Different take on the ubiquitous best gun threads

[teamnelson]

So here's a spin on the old saw ...


You can only have one gun, its a Single Shot Rifle in 30-30. That's it, that's all you can have. And you can't use it to shoot someone else and take their dream gun.


But you can have any kind of ammo, reload, cast, accessories, you name it, that you want for it.


How would you set yours up, and why? What would it not do that you wish it could do, and how might you work around that ... without buying another gun, or shooting someone else and taking theirs.


And there are no "depends" ... its all you have, wether you're dropped in the arctic tundra, or the desert, or the city before/during/after a civil war. Anytime, anyplace, anywhere, this all the gun you get. Go for it!

[tacklebury]

I'd get a buckshot mold, so I could load plinkers with RB, I'd get a 150 gr. mold for shooting midsize game and defensive use and I'd get a 180 gr. Mold for bear, moose or other baddies.  I'd make sure the 150 and 180 had the ability to take a gas check, albeit I'd use mostly grease cookies on the normal 150's.  I'd use smokeless powder as long as it held out for the plinkers to keep velocity down and probably use blackpowder for the full house loads.  1 pound of unique will give me about 800 plinkers to kill small game with.  I'd make sure it had good solid iron sights like skinner's rear peep and a heavy strap style front sight.  I would probably put a storage front and varmint rear stock which would have a cleaning kit suspended and wrapped with cordage.  I'd make sure I had a couple Lee Classic loaders, fire style smelting pot and folding ladle from Track of the Wolf.  I would have as many Large rifle primers as I could manage and as much Unique as I can carry.  Lead is able to be picked up or scrapped in a variety of methods, so I'd limit my weight carrying too much of that.  If I had time to plan though, I'd probably have a machinist make me a .22 LR adapter if there's enough beef left to do it in a 30, just so I could use some .22 LR if I came across it or took some.  If I could spare the space/weight, I'd probably throw in a pound of smokeless rifle powder to for a start. 

[bilmac]

A 30-30 would make a pretty good all round gun maybe a little light for defending yourself from griz in Alaska, but plenty of old timers did ok with them. I had several loads worked up for a savage 24V so it would do almost anything. A lyman 31141 bullet could be loaded up to give factory energy with no leading in my Savage. Then I used a Lee 120 gr bullet loaded to approximate 22 lr velocities. Nice thing is I didn't have to change my scope I could shoot either. 180 gr on at 100 yds and 120 gr on at 25 yds.
 
In a single shot you can load spire points so some 110 or 125 grainers could be loaded up to make a resptable coyote shooter.

[teamnelson]

I'd get a buckshot mold, so I could load plinkers with RB, I'd get a 150 gr. mold for shooting midsize game and defensive use and I'd get a 180 gr. Mold for bear, moose or other baddies.  I'd make sure the 150 and 180 had the ability to take a gas check, albeit I'd use mostly grease cookies on the normal 150's.  I'd use smokeless powder as long as it held out for the plinkers to keep velocity down and probably use blackpowder for the full house loads.  1 pound of unique will give me about 800 plinkers to kill small game with.  I'd make sure it had good solid iron sights like skinner's rear peep and a heavy strap style front sight.  I would probably put a storage front and varmint rear stock which would have a cleaning kit suspended and wrapped with cordage.  I'd make sure I had a couple Lee Classic loaders, fire style smelting pot and folding ladle from Track of the Wolf.  I would have as many Large rifle primers as I could manage and as much Unique as I can carry.  Lead is able to be picked up or scrapped in a variety of methods, so I'd limit my weight carrying too much of that.  If I had time to plan though, I'd probably have a machinist make me a .22 LR adapter if there's enough beef left to do it in a 30, just so I could use some .22 LR if I came across it or took some.  If I could spare the space/weight, I'd probably throw in a pound of smokeless rifle powder to for a start. 

