As I continued my learning about the 336 and the .30-30 (30WCF) I found this elder gentleman provides an interesting defense of the caliber. He focuses on the Winchester 94, but he includes the 336 in his analysis. For him, the two rifles were comparable. Anyway, I found it interesting.

Enjoy.

 

I'm subscribed to Paul Harrell, have been for years. He's a no bull, real gun guy. No frills. This review is one of his many on levers and the 30WCF. Thanks for posting.

 

Good videos. Thanks. I always enjoy watching Paul Harrell. The second video was also interesting.

 

I had more than one exception to the second video.

He was correct in that the older guys would consider a box of shells about 20 deer. But they sighted in the rifle once. They did not necessarily depend on factory sighting. My father was a WWII Marine vet. He taught me a lot of things aobut marksmanship and sighting in rifles.
The 150 grain bullet is a very practical alternative and used quite a bit on deer. My daughter killed her first 5 deer or so with that load. In some rifles they are more accurate. The original load for the 30-30 was not a 170 but a 160 or 165. In the very early days the 32 Special had more of an advantage over the 30-30 than it does today.
I knew and talked to other depression survivors and the 30-30 was a rifle of opportunity. Deer season was a time for friends to get together but deer were shot a bit in the off season. One individual joked that he was 16 before he ate beef. They had other game and a few moose were shot. These rifles were light and handy and easy to carry about everywhere they went. I was told by a friend that his uncle even carried his 32 Special to the out house. Another point, many had 22 pistols for the small stuff they would see for the pot (the Colt Woodsman was one of the favorites). I still find the concept of interchangeable rifle pistol use kind of ridiculous because of that.

Also remember that the guy in the first video used 150 grain Remington ammo in both rifles. Maybe the Winchester liked something else? I have heard quite a few mention that they like the feel of the 94 better. I have a Mossberg 464 and actually have the best of both worlds as it feel like a Winchester but permits scope mounting like a Marlin.

DEP

 

Good videos! The 2nd guy has a lot of other videos about reloading and the historical background of various rifles and calibers -- good stuff!

I have a Winchester 94AE in .357 Magnum and was shocked how accurate it was at 50 yards with 'Silvertip' ammunition I had in storage for over 20+ years.
Love my Marlins too. Why pick one over the other when you can enjoy BOTH!

I don't have a 30-30 yet, but it's on my 'list'. One of these days I'll get one.

 

Often overlooked, is that optics really did not become practicle for most folks until the 1960's, a time when a dependable optic of good quality became somewhat affordable for most hunters. Until then open/receiver sights was where it was at, and a 30-30 was effective at that range most people could shoot irons well, which explains why it was considered so adequate and popular. Today alot of folks throw a huge optic on a powerful bolt rifle, and assume they can hit a dime as far as they can see it. These folks may turn there nose at a 30-30, but should be aware that a person who knows such a rifle & cartridge can be a very effective marksman to a further range than they think.

 

The comments about the lever rifle costing 79.95 as compared to the model 70 at 129 was another factor. As Greymustang mentioned. scopes were not always as popular as they are now. My Remington 700 270 came with iron sights and one individual I hunted with used his 270 with irons for a while until he could put a scope on it. My first set of scope mounts were the tip off type where I could pivot them and use irons in the brush for drives. After a while I replaced them with standard mounts as I did not trust them. Using iron sights only made the $79 rifle more practical. Also during the Depression the levers were used for the same reason, they were less expensive. A switch from today where a Savage Axis is less expensive than a lever and offers an individual a usable rifle.

As I mentioned I took some exceptions to the history. I grew up in Northern MN where a lot of the older individuals farmed in the summer and did some logging in the summer or were loggers. While the 30-30 was not universal it was pretty common. Also very common was the use of a receiver sight with the aperture thrown away.

This old 1950's or so vintage Marlin with a Redfield receiver sight that was added. Lots of Winchester's had similar set ups. The Redfield sight was probably about the same vintage as the rifle. Still had the factory front sight and shot a little high but was close enough with 170 grain loads.

