Good shootin :tee:

 

I can't picture what you said the problem was. It's late my brain is tired. You don't have any pictures showing the problem or the correction?

Matt

Do you still have that K4? From the tone of the post you seem to initially imply that the K4 was at fault.

 

Nice story. I was kinda hoping at the end you won some beer money off'n them bolt action fellars. Sounds like you got a shooter. Pics of the repair work would be nice.

 

I don't think I'd try out a 300 yard shot on a live animal with my .30-30, but I'd sure love to try one out at a range to see if I could hit at that distance! I'm sure the gun can do it, its me that will have the most trouble :flute:

 

I've got a wrist rocket slingshot that will shoot 300 yds too ... if I pull that surgical rubberband back far enough and I allow for enough elevation and Kentucky windage.

The question is; Is the 30-30 an effective one-shot one-kill rifle at 300 yards? The answer is, no - of course not. It should never be encouraged, not hunting with it and attempting to mercifully take game at that range. At least that is mho.

BTW, I've seen people hit steel at 200 yds with a 38 snubby - but that doesn't make it a 200 yard firearm. As Bob Munden says, "not practical but certainly fun to play with."

 

I agree. Myself, I would keep .30-30 shots at game inside of 200 yds at best. I labell it as hunting, not shooting. If I wanted to shoot game at and beyond, I would use a different platform. Yes, I've been "busted" on some stalking efforts at times, but there's nothing like working your way up to a wary quarry. Honestly, I've had just as much, if not more fun getting "discovered" by game. I like eating venison a great deal, but one on one.......... it's the hunt that's the thrill.

Bob Munden is loads of fun to watch!

 

Geez, the Guy did not say anything about Hunting at 300 yards.He just said he was target shooting at 300 and people get their panties in a wad!!!:flute:

 

I agree. Sometimes its just about shooting. My club has a 30" gong at almost 300yds. Several of us often have informal competitions shooting it offhand. I hit it often enough with my 30-30 to get some satisfaction and keep trying. Doesn't mean I'm practicing for deer at that distance. :biggrin:

 

Thanks OLBIKER. I was shooting...at a rifle range. I would never try to take a deer at 300 yards with that 30-30. I hunt deer with a 336 35Remington. I can't even see 300 yards where I hunt. In fact, there are few places I can see 100 yards. I did take a white tail at about 130 yards this year but the rest were in the 30 to 60 yard range.
The rest of you are right, 300 yards is well outside the ethical range for shooting a white tail. This year, when I realized I could be making a 130 yard shot, I talked it over with my hunting buddy. He reminded me he's seen me hit 1" above center at 150 yards so I took that shot with confidence.

I will take some pics and give a blow by blow review of the grinding and fitting soon.

I do still have the Weaver. I did not mean to imply it was the problem. I intend to add another 336 30-30 to my family and the Weaver will go on that.
In the mean time I think I will put a Skinner peep on the 39 to replace the Bushnell on it now...it's too big, doesn't look right. But the Bushnell, 39 combo will take spent shotgun shells at 50 yards all day long. But I think the peep would be more fun.

Alas, there was no beer at the range. They left with their eyes opened about an old cartrige.

Gallo, it's just fun. If you don't like it, don't do it. Sorry I ruffled your feathers. That wasn't the goal of my post.

FYI I'm going back to that 300 yard range to punch some holes in that 8" stick on target that escaped me yesterday. Maybe I'll post a pic of that also. Not today, it's raining.

 

Sounds like fun!

I took my old Glenfield 30-30 out last year with a new mil-dot scope and some LeverEvolution to see how it would shoot at 200-300 yds.

I was hitting milk jugs, filled with water, consistantly at 300yds.

Sometimes it is a lot of fun just to shoot, and see what you, and your gun, are capable of.

I say ignore the caliber snobs, and those who think you should only hunt with your gun, and enjoy your 30-30.

 

So, I know some of you guys know it will but today I saw it for myself (and so did 2 rotary bolt guys).

I got this 1978 336 30-30 in 1977 when I got my son a Glenfield 30-30. It had issues from the start. The barrel was not screwed in to 12 o'clock - shouldering the rifle to use the factory sights you would see those sights maybe 8 to 10 degrees to the right.

OK, no problem, I put a Weaver 4K on it and didn't use the factory sights. Great little scope and it shot OK groups at 50 yards. Going out to 100 yards it seemed to open up the groups by quite a bit.

To make a long story short, when I removed the wood to refinish it I discovered that the read barrel band was bugered up (got a new band and screw from Midway). I also found that the mag tube was binding on the bottom of the barrel where the cut-out was supposed to be below the chamber. The mag tube had to be squeezed tightly to the barrel in order to fit the barrel bands on it. This put tremendus pressure, pulling down on the barrel. No wonder it would not group well.

Took the rifle to a gunsmith (who told me the head space was OK) and it was sent to Marlin who wanted to replace the barrel. The cost for that was as much as I paid for the gun. So it sat for a while. But the wood turned out so nice I had to try something.

