pistol grip stock. My wife’s 336 is a sweet shooter! The 30-30 is easy to shoot!
I have had both a Marlin 336 and the Winchester Model 94. I liked them both and no issues with either gun. The Marlin just fit me better. Both were good shooters. The94 was my Dad’s so it will stay in the family. I gave it to my granddaughter for her deer rifle. Sadly I thought I was to cool for a .30-.30. What an idiot. I sold it sadly. I regret having done that and it was the very last gun I ever sold. Will never sell another one. Might do a little trading but never sell! I have a .243 and a .44 magnum right now in deer hunting calibers and have a .22 and a .22 magnum in lever guns! I love the lever action!
History tells us that a 30 30 win is extremely accurate at 75 to 125 yards..they actually put it into expensive bolt actions years ago and it was excellent..it just depends on the quality of the action and barrel
I’ve got a 30/30 336 with a laminated stock and a 3-9x40 Tasso on top.It’s a Remlin and I purchased it about 5/6 years ago and I love it. I’ve fired about 600 rds and it’s as smooth as butter. Love it 😊...... Great videos,good knowledge and very entertaining so keep up the good work , Trev 🇦🇺🏁👍
I worked my hinie off the summer I turned 13 in 1965 to make enough money to buy a Winchester lever action model 54 yep 54 that ain't no typo from Sears & Roebuck for $65. I always hunted the deep woods and never seen a deer over 50 yards away. But if'n I seen 'em I got 'em. Carrying the gun with one in the chamber and the hammer on half cock safety it is one of the fastest guns to shoulder and shoot you could have. That quick first shot is what made the difference between getting a deer and not for me. I still love my old 30-30 for close in hunting.
I love stories like these. Going to Sears and buying good affordable guns or Western Auto, True Value etc. I used to love looking at the Sears catalog and dreaming about getting a cool gun. By the time I started buying guns ( mid 80s) it was basically over . I think they quit in 1988 and I was in the Army. Lol.
Adam I was mightily impressed with that 200 yard paper, you could have laid a steel straight edge through the three holes. As for the sights several companies make adjustable peep sights for the Model 94 top ejectors at a reasonable price...
I scoped my 336 and changed to Leverevolution ammo when I became too disabled to stalk. I zeroed 2" high at 100 yds. I very consistently shot less than 2 in. groups. I can hold dead center on the kill zone out to 200 yards. I love my 30/30 and I will be giving to my son, just like my father gave it to me.
Thanks wtw. The 30 30 is a really good deer rifle inside 200 yds. My dad left me his marlin 30 30 and I shot a big doe with it on Friday the 27th at 80 yds and she dropped like a rock. Appreciate your videos brother!! I know every gun is different but I get just over1" moa with the 150 gr. Remington core lokt soft point at 100 yds.👍👍
I was gifted my 3030 on my 8th birthday. Took my first deer wirh it when i was 12. I have a 270 a 30-06 and a 300 mag. That 3030 dtill makes it to the woods wirh me damn near every time i hunt.
This was good timing im working up a load for my 30/30 and my groups are what your last shots were and i was disappointed but my buddy says there good so you backed up what he said thanks
Last year I used my Winchester model 1866 Yellow Boy in .44WCF, to take a nice buck, dropping him where he stood. It has an octagon barrel and ladder sights. I’ve always shot for the spine at the base of the neck, because I prefer not to track my deer kill. If I hadn’t purchased a Bergara B-14, 6.5 Creedmore, I’d be using the Winchester again this year. It’s definitely one of the sweetest shooting rifles I own.
Who, I have three Marlin 30-30s, I hand load everything, I love the 30-30 but after three hundred yards, she drops right back to mother earth. I have a 115 year old Winchester 1894 it has a 26" barrel and does help a little, and I have a Marlin cowboy with a 24" barrel, it actually shoots right with the Winchester out past 200 yards. Thanks for all you do!!!
I have both an old Winchester 94 and a Marlin 336 in 30-30. The Winchester is a light, fast, brush gun normally used inside 100 yards. Gives great results. My Marlin has a Leupold 3X9 scope on it. About a year or so ago, I did some testing out to 200 yards and got similar results to yours. Zeroed to 100 yards, 100 yard groups stayed under 2 inches with several different 150 grain loads. At 200 yards, accuracy and drop varied a lot between different brands and loadings. Some dropped as much as 11 inches. (Sorry Remington). The best factory load I found for my gun is the Hornady LEVERevolution 140 gr Monoflex round. Drop at 200 Yards is about 6 inches. 3-shot groups varied between 4 to 7 inches. After watching this video, I'm going to give the Hornady Whitetail ammo a try. Great video!
The 30-30 will force you to Hunt, know your gun & game animals habits. That’s hunting. Using scoped long range rifles is harvesting. There is a big difference.
Hey Adam, I have the same Marlin 30-30 model 336. My dad got it for me when I was 14. I am 56 now. So I have had it 42 years, 26 of which I was in the Navy and did not hunt.I took a buck and a doe with it when I was young. About 5 years ago I took a nice 8 point with it. At the range it shoots about a 2 inch group using the Hornady Leverevolution ammo. I have a Leupold VX-3 HD 3-9 X 40 on it.
I have two Marlins in .30-30. The first is a Marlin 336CS with an old (and cheap) 3-9x40 Redfield scope. Got it for my 16th Christmas and it has been my deer and hog gun for 37 years. My second .30-30 is a Marlin 336SS with stock iron sights that I have as a truck gun since it won't rust.
Hell, with good eyes, I used to pop bottles at 200 yards, open sights. My .30-.30 has killed deer from 40 yards to a confirmed 185 yards and quite a few in between. The best part about it, is it’s handiness. The .30-.30 is indeed a fantastic brush gun.
I also have a Winchester Model 94 (I paid $187 brand new for it). The way I mounted a scope was with a forward (often called a ‘scout scope’ position) mount. I use a Leupold 2.5x IER (intermediate eye relief) scope, which I doubt they still make, and it works great. Better accuracy for my aging eyes than open sights but allows for a large field of view.
A 3030 can be extremely accurate. As a handloader I load Sierra Game kings spritzers. The same bullet in any other 30 cal. 308 3006 etc. I extended the oal ( overall length) and single load each rnd. For hunting I put that one in the pipe and same weight round nose in the tube. It won't extract so has to be fired at one point to unload. Surprising how accurate a 3030 can be. Reason factory ammo is rounded so you don't have a point of a bullet on the primer of the cartridge Infront of it in the tube. Could detonate from recoil etc. So anyone considering this never try.
Just for fun I once hand loaded some 150 gn round nosed soft point bullets in .308 Win brass . I shot them in my Winchester 70 .308 at 200 yards . They held 1 MOA and the group was only about two inches lower than the pointed bullets .
@@victorwaddell6530 And you had about twice as much gun. I've done the same in my old 88 Winchester and they shoot great but with a BC of nothing they do fall faster, but you'd never know it under 200 yards.
