Lever action

[alberta boy]

This one:

.30-30 Marlin 336

www.valleyarms.co.uk

And it already has a Skinner on it.

And here is a deal, if you get it, and don't like the Skinner sight I will happily trade it for a 336 Weaver rail when I am over in the Summer

(Actually, I couldn't in all conscience do that, the weaver rail is only about $10 worth of Aluminium, and that Skinner worth a lot more! That said, if you want the rail, LMK and I will bring it when I come. I'll never need it again)

That would work ................. and never say never .

AB

 

[Muir]

I have also shot a 45/70 and it’s ok but not hugely accurate (50-75 yds is acceptable but beyond that it’s a bit wayward!!) and the recoil is just a bit unpleasant!!

I spent a good bit of the day thinking about this statement. I have never heard anyone complain that the 45-70 is inaccurate. I think the waywardness is due to your apparent intolerance to recoil. Factory 45-70 is pretty anemic. Handloads in stouter rifles will generate some punch. Loaded for truly strong rifles like the Siamese Mauser or Ruger #3 it can be ......memorable. ~Muir

 

[alberta boy]

I spent a good bit of the day thinking about this statement. I have never heard anyone complain that the 45-70 is inaccurate. I think the waywardness is due to your apparent intolerance to recoil. Factory 45-70 is pretty anemic. Handloads in stouter rifles will generate some punch. Loaded for truly strong rifles like the Siamese Mauser or Ruger #3 it can be ......memorable. ~Muir

The No 3's are particularly vicious little rifles . I've owned three ...................... but not for long . I did put No 1 wood on a No 3 years back , it made it more tolerable , but it was still pretty snappy .

AB

 

[Smellydog]

I think 45/70 is popular over here relative to the other common levergun chambering because of the fascination of numbers.
They are missing out really. I've tried to show them but it's useless.

They all start with a desire for a light rifle for woodland stalking, usually small roe and muntjack but end up with a small buffalo rifle, still scoped, a tactical look and most importantly it's got a mod on it

 

[SimpleSimon]

I think 45/70 is popular over here relative to the other common levergun chambering because of the fascination of numbers.
They are missing out really. I've tried to show them but it's useless.

They all start with a desire for a light rifle for woodland stalking, usually small roe and muntjack but end up with a small buffalo rifle, still scoped, a tactical look and most importantly it's got a mod on it

Seems to me that 30-30 would be the one to go for to satisfy that woodland rifle brief.
However, for me there are two downsides which are:
1. Availability. There are a few for sale, but not many and nothing new or recent by the look of it. I'm not being snobbish, but for me personally I'd prefer to buy a new rifle in the spec and style that I prefer rather than choose from whatever selection of used rifles happens to be around.
2. Deer-legal muzzle energy. I know that numbers don't always mean much, but I've been playing with energy calculators and found a lot of the time factory loads are marginal or under the 1700lbs. Will the deer know? Probably not. Could it pose a problem from a clued-up FEO or a fastidious guide? Maybe...

Then there's the whole lead-free "thing" to consider.

Ultimately I suppose it's the same as every other "which calibre" debate which doesn't have a definitive answer in most cases.

 

[Smellydog]

Seems to me that 30-30 would be the one to go for to satisfy that woodland rifle brief.
However, for me there are two downsides which are:
1. Availability. There are a few for sale, but not many and nothing new or recent by the look of it. I'm not being snobbish, but for me personally I'd prefer to buy a new rifle in the spec and style that I prefer rather than choose from whatever selection of used rifles happens to be around.
2. Deer-legal muzzle energy. I know that numbers don't always mean much, but I've been playing with energy calculators and found a lot of the time factory loads are marginal or under the 1700lbs. Will the deer know? Probably not. Could it pose a problem from a clued-up FEO or a fastidious guide? Maybe...

Then there's the whole lead-free "thing" to consider.

Ultimately I suppose it's the same as every other "which calibre" debate which doesn't have a definitive answer in most cases.

The police grant it for deer, it's in the guidelines. We make more of a fuss over the legalities then they do.
It's funny how if someone shoots a short barreled 243 no one mentions that it may be under 1700 blah blahs but mention 30-30 and it's the first thing said.

 

[TringSaint]

I spent a good bit of the day thinking about this statement. I have never heard anyone complain that the 45-70 is inaccurate. I think the waywardness is due to your apparent intolerance to recoil. Factory 45-70 is pretty anemic. Handloads in stouter rifles will generate some punch. Loaded for truly strong rifles like the Siamese Mauser or Ruger #3 it can be ......memorable. ~Muir

The one that I shot at bisley (30 rds @ 100yds) was poor. Very loopy round, struggling to get within 3” even of a rest (that was everyone, not just me). Couldn’t see the point, esp when I have 3 stalking rifles that would do bullet in bullet at that range.

 

[TringSaint]

I think

The police grant it for deer, it's in the guidelines. We make more of a fuss over the legalities then they do.
It's funny how if someone shoots a short barreled 243 no one mentions that it may be under 1700 blah blahs but mention 30-30 and it's the first thing said.

it’s because the 30-30 is marginal at best re ME whereas a 243 isn’t.

