BigGameHoundsmen.com

So my 18th birthday is in like a week and I plan on taking full advantage of being an adult in America, so i'm gonna buy a rifle. I'm thinking about a winchester or marlin .30-30 because its a mid range rifle, my dad and i have a .30-06 and 20 guage, and a .22lr. so whats yall's experience with this gun, loads, models, brands, problems, etc. I'd appreciate your advice and input. Anybody do business through gunsamerica.com? thanks again
Arch

It's a effective caliber as has been proven all across America year after year from varmints all the way up to the big stuff at intelligent ranges. As a houndsmens choice its got many merits. can't go to far wrong with it.

FORGOT to say happy birthday and do yourself proud!! being a man means much more then your age it's a moral and behavioral difference as well.

30-30 is a fine weapon if your yardages are not going to exceed 150-200. They are still accurate but they loose alot of energy past those points. I have the Marlin and we use it along with our 35 Marlin when lion hunting. I have them sitting as backups for those hunters that show up and have some form of malfunction with there own weapon.

Be extremely careful with the unloading process. Many of times people have mis-fired there lever actions trying to decock the hammer. Get yourself a beavertail for the trigger especially if your mounting a scope.

What will you use that new rifle on? Bear w/hounds?

I use Gunsamerica with good results, no problems.

Yeah I was going to ask what you hunt as well. If you are hunting with hounds in brush country a 30-30 would be an awesome gun as it is a very good brush gun. I use a .280 for bears, deer, elk, moose, etc. I have a .223, few .22's, shotgun, and of course BB guns for around the house, next is a pistol. 30-30 is a great gun though!

Thanks everybody for your replies and advice, eventually I hope to be able to hunt bear with my hounds, not quite happening yet, but hey, seasons coming up. I mostly bowhunt deer now, but i'd like to hunt general sometime, over my birthday i'll be up hunting around mt. shasta. Now i just gotta find a gun store around here, there's only like one(if its still open) damn whine country haha thanks again

the 30-30 is my favortie rifle. i have a marlian 30-30 lever action open sites. i have necer had to adjust the sites once. and it is dead nuts. the only bad thing with open sites is that it is harder to take long shots. but i use it for hound hunting, and deer, hunting. it is always right on.

Happy with my Marlin 336SS for packin' with the hounds.

me tooo! Im yet to get under a bear with it, but ive sure shot the hell out of some beer cans with it.

It works well under a bear we have used it many times hunting bears with hounds

If your heart is set on a 30-30, do your self a favor, get some of those Hornady leverevolution shells for it, makes the 30-30 a whole different rifle. I use them in the 35 Rem. and I'd never go back.