I have some "Savage" Model 340 bolt action .30-30's that are extremely accurate IF... you keep the action screws tight. They are detachable magazine fed and don't require round or flat tip bullets to function. They don't take all day to load and unload either, just extract the live round from the chamber, knock the clip out and stick it in your pocket. They're easy to mount a scope on too. I also have an H&R Handirifle single shot that I hot load 130 grain spire points for as my turkey rifle. Don't have to use blunt bullets or worry about cartridge 0AL working through the action.
A great upgrade in Lever rifles is the Browning, a box magazine and chambered for "pointy" .308 ammunition. A huge jump in performance and the charm of a lever action gun. 😊👍
I've got an old Model 88 Winchester I bought new somewhere around 1971. It has brought down somewhere around forty five deer with not one requiring tracking or a second shot. My dad had a Marlin 336 30-30 and I don't know how many deer he lost or they ran a quarter of a mile after a well placed shot. He died two years ago and I own it now. We bought it for him for Christmas when I was about ten years old. I'm sixty six now. Been a day or two ago. Still has the Revelation scope on it that was on it when we bought it at the local Western Auto store.
I love my 30-30. Was passed down from my dad to me. Got my first deer @ 15yrds. Was shooting Remington core loks but it wasn’t consistent so I tried Winchester xp. Was better but I feel my 30-30 likes the federal power shok better. Was able to get a better grouping @ 75yrds. Last yr my son got his first buck @ 67yrds and it dropped right on the spot. Now my son is already claiming it as his gun.
I did the same sort of test with a .30-.30 a long time ago. I used Federal 170 gr rounds and got the best groups. 150 gr rounds wouldn't pattern good at all. In my test they dropped 16" at 200 yds with a 100 yd zero.
You did it again buddy and I have always said that ammo always makes the difference. Thank you for another great video and for the information. Keep on shooting and I will be waiting for another great video to 👍
It is mind boggling how the slow and heavy bullets from the 30 30 react to gravity and drop at 32 ft per second squared and the fast light 22 250 bullets react to gravity and drop at a rate of 9.75 meters per second squared.
I miss 30-30 at 10.99 a box and all the others at less than 16.99 a box . WTW it wasn’t you it’s a 30-30 I’ve had 3 …I promise … a 30-30 is a whole lotta gun for what it was intended to be used for !! Thanks for the video! Appreciate ya
I have never shot past 75 yards with my 30 30 it's just too much brush around here but it is my favorite little rifle I feel like you can't miss great video god bless you
Marlin 336 (non side safety) 30-30. Also the Marlin .357 lever action. Was purchased together years ago by a family member. They both reside with me now. My grandkids love shooting the "Cowboy" .357.
I have a Winchester 94 30-30,, i love it, i wouldn't ever sell it or trade it for no amount of money,, it was made in 1978 or 79,, my friends Marlin 336 is the same year,, his Marlin is more accurate than my Winchester,, but not by much,, the Winchester looks better & feels better in my hand,, i like it better than the Marlin
When my dad passed back in 1999 he had a Marlin model 30-AW in 30-30 that I kept and decided to do something with it . I took it to a local gunsmith and had him to take the barrel off and use a 308 Winchester reamer and punch the chamber out to a 307 Winchester . It took it from a 150 yard to a 300 yarder with a Burris 3X9 compact !
Lever actions can be inaccurate if the barrel band is too tight or too loose, or if the handguard is too tight or too lose (depending on how it it is secured to the rifle). If I get groups like that I check my scope and mounts and then check the rifle itself. I've taken levers that were getting 10 moa and made them sub moa by simply tightening a screw. If yours isn't shooting well check anything that is secured to the barrel and make sure nothing is "funky".
Nice Marlin, and nice Winchester. The 30-30 levers do what they were designed to do, and does it well, this side of 200 yds. If I am hunting deer in a place where I think I need more reach, then the 25-06 comes into Play, and the 30-30 stays at home
I know this is a year-old video but I wanted to comment, I use an Old Stevens 325 Bolt action that was made in 1949. it's slightly older than me. I hunt in the Woods mostly and all of my shots are never over 100yrds. I use a williams Peep Recever sight and I always zero at 50yrds. I hand load and use 150gr. Hornady round-nose bullets. It always does the job. good video.
It's important to add that most 30-30s will NEVER see 2400 feet per second. That is a number created by a 24 inch test barrel. Most 20" barreled 30-30s are closer to 2200fps
I’d bet some of the reason why the Winchester group size was so big was the crosshairs were still settling down. Cheaper scopes are bad about that. That’s why I don’t like shooting a single shot then adjusting with cheaper scopes. I completely understand not wanting to waste ammo though. It would have been better to at least fire one shot of the Hornady at 100 yards too. As far as using iron sights on the 94, a peep sight is much easier for me to shoot with. I have one made in ‘69. I also have an angle eject made in ‘83 that shoots about 1.5” at 100 yards with any ammo but I found one load that would shoots incredibly well if you pay attention to the brass. 30-30 brass often has necks that aren’t concentric.
On opening day I looked over my options and reached for the family deer gun a 1955 Marlin 336c and grabbed the last 4 shells I loaded in High School that got me my first deer. By 8am a 170# Doe came in hot and she stood 20 yards from my blind. The 30-30 hit with force and folded her. A high shoulder shot took out both lungs and the top of the heart. Made a golf ball sized entry and exit hole so the blood trail was painted for a blind man to follow. There is a reason the 30-30 is still a relevant cartage and it's taken the most deer in our family history.
People! This post is excellent for showing what exactly happens when a good rifle man has limited amounts of ammunition and is using a loaner! I can assure you that had there been four boxes of ammunition and a bit more time, well this would have been a much different post! Enjoy!
First I saw a left handed marlin. At the range i saw right handed same scope on it. I have a 336 marlin. Made 1972. Reload IMR 4064 with 125 gr Sierra HP. Just over an inch at 100yds. Enjoyed the video 👍
The norm for a lever-action gun is about 2-2,5 MOA groups. To me the 30-30 is a short range rifle. And superb in the woods when the range rarely gets over 80-100 meters. And i am comfortable to take shoots out to 150 meters. I do have a Win 94AE chambered in 307 Win. It shoots 1MOA groups with a scope on it. And with a little more power than the 30-30. It is my go to rifle for those longer shots out to 200-250 meters.
