Author Topic: 30-30 or 35 Rem.? (Read 2365 times)

jpuke · « **on:** December 26, 2003, 05:14:34 AM »

I'm looking to purchase my first lever gun in the next few months and I'm leaning towards getting a Marlin 336 in 35 Rem. but I have a few questions for those of you who shoot a 35. I want to give the rifle to my boy when he gets to be old enough - is the recoil any worse than a 30-30? I reload for every caliber that I shoot - are the components readily available and can reloading improve the performance of this caliber at all? I currently shoot a 308 carbine (Rem model 7) and I really don't want another 30 cal rifle but I know that the 30-30 probably won't slip into being obsolete while I'm still around. Any opinions on the subject would be appreciated.

Snowshoe · « **Reply #1 on:** December 26, 2003, 06:44:25 AM »

I think the .30-30 is more versitile. You can load it with 110g HP's, the 100g short jacket or, the 130g Speer FP, and shoot varmints. The more a young hunter shoots the better he will get. I still have a ball shooting the light bullets.

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 26, 2003, 06:59:48 AM »

Snowshoe, I have to admire your choices, when you consider price versus value, reliability, accuracy and down right dependability the Marlin is the only logical choice!! :grin:
My only 35 was in a Contender, and I became quite impressed with it. I like the 35 cal. I was pleased with its performance. Enough so that if I were looking for an new lever for an all round hand-me-down that would probably be my first choice. Loaded ammunition for the 30-30 can be found anywhere you can find loaded ammo for sale, not necessiarly so with the 35, but components aren't difficult to find.

My two pennies

phydaux · « **Reply #3 on:** December 26, 2003, 01:47:42 PM »

My vote is for the 35 because you reload. Use .358 pistol bullets {lead or jacketed} with fast powders {2400, unique etc.} for light loads and all the way to 220's with w748 for the heavy loads. The Marlin action will handle much stronger loads than the factory loads. The 35 will work on every thing from rabbits to elk.

myronman3 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 26, 2003, 04:35:24 PM »

although very similar on paper, the 35 has a real world advantage over the 30-30 in killing power (it can handle heavier bullets). the 30-30 has the advantage of being more readily availible about anywhere. both are lethal within their respective ranges (about equal).
recoil is about the same; your better than me if you can tell the two apart from recoil. beware of using 357 pistol bullets in the 35. though they make excellent varmint rounds, they dont work worth beans at those velocities on larger game. dont try to make the 35 or the 30-30 a 308. respect them for what they are: two of the finest light recoiling lever rounds history has or will ever see. both are winners. :agree:

bcboy · « **Reply #5 on:** December 26, 2003, 05:53:08 PM »

Recoil is similar. Also, Speer makes a 220gr, bullet, Buff. Bore makes a 220 gr. heavy.

I like the 35.Rem over the 30-30 but my information is that Remington
does not make 35.Rem brass at all or infrequent

I will keep my 35 but am stocking up on brass

As for hunting will only say that on one trip my Rem 700 had an accident(broken scope mount) my back-up rifle was my 35 Rem. with 200 Core locts. Not recomending this load for moose but it did a good job, better than 170's out of a 30-30?

Mine is a 336 18.5" barrel circa??70's

Just my .o2

Old Griz · « **Reply #6 on:** December 26, 2003, 09:18:53 PM »

My neighbor killed his first moose with a .30-30 when he was 14 years old. Of course, he's even older than me, and that may have been the only thing around besides the Sharps when he was 14. However, the .35 is an excellent round. I agree with most folks here, if you reload go with the .35. If you don't you can find .30-30 ammo anywhere. At Walmart (at least in my neck of the woods) it's only $8.87 a box--your choice Winchester or Remington, 150-gr. or 170-gr.
:cb2:

jpuke · « **Reply #7 on:** December 27, 2003, 03:21:32 AM »

Thanks for the info guys.

C A Plater · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2003, 05:17:44 AM »

I've got both the .30 WCF and the .35 REM. Two Winchesters in the .30 and Marlin and T/C Contender in the .35. I do notice the recoil of the .35 loaded with 200 grain bullets as being somewhat heavier but still in the same league as the .30-30. The 150 grain factory and my 180 grain handloads are about the same recoil wise as the Winchesters. My favorite bullet is the 180 grain Speer FP and is very accurate in my rifle. I also like the Remington 200 grain RN Core-lock bullet and it performs very well. Unprimed brass is generally available as well as factory loads at most gun shops even in the Wisconsin Walmart stores. I like both calibers but find the .35 a bit more interesting.