If one studies the history of these weapons the old question of why the 32 Special gets answered. It came out in 1902 and offered a bit more power than the 30-30. It was loaded close to what we see today, the 30-30 with a 165 grain bullet at 1960. It was a gain in power. The 170 at 2200 did not occur until the 1960's for the 30-30.

DEP

 

Im a 94 winnie freak, but do I like and own 336 Marlins. of course (Savage 99 too) its just a matter of what you like most. so im lucky I LIKE EM ALL !

 

I have both rifles in inventory. I have one Winchester but multiple Marlins for one reason. The Winchester is a major pain to strip and clean. The Marlin, one screw and no gymnastics.

 

Paul Harrell by far has the best videos on the net.

 

Great memories, guys. Thanks for sharing them.

 

You want to see another no bull gun guy, check out mixup98. He likes all kinds of old guns, shoots a lot with a minimum of talking. Absolutely no frills.

 

Paul Harrell by far has the best videos on the net.

I have watched several of his videos and never heard any facts that aren't correct. But it really cracks me up when at the end of his videos he says "don't try this at home. I am a professional You Tuber". What the hell? Did he go to college to learn to "Youtube"? Did he take an online course? Was he trained by the Youtube staff? For me it degrades his credibility.

But like a lot of you I have a Marlin and a Winchester. I like both. I do like how slim and light the Winchester feels. On my first Marlin I refinished the stocks and really slimmed down the fore end. This was before Marlin started that goofy, ugly checker pattern. But if I had to grab one and go it would be the Marlin.

 

Interesting...….Ive heard him say "don't try this at home ...I'm what you call a professional"/
Never heard him mention or say You Tuber.

 

I have only owned one Winchester 30/30. It shot well and felt good. But I borrowed my FIL .35 Remington and it was love at first sight.
So a friend was in need of some cash and I got his 336 30/30 for $95 bucks in the early 80's. Traded that strait up for a 35 Remington 336.
Sold the Winchester and never bought one again. I did not like the top ejection, then later side ejection. I liked the little extra weight of the Marlin. I have big hands and never minded the potbelly fore grips. Not as ascetically pleasing as a Model 99 ore Winchester though. The Savage is awesome to accept the lock up of the bolt. It is solid but feels clunky. How can you not like a quarter bore at 3K fps or a multitude of pointy pills.
May levers live on forever. But I will put up my BL-22 up against any lever 22. JMHO.

 

But I will put up my BL-22 up against any lever 22. JMHO.

Yer on! Send me a PM and I will give my address and I will put my Marlin 39A up against your BL-22. The loser buys the beer.:deal:

My Marlin shoots 1/2" 50 yard groups. With a scope of course. I can't see well enough with open sights to take advantage of this rifles full potential without a scope. And I have good eyes now with my new cataract surgery.:beer:

 

Been a topic of many threads and discussions. The Winchester 1894/94 is the most ergonomically comfortable rifle to carry and shoot ever made, IMHO. The Marlin is easier to scope and simpler to disassemble. I own , shoot and enjoy both. Back in the day the Winchester was as common as a hammer with Adirondack deer hunters. Personally, I am attracted to any rifle with a lever.

 

I hope Paul Harrell was wearing hearing protection.

Great videos, and good comparison. I carried my Winchester (Pre64) for years in the woods when I was scouting. I have never had to fire it for self-defense.I could carry that rifle all day if I had too, and found it a great rifle for general purposes. Of course, I have a number of Marlins, 30-30, 35 REM, 45-70. :rock:

With the additional weight of the Marlin 336, I find that I can control where my shots go, the Winchester "CAN" get away from me a little and my shots "CAN" be a bit high. :hmpf:

One thing I found with either lever gun, I can eject and chamber another round faster and stay in the firing position without bringing down the rifle a little in order to chamber the next round with any of my bolt action rifles. If I ever end up in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong bear and have to keep shooting rapid fire, I am more comfortable with a lever gun. This is a concern for me because of the number of black bears we have in my home state. For that reason, I don't carry a 30-30 anymore, I carry a Marlin 336 chambered in 35 REM for scouting. Bears have been getting bigger and I like a little extra power, just in case. So far so good, but the 35 REM is a bit more insurance.