1976 Marlin 336 in .30-30 that I've had since I was eleven years old . Until 2007, I shot handloads using the Speer Hot Core 170 grain bullet at 2,130 fps. When Hornady came out with the gummy-tip FTX bullets, I made the switch and have been using them ever since, handloaded to 2,380 fps / 2013 ft /lbs. At 100 yards, it's 3.25" high, velocity is 2182 with 1692 ft/lb. Its dead on at 200 yards, where velocity is 1994 fps for 1413 ft/lbs of energy. At 275 yards, which is as far as I've ever shot at game and also as far as I've ever done so with an aperture sight, the velocity is 1860 fps and it's still hitting with 1,229 ft/lbs of energy. I'm a "still hunter" kind of guy. As a result, even in the wide open west where I formerly hunted the most, my shots would more often be measured in dozens of yards rather than hundreds. I became a still hunter guy because my first gun was my Marlin 336 and instead of worrying about performance I didn't have, still-hunting let me make the most of what I had. I hunt the same way, no matter rifle I'm toting, so my longest shots were a 275 yard poke at a California HIgh Desert mule deer with a Ruger No.1 B in .300 Weatherby Magnum, and another 275 yard poke at a Santa Rosa Island pig with a Model 1903 Springfield fitted with a Lyman Model 48 aperture sight, In 2007, I had the magazine tube bobbed to half length. I never had to shoot at game with the thing more than once and in stock form, it was a 2.5 MOA rifle with significant vertical stringing when shooting from a full magazine. With the bobbed magazine, a glass-bedded butt stock, and a decent Leupold scope, it's 1.5" or tighter for four shots at 100 yards. But as I hunt it with an aperture sight, it's a 2 M.O.A. rifle for me as I actually use it. I'm okay with that, because that's as precise as I was ever able to shoot a National Match prepped AR-15 A2 when you had to use aperture sights in service rifle matches. The Hornady FTX bullets were game-changes for me. With the handload I use, I've got all the power and trajectory I can use with the sights I"m using. Back when I was using handloads with Speer 170 grain Hot Core bullets, I shot seven elk with that rifle, at distances from about 35 yards to 125 or so. With the ammo I load now, it's got more "juice" than ever and it's really all the hunting rifle I need. I found myself using it more and more and ultimately sold off the rest of my hunting rifles and frankly, I don't miss them. After 47 seasons as a licensed hunter, my world isn't going to come to an end if I go on a hunt and see game but don't kill it and I'd still rather brag about how close I got to it than how far off I was when I shot it.
I remembee my uncles tellin me as a 12 year old not to even attempt to shoot a deer at over 100 yards. Said the 3030 would tumble after that, and anything passed 200 , if i managed to hit it wouldnt penetrate the skin.. fast forward, 17 years old, and got a 300 win mag for christmas... Didnt have a scope yet so i took my ol 3030 on a weekend hunt.. i hunted side by side with dad that day, , i had zeroed at 125, and we decided hed cover the back and me the front of the blind we were in.. right about dark, a 7 point come out . Not no trophy or nothig, but exceptionally big bodied.. i was cussing because all we had were 3030s.. i told dad to try and holler him in, i ranged him at 233 yards.... Dad said , why?? Take him now, itll be too dark by the time we get him in? I told him my uncles said the 3030 wasnt capable past 100 yds... My dad rolled his eyes, and aaid " dont listen to them idiots boy, you can shoot better than anybody i seen, if you can make the shot , take it, the rifle has the power.. i sat the crosshairs right about his shoulder line... Just could see it .. BOOM.. he dropped right there like a bolt of lightening hit him... I turned to my dad, and he had the camera filiming it ... To my suprise it was a complete pass thru,. Huge damage. 130 grain core lokt if i remember... Dad showed them uncs what a 3030 would do when they laughed ,when i told them it was about 225 yards.. "bull" " stop lyin boy"... 3030 is better than old timers think... Ive sense taken deer at 6-700 yards with my 3000.. but if the area is 250 yds or less.. im bringin my marlin instead
Marlin 30-30 was my 1st dear rifle taking a ton of deer with it Passed it on to my daughter have taken deer with Remington Winchester federal hornady ammunitionThe evolution is some great stuff shoots a lot flatter enjoyed video as always
John Browning didn't design the first smokeless center fire rifle cartridge in .30-30 caliber to shoot beyond 200 yards because Winchester lever guns weren't originally designed for optics. It's a medium power general purpose gun, just as it was designed to be. Browning designed the 30-30 to hit well but be modest for general use, and that's what still makes it great.
I love watching your videos I was wondering if you could do a video on 45-70 bullet drop? Thank you for making great videos and keep it up the great videos
I have Winchester 94 30-30 angle eject. I bought it new in the late 80s or early 90s. I was using Hornaday leverevolution 160 grains. I have a Cabela's lever action rifle scope. Using sand bags my group was fairly tight. I can't remember how tight actually. I'm in California so I had to switch to copper. I got some cor-bon 160 grain and they were the same as the Hornaday. Then I switched back to Hornaday leverevolution nonlead 140 grain and they are a little higher at 100 yards. But I haven't fired it in a while. It's my only deer hunting rifle. But deer are extremely hard to come by here so I have not got one in many many years. Too many people in a small area.
Thank you so much for doing this video. It proves my point; guys don't even try to impress me by telling me you shot a deer at 500yrds with a 30-30. You are no friend of mine. Aiming 11ft over the top of the deer? Get serious! You can't even see the deer, it is so far below the barrel. LOL
At 200 yards with my Thompson contender and 4x leupold EER scope I could put 110 grain plinkers in a 1 to 2 inch group all day long. They were loaded pretty hot but still shoot able in a lever action rifle. With a 180 grain soft point and loaded too hot to shoot from a lever action rifle they'd hurt your wrist, but they'd reach out and touch whatever you aimed at at 200 or even 300 yards with a 14" bull barrel. I miss that gun alot... Years later someone stole some guns from me and took the 180 grain loads I had loaded up for it. I'm just hoping they had a lever action and fired them in it. They were really way too hot to even shoot in the TC. But 30-30s are fun to shoot...
2k19 the first deer camp I’ve spent alone due too my grandpa being in the hospital. Got in the tree stand 30 mins before sunrise opening morning in northern Michigan and dropped my first 10pt buck at 60 yards open sights, “skinner sights” He didn’t move a inch from where I pulled the trigger. 150 grain
30s have been around for a long time for a reason. The work. However the 35Rem is generally more accurate. I have a marlin 336. Put a scope on it with see through rings on top and you have the perfect brush gun! I use the irons to get on target, and then switch to scope for precision shot. It works for me and is guick.
Interesting! At your home the writing on the safe is backwards and the Winchester loading gate is on the wrong side. Alternate universe? Alien broadcast? Reminds me of the photo of Billy the Kid that made him look like he was left-handed because the tintype image was mirror-reversed. The loading gate gave it away there too. On the other hand, if you are in a parallel universe your barrel twist is in the opposite direction and that might be affecting your bullet performance in the northern hemisphere of whatever planet you’re actually on.
Yo WTW awesome video. I just took a doe and a coyote yesterday with the 350 legend. Just got done skinning and hanging to age. Hopefully you get some more game soon yourself
Iron sights for me . The stuff I hunt is so thick a scope would be knocked around to much to be accurate . Most of the deer shot with mine are quick shots when I scare them out of heavy brush and a scope would be to hard to use in that situation .
An Army buddy's Uncle backed his pickup out of the detached garage to go deer hunting. When he got out to close the garage door, he spotted a nice 4-pointer grazing nearby. He grabs his 30-30 from the cab's rack, nails that buck at 85 yards. Puts the rifle back in the pickup and pulls the truck back into the garage. Deer season is over, and his Thermos ain't even cold yet. 'Merica. North Central North Dakota.