44 Man · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2003, 10:18:34 AM »

I definately like my .35 better than the 30-30 and it will do more, especially since you handload. I wouldn't hot rod it, as it doesn't need it. I've standardized my load with a 200 RN corelocked and it is all I shoot anymore. This rifle will do anything you ask of it.

jdseaver · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2004, 11:13:29 AM »

My favorite all around is a Marlin 35,336. I've hunted deer,moose and bear with it.I hunt heavy wooded areas so my shots aren't for distance just knock down power. Light enough to carry all day if need be.The rest of these guys had good advice on bullet and grain.

huntr1 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2004, 08:39:28 AM »

I have a Marlin 336 in .35 Rem. I have been using it to hunt deer since the first time my father took me when I was in 6th Grade (12 years old or thereabouts). Recoil is not bad, you can always put a quality recoil pad on it if it kicks too much for your son's liking. I have killed many a deer with it, never had one go more than 10 yards after getting shot. Longest shot I ever made was about 125 yards, deer was broadside to me, standing still grazing, had a nice solid gunrest on the stand. She dressed out at 140 lbs., and dropped where she stood. Shot thru some very light brush (drinking straw sized vines hanging from tree branches). Had a scope on it for about 15 years, changed hunting property to where I won't be making any shots over 75 yards (mostly 25-50), so I changed to a receiver peep sight. Brass is readily available thru some catalogs, but also tons of it on eBay. I don't use it much anymore since I now hunt in a shotgun only area for 99% of my hunting, so I have decided not to do any serious reloading for it. Gonna load up some light pistol bullet loads for plinking, but don't plan to do a whole lot of it. I have somewhere around 1000 pieces of brass, so if anyone needs some, I will sell it to you.

Harry Snippe · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2004, 06:36:11 AM »

We have a 336 /35 RC with a straight stock ballard rifling made in 1954. Bought it used last year and will not part with it.Think they do not make Marlins as smooth as this one any more. The 35 rem can really shine with hand loads. A few grains over the maxium with powders like H322 / BLC2 and 3031 puts the ol' girl back on the page. Rounds like form Buffalo Bore offer ammo for those that do not wish to reload.
As far as componets go , brass bullets cost more than the 30/30.
We also have two model 94's in 30/30 and just love these fine rifles also. The 30/30 bullet is lighter than the 35 , but makes up for it in a bit of extra distance. Componets and once fired brass available and very cheap.
Sad to say but the 366/35 Marlin is in decline. According to a e-mail recieved from Marlin , the VP of sales and Marketing quotes that Marlin had only sold 1000 336 /35 over a period of a year.
Maybe it is time to look towards the BLR and the new old 358W
Happy

Winter Hawk · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2004, 09:38:15 AM »

"According to a e-mail recieved from Marlin , the VP of sales and Marketing quotes that Marlin had only sold 1000 336 /35 over a period of a year."

I read that elsewhere, but understand that it was a special run of straight stock Marlins in .35 for one distributor. That same thread had folks disputing it, with one dealer giving his sales information where he appeared to be selling a third of the Marlin total. But you may be right that Marlin is positioning themselves to drop the .35 since they are pushing the bigger calibers now.

-WH-

big medicine · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2004, 04:50:32 PM »

I have both and love both. But I find my self taking the 35 Rem out more often. As a matter of fact I just got another 35 Rem last month. The Marlin 336D. It is like the Guide gun, on a 35 Rem. One of the advantages I think the 35 Rem has as already stated is the fact that you can shoot a little heaver bullet. It is a very easy round to load for. I had a hard time figuring out which load to use, because I had quite a few that shot very well. I went with the Hornady 200 grain bullet and AA2520 powder. I killed a deer this fall with that load at about 200 yards. It was a large doe, on the run that we kicked out during a push. It is not punishing to shoot, and I think you could play with the loads so it would still have the umph to take a deer, but would be comfortable for a kid to shoot.

dodgecity · « **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2004, 06:43:41 PM »

I started out with a 30/30 some 50 years ago. During the intervening years, I've had a few. The 30/30 is a great woodland caliber, and probably the most chambered round in lever action rifles. Having said that, my personal choice is the .35. I am also a reloader, so, off the shelf availability of ammunition is not a factor for me. I gave my last 30/30 to my oldest grandson this year, but, nothing will ever part me from my .35. As far as recoil goes, my daughter began shooting the .35 when she was 11 years old. She now has her own. It's the only rifle she owns. For the reloader, the .35 can be very versatile, and, fully loaded, it kills deer like a bolt of lightning. Today, there seems to be a resurgence of interest in the old .35.

