Marlin 30-30/ designed for 150 or 170 grain?

[Ridge Runner]

What bullet weight was the Marlin 30-30 designed for? Do both shoot equally well (usually)?

[ironglow]

  Can't give you the whole story..but my Marlin 336C does very well as a deer rifle with 170 gr..i was up to my neighborhood gun dealer who is a hunter and he said the 170 gr is an overwhelming favorite with his customers, ....most of whom shoot Marlins..

   Nothing scientific there, just owner preference..

[Coyote Hunter]

Don't know or care what it was designed for, but I shoot Speer 130, 150 and 170g bullets, as well as Nosler 170g Partitions.

In 5 days I go elk hunting and the 170g Partitions will make the trip.

[rickt300]

Mine shoots both weights well enough, it's favorite bullet as far as accuracy goes is the 150 grain Hornady RN. Took me a while to find this out as this Marlin puts just about everything under 2 inches.

[old06]

In my Marlin's with handloads I get better groups with most 170's but like others have said there just shooters. I have shoot some groups under a inch with my Marlins on a regular bases. An it don't cost much to find out wihat factory load they like I seen a box of some WSSM ammo marked at 46.00 a box of 20 and next to them was some 30 30 for under 10  box

Good Luck

[Siskiyou]

I recall reading the early 30-30 ammunition was loaded with a 160-grain bullet.

[greenjeans]

My old Foremost by Marlin, (JC Penney) is scary accurate with 150 gr. Winchester Power Points.

[Cottonwood]

Only because I have an unfilled elk and black bear tag left, I carry 170-gr in mine.

[pastorp]

RR, the original load that came out in the 1890's was a 160gr bullet. I assume both the winchesters and marlins used that load. I don't know when the current 150 & 170 gr bullets started being used. It looks like we have come full circle with the new hornady leverlution 160gr load. Regards, Byron

[Cottonwood]

Byron

It's funny though, the magnum crowd will have many believing that the ol 30-30 just isn't enough gun even for deer, but its still going strong after all these years.

[pastorp]

Montanan, In the 1890s the 30-30 was the magnum of the day. Very high velocity compared to black powder rounds. Regards, Byron

[Cottonwood]

Byron

The 30-30 is the only high powered cartridge that I own 

[qajaq59]

Not sure which it was designed for, but I load 170s in mine, and they drop a hog like a house fell on him.

[six_gunz]

I shoot 170 grain Remington core lokts through mine....shoots like its designed to.

[Mannlicher]

I believe most (if not all) Marlin lever guns in 30-30 WIN  have a 1:10 RH twist.  This will stabilize either the 150 or the 170 grain bullet just fine.