My favorite Bing bang of all time as a kid I shot one! Felt like a cowboy fell in loved. THE DAY I turned 18. I bought the pretty brass one from Walmart. That gun is the best thing I own. Usually as a kid you find something you want and you save up blah blah. And normally after 3 weeks you move on to something else. But I saved up for 10 years. Im not kidding. At 18 I pulled the little safe out with the old Kodak picture of me shooting it at 8. Took that box to walmart and bought it. My dream came true the day I bought that gun. ❤🇺🇸
Got a little tear from telling that story. BUT ONLY A LITTLE ONE. 💪💪💪😎
Even your ammo boxes are upside down. Your upright but you have a rare rifle in your hands with it being left handed. 🤔
@@markeastham3095 yea man you commented in the wrong section lol.
@@ExcavationNation
That's cool man! My first 30-30 was a Winchester model 94, '90s production. It was a sweet shooter. Took my first hog with it. I was 19 when I bought it. Sold it when I was 26. I missed having a 30-30 so much, I had to get another so last year I bought a Sears model 54 30-30 and it's just a rebranded Winchester 94. I've only tried PPU and Hornady in it but so far the Hornady is the better performer.
Yep. There are things you fall in love with as a child especially guns and cars and lots of inexpensive things as well. Until you get them as an adult you almost feel incomplete lol. For me it's a Colt Python. 357 and a Ruger Mini 14. I have 2 Minis and a .357 but not a Colt Python, yet ! It still bugs me about the Python and yet I have owned several Firebird/Trans Am ( I'm from the Smokey and the Bandit generation, lol) . The small things are say a Buck 110 knife and the Schrade Stockman. I wonder how many here own one of these knives?? Anyway have a great day!
Very hard to get tight groups without a free-floated barrel but the 30-30 is still one of my favorite because it is so fun to shoot. It kind of takes you back in time when hunting was a little bit harder. You can put thousands in a rig and go out and put the crosshairs on a deer at several hundred yards and make it look easy with an ethical shot at that range, but getting a Marlin or Winchester in 30-30 and putting venison on the table is priceless.
Thats why I love it its just like the 1800s wild west no fancy sights no over thinking just a gun thats not incredibly good at anything but its simple and reliable
I agree I love my 30-30 it's a good rifle and I can always depend on it and it's good for what I want
@@johnv8274 its like an old Chevy always starts not winning any contests but its always ready when you need has enough power if you need it
Personally think it's the external hammer and slow lock time.
My 30-30 is my baby. She's the only gun I'd run back into a burning house for. I know you say it's hard to get tight groups without a free floating barrel, but with the right ammo I can put a full magazine inside a dime at 50 yards with that rifle. I've got her set up with a high mount scope, because my eyeballs just aren't what they used to be with iron sights, but it's a tack driver. I've got other rifles set up for other things, but where I hunt, you can't really see too far beyond 100 yards unless you get in the exact right spot of a high ridge line.
My first deer rifle was a 30/30 Marlin. Where we hunt, you're walking/standing in pretty thick brush and you can MAYBE get a 100 yard shot at something. That rifle was compact and quick to bring up when you catch deer sneaking through it. The lever action was smooth and quick for getting the next shot ready also.
Great ‘brush’ gun indeed
Sounds like we hunt the same area, lol
I use a Marlin 336 in 35Rem and is also an excellent round that is a tack driver at 100yrds.
My first rifle was a Marlin 336w in 30-30
I've had my .30-30winchester model 94 since I was 12. I have a 3-9×40 mm Simmons on it and with my 160 FTX handloads shoots sub 1/2 to 1/2 MOA at 100yds. Dialed 3" high at 100 yds is 6-3/4" low at 200 yds. They hit the deer and the deer drops. No tracking with this round and that's any round or flat nose as well. The energy is amazing less than 200 yds
G’day once again, on all of my original 92’s and 94’s and a Rossi 92, have all had ghost ring sights put on, some by me and the others came that way. My 1906 build 94 in 30-30 has a Lyman ghost ring sight, as does the same year 92 in 44-40. My 1926 94 has a Williams ghost ring peep sight, the diopter is adjustable form 2mm to 12mm for target/hunting use. I have several others and the Rossi has XS Ghost ring sights and it’s in 44 Mag with 16” barrel. It will print my handloads into sub 1” groups at 100 off sandbags. If you want accuracy with open sights, nothing beats ghost ring or peep sights. They are a sight to see and use. I have been shocked how accurately you can group with them.
Cheers.
Thanks for a great analytical video of the Marlin 30-30 groups. I have a Winchester model 94 chambered for the 30-30. When I shoot the Winchester PowerPoint 150 grain ammo and the Barnes Vortex 150 grain, I get groups that average about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch at 100 yards. Out to 200 yards it widens to about 1 inch. The rifle loves both brands of ammo!
My 94 seems to prefer Remington 170gr corelokt. I get about 3/4” to 1” at 100 yards with a ghost ring.
The 200 yd human silhouette group told me all I needed to know. Even though the group was large. Every one of those hits was a kill shot. Very adequate for SHTF in a restricted state. Thank you for helping me make a decision.
Crazy timing on this video... I've just been playing with grouping with my Marlin 336. I had done this a few years ago when ammo was more plentiful, and Hornady American Whitetail was my winner.
Always appreciate your videos WTW!
Yeah the Hornady grouping was a surprise to me, and I will definitely give it a whirl on my Marlin 336
@@kurtchristopherson5231 My 336c groups good with Hornady American Whitetail up to 200 yards.
Winchester Super-x, Remington Cor-lokt were good to go at 100 yards, and haven't tried further with them yet.
Barnes Vortex and Federal Fusion did good at 50 yards (haven't tried them further yet).
Hornady LeverRevolution sucked at 50 yards. I think the tips deform easily and throw off the trajectory.
Kind of mirrors and supports Paul Harrell's video on the 30-30. Much more accurate and able to reach out farther than many of the commenters in this vid think. There are still people claiming that this round is only accurate to something like 75 yards. I am guessing they never owned or hunted with a 30-30 and are just repeating old wives tales. Zero at 125 and you can hold iron sights right on at 50 100 150 with a reasonable expectation of success.
Bro,is yer camara image backwards ? (At the beginning it looks like the loading gate is on the opposite side ,and yer hat and ammo are spelled backwards ,but when yer shootin'...it was right ) keep up the great videos!!! Later !
@@jameshill3278 I was going to make the same comment about everything being backwards when he was home. I've got a friend that I give hell all the time about wasting target paper as he makes a lot of one hole groups. No paper wasted here, he shot all over the place. Owning a Marlin 336 that I bought for my dad when I was very young and got when he passed I know they will shoot much better groups than what he got here.
, not to be rude , but where I hunt, you don’t get 150yd shots, maybe maybe 80-125 at best after all the leaves have fallen. Most of my shots have been in 35-75 yd range,(plus or minus a few yds). Yeah iron sights.
@@mrdinme.4768 Here too. My longest shot ever was 55 paces. My shortest was about 8 feet. (and I missed haha) Iron sight for most of my hunting. Recently put a barrel mounted peep on my 336, and use it as a ghost ring. Have not had it in the woods yet, But it is sighted and ready for when I am.
Never fired one myself but guessing you should be able to keep them in a pie plate at 200 yds,that's a pretty good range for most game animals.Maybe not pronghorn or mountain animals,would tend to make you a better hunter having to get a little closer.