 

[Smellydog]

I think

it’s because the 30-30 is marginal at best re ME whereas a 243 isn’t.

The 30-30 with a 130 gn bullet probably matches or even betters the 243 with 100gn bullets numbers wise.
I once knew a bloke with a short barreled Ruger 77 in 243. Never made the numbers but killed everything it got shot at.
Same with my 30-30's, including red deer.

Like I said, the Brits has a fascination with numbers somehow .
Who ever has been prosecuted using a rifle listed in the guidance but was found to be under the 1700 nonsense?

 

[TringSaint]

The 30-30 with a 130 gn bullet probably matches or even betters the 243 with 100gn bullets numbers wise.
I once knew a bloke with a short barreled Ruger 77 in 243. Never made the numbers but killed everything it got shot at.
Same with my 30-30's, including red deer.

Like I said, the Brits has a fascination with numbers somehow .
Who ever has been prosecuted using a rifle listed in the guidance but was found to be under the 1700 nonsense?

Good question - but in these times where stupid things happen, who knows.

At the end of the day a well placed 22 will kill a deer so we all know it’s not about being able to. It seems that overkill is the home office mantra when it comes to deer.

 

[SimpleSimon]

The police grant it for deer, it's in the guidelines. We make more of a fuss over the legalities then they do.
It's funny how if someone shoots a short barreled 243 no one mentions that it may be under 1700 blah blahs but mention 30-30 and it's the first thing said.

Funnily enough, I traded in a 243 for my current 308. 20in barrel, and you're right, I plugged that through the same calculator last night out of curiosity and the loads I shot would be about 1720. Just there.
Didn't stop it dropping the one and only red stag I've ever shot, but still...

 

[Ratel]

Had a Winchester 30/30 for a few years, ideal woodland rifle. Shot Sika in forestry and Roe out to 150 yds iron sights.

 

[Smellydog]

Funnily enough, I traded in a 243 for my current 308. 20in barrel, and you're right, I plugged that through the same calculator last night out of curiosity and the loads I shot would be about 1720. Just there.
Didn't stop it dropping the one and only red stag I've ever shot, but still...

With natural velocity variations it was probably just under on occasions also but I won't tell because it's all a load of nonsense anyway all because the spotlight was shined on an expert and his knees jerked!

 

[harrygrey382]

The one that I shot at bisley (30 rds @ 100yds) was poor. Very loopy round, struggling to get within 3” even of a rest (that was everyone, not just me). Couldn’t see the point, esp when I have 3 stalking rifles that would do bullet in bullet at that range.

Well obviously it’s pointless if you have no need for one… but making an absolute statement about how inaccurate a cartridge is because of one rifle you fired is pretty short sighted

 

[TringSaint]

Well obviously it’s pointless if you have no need for one… but making an absolute statement about how inaccurate a cartridge is because of one rifle you fired is pretty short sighted

Have shot the same model but 3 different rifles- all the same accuracy.

 

[SimpleSimon]

Have shot the same model but 3 different rifles- all the same accuracy.

Which model out of interest?

 

[Rob-E]

Is anyone able to recommend a specific model, available to buy in the UK in 30-30? Google hasn't been my friend.

It doesn't look like there are any 30-30 lever actions, aside from the Marlin 336 Dark with its very short barrel and potentially non-deer-legal status. Not many used examples around either, and to be honest I'd prefer a new one.

45-70 chambered options in the Marlin 1895 are more common by the look of things. Which is a shame because the 30-30 probably is a more suitable choice.
(Prior to the reintroduction of bison, grizzly bears, sabre-toothed tigers and whatever other extinct species "they" decide, anyway...)

If you want to buy a new one good luck! Every dealer and importer I have spoken to only gets the 30-30 in on special order. I missed a Henry Model X a few weeks ago. 30-30 is not a popular calibre over here. Everything else is special order pretty much, or second hand.

 

[SimpleSimon]

If you want to buy a new one good luck! Every dealer and importer I have spoken to only gets the 30-30 in on special order. I missed a Henry Model X a few weeks ago. 30-30 is not a popular calibre over here. Everything else is special order pretty much, or second hand.

My findings exactly...

 

[aboynamedjim]

Keep em peeled and something grand will show up. Mine is from 1967 and was in need of some TLC. I sent the wood off to Adam Bragg in Suffolk who did a terrific job in restoring it to all its former glory. Happy to pass on his details.The rest was just a bit of elbow grease and Napier oil.

Highly recommend Skinner sights btw. Really look the part too and customer service is absolutely amazing.

 

[Rob-E]

There are approx 14 on guntrader right now, from a SN number search most are 70-80s. There’s an early 1900s hex barrel marlin though. I forgot to say the turn around on Henry model X is about 12 months and they can’t guarantee the price. Apparently the new marlin 336 will be 4-6months.

Side note I believe only 1 Marlin 336 Dark was imported into the UK before the stopped production. What annoys me is they were an $800 gun in the states and they were double that here.