Rohan wrote:G'day Dorpel,
I have just found your post from 2014 about wanting a 30-30 for Hunting. I hope you found a good one. I just thought I would share my experience doing the same.
I also wanted a classic "scrub gun" and decided to go for the Marlin 336W which was one of very few examples available due to covid over the last 12 months or so. I bought one new from Cowboy Guns and Gear in Cowra, NSW. It came as a rifle and scope package with an unbranded 3-9X40 scope mounted. I had originally set my sights on a Winchester Model 94 although it was impossible to source the newer side ejecting examples during covid and all the second hand ones I could find were top ejectors which foiled my plans for mounting a scope.
I am really pleased with the way it performs. It's not the most accurate rifle that I own but it is more than fit for the purpose for which I bought it. After sighting it in I get a 2.5 inch group at 100 yards which is more than accurate enough for pigs in the scrub.
I did my research on ammunition and have gone with the Hornady FTX Leverevelution rounds. They are a 160 grain ballistic tipped hunting round that performs quite well and carries energy further down range than other available rounds. They are quite expensive at $50/pack of 20 but I have just purchased the reloading dies to suit.
The FTX's leave the barrel at 2400fps and carry 1100 ft/lb out to 200 yards. That gives me leeway to confidently take a larger animal (pig/deer/goat) at that range. Keeping in mind my 2.5 inch group at 100 yards will be 5 inches at 200 yards, discretion needs to be used in confidently placing that longer shot into a kill zone. Mind you, 200 yards is to be considered the absolute maximum range for this rifle and is only, I feel, possible with the Hornady FTX 160 grain rounds.
The 30-30 is a lot louder than I had anticipated so I do keep spare batteries for my electric muffs. I wasn't using any hearing protection when I took the first shot on my range and I did regret it. It is far louder than my old Lee Enfield .303 which did surprise me.
The stock on the 336W is quite a generic, pale looking piece of Beech wood. I think I may purchase an after market stock in Walnut later on. That's only a cosmetic issue though. I rarely bother with the look of a rifle that performs well.
The action from brand new was quite stiff and definitely not smooth. I have found that it "makes metal" after a good oiling and a day in the paddock. I'm hoping it will wear in over time.
Those are my only two negatives with the rifle really. Otherwise I am pleased with the configuration and function of it.
With six rounds in the tube and one in the breech it carries a good number of highly repeatable shots for when you bump a mob of goats, pigs, or deer in the scrub.
I am happy that I decided to buy it. I'll be keeping it for good I think.
Rohan.
There are two easy ways to scope a top-eject, the simplest being a scout scope mounted on the barrel, forward of the ejection port. The second is an offset mount to move the scope to the left side of the ejection port. Both work very well and have their own pros and cons. The offset mount usually leaves the rear sight in place so you can just install the scope when required - it should retain zero just fine. The scout scope often interferes with or replaces the rear sight.