Love these videos. I took a deer this fall at about 46 yards. I knew that the bullet would be a little lower than it was at 100 so I knew exactly where to hold. Inspired by WTW himself!!! Thanks WTW thanks for producing the content! Big time help.
The second rifle I bought is a Marlin 336 , it’s my all time favorite rifle , I put a bigger loop lever cuz I have big hands and the factory lever was too small , ammo is hard to come by and more expensive , good thing I saved all my brass over the years cuz I just started reloading it , great video 👍🏽
30-30 always seemed fine for doing what it was designed for - 150 or less yds in the bush. 150 gr was always a flat shooting load in that range, especially 50 and 100 yds (most of the time). Not a sniper rifle by a long shot. 30-30 loses it's flatness really fast with heavier bullets like 170 & 180 gr. Was suprised with the hornady, gonna try that, as mine is a Marlin. Up here in Canada, finding ammo for 30-30 is no challenge at all, and $1 a shot is the usual cost, even during Covid and Riot times.
Every round capable of taking deer will be flat shooting to 150 yards. That is like saying 22lr is flat shooting to 50 yards
I have a 30-30 story for you. My daughter In-laws great uncle during WW2 along with other men, guarded the Hoover Dam with their Winchester 30-30 rifle's from Japanese fighter's.
Read something like that before…. the US government gave canada a bunch of 3030 winchesters for the militia too use that was gaurding the coast… if im remembering correctly
Forgotten weapons talks about a couple government contracted Winchesters for people guarding the Pacific Northwest lumber yards too.
Very short story lol
I heard about those Government issued 30-30s.... can't get much better than that!😊
@@riverrivers250
correct, in canada they were called the mountain men.
Awesome video WTW. The Marlins I’ve shot and been around are super accurate and group well with the right ammo.
3:29 If I didn't realize your camera has reversed the image, I'd be wondering where you get a left-handed 336.
Best results in my 1973 336A .30-30 has been Leverevolution for factory loads, with Remington pretty far behind in second place, and 34 gr. of H4895 behind Sierra 150 gr. flat nose for handloads. I have some handloads with LVR and 160 gr. Hornady FTX, but I haven't tried them yet. My rifle pretty much likes them hot. Maybe because of the long barrel. When I spend more time at the range, I get all factory stuff shooting OK to pretty darn good at 100. That trigger takes some learning for bench shooting.
Me too !
Look at his hat, the whole video is reversed
After you pointed that out.... I see his wedding ring is on the wrong hand and the name on the safe is backwards too. Lol.
Never saw a left handed Winchester .30-30 before. Joking!! I saw a video the other night of a guy using 150 gr. ammo in a Winchester .30-30 and his groups were horrible. The .30-30 was meant to use the 170 gr. ammo due to the rifle twist. I don't care who says what. 150 gr. bullets are better suited to the .308 or the .30-06.
Hi I'm from UK. I got a Marlin 336 and it don't like 150 grn at all. I only use 170 grn
the Winchester's were 1: 12 though weren't they? i thought it's the marlins that are 1: 10 and like the heavier pill
@@simondeeley9413 13:40 😮
That’s a real nice Winchester you have there. I totally agree, you don’t put a scope on a Winchester lever gun. I have a marlin from 1980, I love it. I now have a scope on my marlin because of my age and eyes. It shots pretty good compared to a bolt gun. I haven’t purchased ammo for it in awhile and $100 a box is cray. But I am sitting pretty good in the ammo dept. I learned from my elder’s years ago about ammo. It old goes up and never comes down. So I purchased years ago. Thanks for doing the 30/30. Who tee who!
I don't have a 30-30, but I always wanted a lever action rifle. If the ammo situation improves I may look into a 30-30. Good information as always. 👍
I heartily recommend the Marlin 336 in 30-30! I bought the Winchester 94 years ago and it constantly threw hot brass up and it came down my collar. But the Marlin ejects out the side. And I prefer the Marlin pistol grip stock. My wife’s 336 is a sweet shooter! The 30-30 is easy to shoot!
30/30 are about $800 now back when had mine was only $120 n wish still had it
@@dr.froghopper6711 mine did that n boy was that hot yikes till I put a scope on it
I haven't had issues with the top eject. I have the Sears model 54 30-30.
I have had both a Marlin 336 and the Winchester Model 94. I liked them both and no issues with either gun. The Marlin just fit me better. Both were good shooters. The94 was my Dad’s so it will stay in the family. I gave it to my granddaughter for her deer rifle. Sadly I thought I was to cool for a .30-.30. What an idiot. I sold it sadly. I regret having done that and it was the very last gun I ever sold. Will never sell another one. Might do a little trading but never sell! I have a .243 and a .44 magnum right now in deer hunting calibers and have a .22 and a .22 magnum in lever guns! I love the lever action!
History tells us that a 30 30 win is extremely accurate at 75 to 125 yards..they actually put it into expensive bolt actions years ago and it was excellent..it just depends on the quality of the action and barrel
That's right, my.30.30
is a bolt action Savage with 1 in the chamber and a 5 shot clip.
I just watched a guy shoot a Henry 3030 with a sub 1 inch group at 70 yards with iron sights.. these things are awesome
I’ve got a 30/30 336 with a laminated stock and a 3-9x40 Tasso on top.It’s a Remlin and I purchased it about 5/6 years ago and I love it. I’ve fired about 600 rds and it’s as smooth as butter. Love it 😊...... Great videos,good knowledge and very entertaining so keep up the good work , Trev 🇦🇺🏁👍
I worked my hinie off the summer I turned 13 in 1965 to make enough money to buy a Winchester lever action model 54 yep 54 that ain't no typo from Sears & Roebuck for $65. I always hunted the deep woods and never seen a deer over 50 yards away. But if'n I seen 'em I got 'em. Carrying the gun with one in the chamber and the hammer on half cock safety it is one of the fastest guns to shoulder and shoot you could have. That quick first shot is what made the difference between getting a deer and not for me. I still love my old 30-30 for close in hunting.
I love stories like these. Going to Sears and buying good affordable guns or Western Auto, True Value etc. I used to love looking at the Sears catalog and dreaming about getting a cool gun. By the time I started buying guns ( mid 80s) it was basically over . I think they quit in 1988 and I was in the Army. Lol.
That's a great group for that cartridge. Hornaday sure is proving themselves to make high quality stuff for just about every lead slinger.
Adam I was mightily impressed with that 200 yard paper, you could have laid a steel straight edge through the three holes. As for the sights several companies make adjustable peep sights for the Model 94 top ejectors at a reasonable price...
I scoped my 336 and changed to Leverevolution ammo when I became too disabled to stalk. I zeroed 2" high at 100 yds. I very consistently shot less than 2 in. groups. I can hold dead center on the kill zone out to 200 yards. I love my 30/30 and I will be giving to my son, just like my father gave it to me.
Thanks wtw. The 30 30 is a really good deer rifle inside 200 yds. My dad left me his marlin 30 30 and I shot a big doe with it on Friday the 27th at 80 yds and she dropped like a rock. Appreciate your videos brother!! I know every gun is different but I get just over1" moa with the 150 gr. Remington core lokt soft point at 100 yds.👍👍
The rule of thumb for the ,30-30 is minute of pie plate.. It's all you need at 100 yards on deer.
