30:30 Marlin next project

[Hugh R]

You may have seen the Mossburg thread, 1940's Mossburg 22 found.

New project from the deceased FIL storage box. A 30:30 Marlin which I will be attempting to clean and restore. Looks good, but like the Mossburg, I doubt its ever really been cleaned. Pics are forthcoming. It slides but not like I think it should.

[Bill Douglas]

Looks quite nice. It will be interesting to hear how the lever action improves with a good clean and lube.

[Jeff Higgins]

Very nice. The first order of business is, of course to lose the scope. I think the 11th Commandment is something like "thou shalt not defile thine holy levergun with the unclean scope; the unclean scope shalt never adorn thy holy levergun". Or something like that.

[Tobra]

Yeah, sweet carbine, but scope is just wrong.

Pleased to see you did not get burned up

[red-beard]

It is a Marlin. Marlins eject to the side, so they were designed to take a scope. Winchesters eject up and to the rear, so no scope.

[targa911S]

Hugh you need to take the action apart. Don't be scared it's a simple machine. remove the stock. One screw on the top tang. Remove the lever screw and pull the lever out, and the slide will slip right out. You must depress the hammer so the slide will clear it. Then the bottom screws that hold the action in. The hammer screw and the shell lifter screws on the side come out and the whole deal will come out the bottom. Pay attention to the position on the hammer spring stop as you will have to put it back in. DO NOT confuse the shell lifter screw and the bottom action screw. They look the same but are just a bit different in length. The short screw goes in the side of the receiver to secure the bottom of the action.. once you have everything out, clean it real good and installation is the reverse of disassembly. Pay attention to the order it came apart.You have my number. If you get stuck call me and I'll talk you through it. The trickiest parts are putting the ejector and the hammer spring back in.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by red-beard

It is a Marlin. Marlins eject to the side, so they were designed to take a scope. Winchesters eject up and to the rear, so no scope.

I agree here. Some Marlins are even pre-drilled for bases.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by targa911S

I agree here. Some Marlins are even pre-drilled for bases.

Yes - and some Porsches are, reportedly, water cooled. It's the work of the devil, I tell you. Temptation comes in many forms; it takes a strong man to follow the path of righteousness...

[rfuerst911sc]

Marlin 30-30 the one that got away from me . Bought one new back in the day and foolishly sold it when I started a family . Wish I had her back . I'm sure you will enjoy that one .

[VincentVega]

good comments, too funny

Nice piece, I know nothing about these but look forward to seeing it when you are done

[KFC911]

My Marlin .30-30 and I lived in sin for over 30 years (purchased when I was 18)....she got religion some years back so she could be "saved" (safe)..... My other levers have never broken the 11th....I'm good out too 100 yds or so without sinning! Ya know....I've never checked the iron sights on my .336 since removing the evil attachment....I need to do that.

My Marlin in .357 shot 7 inches to the right at just 40 yds...new out of the box a few years back..

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by targa911S

I agree here. Some Marlins are even pre-drilled for bases.

Actually, I believe they are drilled and tapped for a proper peep sight.

[sc_rufctr]

A little bit bigger than a 30-30.

[kevin930t]

I have the same 45/70 only with a hex barrel.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[BlueWing]

Good timing on this. Probably be a week or two but I need to service my 336CS.

I have 2 one in 30-30 and one in 35 Remington.

I prefer the .35 much better for the dense mountain I live in. The issue is I can only load it up with three rounds, any more and it will not eject.

The .30-30 is scoped and I use in the lower fields in the valley.

The jamming has been an issue since the first year. It never really bothered me as I have never used any more than one round for game. Father always kid me about it "Don't Forget Your Bullet".

I want to reduce my iron inventory and would rather keep the .35. So for next season I would like to have it in proper operating order.

The scope on the .30-30 just throws the balance off of the carbines ease of handling and that annoying trigger extension.

Thanks targa911S for the rundown, I have had it partially apart and never discovered my issue.

Terry

[legion]

I'm almost done with one of those myself...

[targa911S]

I don't know of any connection between the number of rounds in the magazine and the ability to eject. Check the ejector. It's in the receiver. You have to remove the bolt to get at it. Some are just held in by the bolt, some are held by a screw on the outside of the receiver. Take it out and check the spring. They break. It may indeed look intact but it is only held in the ejector assembly by a crimp. replacement ejectors are available at gunparts.com

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by legion

I'm almost done with one of those myself...

Shoes my good man, shoes!

[rfuerst911sc]

Is that Bigfoot ?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

A little bit bigger than a 30-30.

Great video on one of my all-time favorite rifles and calibers, Peter. I find it interesting how shooters half a world apart can reach the same conclusions as well. I tried the XS Sight Systems "ghost ring" rear sight on mine and found the same thing these two found - I couldn't hit a damn thing with it. I went back to a normal Williams peep with a big white front bead and never looked back. As far as ammunition, I, too, shoot a 400 grain-ish hard cast lead bullet. Their load, at about 1,800 fps is actually on the "milder" side (if you can believe that) of what these are capable of. Mine are loaded to about 1,950 fps, which is still by no means maximum. That's just where I cried "uncle", not the rifle.

As far as field effectiveness, I have never seen any round do any better within its inherent range limitations. I've shot animals as big as 800 pounds, at all kinds of crazy angles, and have never recovered a bullet - full penetration on every animal with every shot I've taken. Not many rifle rounds will do that.

Funny, too, these things are really just 336's in disguise. Marlin did make a "full length" action for the .45-70 at one time, but dropped it a century ago. This one is a shortened compromise - it will not accept full length 500 grain military (Trapdoor Springfield) loads. Oh well - an entire industry has been built around feeding the Marlin, with commercial jacketed bullets made with the cannelure in the proper spot to crimp at the correct OAL for the Marlin, as well as bullet molds made specifically for it.

When conversation in our hunting camps inevitably turns to the question of "if you could only have one hunting rifle...", the Marlin in .45-70 is always near, or at, the top of my list.