Marlin makes a fine rifle. I have been preparing for Thursday for the last couple of months. Actually now that I look back it has been more then two months because I ordered a 2-7x-35mm Burris scope for my Marlin 30-30. After receiving the scope I Laser sighted it.
My enthusiasm was up and I got busy reloading an accumulation of 30-30 bases. I would have to do a recount but I loaded over one hundred rounds. I have not loaded the 30-30 in a long time because I would buy a few boxes every once and awhile on sale. Most of my purchases were 150-grain Remington C-L. The rifle seems to like them. I play close attention to my loading and when I get setup for a round I like to load a hundred or more rounds at a time. This especially true of bullets that require crimping; I want to get it right.
I inquired about crimping on this forum. I consider proper crimping critical when loading for a tube fed lever action. I had crimped before with my bullet seating die, but after reading some information in my latest Sierra Manual I thought I would look at other ways of doing things. This was brought on because I was given a handful of miscellaneous factory 30-30 ammunition. One of the bullets in a Remington case had been pushed back some. Based on recommendations I started looking for a Lee Factory Crimp Die for the 30-30. I could not find one at any of the local shops so I ordered one. I put the new factory-crimping die to use.
In the mid 1980’s I developed a load using the 150-grain Hornady Round Nose, IMR4320 powder, and CCI 200 primers. It was good then and it is still good today. The downside is that I just killed the last of an eight-pound keg.
The plan was to use the old miscellaneous loads I had to get on paper and then find tune with my handloads. My first shot was with a Remington 150-grain load. It hit the target about 2 ½ above the bulls eye. I lost the second shot and had to walk down to the target. I thought I had missed the target. It was touching the first shot. My rifle likes those Remington factory loads.
I had a change of plans, and switched to my handloads. I fired two rounds and they group in just under the to factory loads. I could not have been more pleased. I switched targets.
During the day I switched back and forth between a .270 and the 30-30.
I enjoyed handling the Marlin and appreciated the smooth working action. Some people might look down their nose at a 30-30 lever action, but it is a fine piece of work. The 2-7 power Burris is an upgrade and with the new Hornady flex tip round I feel better prepared for 200+ yard shots.
At the end of the day I fired four of the new flex tip rounds. I have to admit I was caught a little off guard. I had fired thirty handloads, and that handful of factory loads, the recoil was about thirty percent greater with the flex tip rounds and the muzzle blast was equally greater. Point of impact was about four inches higher with the flex tip. I adjusted the main crosshair to point of impact for the flex tip rounds, because that is going to be my hunting load. The next time I get to the range with the Marlin I will try my reloads and standard factory loads using the first Reticle Subtension in the Ballistic-Plex crosshairs and see if that adjustment will give a common point of impact.
Marlin makes a fine lever gun, I like being able to remove the lever, and slide the bolt out, removing the extractor and setting them in a tray for cleaning. The disassembled rifle is now setting on a bench with bore cleaner in the barrel, and the other parts ready for cleaning. While out on the range I appreciated how the action smoothly fed the factory and handloads into the chamber. Extraction of the fired rounds was always positive.
I spent a little time using the R/L sided hammer extension I installed on the hammer. It is a good addition for the hunter who shoots from both sides. Marlin recommends the use of a hammer extension when a scope is installed.
Hopefully I will get out a few more times with it before fall, but if thing get busy I will be ready come hunting season. If time allows my efforts at the reloading bench will pay off. I am well enough supplied with reloads for the 30-30 to take care of my needs for sometime.
My next goal with the Marlin is to make a trip to the high country once the snow melts. I want to set up the Chrony at 6700-foot elevation and fire standard factory ammunition, my reloads, and the Hornady flex-tip. I am thinking that I need to prepare a new drop card based on ammunition fired from my rifle, at an elevation common to areas I hunt.