BrushBuster · « **Reply #16 on:** February 07, 2004, 02:01:26 PM »

This has been a fine collection of responses from owners of the .35 Remington.

I am not a large man, and recoil has always been a consideration; also the country I hunt moose and deer in, is thick and brushy with shots rarely over 100 yards.

I graduated to the .35 Rem.-336 RC in 1962 after using a 30-30 for a number of years. I have probably taken 30 moose with it over the years, along with a number of Mule deer. The .35 kicks noticeably (just) more than the 30-30 and kills twice as good! I have many one-shot kills to its credit (and mine) and the Marlin is as handy in the bush and fast on target as any gun could possibly be. The key to its use is to limit shots to 150 yards and equip it with peep sights and a bright front bead.

I will leave this gun to my sons; until then I wouldn't part with it.

Norseman · « **Reply #17 on:** February 24, 2004, 12:17:45 PM »

:idea: Try this as I have: Take some old phone books. Soak em in water overnight. Make sure they are at least 10 inches or more thick.
Set the soaked phone books at say 25 yards. Shoot at the center of them with a typical 30-30 round then shoot a set using a Remington 200 grain .35. You will be amazed at the different exit holes! The .35 is about 3 inches and the 30-30 is about an inch and a half. Which would you use? It was kinda like atryed the same thing with my friends 9mm pistol shooting against my .45 acp 1911. His round (115grain FMJ) didnt go through the phone books laid on the ground. The .45 (220 grain) blew a holes it where you could put your thumb through the exit hole! So much for the 9mm.
Deer that I have shot with the 30-30 on average of 65 yards mostly had exit wound the size of a dime. The .35...on average the size of a golf ball!
Not to mention the majority of deer shot with the 30-30 had to be trailed a bit. The .35 Remmy dropped, or ran only 25 yards.

Mauser · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2004, 12:43:21 AM »

I think the 35 is more versatile if you reload. I've never had a deer go more than 10 feet after being hit with it. My favorite deer load is the 180 grain Speer over 38 grains of H335.

Enjoy!

CEJ1895 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 27, 2004, 02:41:30 AM »

Hi Guys, I watched this debate with interest on the old M/T and finally picked up a like new 336 in .35 Remington. I just thought that anything the .30-30 could do the .35 could do as well with a bigger hole! :-D CEJ..

jvs · « **Reply #20 on:** February 27, 2004, 11:22:28 AM »

:toast: For the .35 Rem.

papajohn428 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 06, 2004, 09:46:52 AM »

Even though I own (and Love) my Marlin 35 Rem, I'm kind of surprised at how popular it is, especially against the venerable 30-30. I just tested some loads this week, and was shocked to find it shot groups barely over an inch, with me doing the shooting! I can't hunt deer with it where I live, but that gun has already earned a permanent spot in my gun locker, and my 11-year old son loves it. He's not much into recoil, as he weighs about 65 pounds soaking wet, but he rolls with the kick, and has a blast. I plan on loading up some 140 and 158 grain loads for him to test this summer, and also have high hopes for the Speer 180, which has never failed to shoot well in a number of calibers. Get the 35, you'll find out why it's so well-respected!
PJ

Mauser · « **Reply #22 on:** March 11, 2004, 07:01:21 AM »

Get the 35! The M336 35 Rem has to be the ultimate deer rifle for the woods. Its fun getting my deer with it and showing up my brother who usually hunts with the latest whizbang 3000 super ultra dyno magnum and doesn't do as well.

Dwarfmiester · « **Reply #23 on:** March 15, 2004, 12:48:43 PM »

I had a 336C in .35 it was my backup deer rifle, until I got talked out of it. Last year I started looking for a 336A 24" bbl. in .35 Rem, couldn't find one but I bought a .30-30. It was made in 1950 and shoots cast bullets very well as long as the velocity is on the low side. The ability to use 200 and 220gr. bullets in the Remington is a plus on anything larger than whitetails, the most accurate bullet in the 336C was the Speer 180 that several people have recommended, minute of deer out to 150 yards. Good luck.