First Time Levergun Owner Needs Tips

[BigRix]

I just purchased my first levergun and need some tips from y'all.

I hope this is a good candidate for learning about leverguns and loading centerfire.

Glenfield Model 30A which from my research is a budget version of the Marlin 336. 30-30 caliber.

Snapped a few pics for ya.









So do you have any recommendations for a first time levergun owner? First time centerfire reloader? First time 30-30 caster?

My goals for this project are:

Have a nice truck gun with a lower power optical sight.
Cast and load my own ammo for plinking and hunting/self defense.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. And now to start my own research.

P.S. I guess I have a use for that Lyman M die I bought at the gun show now.

[btroj]

Get a 311165 Ranch Dog mould and have fun. That is one of the best cast bullet cartridge/rifle combos ever.
Easy to load for, cheap components, plenty accurate, and FUN.

Enjoy that gun, I sure enjoy my 336.

[Crawdaddy]

Nice rifle you will enjoy it.

My tip?

When pig hunting don't use the cross bolt safety and the half cock. Use only one. When you forget to take one off and the pig is running at you the pucker factor is high!

[Gtek]

It can be addictive- be careful. Nice old piece, Midway has about all those Bubba'd screws for the same as dealer from Brownells. They also have the screw driver sets I wish all Bubba's got for Cristmas. Give the #31141 Lyman a thought. Have fun- Gtek

[Crawdaddy]

That's a nice rifle. I think it's micro groove, and predates cross bolt safeties by 30 or 40 years.

I was only off by a little.

[BigRix]

If my research is right it was made in 1976.

[izzyjoe]

nice rifle, you should get yourself a williams receiver sight, and try the lee 170gr. mold. it's cheap, and it work's great! that will be a great truck gun.

[Ziptar]

Go to http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/ and sign up, then introduce yourself. Then start reading.

[jonas302]

I have one like that right now it seems to enjoy driving lee 113 grain wheel weight slugs sized 311 gas checked and pan lubed over 10 grains of unique into nice groups

[crabo]

My tip would be to sell that gun. It is adictive. It is going to cost you a lot of money as you start buying more. Next you need a 39A, then a 45/70, then a.....

That is why I refuse to buy a single action pistol.

[Ziptar]

My tip would be to sell that gun. It is adictive. It is going to cost you a lot of money as you start buying more. Next you need a 39A, then a 45/70, then a.....

That is why I refuse to buy a single action pistol.

Good point! The dreaded "Marlinitus Disease" knows no bounds and takes no prisoners!

GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!

[Lonegun1894]

My tip would be to sell that gun. It is adictive. It is going to cost you a lot of money as you start buying more. Next you need a 39A, then a 45/70, then a.....

That is why I refuse to buy a single action pistol.

And just where were you with that little tidbit about single-actions when I was drooling over my first one trying to decide if i really needed it as badly as I thought? and the second?... and the 10th?..... I mean, they're as bad as lever-actions. these things also multiply like rabbits.

[grubbylabs]

Go to http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/ and sign up, then introduce yourself. Then start reading.

How long does it take them to approve your account so you can use the forum?

[BigRix]

My approval took about an hour.

[FrontSite]

I second on the Ranch dog 311165 bullet for the lever guns. Sized .311 made mine into a real shooter. Steel chickens at 200 yards if I keep my "stuff" together. Also recommend Lee collet dies. You may need to turn the collet "spud" down a couple thousands for bullet tension. Lee factory crimp die has seemed to help too.

[coyotebait]

+2 on the Ranch Dog 311-165 mold sized .311. Also +1 on the Williams reciever sight which your rifle is drilled and tapped for. To me a scope takes something away from the handiness of a levergun. Nice truck gun by the way.
coyotebait

[Ed in North Texas]

Good point! The dreaded "Marlinitus Disease" knows no bounds and takes no prisoners!

GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!

Worse yet, Marlinitus leads to Savage Virus #99 infection too. They are not mutually exclusive!

[whopist]

Original Poster stated, low power optics for Glenfield truck gun.


It’s a Leupold 2.5x Compact.

My personal preference is to get a midrange (4-5”) eye relief scope and mount it just forward of the hammer on lever-action rifles. Then you don’t need a hammer spur.

For bullets, I use the Ranch Dog 311165 (mine is a NOE clone of it with grease grooves). If I remember correctly, Ranch Dog developed this bullet using our beloved 30A Glenfield.

Enjoy your rifle and be safe!

[BigRix]

That's a sharp lookin' Glenfield.

My gun already has a hammer spur so that's good to go. I just found out one of my co-workers is an avid levergun guy who actually prefers Glenfields over the Marlin 336. He likes the clean lines of the front sight and puts a William's on the back. I might give that a try first.

Now I just need brass and dies and a mold and primers and powder and a sling and .......

How cheep was this gun again?

[Greg B.]

In terms of "loading centerfire tips" some of the best money I spent was on the Lyman Cast
Bullet Handbook.
The current buzz about Microgrove barrels is that will shoot cast bullets well if you use a hard alloy and size them slightly larger. I assume this means the usual .oo1" or .002" above slugged barrel diameter. Good luck.

Greg B.