30-30 Lever lovers

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Just got an offer to trade a 70's Marlin 30-30 in "good" condition. Trade would be for my Colt .38 +p police issue...in mint condition. What is the value of the Marlin and what should I watch out for? I think I'd really like it in the saddle scabbard!

[Camp10]

Just got an offer to trade a 70's Marlin 30-30 in "good" condition. Trade would be for my Colt .38 +p police issue...in mint condition. What is the value of the Marlin and what should I watch out for? I think I'd really like it in the saddle scabbard!

Gun prices seem to change quite a bit area to area. Around here that gun would go for between $250 and $350 depending on condition. Your Colt would bring close to the same. I have no idea about your part of the country though.

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Gun prices seem to change quite a bit area to area. Around here that gun would go for between $250 and $350 depending on condition. Your Colt would bring close to the same. I have no idea about your part of the country though.

Thanks Camp! you got the value of mine correct so I think your spot on! Where will the wear be in a lever action? I've never owned one. Pretty sure I could tell though outback on my range! Any specifics to check?

[Camp10]

Thanks Camp! you got the value of mine correct so I think your spot on! Where will the wear be in a lever action? I've never owned one. Pretty sure I could tell though outback on my range! Any specifics to check?

I've never had any issues with any of the Marlins I've owned. I'm sure one of the older gun guys can give you a better run down of what may go wrong with a Marlin. The only issue I've had with a lever was with a Winchester and it was the trigger release (not sure what it is really called). It is the small tab that the lever has to push in before the trigger will work.

[Rick]

Older guys?!

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Older guys?!

Yes Sir...Older is supposed to mean wiser...well, for some anyhow....

[CoyoteBC]

I bought my Marlin 30/30 used in the mid 1980's, it was my truck gun for years.
The stock was pretty banged up when I bought it, but it shoots straight.
I've never fed it anything other then cheap 170 grain
Love the old beast

[kyratshooter]

Where will the wear be in a lever action? I've never owned one. Pretty sure I could tell though outback on my range! Any specifics to check?

Biggest problem with marlins is folks that do not clean them. They get full of crud and goo up the actions, freeze the firing pin, the normal sort of thing.

Second problem is people that DO clean them. They take them apart and do not reassemble them properly.

Third problem, loose wood. Older guns sometimes have wood shrinkage issues that can be easily cured but are excellent bargining points.

Since most people shoot factory in 30-30, and the Marlin is overbuilt, they seldom shoot loose, wear out from bolt strech or any of those issues.

Before you buy cycle a mag of rounds through the action to check for obvious feeding cycling issues.

Take it home, break it down and clean it. Soak the bolt/firing pin in cleaner of choice, reassemble and shoot.


Get boot for the pistol. It does not matter what ther trade is, if a quality pistol is involved you get boot! Espically Colt for Marlin. Where you plan on buying a new Colt Police P? You can find Marlins anywhere.

[2dumb2kwit]

Biggest problem with marlins is folks that do not clean them. They get full of crud and goo up the actions, freeze the firing pin, the normal sort of thing.

Second problem is people that DO clean them. They take them apart and do not reassemble them properly.

Third problem, loose wood. Older guns sometimes have wood shrinkage issues that can be easily cured but are excellent bargining points.

Since most people shoot factory in 30-30, and the Marlin is overbuilt, they seldom shoot loose, wear out from bolt strech or any of those issues.

Before you buy cycle a mag of rounds through the action to check for obvious feeding cycling issues.

Take it home, break it down and clean it. Soak the bolt/firing pin in cleaner of choice, reassemble and shoot.


Get boot for the pistol. It does not matter what ther trade is, if a quality pistol is involved you get boot! Espically Colt for Marlin. Where you plan on buying a new Colt Police P? You can find Marlins anywhere.

If you don't mind the cheaper wood, you can get one at wal-mart. I haven't checked lately, but last year they were selling them for $337 or $339.

[Camp10]

Get boot for the pistol. It does not matter what ther trade is, if a quality pistol is involved you get boot.

Huh? Can you translate please?

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Biggest problem with marlins is folks that do not clean them. They get full of crud and goo up the actions, freeze the firing pin, the normal sort of thing.

Second problem is people that DO clean them. They take them apart and do not reassemble them properly.

Third problem, loose wood. Older guns sometimes have wood shrinkage issues that can be easily cured but are excellent bargining points.