Say hello to my 8" bench grinder. I removed the edge of the relief in the bottom of the barrel supposed to be there to clear the mag tube. With no interference with the mag tube anymore I cleaned up the insides of the barrel bands to be sure they created no pressure. I put it all back together.???I have to see it
to be
A few years ago Cabelas had a sale on their Pine Ridge Scopes made for 30-30 LE ammo and the 336. So I got one and it sat on my dresser for a couple years. Now it's on this 336. I bore sighted it per directions found on this sight.

Today we went to the range.

A few rounds at 25 yards, a few at 50 and then out to 100 yards. This thing it shooting pretty good. I was so happy it was going so well I failed to recognize my rounds were all a little to the right.

I decided to go for it. Packed up and moved over to the 300 yard range. I had 2 pieces of cardboard about 2' by 3' with an 8" stick on target. Set one at 200 yards and the other at 300 yards.
I fired 3 Hornady LE 160gr at the 200 yard target using the dot just below the cross hairs in the scope. First and third rounds in the 8" target. The second was wide right because another guy fired just as I was squeezing # 2 off.

Cool. On to 300 yards. But wait, my old eyes can hardly see that 8" target. But the other 2 guys here have asked "What the #### do you think you're doing?"
Using the second dot below the cross hairs I let 'em go.
Did I mention it was a windy day? Kind of gusty.
I fired 6 shots, all 2 to 8 inches right of the 8" target. Remember "a little to the right" at 100 yards? At three times the distance it's three times a little to the right. But the vertical was good.
After 10 clicks to the left and I sent two more rounds on their way. Good left to right but a little low. The barrel is getting hot after 8 rounds and I'm thinking of lunch so I call it a day.
The 8" target at 300 yards survived today but I think the next trip to the range will prove different.

A 30-30 at 300 yards? Oh, yea!

Show Me!

 

Hey Gallo. Don't want to get into a big flap here and I agree with you that it is important for less informed shooters to know that 300 yard shots at deer with a 30-30 is not reasonable. Maybe just state that simply and let it go.

However in reading his post again the OP's question never was about

"Is the 30-30 an effective one-shot one-kill rifle at 300 yards?"

Not sure where you got that from as it was never even inferred in his post.

It seemed to me he was simply having a good time at the range shooting at distance. This is commonly done and reported often in this forum by the likes of Wind, Wet Dog and others at ranges of 400, 600 yards and beyond.

Its just fun!

 

So, I know some of you guys know it will but today I saw it for myself (and so did 2 rotary bolt guys).

I got this 1978 336 30-30 in 1977 when I got my son a Glenfield 30-30. It had issues from the start. The barrel was not screwed in to 12 o'clock - shouldering the rifle to use the factory sights you would see those sights maybe 8 to 10 degrees to the right.

OK, no problem, I put a Weaver 4K on it and didn't use the factory sights. Great little scope and it shot OK groups at 50 yards. Going out to 100 yards it seemed to open up the groups by quite a bit.

To make a long story short, when I removed the wood to refinish it I discovered that the read barrel band was bugered up (got a new band and screw from Midway). I also found that the mag tube was binding on the bottom of the barrel where the cut-out was supposed to be below the chamber. The mag tube had to be squeezed tightly to the barrel in order to fit the barrel bands on it. This put tremendus pressure, pulling down on the barrel. No wonder it would not group well.

Took the rifle to a gunsmith (who told me the head space was OK) and it was sent to Marlin who wanted to replace the barrel. The cost for that was as much as I paid for the gun. So it sat for a while. But the wood turned out so nice I had to try something.

Say hello to my 8" bench grinder. I removed the edge of the relief in the bottom of the barrel supposed to be there to clear the mag tube. With no interference with the mag tube anymore I cleaned up the insides of the barrel bands to be sure they created no pressure. I put it all back together.

A few years ago Cabelas had a sale on their Pine Ridge Scopes made for 30-30 LE ammo and the 336. So I got one and it sat on my dresser for a couple years. Now it's on this 336. I bore sighted it per directions found on this sight.

Today we went to the range.

A few rounds at 25 yards, a few at 50 and then out to 100 yards. This thing it shooting pretty good. I was so happy it was going so well I failed to recognize my rounds were all a little to the right.

I decided to go for it. Packed up and moved over to the 300 yard range. I had 2 pieces of cardboard about 2' by 3' with an 8" stick on target. Set one at 200 yards and the other at 300 yards.
I fired 3 Hornady LE 160gr at the 200 yard target using the dot just below the cross hairs in the scope. First and third rounds in the 8" target. The second was wide right because another guy fired just as I was squeezing # 2 off.

Cool. On to 300 yards. But wait, my old eyes can hardly see that 8" target. But the other 2 guys here have asked "What the #### do you think you're doing?"
Using the second dot below the cross hairs I let 'em go.
Did I mention it was a windy day? Kind of gusty.
I fired 6 shots, all 2 to 8 inches right of the 8" target. Remember "a little to the right" at 100 yards? At three times the distance it's three times a little to the right. But the vertical was good.
After 10 clicks to the left and I sent two more rounds on their way. Good left to right but a little low. The barrel is getting hot after 8 rounds and I'm thinking of lunch so I call it a day.
The 8" target at 300 yards survived today but I think the next trip to the range will prove different.

