Plain-Jane 30-30, either Marlin or Winchester 20 inch carbine is a handy thing to have. Winchester pre-64's are pricey--if on a budget don't sneer at a bargain POST 64-especially those made after 1972 or so. Winchesters, regardless of year made, always had good barrels--but some horrible looking rec...

How does your H&R target rifle shoot? I bought one of these a few months ago, with the idea of plinking and maybe deer hunting with cast bullets. However, I have had nothing but trouble with anything other than a store-bought jacketed bullet. Accurate or no, I'm not spending upwards of $35 bucks...

The Model 1886 in 38-70 that I missed out on during an auction in my home town when I was a high school kid--for the sake of local history.

Yeah, KirkD. Back then there were no collectors around in these little towns except maybe antiquers looking for antique furniture, etc. If I remember right the older locals gave some stuff to the guy who bought it for spending that much money on a gun for which he could get no "shells". Ti...

Thanks for writing such a great article. It kind of tells it like it was, in more rural places besides just Appalachia. The 30-30 is definitely a part of rural America. Let's hope it stays that way.

Thanks for the info. Back around 1960, when I was halfway thru high school, there was one in better shape than the one on Gunbroker today, in an estate auction in my home town. I wanted a deer rifle but didn't bid on it because that caliber I knew was something that the old general store down the st...

Does anybody have one of these, or have any experience with that particular cartridge? I don't own one, but remember seeing one when I was a kid.

I used to have one of those. It really didn't take long to work up loads, because I had few notes in my notebook. My two loads were with the 86 Gr Remington bullet made for 25-20, and I think still available from Midway. I used that with 8.5Gr 2400. My notes said "very accurate to 100 yd."...

Jarhead wrote: I have 5 levers, but now I'm starting to feel GUILTY for not owning a 30-30... I used to...does that count? Oh well, I can always eat Cherrios for breakfast or Eggs with Elk steaks I reckon. Don't feel guilty for owning 5 levers, but it sounds like you need one more--even if you don'...

I guess I'd go with the .444, but only because I already have a couple of 35's. What did you end up with? Either would seem to be a good choice, from what others have said here.

I have several, including 44 magnum, 35 Remington, and 45-70. I once had a Savage 99F in .308. That having been said, it seems like every hardcore, crusty old levergunners, though, all should have at least one flavor of Winchester 94 or Marlin in their possession that is in 30-30. Not having one at ...

My gunsmith friend sneers at short mags in general, and scoffs "how anyone managed to get deer before they had short mags!" He then proceeds to bring home big deer, almost every year, in Northern Vermont with his .243. My brother bought a 270 A-bolt short mag a couple of years ago, found i...

Back in the early '70's I had a 290. Not a bad gun. Decent iron sights, no jamming. Not being a scope shooter then, I didn't like the crappy little monte carlo. Also, the trigger pull was a bit heavy. Instead of rasping off the monte carlo and having a gunsmith work the trigger a little, I traded th...

Congratulations on the 35. For years, this has been a caliber in the shadow of the 30-30, but in the eyes of those that have owned them, a hell of a lot better. If you want to shoot cast bullets in this rifle, look no further than the RCBS 200 grain flatnose, gascheck bullet. I don't know how the bu...

Right after the Army, back in 1969, I had a job with Winchester for a couple of years. Bought (as an employee) a model 290, the semiauto version of this series. It functioned well, but the trigger pull was heavy. This was the "deluxe" stock model, with impressed checkering. It was an ugly ...

I have two 35 Remingtons and two of my brothers each have one. A couple of friends have them as well. All are older Marlins, but most have microgroove barrels. That has not been shown to be an issue. I used to use the Lyman 206 gr gascheck bullet for my cast loads, and had excellent results with the...

I have a Browning Sterling with a combination dial lock, and like it pretty well. Whatever you guys do don't do what a local building contractor here did. My contractor friend had a growing assortment of firearms and needed a safe. He bought one from a local dealer --the 40 inch wide model, and got ...

A gun I failed to buy, but remember well. I was a kid in high school in 1960, the long-time town clerk died. She lived above her office, in a building right next to the house of her parents. The house had been closed up since both parents had died in the 20's. The auction of both properties drew man...