Since most people shoot factory in 30-30, and the Marlin is overbuilt, they seldom shoot loose, wear out from bolt strech or any of those issues.

Before you buy cycle a mag of rounds through the action to check for obvious feeding cycling issues.

Take it home, break it down and clean it. Soak the bolt/firing pin in cleaner of choice, reassemble and shoot.


Get boot for the pistol. It does not matter what ther trade is, if a quality pistol is involved you get boot! Espically Colt for Marlin. Where you plan on buying a new Colt Police P? You can find Marlins anywhere.

Thanks KS,

You make a good point about my Colt. I am not real fond of pistols. I mostly hunt with my guns. I initially bought the Colt for home protection. I think a shotgun is more suitable for that in hindsight. About the .38... I have only shot a few boxes of FMJ stuff with it, I was not real happy with those. I think maybe if I picked up some hollow points I might change my mind about the beautiful Colt. What would you recommend I feed her?

[Pepper]

I have a 60s model 94 30-30 a marlin 30-30 got it in a trade and a marlin 444 got it in 81 .

[mountain1]

i have a win. 30/30 made in '73 that my dad bought for me when i was 12. love that thing.
also have a win. model 1886 made in 1886 in 45/90 that an old friend of mine's family gave me after he died. he was 89 and the rifle was his grandfathers who was an "indian hunter" with the calvery. i have the paper cert. on it from winchester.

[Pepper]

forgot my winchester 88 its in 284 my white thumper

[kyratshooter]

Thanks KS,

You make a good point about my Colt. I am not real fond of pistols. I mostly hunt with my guns. I initially bought the Colt for home protection. I think a shotgun is more suitable for that in hindsight. About the .38... I have only shot a few boxes of FMJ stuff with it, I was not real happy with those. I think maybe if I picked up some hollow points I might change my mind about the beautiful Colt. What would you recommend I feed her?

Any good .38 load will work in your Police P. I would stay away from the +p+ loads. The Colt only has a single lock point at the rear of the cylender. It was made before they ever heard of a +p+ load. I would snag a 125-158 gn semi wadcutter or jacketed hollow point load for defense. Full metal jacket in .38spl is a wasted effort, you might as well be shooting a 9mm. It's that pitiful.

[aflineman]

I really like the Marlin 30-30 lever action rifle. Problem is, I don't have one at the moment. My levers are a Marlin 1895 in .45/70 and a Marlin 36 in .32 Winchester Special. Maybe another lever .30/30 will fall my way someday. Right now I will be content with my Savage 340A in 30-30 and my Savage Model 24 in 30-30 over 20ga.

[skip hall]

I've got four levers - two marlin 30/30's and two Win 94's ... and several other .22LR's that I forgot about. LOVE them.... and I've got everything anyone could want to shoot to chose from. Great guns and a very stable platform. I think American Rifleman did an article about a year ago (time flies when you get "older") about making a lever 30/30 or maybe a 30/06 a tactical weapon. Interesting. My oldest Son's first guns were all levers.

[OhioGrizzLapp]

I have 7 30-30 levers, both win and marlin. The one I like to take to the range or to plate shoots is my Winchester 94, 1967 Canadian Centennial Rifle 23" Oct barrel and upgraded wood.....it shoots like a tack driver but too purrdy for the brush. I have hunted with it and have gotten 4 deer with it.

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My next Lever purchase (take possession in June) will be this Mares Leg take down in .357/.38

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[kyratshooter]

Thanks KS,

About the .38... I have only shot a few boxes of FMJ stuff with it, I was not real happy with those. I think maybe if I picked up some hollow points I might change my mind about the beautiful Colt. What would you recommend I feed her?

Any quality 125gn JHP +p load will give you all you can get out of a .38spl.

I perfer the 125gn due to the ability to get the velocity high enough for consistant expansion while still having enough mass for adequite penetration on human targets. That is what I depend on daily in my carry gun.

Keep in mind that Colt revolvers are no longer available and they were the top of the line when they were. Even the mid grade PP like you have was a well designed and well finished pistol, forced out of the low bid poilice market by S&W and espically Ruger when Colt refused to scarifice the quality of their product in the commercial market. Since the public normally jumps on the police issue band wagon, Colt pistols died a slow death after many years.

[Batch]

I have a Win '94 and a 336 in .30-30. The Marlin is the go to gun when it comes to that caliber.