Tacklebury, I like the way you think. There's a chamber adapter made that'll let you shoot .32 S&W Long and .32 H&R Magnums in a 30-30. And of course you can also pull bullets off of any .308 diameter. Any particular make of single shot you prefer?


How might you address armed conflict with multiple persons with this set up?


Thanks!

[tacklebury]

If this were my only weapon, I'd try to find a .30-30 ejector barrel H&R.  With the ejector barrels, I can out shoot my brother with his 870 pump or his lever action 30-30.  I use a stock ammo holder or wrist and for 3 shots, I can do them in under 5 seconds on target.    I also practice point shooting regularly, so I feel pretty at home shooting people sized targets at 10 yards or so.    That's also why no scopes for me.  hehe

[keith44]

If I was going to be stuck with only a single shot 30/30 and having been given notice and the time to get the gun (build the gun) and get the desired supplies, I would have three bullet molds.  A .310 round ball, a 160 to 180 grain reduced diameter for paper patched bullets, and a silmilar weight mold for greased bullets.  I'd carry about 8 pounds of lead if mobile, or if camped or based I'd have 100 pounds.  Two pounds of Black powder, five pounds of 3031.  Skinner or Lomak sights, screw mounted and silver soldered in place. 

Now the gun, any way I want it right?  Ok I'd start with a falling block action, put fairly straight stock on it, fit it like a shotgun stock, with a wide slightly curved shoulder pad, wooden foreend glass bedded, to a .890" tapered barrel about 24" long, chamber set up as an AI with what I call dual head space, and the chamber would be "loose match" that is about .003" swell room for the brass.  Long throat, and a 1:16 twist.  This should get real close to .308 Win performance with hot loads.
And light round ball loads could be used for small game.  The paper patched bullets would be for long range shooting (over 500 yards) at what ever needed shootin at that range, or close in when the most thump was needed.  The grease grooved bullets would be the primary projectiles for general use on Deer, elk, coyotes, and two legged solo attackers.

[mcwoodduck]

I have only a 30-30.
I would want to have a 3-9X38 or 40 scope and good strong iron sights.
Tripple K makes a 12 round belt slide and 20 round leather boxes that carry on your belt or in a pack.
I would have 300 to 500 rounds of ammo and keep it in 30 caliber ammo cans.  I do not think the ammo matters in weight, or design. 
I like the idea of a the chamber adapter and being able to shoot 32 S&W, 32 S&W long and 32H&R mag.
I would carry the tools to be able to take the scope off the rifle in case it is damaged.
having shot 32 Rimfire out of a long barreled rifle it was very quiet, the 32S&W and S&W long revolvers I own are more of a POP than a CRACK and would be vary quiet out of a long barrel and good for small game.
I would have a shop manual on how to take the gun completely apart.
I would have spare parts like extractors, main spring, firing pins, hammer.  Pretty much two of every part other than the frame that makes it go Bang!
 
With that said If I were only allowed one rifle and it had to be a 30-30 it would be my T/C and I would have a 12" 22 LR barrel with the 21" 30-30 barrel.  One screw, one pin, and presto chango a short barreled rifle for small game that shoots the easy to store, finds and shoot 22LR.  And the same multi tool that is on my belt and can remove a scope would also be the tool to change the barrel. I would also make a barrel hanger so the same fore end would work on the pistol barrel. or drill a hole in the for end so I can move the screw to the pistol position.
 
 

[schoolmaster]

I'll take a Ruger No.1 please. I'ld like a stainless barrel and action, with the laminated gray stock. The barrel would be a medium weight tapered octagon 24 inches long. It should be fitted with steel fiber optic open sights and a good 3X9 scope. I would need a custom trigger, a claw sling, and a premium recoil pad. I would need the proper tools and materials to clean, repair, and maintain the rifle. I would need the equipment and components to load my own ammunition. My custom barrel would have the right twist and throat to accurately shoot a spitzer bullet of around 165 grains. This is the load I would use for everything that needed shot. One load, one rifle.

