Looking for a .30 truck gun...

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by AxesAreBetter, Apr 30, 2018.


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  1. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    So, been saving up my beer money to get a new gun. Looking over the options, and handling quite a few, I have narrowed my choices down to two that I think will fit my want/need list. Figured I would get some input. First off, my criteria:
    1.Light weight (sub6 1/2lbs) for easy carry. I have an apparently chronic foot issue, and I am trying to spare it as much as possible from strain, but I still have need of a real gun.
    2.Close range stopping power: 99% of the time, I will be shooting 10-65 yards, and should not be making shots over 200 yards ever. So, it needs better than pistol thump, but I would prefer some stopping power out to that range. Good chance I will EDC this purchase, at least at work.
    3.Reasonable accuracy: I don't need to stack shots in single ragged hole, but I also do not want minute of barn...

    On these criteria, I have been looking most closely at the M1 carbine and an AR pistol in .300blk. The M1 is larger, obviously, but meets the other criteria, and I very familiar with the platform, and frankly, I am tired of loaners and want my own, and have for some time.
    The AR is something I am certainly not overly familiar with, but I have handled enough builds to be intrigued by the idea, and it is certainly a plausible option with a 10.5" barrel and accessories.
     
    Motomom34, Ura-Ki and Zimmy like this.
  2. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Just go buy a 30-30 Lever Gun, and be done with it....
     
  3. oil pan 4

    oil pan 4 Monkey+++

    Or 30 carbine.
     
    Witch Doctor 01, Ura-Ki and HK_User like this.
  4. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    I also have to question the idea of a rifle caliber in a handgun. The reverse makes more sense to me, but that is IMHO. A 300BLK handgun is not going to do for even an infrequent 200 yard shot, sez me, and maybe me only, keep an SBR AR or AK in the truck for that. Even an AR pattern handgun would not, sez me, serve in that application.
     
    GrayGhost likes this.
  5. ochit

    ochit Monkey+

    I agree with BTPost it sure is not recognized as a military weapon that may be a positive in the future.
    One bit of advice get a bunch of brass or ammo, during the great ammo shortage 30-30 dried up I had a hard time finding flat nose jacketed bullets. and the brass lasts a long time. Lee Precision still makes a Lee Loader hand load with hand tools fits in your pocket. There are subsonic loads and mid range cast bullet loads using fast pistol powders like Unique and most any of the Dot powders like red dot look up C.E. Harris, "The load" online. there are even #1 buck loads single ball for little critters load only one of these at a time

    The 30-30 is a easy and no brainer to reload with a good bullet mold hard lead and gas checks this is a deer and hog killing dream I would though go for a marlin side eject is preferable if you want to add a optic. they come with iron sights and can be updated to fiber optic glow sights.
     
  6. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    I "found" a 30-30 Sears Bolt Action clip feed some time back.
    Shoots well and came with a single clip.
     
  7. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    Last edited: Apr 30, 2018
    GrayGhost likes this.
  8. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    I would be putting a brace on it to function as a stock for shoulder firing. Essentially sbr with less paperwork. Debated an Ak version, but the x39 doesn't burn up well in a pistol length barrel, and frankly the guns are 2x as expensive. .300Blk in a 10.5 barrel, according to research, is still pushing north of 2000fts and are capable of 2"-3" groups...YMMV, not sure how set in stone those results are, but it is enough to intrigue me.
     
  9. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    Neat! Pics?
     
  10. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    Had not really considered a .30-30...kinda of wanting to move in the direction of a semiauto, but a '94 is really close into spec there...about the same weight as the mini-30, which had also not thought about...
     
  11. Zimmy

    Zimmy Wait, I'm not ready!

    The Mini30s are famously picky about both ammo and magazine manufacturers. I'd let lots of strangers beta test the 300 Blackout before I spent money on one.
     
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  12. hot diggity

    hot diggity Monkey+++ Site Supporter+++

    +1 on the .30-30 lever gun. Here's why I like it.

    Inexpensive. I gave $75 for mine. It's beautiful on one side but looks like it slid around a truck bed full of marl sand on the other. Purely cosmetic damage, she shoots great. Only change I made was to add a Marble's folding full buckhorn rear sight. Once you get used to this sight you have three different rear sight pictures (between the horns, center of the horns, down in the rear sight notch) for varying ranges without moving anything.

    Narrow and slender. No protruding bolt or magazine. This makes storage easy, and carry more comfortable.

    Manual action will cycle low power loads. Greased buckshot loads for small game. Magazine capacity is adequate, as is power.

    Ammo is available at most hardware stores and big box stores. (I can imagine crusty old hardware store clerk... "Three hunert black what? Never heard of that one.") I do remember one .30-30 famine, where I was getting $6/lb for .30-30 brass, but generally it's available. It's a joy to reload, and shoots plain base cast bullets just fine at reasonable velocities.
    I did have a bad experience with my reloads. I got so used to shooting them (11gr Unique, 170gr cast round nose) that I forgot how much more recoil factory loads have. I was done with that range trip after only three rounds. Not that the recoil is excessive, I'd just gotten spoiled by shooting lots of my more pleasant cast bullet loads.

    The biggest advantage over an SKS, AK, AR15 pistol, or even a bolt action scout rifle is that it looks like a hunting gun. Perception is reality when somebody gets a quick glance in your trunk. The old lever gun is far less likely to trigger a co-worker or police officer into thinking you're planning to shoot the place up.
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2018
  13. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    And as a security piece?
     
  14. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    Quality ammo and magazines are a must for any firearm, Who wants to spend good money on a jam-o-matic?
     
    ochit and Ura-Ki like this.
  15. Look for a Savage 340 bolt action in .30-30. Box mag fed, more options for bullet selection.
     
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  16. Thunder5Ranch

    Thunder5Ranch Monkey+++

    I like my Marlin 30-30 lever, cheap gun and pushes lead dependably and does not mind the abuse it takes behind the truck seats.
     
    Witch Doctor 01 likes this.
  17. hot diggity

    hot diggity Monkey+++ Site Supporter+++

    Can you please expand on this a little? I'm not clear on what you're asking.
     
  18. Lone Gunman

    Lone Gunman Draw Varmint!

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  19. 3M-TA3

    3M-TA3 Cold Wet Monkey

    Lever gun in 30-30 or 308. Ammo is everywhere, they pack enough punch that you only have to hit a bad guy or dinner once. Mag fed 308's allow spitzer bullets, and there are soft nose spitzers for tube mags as well. As others have mentioned a lever gun blends in nicely and doesn't draw unwanted attention.

    If you don't think a lever gun can be fast just watch an old re-run of "The Rifleman".

    EDIT: I'd look at a Browning BLR or Henry Long Range for a 308. Plenty of excellent 30-303 WCF levers out there, old and new.
     
    techsar and ochit like this.
  20. Ura-Ki

    Ura-Ki Grampa Monkey

    I carry a Marlin XLR .45/70 as a all around beater/truck gun, it's fast, accurate, powerful as hell, light enough to carry all day, and the stainless/laminate configuration is unbeatable! Add a set of Williams sights, and a muzzle brake or flash hider and you have a very powerful rifle that's very handy for pretty much any need! Bonus is its easy to reload using a Lee or Lyman hand loader, and black power is really your friend, as are cast bullets! Power reveals cam be any thing from week .45 Colt to full Nuke 500 gr anti Peterbuilt loads! I had a big bubba brake installed on mine with a integrated sight ramp, and installed a 1911 trit sight post and hood with a Providence tool adjustable rear sight, pure awesomeness!
     
    Lone Gunman and 3M-TA3 like this.
  1. 3M-TA3
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