Saw this over at Leverguns and thought I'd share it with everyone here. I'm sure it was a very memorable hunt for the young hunter. http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=63352
30-30 and young hunter take a nice bear
- Thread starter 336A
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Too bad they skinned it before taking pics. (At least, I hope it was skinned, otherwise it's awfully skinny.)
Covelo-NdN
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336A
Thank you for sharing 336 AA here I take it you run a lever gun I've been thinking about purchasing a marline 336. What are your thoughts on the rifle. Do u hand load for that rifle....
Thank you for sharing 336 AA here I take it you run a lever gun I've been thinking about purchasing a marline 336. What are your thoughts on the rifle. Do u hand load for that rifle....
I really like my 336A it has been a great rifle out of the box from day one. It came as a package deal with cheap scope and aluminum rings. I tossed both and replaced the scope with a Bushnell 3200 Elite 2-7x32, weaver base and weaver low rings. I got luck usually leverguns will much prefer one bullet weight over another. My rifle really likes Win and Fed Fusion 150gr bullets. both will put 3 rounds into 1" @ 100yd. The Hornady 160gr LeverEvoulution will do around 1.25" at the same distance but man what a mess they make. The Win 170gr Power Points and Silver Tips will do 1.5" - 1.75" @ 100yd which is still plenty good. Way better than the 2.5" plus that I was expecting across the board anyway. It doesn't like any offering from Remington though.
One thing I have noticed though is I think the Federal Fusion uses a rather tough bullet. Most deer that I shot with that round acted as if nothing happened upon being hit, other than holly beans what just made that loud noise. I hit one large doe at only 40yd with it and see ran across the logging road only to stop and stare at for about 10 seconds. I started to think I missed, then she took off for about 50yd. I got up and walked to where she stopped to find a big puddle of blood where she was standing, and found her 50yd from that point. But there was no sign of a hit (blood or hair) at the spot I shot her. The quickest was the one I shot at 140yd. She only managed a really stiff legged 25yd sprint and was done.
As far as reloading goes I have a love hate relationship with the rifle. My first attempt I used W748 and Speer 150gr bullets, my groups were gawd awful. I thought it was my reloads until a friend used em' in his 336A and he shot a nice 1.5" group
Then I took the advice of Brian Pearce who wrote a 30-30 article some years back in the handloader mag. He had really great results using H322 and Sierra bullets. So I went out and purchased the same and did a load work up. I don't have my notes in front of me so I don't know the load, but one of those loads put 3 rounds into one hole @100yd
I honestly thought I had missed the entire dang target with the last two rounds. I couldn't believe it because everyone knows a levergun can't do that!!!, but it sure nuff' did.
The guy beside me had a Springfield SOCOM trying to impress his girlfriend and buddy. He was pretty miffed to see my lil' ol' 30-30 shoot better than his expensive tacticool .308
His buddy even had to take a picture of the group with his phone. However I've found that my rifle is so finicky that I have to prep the ammo as if I were making match grade ammo everything has to be precise, or it won't group worth beans. I find it easier to go get factory ammo that gives me consistent groups as it is, that and I really don't think I'm saving much by reloading for it anyway. Hope this is the info you were looking for.
One thing I have noticed though is I think the Federal Fusion uses a rather tough bullet. Most deer that I shot with that round acted as if nothing happened upon being hit, other than holly beans what just made that loud noise. I hit one large doe at only 40yd with it and see ran across the logging road only to stop and stare at for about 10 seconds. I started to think I missed, then she took off for about 50yd. I got up and walked to where she stopped to find a big puddle of blood where she was standing, and found her 50yd from that point. But there was no sign of a hit (blood or hair) at the spot I shot her. The quickest was the one I shot at 140yd. She only managed a really stiff legged 25yd sprint and was done.
As far as reloading goes I have a love hate relationship with the rifle. My first attempt I used W748 and Speer 150gr bullets, my groups were gawd awful. I thought it was my reloads until a friend used em' in his 336A and he shot a nice 1.5" group
Then I took the advice of Brian Pearce who wrote a 30-30 article some years back in the handloader mag. He had really great results using H322 and Sierra bullets. So I went out and purchased the same and did a load work up. I don't have my notes in front of me so I don't know the load, but one of those loads put 3 rounds into one hole @100yd I honestly thought I had missed the entire dang target with the last two rounds. I couldn't believe it because everyone knows a levergun can't do that!!!, but it sure nuff' did.The guy beside me had a Springfield SOCOM trying to impress his girlfriend and buddy. He was pretty miffed to see my lil' ol' 30-30 shoot better than his expensive tacticool .308
His buddy even had to take a picture of the group with his phone. However I've found that my rifle is so finicky that I have to prep the ammo as if I were making match grade ammo everything has to be precise, or it won't group worth beans. I find it easier to go get factory ammo that gives me consistent groups as it is, that and I really don't think I'm saving much by reloading for it anyway. Hope this is the info you were looking for.- Status