Just bought a Marlin 336 in .30-30

[ChrisK]

I have been wanting one for a while now and had the extra cash and bought one. I also bought 3 boxes of 150 gain Win. and 3 boxes of 170 grain Win. I do not plan to buy any real expensive ammo for this rifle just reg. run of the mill .30-30 ammo. I plan to do a black bear hunt next year and might use it.
What all ammo do you guys shoot with your .30-30 and what type of accuracy should I realisticly expect? Also could some folks post some pictures of some animals they have taken with their .30-30's?
Thanks,
Chris Kiefner

[spruce]

Congrats on your purchase!
 
I prefer Win 170gr Silvertips for deer.  Used them for years, have confidence in them, and the tips don't deform when you run them in and out of the magazine a few times.
 
In reality, I don't think it makes a hoots difference as far as effectiveness which brand of ammo you use (Fed, Win, Rem, etc.).  Same goes for 150 or 170 grain.  Just try a few and pick the one that shoots best in your gun. 

[Flynmoose]

I had a 336, it liked 170 Gr better than 150s. I tried several brands of ammo and it was consistant, used 170s after that, whatever major brand that was on sale. They are a great rifle, ENJOY!!
FM

[Scibaer]

i have a model 336 in 30-30 1949 waffle top regular carbine ( long mag tube )
 mine likes winchester and remington 170 gr. soft points. the win are white box and the rems are green box walmart brands.
 i have old williams peep sites on my 336 and out to 125 yards the 170's do what i need em too

[Him]

Live with it, fondle it, don't be stingy with the ammo, and learn where it shoots, no need to change anything.


Good luck, and enjoy.

[ChrisK]

by the sound of things I should be buying more 170's then. Not like they break the bank. $14 something at Walmart. I have not checked Rural King yet but they usually have good prices as well.

[T.R.]

All the Marlins I've handled would shoot a 2 inch group at 100 yards without any trouble at all. 
 
You can topple just about any animal with well placed 30-30 bullets.  Power points are a very good choice for accurasy and performance!
 

 
TR

[yukondog]

You'll like it, what ever ammo it shoots the best will work just fine. Mine shoots 150's the best.

[T.R.]

Plan to clean your bore regularily.  Micro-groove rifling benefits from a good copper fouling solvent.  My rifle shoots best if cleaned after about every 10 shots. 
 
Good hunting to you.
 
TR
 

[ChrisK]

thanks for the tips. Thanks for the pictures also
 

[mannyrock]

 
  When you sight it in, you will find that it groups much better if you rest the rifle on the bottom of the steel receiver, just in front of the lever.  Don't rest it further out, such as on the forestock or the magazine tube. These are somewhat springy and can give you large groups.
 
   Using this method, I have found that most of the .336s will group 2 inches or better at 100 yards, with 150 or 170, whichever it likes best.  I found that the "Micro bore" barrels tended to fill up with fouling pretty fast, requiring a quick couple of passes with a brush and bore cleaner after every 10 shots or so, or the groups got bigger prettty quickly.
 
  The Marlin 336s are very efficient and reliable. :-)
 
Mannyrock.

[ChrisK]

I have shot one box through it. I really like the way it handles. I was cleanin it after every couple shots. It didn't seem to a whole lot of crud. I wish that I could use it for deer here in Indiana.Might try to use it a few times while coyote hunting this year.

[yellowtail3]

I have shot one box through it. I really like the way it handles. I was cleanin it after every couple shots. It didn't seem to a whole lot of crud. I wish that I could use it for deer here in Indiana.Might try to use it a few times while coyote hunting this year.

Congrats on purchased, ChrisK. Others have given fine feedback, I'll pile on a little. I bought my 336 about ten years ago... only centerfire after I'd sold others in a panicky period of unemployment. It's a fine rife. I mostly used Federal ammo (it was cheap) but anything will do. Last season I got a couple boxes of the new Hornady leverevolution stuff  on sale. It grouped GREAT - but this year it's like $25 a box, no thanks. Got a couple boxes of Win PPs in 150, they group just fine. Shot one buck a couple years back with that bullet, it made a broad hole right above shoulder, all the way through.

Shot my first coyote last season while deer hunting - he was on the trail of a doe that had just trotted nervously past my tree. Coyote below, along with a 9 pointer from a coupe weeks later. I like the Marlin just fine... .