I was gifted my 3030 on my 8th birthday. Took my first deer wirh it when i was 12. I have a 270 a 30-06 and a 300 mag. That 3030 dtill makes it to the woods wirh me damn near every time i hunt.
This was good timing im working up a load for my 30/30 and my groups are what your last shots were and i was disappointed but my buddy says there good so you backed up what he said thanks
Last year I used my Winchester model 1866 Yellow Boy in .44WCF, to take a nice buck, dropping him where he stood. It has an octagon barrel and ladder sights. I’ve always shot for the spine at the base of the neck, because I prefer not to track my deer kill. If I hadn’t purchased a Bergara B-14, 6.5 Creedmore, I’d be using the Winchester again this year. It’s definitely one of the sweetest shooting rifles I own.
Who, I have three Marlin 30-30s, I hand load everything, I love the 30-30 but after three hundred yards, she drops right back to mother earth. I have a 115 year old Winchester 1894 it has a 26" barrel and does help a little, and I have a Marlin cowboy with a 24" barrel, it actually shoots right with the Winchester out past 200 yards. Thanks for all you do!!!
I have both an old Winchester 94 and a Marlin 336 in 30-30. The Winchester is a light, fast, brush gun normally used inside 100 yards. Gives great results. My Marlin has a Leupold 3X9 scope on it. About a year or so ago, I did some testing out to 200 yards and got similar results to yours. Zeroed to 100 yards, 100 yard groups stayed under 2 inches with several different 150 grain loads. At 200 yards, accuracy and drop varied a lot between different brands and loadings. Some dropped as much as 11 inches. (Sorry Remington). The best factory load I found for my gun is the Hornady LEVERevolution 140 gr Monoflex round. Drop at 200 Yards is about 6 inches. 3-shot groups varied between 4 to 7 inches. After watching this video, I'm going to give the Hornady Whitetail ammo a try. Great video!
The 30-30 will force you to Hunt, know your gun & game animals habits. That’s hunting. Using scoped long range rifles is harvesting. There is a big difference.
Hey Adam, I have the same Marlin 30-30 model 336. My dad got it for me when I was 14. I am 56 now. So I have had it 42 years, 26 of which I was in the Navy and did not hunt.I took a buck and a doe with it when I was young. About 5 years ago I took a nice 8 point with it. At the range it shoots about a 2 inch group using the Hornady Leverevolution ammo. I have a Leupold VX-3 HD 3-9 X 40 on it.
I have two Marlins in .30-30. The first is a Marlin 336CS with an old (and cheap) 3-9x40 Redfield scope. Got it for my 16th Christmas and it has been my deer and hog gun for 37 years. My second .30-30 is a Marlin 336SS with stock iron sights that I have as a truck gun since it won't rust.
We asked for it on the Live and he delivered!!!! Thanks for this man love my 94!!!
Doesn’t matter at 100 yards. U don’t need optics. The .30-30 is a bush beast!
Hell, with good eyes, I used to pop bottles at 200 yards, open sights. My .30-.30 has killed deer from 40 yards to a confirmed 185 yards and quite a few in between. The best part about it, is it’s handiness. The .30-.30 is indeed a fantastic brush gun.
I also have a Winchester Model 94 (I paid $187 brand new for it). The way I mounted a scope was with a forward (often called a ‘scout scope’ position) mount. I use a Leupold 2.5x IER (intermediate eye relief) scope, which I doubt they still make, and it works great. Better accuracy for my aging eyes than open sights but allows for a large field of view.
A 3030 can be extremely accurate. As a handloader I load Sierra Game kings spritzers. The same bullet in any other 30 cal. 308 3006 etc. I extended the oal ( overall length) and single load each rnd. For hunting I put that one in the pipe and same weight round nose in the tube. It won't extract so has to be fired at one point to unload. Surprising how accurate a 3030 can be. Reason factory ammo is rounded so you don't have a point of a bullet on the primer of the cartridge Infront of it in the tube. Could detonate from recoil etc. So anyone considering this never try.
Just for fun I once hand loaded some 150 gn round nosed soft point bullets in .308 Win brass . I shot them in my Winchester 70 .308 at 200 yards . They held 1 MOA and the group was only about two inches lower than the pointed bullets .
I did the same thing with some Hornady 150s. Had exactly the same experience. If I had a single-shot, it would be worth experimenting.
@@victorwaddell6530 And you had about twice as much gun. I've done the same in my old 88 Winchester and they shoot great but with a BC of nothing they do fall faster, but you'd never know it under 200 yards.
I have some "Savage" Model 340 bolt action .30-30's that are extremely accurate IF... you keep
the action screws tight. They are detachable magazine fed and don't require round or flat tip bullets to function. They don't take all day to load and unload either, just extract the live round from the chamber, knock the clip out and stick it in your pocket. They're easy to mount a scope on too.
I also have an H&R Handirifle single shot that I hot load 130 grain spire points for as my turkey rifle. Don't have to use blunt bullets or worry about cartridge 0AL working through the action.
@@victorwaddell6530 : Sounds about right !
My favorite rifle. Thanks and have a great day.
My Winchester 94 is also a 1972 manufacture year! I love shooting it and its always been dead-on accurate!
A great upgrade in Lever rifles is the Browning, a box magazine and chambered for "pointy" .308 ammunition. A huge jump in performance and the charm of a lever action gun. 😊👍
Henry Long Ranger is also good
@@sleeper.simulant7327 Thanks for the info 👍😊
I've got an old Model 88 Winchester I bought new somewhere around 1971. It has brought down somewhere around forty five deer with not one requiring tracking or a second shot. My dad had a Marlin 336 30-30 and I don't know how many deer he lost or they ran a quarter of a mile after a well placed shot. He died two years ago and I own it now. We bought it for him for Christmas when I was about ten years old. I'm sixty six now. Been a day or two ago. Still has the Revelation scope on it that was on it when we bought it at the local Western Auto store.
I love my 30-30. Was passed down from my dad to me. Got my first deer @ 15yrds. Was shooting Remington core loks but it wasn’t consistent so I tried Winchester xp. Was better but I feel my 30-30 likes the federal power shok better. Was able to get a better grouping @ 75yrds. Last yr my son got his first buck @ 67yrds and it dropped right on the spot. Now my son is already claiming it as his gun.
The mirrored camera is driving me crazy! 😂
I did the same sort of test with a .30-.30 a long time ago. I used Federal 170 gr rounds and got the best groups. 150 gr rounds wouldn't pattern good at all. In my test they dropped 16" at 200 yds with a 100 yd zero.
You did it again buddy and I have always said that ammo always makes the difference. Thank you for another great video and for the information. Keep on shooting and I will be waiting for another great video to 👍
It is mind boggling how the slow and heavy bullets from the 30 30 react to gravity and drop at 32 ft per second squared and the fast light 22 250 bullets react to gravity and drop at a rate of 9.75 meters per second squared.
