Where have all the 30/30's gone?

Meeteetse · Post by **Meeteetse** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:59 pm

Perhaps it is just my imagination, but the 30/30 seems to be disappearing. It has been one of my favorite old time cartridges for over 45 years and the only manufacturer I can find that is still chambering a gun is Marlin. I know there are many calibers out there that are superior, but there is still something fun about shooting a gun chambered in a 100+ year old cartridge.

I've got three 30/30 Winchesters, including one that dates from 1902, and I would like to have others, and not just Winchesters. I own a couple of Marlin rifles in other calibers, .44 and 45/70, and I may get a 30/30, but I have been looking for something different.

Are there any 30/30 shooters out there like me wishing there were more guns to choose from, or am I just an old dinosaur?

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:09 am

I have a 100 year old Marlin 30-30 and just bought a 1920 Savage 99.
I believe Mossberg is now making a 30-30 along with Marlin.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:45 am

after working on some loads I'm getting attached to the cartridge.

I don't have any other choices in condor safe loads right now.

The ammo is not that plentiful around here, I see more 30-06 and 270 and 308.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:16 am

T/C and NEF still chamber the round, although the not be leverguns.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:27 am

Same for .35 Remington and .444 Marlin, but I still like 'em!

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:29 am

I beleive Savage still has it as an option on their Combo guns - model 24. They were making a 12ga/30-30 for awhile, but I do not know if it is still in production or not

Birdman · Post by **Birdman** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:12 am

Haven't you heard. The ol gal is strictly a miminal load for anything from squirrels to rabbits. Some think the 22 LR is a better performing caliber so all future production has been put on hold. By the way. A friend of mine did a one shot drop on a 400 pound black bear with a 30-30 with of all things, the factory open sights.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:26 am

I'm kind of partial to my NEF Handi Rifle in .30-30.

Post by **Old Savage** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:47 am

Griff has them.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:15 am

still big among the wool shirt and duck boot crowd...

WCF3030 · Post by **WCF3030** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:31 am

Rusty wrote:I'm kind of partial to my NEF Handi Rifle in .30-30.

Me to. Best $150 dollars I ever spent.

WCF3030 · Post by **WCF3030** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:32 am

El Chivo wrote:still big among the wool shirt and duck boot crowd...

No duck boots put dead on with the wool shirt.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:02 pm

I for one wish Remmy chambered it in their little model 7, that would tempt me. I would like to see it a Handi but we don't get them over here.

Nath.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:13 pm

OS +1

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:44 pm

There's one in my safe....I tend to reach for the 1895GS, the 1895 Cowboy, or the Win. 1886......I like my 45-70s a bunch, but that 30WCF is just as good (effective, if you will) and shoots flatter without flattening my shoulder...........

SJPrice · Post by **SJPrice** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:48 pm

BlaineG wrote:There's one in my safe....I tend to reach for the 1895GS, the 1895 Cowboy, or the Win. 1886......I like my 45-70s a bunch, but that 30WCF is just as good (effective, if you will) and shoots flatter without flattening my shoulder...........

yep, one in my safe as well. A Marlin 1893 made in 1902. I too tend to grab my Marlin 1895 GS or my Browning 1886 SRC. I like the 45-70 as well, but like he said where I am the old 30-30 would and does work just as well. with a lot less noise and recoil.

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:11 pm

I believe you are right about GRIFF and and the Winchester 30-30's, there are only four in my safe.

rhead · Post by **rhead** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:25 pm

I have a couple in my safe, 2 in the hall closet, one in my truck,one in my wife's trunk, one each in both boy's trucks.

But I don't have a problem with them. Now with .357s maybe I do have a small problem.

Meeteetse · Post by **Meeteetse** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:38 pm

Old Savage wrote:Griff has them.

Sorry, who or what is GRIFF?. . . . . I guess I missed that source somewhere, or perhaps I don't know the acronym.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:59 pm

GRIFF is a forum member, where you been all these years???? Oh, wait, 34 posts, OK you're a newbee. Just do a search for GRIFF and you'll come to know him.

He and 20Cows build 94 Winchesters to suit themselves. Between them they must have have of Winchesters total production sewed up.

Me .... I only got two right now.

Joe

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:51 pm

Joe, Meeteetse was on the old forum, lived up in Wyoming.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:20 pm

Thanks Jerry. I knew his name was familiar but I couldn't place it. I've never been good for names.

Joe

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:27 pm

Although the grand old 30 WCF is still being made in a couple of rifles, it sure ain't no trouble finding one in new or near new condition. I bet there's over 10 million of them in circulation---well, about 9 million, 9 hundred and ninety-nine thousand. The other thousand or so belong to Levergun forum members-----Sixgun

Kansas Ed · Post by **Kansas Ed** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:10 pm

I believe it's called market saturation. Why on earth would anyone buy a new 30-30 when they can have a better quality used one for cheaper?

Ed

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:19 pm

Dont look at me!! I only have seven or eight.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:58 pm

Now don't blame me... have to remember that I've been told NOT to buy any moe .30-30s; six of mine are partial guns, sans wood on most and a part here & there on a couple. 'Sides my B-I-L has more than me anyway. In fact, he has more 1886s than I have .30-30s, all originals.