[Couger]

)

[keith44]

I'll take a Ruger No.1 please. I'ld like a stainless barrel and action, with the laminated gray stock. The barrel would be a medium weight tapered octagon 24 inches long. It should be fitted with steel fiber optic open sights and a good 3X9 scope. I would need a custom trigger, a claw sling, and a premium recoil pad. I would need the proper tools and materials to clean, repair, and maintain the rifle. I would need the equipment and components to load my own ammunition. My custom barrel would have the right twist and throat to accurately shoot a spitzer bullet of around 165 grains. This is the load I would use for everything that needed shot. One load, one rifle.

The falling block is a solid idea, I almost went with the one load idea, but since I cannot see being limited to a 30/30 except by a series of choices chose the AI chamber and multiple load for multiple use theory

[keith44]

H
 
Hmm.....  I own a couple Handi-rifles, and could try to 'change things' TN, by claiming you didn't say we couldn't do a [permanent] rechamber to .30-40Krag or 7.62X54R (two excellent rounds with rims that would function WELL in this .30-30 barrel if changed).      But I'll stick with the weak, anemic under-powered dirty-thirty!
I’m going to assume this Handi-Rifle locks up perfectly, has a perfect chamber, and also has a lightened/adjusted trigger @4lbs (I like lighter on a hunting rifle, but I want to be sure this Handi-Rifle will NOT go off accidently if dropped or jarred).  Also an ambidextrous hammer extension is installed on the hammer…..
Stock set is the synthetic Handi-Gripper stock and forend; and the barrel is free-floated past the point where the lug bolt attaches the forend.
Backup sights include a rear peep and front ORANGE fiber optic bead post (if not an Ashley Express white line front blade instead).  Also the Marble’s ORANGE fiber optic is much brighter than William’s RED fiber optic blade, and the 3/32” diameter bead is much easier to see than the 1/16” diameter for tired eyes.
In conjunction with the rear sights perched on a Picatinney or Weaver style steel base with 8-40 screws, is the Leupold scope I haven’t chosen yet; a straight 4X, 6X, the 1.5-5X VX-3, or possibly even the 2.5-8X VX-3!   (why scrimp on glass?)
If you like the scout-rifle concept TeamNelson, I think this jack-of-all-trades dirty-thurty could make a fast handy shooting tool with a long eye relief (two eyes open) scope!  Such a scope from Leupold is 2.5X, while an excellent one made by Burris is 2.75X.  Butler Creek pop-up lens covers would be on whatever scope was selected.  Quick release rings might be desired too, so consider those as well.
On developing what loads I think I would need, I don’t load for this round and everything would be a new experience.  However bullets I would use include almost all spitzers since this is a single shot and not a tubular repeater. I would start with Nosler’s 165 or 168 grain Ballistic Tips, and then the harder, deeper penetrating (also 165’s) Nosler Accubond’s.
Where I live and the game I hunt (elk, pronghorns, mule and whitetail deer – with black bears a possibility), a 165 grain Accubond if it shoots tightly ( MOA hopefully) should handle all of those within certain ranges (100 yards or so for elk; 200 yards or more perhaps for antelope, and both deer in between!)  Of course someone will complain the 150grainers in either bullet is much faster, but I try to develop few basic loads that handle several purposes. 
It would be interesting to push the .30-30 to its utmost limits with 165 grain spitzers!  Seeing how close they might can approach the benchmark  2600fps .308 levels?  Of course the .30-30 holds not near enough powder to match the .308, but with that 22inch barrel it would be quite an experiment to see what could be squeezed from the .30-30.  Would I load “HOT?”  Yup!  But only with extreme care, and VEEERY SLOWLY!
If all I was facing was humans, I would develop the best 150grain loads I could, and call it good.
Keep in mind the .30-30 Handi-Rifle is on an SB-2 receiver, the same receiver used with the .30/06 and .308. I don’t try foolish things when hand loading, but it would be interesting to see what a .30-30 case can handle in a firearm capable of handling much higher pressures than a M94 or M336.  Of course such ‘experiments’ should be approached CAREFULLY.
For small game a 110 grain “pinker” or Speer “Varminter” bullet can be used, or a 133-120grain cast boolit with or w/o a gas check. 
On Rocky Raab’s Reloading room site he lists a sqib-‘dirt clod’ load recipe he claims works in ALL .30 caliber cases!  Rocky uses approx 10grains of Unique to get 1500-1600 est velocity, but I’d experiment with Trail Boss too. 
The mold I have for 113 grain round nose w/ meplat bullets is from Lee, although Redding, Lyman, and RCBS also offer molds that make lightweight .309 caliber pills.  And if a load could be found that generated only 1000-1200-1400, I’d certainly be pleased!
I haven't looked at what chamber inserts are available, but I would lean toward .30Carb-.30-30 combos before using a .32ACP, but that's me.
ACCESSORIES?  Of course a [nylon] sling, with an additional stud on the forend for attaching a detachable Harris bipod.  Also an elastic shell holder on the stock is a given, but also I’d have an elastic shell holder on my wrist with 2 or 3 rounds in it.
If I was on horseback I would have a scabbard made especially for this rifle.  Or as a truck gun, it would stored behind the seat in a hard case, and not under it.  I would always try to have 100-120 or more rounds with me, for bandits if I was in hostile country, or less if all I had to worry about were critters.Lastly, a Lee Loader in .30-30 would be nice to have, just in case it ever was needed,

