I am looking at building a 0-300 yd Utility Rifle that will cover SD (primarily) and hunting applications in AL (We have no really large game). I am thinking that a levergun in 30-30 will adequetely cover these roles because of current ammo availability, action speed aka followup shots, and slightly better capacity than most boltguns.
My thoughts are that the gun in question will have the following done to it:
Refinished to something more durable than bluing
Aperture sights installed and zeroed ( I have not decided on the distance yet)
Stock will be replaced with synthetic stock (as applicable)
Action / trigger work as needed.
What am I missing? Would I be better off with a pump rifle like the Rem 7615 in .223 or an Enfield in .308?
I would choose a lever action. Have you considered any other calibers? You can get .243, .308, and other calibers in lever action these days. I’m actually debating getting a Browning lever action in .243
I could walk into Wal-marts and find 30-30, 270, and some 30.06 no matter which store I visited. I realize that Wal-marts is not the end all be all for ammo, but I do consider it a marker for what can be easily had caliber wise.
Currently, the Browning BLR is the only one I know of. It’s not a tube fed rifle, it’s magazine fed. There were other models made in the last 50 years, none are still in production AFAIK.
Marlin has the lever actions in 308 Marlin Express, which are tube fed and use the soft polymer tipped ammo. 308 ME is rimmed and otherwise dimensionally different from 308 Winchester, but supposed to be ballistically similar.
OP, how much money are you looking to put into it? You could get a takedown conversion from Wild West Guns, that would be pretty handy for transport.
I think a 30-30 lever gun is fine; it’s hard to beat the handiness of a lever action rifle. It’ll be low capacity, a 20" 336 is 6+1 IIRC, but the extra punch over the pistol caliber options is worth it. I prefer Marlin over Winchester but that’s purely personal preference. As long as your lever action has a solid top receiver and available parts, I don’t see why it would matter which you use.
What about optics? Yeah, a lever action with a scope looks funny, but if you really want to be able to use it at 300 yards besides at the range, you need a scope IMO. A low power, illuminated, true 1x to 4x scope would be great, and dramatically improve low light shootability.
I have a similar project, upgrading my Marlin 1895G 45-70. I’m getting a large lever loop so I can use the thing with gloves, aperture sights and a top picatinny rail, and I’ll be mounting a scope (unsure what one) with QD rings. I’d love a synthetic stock too, but that’s going to have to wait.
.357 lever
You get higher tube capacity, the best range of loads (.38spl & .357, and you can go heavy on the .357 loads) and you can carry a revolver in .357 also so you get commonality of ammo.
Plus you can run Hornady’s Leverevolution bullets thru it safely, if for some reason you don’t want FP/HP.
There is no need to pimp out a 30-30. Peep sights are an excellent idea. Why do you want to change the stock. What’s wrong with the factory wood stock? It’s a 30-30. A take down would be very handy or even an SBR.
I’ve got an old (read:discontinued) Savage Model 99 in .308 WIN. It utilizes an internal fixed 5-round rotary magazine which eliminates the problem of spire-point rounds in a tube magazine. Dead-nuts accurate for a standard 22" barrel (1 MOA @ 300 meters).
MR. Smith may I say you make some of the nicest lever guns / wheel guns i have seen. I think i have to send my 45-70 Guide gun down to you and have some work done…
The Savage 99 is a great choice. I have one in 243 and it can give me 1" groups at 100yds with cheapo factory ammo. Only thing is…around here, they have achieved collector status and tend to run about 500-600 bucks.
The Browning BLR is a good idea, but I don’t know how accurate they are. They look handy but they are also very glossy and shiny and I never cared for their fancy finish.
How about the Ruger American Rifle? I have seen them for 350 bucks around here and they come in many calibers. Reviews so far are great for the money spent. Nice triggers, too.
In fact, I have just about given up on my lightweight varminter rig and looking for a Savage or other sporter weight barreled 223 and am considering a Ruger American in 243. The 243 has recoil similar to the 223 but can shoot heavier bullets that make it double duty for deer and varmints. With the current panic buying…243 is TONS easier to find in bulk than 223 and every small town gunstore and Wal Mart carries 243 ammo.
I’d look at a Ruger American or Savage 11 Hunter in 223 or 243…for the money…they are hard to beat.
