30-30 New or Used

[ipyrek]

I've been looking for a Marlin 30-30, I've been wanting a lever gun for a long time. The least expensive I could find new is a 336W for $367. The used ones I've seen are mostly a little rough shape and still going for  $320+. Should I hold out from buying a new one and just keep searching for a good used one at a good price ?

[shawlerbrook]

Hold out for a good, used one with walnut furniture. With patience you should be able to get a good used one for less than $300. I really think the quality of the older ones are far superior. Just read some of the "Marlinton" horror stories on other Marlin sites.Just my humble opinion.

[zoner]

put $300 bucks in yer wallet, then look around, take your time and pick up a good used one. Last year a coworker approached me wanting to sell a 336 30-30 that was his uncle's. According to him the darn thing "kicked too hard". I got a 1977 336c 30-30 in very good shape for $200 cash. Deals like that don't come around every day but it's worth looking around......

[Dee]

If you buy an old one your gonna get a micro groove barrel. I'd rather have the ballard cut.

[swordfish]

Buy a good used, go for quality.

[SHOOTALL]

If you buy an old one your gonna get a micro groove barrel. I'd rather have the ballard cut.

agree , or if you want used go for the best - get a 94 ! 

[ipyrek]

Found and bought a Very Good used one. 1984, 336CS, 30-30. I'm shure I'll like it very much.

[Hooker]

If it's a Marlin new or used you gonna like it better than you liked your money.
Although myself I'm partial to the older pre-safety and sporting carbine models.

Pat

[jlchucker]

If you buy an old one your gonna get a micro groove barrel. I'd rather have the ballard cut.

Dee, has Marlin recently gone to Ballard-cut barrels in 30-30 (and I'm really curious about 35 Remington)?  I know they were doing Ballard-cut barrels on cowboy models, and on some others but I didn't know they'd changed all calibers over.  I've got an old half-magazine 35 with a micro-groove barrel, and if Marlin's making these with Ballard-style rifling now, I wouldn't mind getting a factory new barrel for my older 35. 

[mannyrock]

Ipyrek,

   You made the right choice!  You will be very happy with it.

Mannyrock

 

[ipyrek]

So far works great, action smoooooth an feeds and ejects great, shot with open sights at 50yrds. and right on, but I need a scope past that. Just put on a Redfield 2-7 /33, Leupold Rifleman Low rings, bore sighted it, just need to go back out and shoot it with the scope.

[dpastordan]

I have a separate checking account I use for my hobbies - hunting, fishing, and adding to my gun collection.  I have been looking for a couple of years for a good lever action .30-30.  I had a Winchester 94 with a peep sight but it had one of them danged new fangled safeties.  Missed a shot at a boar because of it...sold it!  I am so used to using a  lever action with the half-cock when hunting.  I just want to pull the hammer back when lining up a shot and then pulling the trigger.  Recently on Gunbroker.com I spotted a Marlin .30-30 (older model with the micro-groove rifling) that had a peep sight on it for $279.  I bid on it figuring I would be outbid real quick.  Well yesterday I picked it up from my local FFL.  It has beautiful walnut wood on it.  The person had put the Williams Firesight system on it - just need to pull the old rear sight off and put in a slot blank and she is ready to go.  Can't wait to get to the range (probably next Tues when it is not raining).   

[Richard P]

Pastor, if you need help with the trigger you should review MarlinOwners.com and search for trigger pull. Be prepared to take it down and reassemble six or seven times. Altering the pull is no place to be hasty. You can be rewarded with a 40 oz trigger if you study and are patient. You'll find the sear angles want to fight each other.

[northkid]

If you buy an old one your gonna get a micro groove barrel. I'd rather have the ballard cut.

It looks like they are micro groved

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/centerfire/336c.asp

[Hooker]

There is nothing wrong with Micro Groove rifling.

[jlchucker]

There is nothing wrong with Micro Groove rifling.

No, there isn't.  I've got Marlins in 30-30, 35 Rem, and 45-70.  Mostly I use cast bullets these days, and they work just fine in all of my rifles.  The microgroove myth has been around for a few years now when it comes to cast bullets, but my 45-70 shot very well several years before I ever heard that mg barrels were somehow problematic.  I posed the question to Dee though, because he mentioned that Marlin having gone back to standard rifling in their new guns.  I've got two 35 Remmies and I was considering changing out the barrel on one of them, which was kind of beat up and bubba'd by a prior owner.  It does shoot OK so maybe I'll leave it alone. 

[ratdog]

my friend had a marlin with micro groove barrel  would not shot 357 mag 158 gr lead wad cutters worth the darn. my rossie was very accurate my friend sold his marlin he was really disapointed i have a marlin 44 mag with ballard riflings that shoots great. my handy is the same way likes the 38 spl's lead but not the 357 loads still exsperimenting with this gun doesn't really shoot jacketed bullets that good. my high point will out shot it in 9mm.had a 30-30 marlin with micro would shot the heads off pine hens easy very reliable gun going to get another one soon there are quit a few for sale on the web here in utah. good luck with yours.