Check the 30/30 AI (Ackley Improved) revised chamber.  It accepts factory 30/30 cases, which are fireformed at the first firing to become the AI, the powder capacity is increased significantly, and with a strong action and heavy walled barrel and semi tight chamber will take pressures up to 300 win magnum levels so 308 velocities should be attainable.  I would not try to push the Handi Rifle into these pressure levels, I like the Handi, own a few, but I keep them loaded to the 40kpsi range.  The Falling block action (Ruger #1, and others) will easily hold 75Kpsi plus. 


About 34 grains of reloader 7 will run a 150 grain bullet at 2,550 fps (close enough to 2,600 fps) when launched out of the 30/30 AI

[jlwilliams]

  OK.  Good one.  I'll play.
 
  I'd keep three loads stocked.  150gr Core Loct, regular old deer medicine for most stuff. Maybe a chamber adapter for a pistol round or maybe just a light small game round.  That I'd need to experiment with more than I have.  Generally I'm not happy with chamber adapters accuracy but if I found a combination that worked it would be fine.  And a heavy subsonic.  Maybe a 220gr.  The rifle would have a threaded muzzle and a screw on silencer.  The heavy subsonics would be adequit for bigger game and really quiet and the light rounds would crack but wouldn't be as loud with the suppressor as without.  Quiet enough to not let everybody in 5 miles know where I'm hunting.  I'm surprised no one else has mentioned a silencer.  If we're tying one hand behind our backs with just having a single shot, then all the stealth we can get is key.   30-30 subsonics are about the same as 300 whisper or 300BLK, so why not use that feature to our advantage?
 
  Loading, maybe a hand press, maybe a Lee Loader.  As much components as I can keep.  Probably a lead pot and a couple of molds.  Replace the Core Loct with cast as they get used up.  As many primers as the hypothetical scenario allow sealed in a nice tight box along with as much powder as I can have.  I use 3130 for 30-30 now, that's fine.
 
  Falling block would be my preference.  Maybe a Ruger, maybe a Wincheser.  Peep sight and a scope.  A good sling.  Must have a good sling.  Not some old boot lace, a strong sling with a shoulder pad.  Given a fantasy doomsday or the like, better plan on carrying it long and far and shooting it seldom and effectively.

[teamnelson]

Appreciate all the good ideas gents! It is definitely one hand tied behind your back ... but nobody has said they can't make it work.
 
