The 2020 .30-30

[Redthies]

My new toy is ready to hit the range. It’s a new Marlin 336BL with a Nikon 1-4x20 scope. Skinner LoPro 2 inbound...

[RanchRoper]

Nice looking rifle for sure. Enjoy!

[Vaquero]

waiting on range report.

RP

[Redthies]

Thanks for the comments boys. I realized the scope looks like it’s sitting quite high, and it is a little higher than I’d like, but it’s on QD rings (some Leaper quick detach that I had onhand). I’m still thinking I might want to be able to just use the barrel mounted peep when it’s ugly weather or in the event that the scope gets knocked, or? Not sure how likely I am to ever take it off though. I may just get some lower profile standard rings.

Does anyone have any experience with QDrings? If you do, and ever removed, and remounted your scope semi-regularly, did it actually hold its zero? There are definitely advantages to being able to pop the scope off and put it in my pack.

[Ojaileveraction]

Does anyone have any experience with QDrings? If you do, and ever removed, and remounted your scope semi-regularly, did it actually hold its zero? There are definitely advantages to being able to pop the scope off and put it in my pack.

I used them for a break down 10/20. The scope kept its zero. The rifle didn't.
I think they are still on it in the bug-out carry bag it came with.

[BigAl52]

Im also curious about the range report. Nice looking gun and I hope you like it.

[markiver54]

The wood grain on your rifle is beautiful! Also looking forward to range report!
BTW, I made a rifle rest very similar to yours many years ago. It still works great for minor work and display. The Fat Wrench is great to have as well. A must IMO. Got one of those too.
Hope your set-up meets your expectations!

[Redthies]

I used them for a break down 10/20. The scope kept its zero. The rifle didn't.

You are saying the take-down portion of the 10-22 was not locking up correctly? But you were happy with taking the scope on and off without accuracy issues?

[Redthies]

I made a rifle rest very similar to yours many years ago. It still works great for minor work and display.

I made that box rest a long time ago. It was a boring day at work... I kept all my cleaning gear in it, and it has worked well for at least 15 years. The FAT wrench is a recent acquisition. I’ve got a few projects that will have a need for torque specs to be fairly close coming soon. I went to use it to mount the new scope in the rings, but of course didn’t have the correct size Allen bit, so used the stand by method of “feels about right”

[markiver54]

Got my Fat wrench, at the time, for scope mounting as well. Guess I was lucky that the bit size I needed was included in the kit.

[Pitchman1968]

Great Looking set-up! I'm confident you'll be satisfied with your Marlin's quality. 5 years ago, shortly after production began on lever action Marlins at Ilion, NY's Remington plant, I purchased an 1895CB in .45-70. Even during their start-up period, Remington's personnel produced a quality rifle.

It appears that your scope mount does not provide very much eye relief. So, be careful because .30-30 loads do kick some.

[Redthies]

Great Looking set-up! I'm confident you'll be satisfied with your Marlin's quality. 5 years ago, shortly after production began on lever action Marlins at Ilion, NY's Remington plant, I purchased an 1895CB in .45-70. Even during their start-up period, Remington's personnel produced a quality rifle.

It appears that your scope mount does not provide very much eye relief. So, be careful because .30-30 loads do kick some.

I have other .30-30s, and .45-70 so I’m familiar with recoil I have almost 4” of eye relief as it sits. Should be fine.

Your name “pitchman” seems apt. The early Remlins were plagued with issues and notorious for being poorly finished and poorly assembled. I’m not up on the exact timelines of Remingtons tenure with Marlin. Were the nasty ones produced at the original Marlin plant but with different staff? The quality has definitely improved over the past 5 years or so, but my brand new one came with a cock-eyed dovetail, and the finish on the wood is way less than spectacular. If Henry did a trapper or even an 18” carbine in .30-30, I would not have bought this RemLin. Luckily, it is intended to be a “working gun” and not an heirloom piece, so I am not as fussy as I normally would be. I do have hopes that it is a good shooter though. Time will tell.

[Redthies]

I ordered up another lever wrap from Pioneer Gunworks in Springfield Oregon. I got a 4” one, but ended up cutting 1/2” off it to fit the lever perfectly. Plans are to hit the range Saturday morning, so hopefully I’ll get the Skinner LoPro II and the Nikon both dialed in.

I think this one is “done” for now. It’s going to be my primary multipurpose deer rifle if it’s accurate enough. My .357 or
.45-70 will get the nod in tight woods, but a lot of the areas we hunt are tight woods mixed with open areas in the 150 - 200 yard size. A .30-30 with 1-4x scope should be a perfect for that. Frankly, I’m filling niches that might make other lever guns obsolete, but it’s fun to have choices!

[Rifletom]

I ordered up another lever wrap from Pioneer Gunworks in Springfield Oregon. I got a 4” one, but ended up cutting 1/2” off it to fit the lever perfectly. Plans are to hit the range Saturday morning, so hopefully I’ll get the Skinner LoPro II and the Nikon both dialed in.

I think this one is “done” for now. It’s going to be my primary multipurpose deer rifle if it’s accurate enough. My .357 or
.45-70 will get the nod in tight woods, but a lot of the areas we hunt are tight woods mixed with open areas in the 150 - 200 yard size. A .30-30 with 1-4x scope should be a perfect for that. Frankly, I’m filling niches that might make other lever guns obsolete, but it’s fun to have choices!

It is fun to have choices. I have a Mod94 in 30-30 with a Weaver K-4 scope that I love to shoot. BUT, I seem to shoot my BB steel .45 Colt way more.
Just too much fun. Red, is the stock on your 30-30 laminated? It sure looks good whatever the finish is. Also, do you handload for the 30-30?

[BigAl52]

Redtheis you cant have to many leverguns just sayin

[Ojaileveraction]

Frankly, I’m filling niches that might make other lever guns obsolete, but it’s fun to have choices!

I like choices!

[Vaquero]

Frankly, I’m filling niches that might make other lever guns obsolete, but it’s fun to have choices!

I like choices!

Someone say choices and 30-30?

20190715_112859.jpg

RP

[Rifletom]

Nice crowd there Randy! Really like the one on the far right. Heck, they're all nice.

[Vaquero]

The Winnie AE. It's one of the first year models.
Pretty darn accurate little girl.

RP

[Redthies]

So I put the 336 through it’s paces today. Sort of. 29* and 55 mph winds made it “interesting”.

I shot my Ruger American .22 first on the 30 yard range as it the most wind sheltered. Still had targets blowing all over, and off the stands too. I shot with a bunch of different ammo, and the best two are pictured below. The green tape pieces are 1.5 inches square. The tight pattern (9 in one big hole and one solo) was CCI Match Pistol ammo, and the more spread out 10 shot group was Winchester cheap as chips “235” hollow points. I’ll put some more through it when I get out with no wind.

The 336 was difficult to get the Skinner dialed in, possibly because of the angled dovetail? It shouldn’t make that much difference, no? Once you move the sights where they need to go, it should work? On the green and black target, at 50 yards, with the Nikon 1-4x the 3 to the left were Federal Classic 150 grn round nose, and the three in/left of the center diamond are Hornady LeverEvolution 160 grn FTX. 150s were seated and rested on my hand, the 160s were standing leaning on a tree. Not too bad given the ridiculous wind? I shot a bunch more on an Alpha/Omega paper sight in target, but it got torn off the board (8 staples wasn’t enough) and blew away in to the woods.

I added one pic of my new (stupid cheap!) diesel taken a few miles from the range down on the ocean. It was COLD!