A 30-30 at 300 yards? Oh, yea!

How did you get a rifle a year before it was made?:hmmmm:

 

Midnight Rider What I don't understand is why you waited so long to correct the accuracy of the rifle. If you bought a rifle in 1977 especially a marlin with their 5 year warranty I'm assuming you bought it NIB. But even if you didn't Marlin would have fixed it cheap or free in 1978.
You wrote "I got this 1978 336 30-30 in 1977" is that a mistake.

Well at last it got done and I might try shooting my Marlin Model Zane Grey at 300 yards

It' to my understanding that a bullet must have at last 1000 foot pounds of energy at 100 yards in order for a deer to be harvest ethically.

looking at the Hornady ballistics the Leverevolution has it out to 300 yards. Even before the LE. ammo it's known that the 30 30 can harvest deer out to 215 yards. I won't encourage any one who doesn't know his/hers rifle and cartridge limitation to go hunting in the first place. But in the hands of a person who knows will make the right decision then the opportunity occurs.

A 160 gr. bullet at a MV. of 2400 fps whether its coming out of a 30 30 or a Marlin 308 express, 300 Savage will do the same job.

Test Barrel (24") Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle	100	200	300
2400/2046	2150/1643	1916/1304	1699/1025

Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle	100	200	300
-1.50	3.00	0.20	-12.10

T:hmmmm:NY

 

I might be nuts..but on a hog or average size whitetail size animal...if my rifle was a great shooter with the Hornady ammo I would possibly try a 300yd shot...the ammo still has just enough snot at that distance...but with this reservation...no further than 300yds verified with a rangefinder( I do carry one all the time in my field pack)..perfect calm conditions...having practiced a lot at that range and knowing my rifle and its trajectory inside out!!! I'm always careful not to be careLESS

 

Many years ago (age 15) I shot a nice buck standing in a field (measured 243 yds.) in south GA with my cousins Marlin 336 with a 21/2X Marlin scope mounted. The gun was sighted in 2" high at 100 yds with 170gr Winchester Silvertips. I had a good rest on the back of our pickup and held just a little daylight over the shoulder and a good trigger squeeze.
At the shot the buck it the ground and never moved. The bullet had entered the low on the left shoulder went through the left shoulder, turned on the right shoulder blade and traveled up along the spine and exited out the white throat patch under his jaw. Both lungs were jelly.
Not advotating long range with the 30/30 for everyone, but if you know how your gun shoots it can be done.
By the way, that's that last deer I killed with a 30/30 until last November (47 years later) here in VA.

 

My bad. My fingers typed 1977 but my brain was thinking 2007.
Good catch you guys.
I did send it to Marlin but they had no interest in fixing a 30 year old rifle for free. I wouldn't really expect they would.

Again, I would not take a 300 yard shot at a deer with this 30-30. I would not with my 336 35Rem (my deer hunting rifle) either. I would thiink real hard about a 200 yard shot with the 35 but if it were a nice buck, little or no wind, broadside, etc. I would take it. But I have fired the 35 a lot at many ranges...but not 300 yards. The 35 IS my deer rifle. No need for 300 yard shots.
The 300 yard shots the other day were for FUN. Just to see if I could do it. Well...and to give those other guys something to talk about on their way home.

 

Thanks for the report, this makes me exited to test out the Hornady LE ammo I just bought a couple days ago!

 

I have a 1977 336-35R I bought last summer it's shooter from the first shot. I killed two birds at the same time test fired it and working up load of LVR - WLR- 200 gr. FTX- Rem. cases

T:biggrin:NY

 

one of my recipies for fun is a Thompson Contender with a 15" baarel and 4 x scope at a deer-zero sized steel plate (12x12) at 100, 200, and 300 yards.
The load is a RCBS 165-SIL gas checked heat treated bullet at 2000 fps pushed by Reloader 7. (In my higher lead alloy the weight is around 175 gr.)
Sight at 4" high at 100 you can hold about right on at 200 and over a bit at 300.
The gun will shoot to hit all the plates all day if the wind isn't up and the shooter does his part.
Shoulder shots on pigs give drt performance out to 200...I've not shot further at critters.
Using RCBS 180, Ranch dog 165, Lyman 173 and Saeco #15 160 grain bullets, Pre microgroove Marlins are even better, especially the longer barreled A models.
Old Lyman small aperture peeps are fine out to 200, and will surpise you at 300 if the target's big enough to see.
The bottom line is this... yes, with practice, you can hit at 300 very nicely, but the old gal is running out of steam pretty quickly.
I've never had to chase anything I hit at 200 or less, (longest actually about 180), and I'm satisfied with that.

 

Hey there MR -- Keep up the good work!! 30-30's are a hoot to shoot long range. They will go a might further than 300 yards as well. Mine does 1000 yards on demand. Here are a couple videos Wet Dog made. The second one is the first try at 500 yards with his new 'cowboy-ified" 336 Marlin 30-30. He's gone a 1000 yards with a 38-55, hitting the same small 20 x 30 inch dinger. Best regards. Wind