- lots of good load/bullet ideas.
- strong action for hot loads: Handi, Ruger #1, Contender
- threaded/silenced ... cool idea! leveraging the single shot limitation into a strength.
- Everybody wants irons at least for back up, a few want scopes as well.
- Good sling, sounds like. I see lots of very expensive rifles at the range with a cheap nylon strap ... makes you wonder if they really understand what carrying a rifle slung for days is like.
- ammo cuff on stock.
- ejector vs extractor, that's a great suggestion for rapid reloads.
 
Keep it coming!

[SHOOTALL]

Scope - 2-8 VX3  , a suppressor , sling and cleaning kit
Ammo- 150 gr Winchester power point , 170 gr remington corlocke ,Sabot rounds with 22 cal. bullets, and a chamber adapter for 30 carbine w/both FMJ ,soft point and HP bullets for it.
 
150 W for most game up to deer
170 for larger game
30 car FMJ for small game
30 car soft point and hp for game and PD when noise could be a roblem or shots were very close. also loaded with 180 to 200 gr bullets it would be very effective with the suppressor.
Of course reloading equipment and componets .

[mannyrock]

 
 
      A couple of points for the mix.
 
      1.  I just visited the site for Buffalo Bore bullets yesterday.  Big news for the .30-30.  They have a new load for it, shooting a 190 grain hard cast jacketed bullet, at 2,200 feet per second, giving about 2,000 ft pounds of energy at the muzzle!  They are advertising it as a first rate Elk and Moose round.  Pretty expensive at $54 per box, but hey, pretty interesting.
 
      2.  The .30  carbine in a .30-30, using a chamber adapter?  Wow.  Never thought of this.  But exactly what type of accuracy does one get at 100 yards, using a .30-30 carbine?  And, how hard it is to load and eject the pseudo-shell holding the .30 carbine round in it? 
 
Manny
 
 

[teamnelson]

Tried to find somewhere on the internet that makes the .30 Carbine adapter, no luck; does MCACE make these special order? That'd be interesting, 30 carbine ammo can be had inexpensively.
 
I like the accelerator/Sabot .224 idea; E.Arthur Brown claims 3,500 fps loaded in a 30-30 case! That'd make a nice long reaching varminter.
 
My .02, I think a Contender w/21" barrel and rear peep, synthetic furniture with leather sling and stock cuff would be a good platform. It'd break down and fit nicely in a pack for the times that makes sense.The problem with the Contender is rigging it for scout with a long eye relief scope, which would be the preferred mount for me, and a fixed 4x. Does anyone make a rail to fit the standard contender barrel that would have room to leave a rail mounted rear peep, and QD rings forward? Sort of like the XS lever scout rail?
 
Pack a .30cal boresnake and some CLP in an altoids tin. I'm wondering what a plum brown finish on barrel and receiver might look like, then rattle can the furniture in a matte greenish gray. Loads: everything's been mentioned, RB catsneeze up to heavy cast, and throw in some sabots.

[SHOOTALL]

 
      A couple of points for the mix.
 
     
 
      2.  The .30  carbine in a .30-30, using a chamber adapter?  Wow.  Never thought of this.  But exactly what type of accuracy does one get at 100 yards, using a .30-30 carbine?  And, how hard it is to load and eject the pseudo-shell holding the .30 carbine round in it? 
 
Manny

I would use it close for the most part , it is a handgun round .
 
There is a company in Alaska that makes them. MCA Sports
 
After TWO years of trying to reach them I did so in a few weeks I will know how they work.

[Couger]

Check the 30/30 AI (Ackley Improved) revised chamber.  It accepts factory 30/30 cases, which are fireformed at the first firing to become the AI, the powder capacity is increased significantly, and with a strong action and heavy walled barrel and semi tight chamber will take pressures up to 300 win magnum levels so 308 velocities should be attainable.  I would not try to push the Handi Rifle into these pressure levels, I like the Handi, own a few, but I keep them loaded to the 40kpsi range.  The Falling block action (Ruger #1, and others) will easily hold 75Kpsi plus. 