Ya I guess that 2500 ft per sec is pretty slow compared to the speed of light. Lol
I miss 30-30 at 10.99 a box and all the others at less than 16.99 a box . WTW it wasn’t you it’s a 30-30 I’ve had 3 …I promise … a 30-30 is a whole lotta gun for what it was intended to be used for !! Thanks for the video! Appreciate ya
I have never shot past 75 yards with my 30 30 it's just too much brush around here but it is my favorite little rifle I feel like you can't miss great video god bless you
Still really hoping to see some of these videos with a 35 Rem
A good saddle rifle
Marlin 336 (non side safety) 30-30. Also the Marlin .357 lever action. Was purchased together years ago by a family member. They both reside with me now. My grandkids love shooting the "Cowboy" .357.
Henry big boy in 30-30. Found it at a price to good to pass. It had to follow me home.
I have a Winchester 94 30-30,, i love it, i wouldn't ever sell it or trade it for no amount of money,, it was made in 1978 or 79,, my friends Marlin 336 is the same year,, his Marlin is more accurate than my Winchester,, but not by much,, the Winchester looks better & feels better in my hand,, i like it better than the Marlin
1958 yr 336RC 3rd 336 Marlin. Love those guns
When my dad passed back in 1999 he had a Marlin model 30-AW in 30-30 that I kept and decided to do something with it . I took it to a local gunsmith and had him to take the barrel off and use a 308 Winchester reamer and punch the chamber out to a 307 Winchester . It took it from a 150 yard to a 300 yarder with a Burris 3X9 compact !
My marlin 30.30 loves the corelokt 170g. Winchesters fly around to much, federal 170g is not to bad. 30.30 is a beast to use I love it!
Lever actions can be inaccurate if the barrel band is too tight or too loose, or if the handguard is too tight or too lose (depending on how it it is secured to the rifle). If I get groups like that I check my scope and mounts and then check the rifle itself. I've taken levers that were getting 10 moa and made them sub moa by simply tightening a screw. If yours isn't shooting well check anything that is secured to the barrel and make sure nothing is "funky".
Late again but saw premier thanks Adam. Wish I still had my Win 94. Was a dumb decision.
Nice Marlin, and nice Winchester. The 30-30 levers do what they were designed to do, and does it well, this side of 200 yds. If I am hunting deer in a place where I think I need more reach, then the 25-06 comes into Play, and the 30-30 stays at home
A good honest test with real data with what you have on hand. Thanks
I know this is a year-old video but I wanted to comment, I use an Old Stevens 325 Bolt action that was made in 1949. it's slightly older than me. I hunt in the Woods mostly and all of my shots are never over 100yrds. I use a williams Peep Recever sight and I always zero at 50yrds.
I hand load and use 150gr. Hornady round-nose bullets. It always does the job. good video.
It's important to add that most 30-30s will NEVER see 2400 feet per second. That is a number created by a 24 inch test barrel. Most 20" barreled 30-30s are closer to 2200fps
I’d bet some of the reason why the Winchester group size was so big was the crosshairs were still settling down. Cheaper scopes are bad about that. That’s why I don’t like shooting a single shot then adjusting with cheaper scopes. I completely understand not wanting to waste ammo though. It would have been better to at least fire one shot of the Hornady at 100 yards too.
As far as using iron sights on the 94, a peep sight is much easier for me to shoot with. I have one made in ‘69. I also have an angle eject made in ‘83 that shoots about 1.5” at 100 yards with any ammo but I found one load that would shoots incredibly well if you pay attention to the brass. 30-30 brass often has necks that aren’t concentric.
On opening day I looked over my options and reached for the family deer gun a 1955 Marlin 336c and grabbed the last 4 shells I loaded in High School that got me my first deer. By 8am a 170# Doe came in hot and she stood 20 yards from my blind. The 30-30 hit with force and folded her. A high shoulder shot took out both lungs and the top of the heart. Made a golf ball sized entry and exit hole so the blood trail was painted for a blind man to follow. There is a reason the 30-30 is still a relevant cartage and it's taken the most deer in our family history.
People!
This post is excellent for showing what exactly happens when a good rifle man has limited amounts of ammunition and is using a loaner! I can assure you that had there been four boxes of ammunition and a bit more time, well this would have been a much different post! Enjoy!
First I saw a left handed marlin. At the range i saw right handed same scope on it. I have a 336 marlin. Made 1972. Reload IMR 4064 with 125 gr Sierra HP. Just over an inch at 100yds. Enjoyed the video 👍
I'm a fan of American Whitetail. Works great in my 7mm-08!
i bought my first Henry 30-30 i use winchester 150 grain it works well. i'm always on the lookout for good information videos. thanks
Thanks for watching Tim
The norm for a lever-action gun is about 2-2,5 MOA groups. To me the 30-30 is a short range rifle. And superb in the woods when the range rarely gets over 80-100 meters. And i am comfortable to take shoots out to 150 meters. I do have a Win 94AE chambered in 307 Win. It shoots 1MOA groups with a scope on it. And with a little more power than the 30-30. It is my go to rifle for those longer shots out to 200-250 meters.
I have a henry 3030. I hit my steel target at 100 yards with the iron sites. It did take me seven tries. Also, I was doing it free handed.
My first rifle was a 30-30 love that rifle
1976 Marlin 336 in .30-30 that I've had since I was eleven years old .
Until 2007, I shot handloads using the Speer Hot Core 170 grain bullet at 2,130 fps.
When Hornady came out with the gummy-tip FTX bullets, I made the switch and have been using them ever since, handloaded to 2,380 fps / 2013 ft /lbs. At 100 yards, it's 3.25" high, velocity is 2182 with 1692 ft/lb. Its dead on at 200 yards, where velocity is 1994 fps for 1413 ft/lbs of energy. At 275 yards, which is as far as I've ever shot at game and also as far as I've ever done so with an aperture sight, the velocity is 1860 fps and it's still hitting with 1,229 ft/lbs of energy.
I'm a "still hunter" kind of guy. As a result, even in the wide open west where I formerly hunted the most, my shots would more often be measured in dozens of yards rather than hundreds. I became a still hunter guy because my first gun was my Marlin 336 and instead of worrying about performance I didn't have, still-hunting let me make the most of what I had. I hunt the same way, no matter rifle I'm toting, so my longest shots were a 275 yard poke at a California HIgh Desert mule deer with a Ruger No.1 B in .300 Weatherby Magnum, and another 275 yard poke at a Santa Rosa Island pig with a Model 1903 Springfield fitted with a Lyman Model 48 aperture sight,
In 2007, I had the magazine tube bobbed to half length. I never had to shoot at game with the thing more than once and in stock form, it was a 2.5 MOA rifle with significant vertical stringing when shooting from a full magazine. With the bobbed magazine, a glass-bedded butt stock, and a decent Leupold scope, it's 1.5" or tighter for four shots at 100 yards. But as I hunt it with an aperture sight, it's a 2 M.O.A. rifle for me as I actually use it. I'm okay with that, because that's as precise as I was ever able to shoot a National Match prepped AR-15 A2 when you had to use aperture sights in service rifle matches.
The Hornady FTX bullets were game-changes for me. With the handload I use, I've got all the power and trajectory I can use with the sights I"m using.