Mike T.

 

One thing I found with either lever gun, I can eject and chamber another round faster and stay in the firing position without bringing down the rifle a little in order to chamber the next round with any of my bolt action rifles. If I ever end up in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong bear and have to keep shooting rapid fire, I am more comfortable with a lever gun. This is a concern for me because of the number of black bears we have in my home state. For that reason, I don't carry a 30-30 anymore, I carry a Marlin 336 chambered in 35 REM for scouting. Bears have been getting bigger and I like a little extra power, just in case. So far so good, but the 35 REM is a bit more insurance.

Mike T.

I appreciate the power of the 35 REM. I took a boar in Oklahoma with that caliber. It put the boar on the ground after only a short scamper. Bears beware! Anywhere!

 

The Mossberg 464 has been a new kid on the block andI like mine. I got it cheap. One of the things mentioend was the lock up where the lever has to depress a plunger in order to fire the rifle. That is kind of irritating but is common on the Wincheter. They make a Walnut pistol grip Mossberg model that is looks better and is reminiscent of the olf 64 Winchester. It is not D&T for a receiver sight and all I have seen for one is one made by Skinner which would likely work well, but it appears I would have to drift the front sight for windage. It would also be one that would be best for the use of one load. It appears to have micro groove type rifling. Trigger is usable but not he best. Said to have incorporated features of both Marlin and Winchester. Not as easy to disassemble as a Marlin but not real difficult either. Mine is scoped so I have not D&T it for a receiver sight. As I have done that for my Henry and others its no big deal.

Then there is the Henry. Others have commented on them. My Henry 22 Mag is as good of rifle as I have ever had. Scoped it and then took the scope off as I just don't like a scope on it. D&T it for a receiver sight and enjoy it that way. Should really get one in a 22LR. In the Center fires I do admit that the cut outs in the tube for loading are a bit distracting, but I would seriously consider a Henry if I were in the market for a new lever. Probably would get the Long Ranger as I really like the detachable magazine for loading and unloading.

DEP

 

I have a Mossberg 500 12ga I purchased in the early 1970s that still works, but is not very accurate (OK, it may be that I am not very accurate) and I really like it. I just shoot better with my 1980s era Remington 870. I like Mossberg, but I prefer Marlin levers.

I like the reputation and the quality of the Henry, but I just can't abide the lack of a loading gate. The tube loading is just to complicated, time-consuming, and clumsy for my taste. Until Henry has a loading gate, I will stick with the Marlins. I can't afford the Winchesters, and the Marlins are still better than the Mossberg levers. When it comes to the bolt action, though, Mossberg and Savage seem to have the edge.

 

Im happy to hear folks having good luck with Mossberg 464s many ive seen do not feed well.

 

Some problem with loaded rounds, mostly with Hornady LE's Might look at a follower but when fired I do not have any problem. Also don't hurt to work the lever like you mean it similar to a Winchester.

DEP

 

I also enjoy watching Paul Harrel's video's. He provides a good informative video.

I like the older Winchester and Marlins. But I tend to favor Marlin's because of it's simple takedown, mounting holes for a scope/different sights. And I'm not crazy about the bottom plate dropping down when I work the lever on a Winchester.

 

Interesting...….Ive heard him say "don't try this at home ...I'm what you call a professional"/
Never heard him mention or say You Tuber.

I think he says it on some of his earlier videos. No matter really. Even self labeling himself as a "Professional" is pretty funny. And arrogant. And it cracks me up when he does it. Nothing wrong with his videos. Not one of my favorites. But I guess he is good for newbies looking for answers. Good for him.

 

As I continue my research and education, I discovered that the Ruger American was #1 selling bolt action rifle on the Top-Selling Rifles for September 2018 according to this source https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2018/10/17/top-selling-rifles-for-september-2018/.

Interesting.