About 34 grains of reloader 7 will run a 150 grain bullet at 2,550 fps (close enough to 2,600 fps) when launched out of the 30/30 AI

THANKS K44, for the data on the Ackley30-30, but I stay away from wildcats because they are ..... 'wildcats!'  However you are right that 2550fps could put that piece possibly in the tactical world.  I'd look carefully at the Sierra 155grn Palma MKHPBT, not that I have before.
 
I gotta admit I would have thought an AckleyImproved straighter-case would hold more propellent.  Where can one find data (and history) on this round?  I know "Steve's Pages.com" (#8) show a nice 'visiual' this and most other current rounds. 

[keith44]

Ok History, the man: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P.O._Ackley


load data: [size=78%]http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/w3030ack.html[/size]


Actual cartridge history beats me, but if I am limited to a 30/30 by some twisted law or other weird twist of fate, out comes the reamer 

[teamnelson]

if I am limited to a 30/30 by some twisted law or other weird twist of fate, out comes the reamer 

I wrote a quote down today I got from a guy who says its from New England:
 
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."
 
He said it stands in contrast with our modern american values of constantly buying the better, newest, latest and greatest. Hopefully this thread has stirred up the juices a bit, it got me thinking about that weird twist of fate where I might have to make it do with the gun I have on hand at the moment.

[SHOOTALL]

if I am limited to a 30/30 by some twisted law or other weird twist of fate, out comes the reamer 

I wrote a quote down today I got from a guy who says its from New England:
 
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."
 
He said it stands in contrast with our modern american values of constantly buying the better, newest, latest and greatest. Hopefully this thread has stirred up the juices a bit, it got me thinking about that weird twist of fate where I might have to make it do with the gun I have on hand at the moment.

in reality alot of folks won't be home when the problem comes up. Who was home when 9/11 happened ? If possible I would aquire a gun if I could if not home.

[Lost Farmboy]

 

Good exercise TeamNelson! I like the 30/30 round as a good multi-use round. I do have anything that shoots it, so to play your game I have to pretend my 223 Handi is a 30/30 and my 06 ammo is 30/30.






I assume I would be walking so the backpack. The bottom fanny pack detaches so once at a camp I can travel light. Next to the backpack is my ammo bag. The Lee bullet mold and lead dipper fit in the ammo bag. I want to get a small leather pouch for the classic lee loader on the left. The loader has an extra powder dipper for lite unique cast loads. I would have jacketed soft points for reloading full power hunting loads. In the cover of the loader are two boxes of 32 cal and my 30-06 chamber adapters. (one is really a 30 carbine, but Mace only makes 32 cal for the 30/30) The sling on the gun holds a lot of ammo as does the pouch on the butt stock.


I would use the take down bow as much as possible. I was able to hit a 1 inch super ball at 70 yards in the 70s. I will never be that good again, because my eyes don't work so well any more. But it's amazing how the skill stays with you for years once mastered. I didn't feel like digging out the sling shot for the picture, but I think it is a better option for small game. I would also use the bow for fish. A fishing kit in the backpack, but fish don't always bite.


The mountains I would be in are thick. I plan to avoid getting into a fight with multiple attackers. Move slow and keep alert. I would want a small dog to alert me to danger and help with hunting. I think a Jack Russel terrier. I do not have a dog, if the SHTF I will get one some how. The dog would alert me to men in the day and bears at night.


I saw a show on the history channel about guns. It tells about the first life saved by a hand gun. Indians knew guns had only one shot and it took time to reload. They would move one or two at a time hiding behind trees until the white man shot. Then rushed in and killed him. The guy had his new hand gun and set it down in front of him and sat ready with his rifle. When he shot the Indians rushed him. He picked up his hand gun and started firing. The Indians fled. I just couldn't see not having a 32 cal hand gun in that ammo bag to go with the 32 cal ammo. Except it's against the rules.

