the 30-30 for survivalists

One gun I have that I have long considered to be a suitable “Survival gun” is a Marlin (or Winchester, Mossberg or Rossi) 30-30. I bought mine about 35 years ago to be my main go-to hunting gun. It is light and handy. It comes in an extremely popular caliber. There is almost always some ammo to be found in this caliber. It has a side loading gate that makes it easy to reload after firing a couple of shots. It has such a mild recoil that most people-male or female-should be able to handle it. I always have liked lever action rifles because of the many western movies I watched as a youngster. I enjoy shooting them.
So, what’s not to like? Well, for one thing it is lower powered compared to the .308 and 30-06 etc. It doesn’t have extreme target accuracy. Another thing, at one time you could only use flat tip or round nose bullets because of the tubular magazine of this rifle.
But, Hornady has done a lot to improve this caliber with their “Flex-Tip” ammo. With these cartridges it is possible to use pointed bullets in 30-30‘s. This ammo adds another 100 yards or more to the range of this fine rifle.
Although it doesn’t have the firepower of a semi-auto, I believe that for most survival needs a 30-30 is all you should need.
There is one 30-30 rifle that is OK for fun shooting or hunting, but, I do not recommend it for tactical use. And, that is the Henry. While the other 30-30s load through a side loading gate, which makes it easy to top up the magazine when necessary, the Henry has a plunger in the ammo tube which must be removed to reload it. This puts the Henry out of action while being reloaded. The other 30-30s can be kept ready for action while ammo is added. This is better for tactical activities. I think that every survivalist should have at least one 30-30.

Ive wrote before that i have a couple 3030s and i like them. They will be one of my main guns touse if the time comes. They may not be some folks favorit but they are oneof mine.

I have always wanted to have a 30-30 but have never managed to get one yet. I think it is a very versatile caliber and I think most of the lever-action rifles are really handy. My dad had a Winchester 94 that belonged to my mother's father I always admired it. For some reason, I have never liked the Marlin as much. I think because of my loyalty to the Winchester. I think the Marlin is a great rifle also.

I also think the 30-30 is a great rifle for survival.

DStephan

You are 100 percent right, DStephan. When I first started thinking about survivalism (around 1978), I went down to KMart and bought a brand new Marlin 30-30. At that time I had no rifle that I thought could be used for that. I lucked out when I walked into a store which was closing out all of their ammo at half price. I bought a number of boxes of Winchester 30-30 for half price ( around $2.50 per box, I think). I considered that I had a rifle that would serve for survival, hunting, and personal defense. I still think it will do. As I wrote earlier, Hornady's flex-tip ammo ( named "Levrevolution) takes this caliber to a whole new level.
Thanks for your comments.

I think that all survivlist should have a 3030. It is a great old gun and it will work for most suvivle things. You canot afford not to have one.

If you are in great fear of your government and don't want to have any tactical guns, you might consider a 30/30 or one of the other lever action rifles. I think that, eventually, the gun (and Constitution) haters intend to take ALL firearms. But, I think first they will go after "black guns." Then, if they ever succeed in taking all of them away, they will come for the rest of your guns. You can take my word for that! There has never been a partial gun ban implemented that I know. They want all or nothing. But, I think that they will use a "divide and conquer approach. So, the old cowboy style guns will be the last on the list.

i saw this on marlin forum and it tells one mans problems with a 3030. I thought that some might want to read it.


New found confidence in my 30-30

I had lost confidence in my 1986 30AS a few years ago. I had taken it to the range one day and was stunned to see it shoot no better than grapefruit size groups at 100yds (fruit is a unit of measure) with my trusted Win 150gr power points. This was a gun that could tag a walnut at 100yds with no problem, I had even clover leafed with the steel sights before I scoped her. I figured my see-thru set up was loose, took it apart and tightend it up. Still not able to shoot better than a lemon at 100yds, I know its still a kill but, unacceptable from my trusted Marlin, I had confidently taken a head shot at 125yds with her just a couple of years prior. So, I then figured it was my 25 year old Bushnell 3-9X32 Sharpshooter, so I replaced it with a 3-9X40 Trophy. Still no better! it must be my Kwiksite setup, replaced with an all steel Leupold setup, Nope! Went to a Weaver setup and a Nikon Prostaff 2-7X32, still shooting like crap. Just when I was about to give up and park my very first deer sized rifle, I thought, let me try some Remington Corelokts. You see, my bolt Rem 700 hates the Winchester rounds but will stack the Corelockts on top of each other all day at 100 and 200yds. So today, after several years of frustration and not wanting to take my 30-30 deer hunting, I took a box of 150gr Corelokts and my 30AS to the range.The first 2 shots were way off but together. I let the gun cool and adjusted. 2 more shots and sunny beaches! It was the Winchester ammo all along. I got the gun zerod and let it cool, again. After about 20mins I took a cold shot, Dead Center! She's back! I bought this gun in 1988 at a pawn shop for $150, 2yrs old with not a mark on her and still with the "targeted by" sticker on her. Almost 25yrs later and probably 2000 rounds, she is still a shooter. I am glad to have her back!

Now I am one Happy Campingman!

I was looking at a 30-30 Winchester for sale and it had a scope. Of course, that takes some work with the top ejection. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with using a scope on a 30-30 and whether or not it really is effective. I mean, can you really reach out and touch a target with a 30-30 at a decent enough distance to justify a scope? I used an M-16 in the Army with a peep sight and was able to hit man-sized targets at 400 meters. My take on it would be that iron sights should be sufficient for a 30-30. Also, how hard is it to add a peep sight to a 30-30 Winchester in place of the regular open sights?

DStephan

I think that a scope of 4 to 6 power would be helpful if, like me, you have old tired eyes. It is more difficult on the older Winchesters because of their top ejection. If you get one with the "angle Ejection" it will be easier. Most Winchesters and Marlins made in the past were already drilled and tapped for aperature (peep) sights. I easily installed one on my Marlin that I purchased in 1978. I di like it better than the factory "open" sights. Having said all that, the 30-30 is a 200-300 yard rifle and that is about it. And, as I have said before, using Hornady's Leverevolution ammo will give about 100 more yards. All in all, I do not thin that a survivalist should try to go without at least one 30-30.

I asked one of my brothers this question about how helpful a scope is on a 30-30. He, very appropriately, pointed out that a gun is always going to be more accurate with a scope since you will have a better sight picture. Especially, for those of us with old eyes. I believe he is right that a scope will be a positive on a 30-30 up to its range.

DStephan

I thing a scope will help any rifle even a 22. But i dont think it has to be a big one of 10 to 20 power. 4 or 6 sholu do it. I would lik one on my 3030.