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:07 pm

He and 20Cows build 94 Winchesters to suit themselves. Between them they must have have of Winchesters total production sewed up.

Hey, I only had five!

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:39 pm

20cows wrote:
He and 20Cows build 94 Winchesters to suit themselves. Between them they must have have of Winchesters total production sewed up.
Hey, I only had five!

I guess I better buy some more and catch up.

Joe

Meeteetse · Post by **Meeteetse** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:59 pm

No, not a newbee, had several hundred posts on this sight before something happened and I was lost, but that is of no importance. Regardless, I have never heard of Griff. If it is that simple, I will do a search.

Thanks for remembering me JerryB

By the way, I know there are thousands of 30/30 Winchesters out there, I was more concerned that no one is making new rifles in a great old caliber except Marlin, T/C and perhaps NEF. Maybe that is all the industry can handle. . . .To bad. .

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 7:39 am

Meeteetse,

"Supposedly" Browning-Winchester is going to reintroduce the Mdl 94 in 2009. That, if it happens, will bring back another maker of the 30-30.

All we can do is wait and see I guess.

Joe

Post by **Hobie** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:51 am

J Miller wrote:GRIFF is a forum member, where you been all these years???? Oh, wait, 34 posts, OK you're a newbee. Just do a search for GRIFF and you'll come to know him.

He and 20Cows build 94 Winchesters to suit themselves. Between them they must have have of Winchesters total production sewed up.

Me .... I only got two right now.

Joe

Meeteetse comes and goes but was here in 2003 when I joined the forum. He might well have just missed Griff's posts. He probably doesn't know that this particular .30-30 enthusiast had the cartridge nomen on his big rig! Yep, he's a fan.

Lastmohecken · Post by **Lastmohecken** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:19 pm

The best thing about the 30WCF was that it was chambered in the pre-64 Winchester model 94, the post 64 model 94, and the 336 Marlin for all of these years. Although, I would like to have a Savage 99 chambered for it, but my favorite 99 caliber is the .300 Savage, but I like the idea of being able to shoot the more readily available 30/30 ammo, found in abundance everywhere.

But I have no disire to own a 30/30 in a bolt action or a single shot, however a quick handling double rifle or a really sleek semi-auto might get my attention.

My current 30/30's are:
#1 my favorite a pre-64 Winchester 94 (dead stock with the original semi-buckhorn sight)

#2 a well used Winchester 94 Antlered Game C0MM. (had to replace the cheap post 64 rear sight with a take off open sight from a 95 Browning)

#3 a neat little Winchester 94 Ledgendary Lawman Saddle Ring Carbine with a Williams receiver sight.

#4 Last but not least, a Marlin Comm straight gripped carbine. I though about adding a scope on the Marlin, but it hardly seems worth it, as it would probably end up being no lighter then my Browning BLR, in .308 Win, so why bother?

Post by **Hobie** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:46 pm

If I've got the short list right you can buy brand-spankin'-new .30-30s from Marlin, Mossberg, H&R, and Thompson-Center. That's a lot fewer than formerly but you can still get them not to mention all the good guns made in years past.

When I first saw the topic title I was reminded of an old Vietnam War era song...

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:50 pm

I thought Henry was making a 30-30 too?

Had to count mine up, 8 Winchesters and 1 Marlin

chadbr · Post by **chadbr** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 10:37 pm

I've got 2 I've enjoyed since day 1...

1 grandfather left me a 99 is 303 Savage - about as close to 30/30 as you can get I suppose... I'll count it. Shoots as steady as I can hold it.

1 grandfather gave me his 336 Marlin in 30/30 (tack driver).

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 10:57 pm

Meeteetse,

Marlin makes em.
Mossberg makes em.
Henry makes em.
And I believe Winchester will be back at it someday soon, although there's no evidence of that.

bogie

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:06 pm

Ok, we have: Marlin, T/C, NEF, Henry and Mossberg. Should we include Magnum Research? I just thought about them today.

Meeteetse · Post by **Meeteetse** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:25 pm

I guess I'm just a dinosaur. Without Winchester leading the way with the 30/30 and the Mdl. 70 boltgun, I sort of get nostalgic and forget that others also make guns in the calibers I like. When you grow up in the 40's and 50's with nothing but Winchesters, you sort of get a warped sense of things. Never owned another brand until the 70's when I bought a Ruger boltgun cause I didn't think the Winchesters were any good. 10 years ago I bought a Marlin 1894 (44 mag) just because I liked the gun, but those are the only non-Winchester guns I own. Tried a couple of other brands, but didn't keep them.

Somehow NEF, T/C and Magnum Research don't seem to fit in this old cowboys levergun cabinet, but I might have to look at the Henry and the Mossberg. I will admit I like the T/C in other, bigger calibers, but never thought of it as a 30/30 gun. Live and learn I guess.

penates · Post by **penates** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:26 pm

The 30wcf is the best all round chamber in a TC Contender. I like them so much I'll probably sell or trade my m94 classic for another one.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:37 pm

Hey not too worry! If they don't make another .30-30 lever action for 100 years, there's still plenty of them around to satisfy the need! Seems like well over half the Marlins I look at, whether they're 100 years old, or 20 years old, are all .30-30 caliber!