[bilmac]

The Lee pound em in and pound em out tool has been mentioned several times here. A better choice would be the Lyman tong tool. It operates like a pair of pliers.

I believe they are still being made, they are hard to find. Even if they aren't it would be worth the effort to find one. To use a Lee requires a firm hard surface. If you've been out in the woods lately you know these aren't too common. To find a nice surface in the same place you want to camp, that would be pretty rare.

The tong tool is made from aluminum, dies are steel, but smaller dia than the Lee die. I would say that the tong tool is only slightly heavier and slightly larger than a Lee tool.

[teamnelson]

The Lee pound em in and pound em out tool has been mentioned several times here. A better choice would be the Lyman tong tool. It operates like a pair of pliers.

I believe they are still being made, they are hard to find. Even if they aren't it would be worth the effort to find one. To use a Lee requires a firm hard surface. If you've been out in the woods lately you know these aren't too common. To find a nice surface in the same place you want to camp, that would be pretty rare.

The tong tool is made from aluminum, dies are steel, but smaller dia than the Lee die. I would say that the tong tool is only slightly heavier and slightly larger than a Lee tool.

How heavy is the tong tool compared to the lee hand press? I presently keep a hand press, dies, and some tools in a small pouch that I can drop in my pack, but its bigger than ideal. I switched to a hand press from classic cast because on more than one instance I ignited a primer while trying to seat it. That and the sound of hammering itself would be not ideal in a situation where silence might be preferred.

* looked it up, and the lyman tool with handles in 30-30 weighs 22oz. total. I'll weigh my hand press and dies when I get home and see. Thanks for the idea!

[bilmac]

Both the tong tool and the Lee pounder neck size only, which is not the best for single shots or leverguns, eventually the case stretches enough they need to be full length sized. Lyman used to make a full length sizing die designed for pounding the case in. I'm sure that has been discontinued. I don't know why a person couldn't just pound cases into a standard full length die though.

[yellowtail3]

Can I just keep my 336? On my honor, I'll not load it with more than one round. And I'll want a few hundred rounds of that Hornady red-tipped stuff, it shoots really good in my rifle...

[teamnelson]

Can I just keep my 336? On my honor, I'll not load it with more than one round. And I'll want a few hundred rounds of that Hornady red-tipped stuff, it shoot pretty good in my rifle...

A 336 with a few hundred rounds of leverolution ammo and I'd feel better than well prepared for whatever may come. But yes, you must only load 1 at a time. I trust you. 

[jlwilliams]

  A 336 lever gun?!?!?  Why that's darned near an AK47!
 
  Just funnin'

[Couger]

'Just funnin' JLW?
 
Actually you're correct in some ways!   
 
(digressing a little), The 7.62X39 will NEVER equal the real ballistics (sloppy physics aside) of a .30-30 WCF, but the two rounds are often compared one to the other .....  Too bad none of the major ammo companies make a 'deer load' with a bullet like Speer's 130 grain .30-30 slug.  I think such a load would be quite effective on medium size deer.
 
At one time I started to setup an SKS para-model as a truck gun, with one of those genuine Chicom 20rd extended magazines attached.  The idea was with a bandoleer of loaded 10rd strippers an SKS so equipped could be reloaded quickly anytime the owner thought he needed to.  Carrying such a piece it would likely start out with 20rds in the ready, but if trouble errupted and the owner lost count of exactly how many shots he'd fired, one 10rd stripper probably wouldn't refill it all the way, but there'd no need to think about reloading unless 10 or more rounds were fired.  Could make for a quick and really versatile weapon within intermediate ranges.  However I abandoned that cartridge trying to minimize/economize choices.  Plus the once really cheap ammo is harder and harder to get in quantity.

[Lloyd Smale]

hopefully i wont get caught with my pants down and only a 3030 single shot.