Back when I was using handloads with Speer 170 grain Hot Core bullets, I shot seven elk with that rifle, at distances from about 35 yards to 125 or so. With the ammo I load now, it's got more "juice" than ever and it's really all the hunting rifle I need. I found myself using it more and more and ultimately sold off the rest of my hunting rifles and frankly, I don't miss them.
After 47 seasons as a licensed hunter, my world isn't going to come to an end if I go on a hunt and see game but don't kill it and I'd still rather brag about how close I got to it than how far off I was when I shot it.
I remembee my uncles tellin me as a 12 year old not to even attempt to shoot a deer at over 100 yards. Said the 3030 would tumble after that, and anything passed 200 , if i managed to hit it wouldnt penetrate the skin.. fast forward, 17 years old, and got a 300 win mag for christmas... Didnt have a scope yet so i took my ol 3030 on a weekend hunt.. i hunted side by side with dad that day, , i had zeroed at 125, and we decided hed cover the back and me the front of the blind we were in.. right about dark, a 7 point come out . Not no trophy or nothig, but exceptionally big bodied.. i was cussing because all we had were 3030s.. i told dad to try and holler him in, i ranged him at 233 yards.... Dad said , why?? Take him now, itll be too dark by the time we get him in? I told him my uncles said the 3030 wasnt capable past 100 yds... My dad rolled his eyes, and aaid " dont listen to them idiots boy, you can shoot better than anybody i seen, if you can make the shot , take it, the rifle has the power.. i sat the crosshairs right about his shoulder line... Just could see it .. BOOM.. he dropped right there like a bolt of lightening hit him... I turned to my dad, and he had the camera filiming it ... To my suprise it was a complete pass thru,. Huge damage. 130 grain core lokt if i remember... Dad showed them uncs what a 3030 would do when they laughed ,when i told them it was about 225 yards.. "bull" " stop lyin boy"... 3030 is better than old timers think... Ive sense taken deer at 6-700 yards with my 3000.. but if the area is 250 yds or less.. im bringin my marlin instead
Marlin 30-30 was my 1st dear rifle taking a ton of deer with it Passed it on to my daughter have taken deer with Remington Winchester federal hornady ammunitionThe evolution is some great stuff shoots a lot flatter enjoyed video as always
I love a good ole 30-30.... great video
It does seem to like that Hornady ammo better. My dad has an old octagon barrel 30-30, haven't shot that in many decades.
I’ve heard if you open the barrel bands so the barrel can move as it heats up it can stop the groups from stringing vertically
John Browning didn't design the first smokeless center fire rifle cartridge in .30-30 caliber to shoot beyond 200 yards because Winchester lever guns weren't originally designed for optics. It's a medium power general purpose gun, just as it was designed to be. Browning designed the 30-30 to hit well but be modest for general use, and that's what still makes it great.
I love watching your videos I was wondering if you could do a video on 45-70 bullet drop? Thank you for making great videos and keep it up the great videos
4570 soon
@@WHOTEEWHO sweet thank you.
I have Winchester 94 30-30 angle eject. I bought it new in the late 80s or early 90s. I was using Hornaday leverevolution 160 grains. I have a Cabela's lever action rifle scope. Using sand bags my group was fairly tight. I can't remember how tight actually. I'm in California so I had to switch to copper. I got some cor-bon 160 grain and they were the same as the Hornaday. Then I switched back to Hornaday leverevolution nonlead 140 grain and they are a little higher at 100 yards. But I haven't fired it in a while. It's my only deer hunting rifle. But deer are extremely hard to come by here so I have not got one in many many years. Too many people in a small area.
FYI. There is a forward mount scope rail system that uses long eye relief scopes for top eject Winchesters. They work.
Thank you so much for doing this video. It proves my point; guys don't even try to impress me by telling me you shot a deer at 500yrds with a 30-30. You are no friend of mine. Aiming 11ft over the top of the deer? Get serious! You can't even see the deer, it is so far below the barrel. LOL
I have a mossburg 464 30 30 lever..no issues cant wait to get it dirty in the woods this year..but ammo is a pain to find..glade I reload all my brass
I was hoping for a really fun video,.............and here it is!
Lyman makes a receiver mounted peep sight for the model 94 Winchester. Very adjustable and very accurate.
At 200 yards with my Thompson contender and 4x leupold EER scope I could put 110 grain plinkers in a 1 to 2 inch group all day long. They were loaded pretty hot but still shoot able in a lever action rifle.
With a 180 grain soft point and loaded too hot to shoot from a lever action rifle they'd hurt your wrist, but they'd reach out and touch whatever you aimed at at 200 or even 300 yards with a 14" bull barrel.
I miss that gun alot...
Years later someone stole some guns from me and took the 180 grain loads I had loaded up for it.
I'm just hoping they had a lever action and fired them in it. They were really way too hot to even shoot in the TC.
But 30-30s are fun to shoot...
My brother inherited his grandfather's 1894, and we haven't been able to find a box of 30-30 on the shelf since.
2k19 the first deer camp I’ve spent alone due too my grandpa being in the hospital. Got in the tree stand 30 mins before sunrise opening morning in northern Michigan and dropped my first 10pt buck at 60 yards open sights, “skinner sights” He didn’t move a inch from where I pulled the trigger. 150 grain
That Winchester ammo was all over the place. The Hornady ammo was awesome.
30s have been around for a long time for a reason. The work. However the 35Rem is generally more accurate. I have a marlin 336. Put a scope on it with see through rings on top and you have the perfect brush gun! I use the irons to get on target, and then switch to scope for precision shot. It works for me and is guick.
Interesting! At your home the writing on the safe is backwards and the Winchester loading gate is on the wrong side. Alternate universe? Alien broadcast?
Reminds me of the photo of Billy the Kid that made him look like he was left-handed because the tintype image was mirror-reversed. The loading gate gave it away there too.
On the other hand, if you are in a parallel universe your barrel twist is in the opposite direction and that might be affecting your bullet performance in the northern hemisphere of whatever planet you’re actually on.
Why have you flipped the picture?
An accident
My Winchester model 94 love's the Remington Cor-Lokt 150gr. I get a 1 inch and a half grouping at 50yards with iron sites..
Hornady leverevolution is pretty sweet stuff. My 336 in 35 Rem loves them 200 grainers.
Yo WTW awesome video. I just took a doe and a coyote yesterday with the 350 legend. Just got done skinning and hanging to age.
Hopefully you get some more game soon yourself
Awesome! I am sure trying
You can use a scout scope for top ejectors, have one on my Rossi 45 colt.
Paul Harrell did a video about five years ago. Very impressive shooting with a 30-30 lever action.
Iron sights for me . The stuff I hunt is so thick a scope would be knocked around to much to be accurate . Most of the deer shot with mine are quick shots when I scare them out of heavy brush and a scope would be to hard to use in that situation .
Whotee you're a pretty decent shot. You should definitely try this with your '94!
An Army buddy's Uncle backed his pickup out of the detached garage to go deer hunting. When he got out to close the garage door, he spotted a nice 4-pointer grazing nearby. He grabs his 30-30 from the cab's rack, nails that buck at 85 yards. Puts the rifle back in the pickup and pulls the truck back into the garage. Deer season is over, and his Thermos ain't even cold yet.
'Merica.
North Central North Dakota.
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