As America's first smokeless cartridge, introduced 1895, the old .30-30 is not just old—it's the oldest, as modern American cartridges go. And yet it remains as effective as ever. In fact, with today’s loads, the .30-30 is a better coast-to-coast big-game cartridge than at any other time in its history. I’ve even used it on African plains game.
So why not get a rifle in .30-30? Its only real limitation would be reach, as the cartridge is best used inside 200 yards. But if you know how to hunt—and shoot—that's rarely a problem. The .30-30’s combination of lethality, low recoil, and the fact that it is usually chambered in handy guns is what has made it one of the most popular and trusted big-game cartridges of all time.
refurbished Winchester Model 94, in .30/30.
When most people think of the .30-30 Winchester, lever-action rifles pop to mind. The cartridge did, after all, get its start with the Winchester 1894. But .30-30 has also occasionally been offered in bolt-action and single-shot rifles. These days, with Marlin currently rebuilding under Ruger management, you're options for buying a brand-new .30-30 come from Winchester or Henry. Those are both fine options, but there are also thousands of great used .30-30 rifles out there. It’s almost impossible to look on the Internet or visit a gun shop and not see several for sale. But before you buy, take a close look at this list of the best .30-30 rifles.
Winchester Model 94
There’s no rifle on the planet that feels and handles like a 94. Its slim and trim and seems to just want to jump to your shoulder. And if it weren’t for the 94, there might be no .30-30. The cartridge debuted with the rifle, and now it's hard to think of a more American combination. The gun was an immediate hit. It offered fast, repetitive fire in a handy package and became so ubiquitous that it has, by now, bee everywhere and done damn near everything.
Though not known for its precision, the .30-30 can shoot very well, even out of lever-action rifles.
Winchester has offered Model 94s chambered for the .30-30 Winchester in countless configurations. Some were plain, some were fancy, some had short barrels, others had long barrels; millions have been sold. But in 2006, American production ceased. Now all 94s are made in Japan. That said, they are made quite well. Currently five versions are offered, with barrels from 20 to 24 inches and prices ranging from $1,300 to $2,230. If that more than you want to pay, your best option is a used 94. Excluding fancy or highly collectible pieces, prices will be between $500 and $1,500. The Winchester 94 ejects from the top of the action, which limits riflescope attachment. A later version with what Winchester called “angle-eject” is a bit more scope friendly. The 94 is not the best rifle ever made, but it is a rifle I think everyone should have at least one of.
Savage 99 A vintage Savage 99 chambered for .30-30.
Though it lacks the cowboy appeal of the Winchester 94, the hammerless 99 is arguably the greatest lever-action rifle ever produced. Ultimately discontinued in 2003, the rifle’s unique five-shot rotary magazine—later converted to a detachable magazine—and its suitability for scope mounting are what really set these lever-guns apart. Also, as with bolt-action and single-shot 30-30’s, the 99's magazine allowed handloaders to use pointy bullets in the .30-30.
Prices for used 99s are all over the map. Some models were very plain while others were factory engraved with exquisite wood. Takedown versions were also offered. You might find one in a yard sale for a fraction of what it is worth, while at the same time others can bring thousands of dollars. The 99 has become a highly collectible rifle, so you need to be wary when buying; many have been re-barreled and refinished and may not be completely original. That may not affect functionality, but you can end up paying a lot more for a 99 than what it’s worth. For a good-looking and mechanically sound Savage 99 in .30-30 Winchester, expect to pay between one and two grand.
Marlin 336
The most popular Marlin 336 rifles were configured in this manner, and some were packaged with an inexpensive riflescope already mounted.
© Rock Island Auction Company A vintage Savage 99 chambered for .30-30.
Introduced in 1948, America’s other famous lever gun is the Marlin 336. An updated version of the Model 36, the primary difference between the Marlin 336 and the Winchester 94 was that the Marlin ejected from the side. This made it a natural for scope mounting. A version of the 336 known as the Model 30 Glenfield was also offered. It was essentially the same rifle with more rudimentary sights and a hardwood stock. Many Glenfield’s were sold through chain department stores. When Marlin and their parent company Remington when bankrupt in 2020, production of the 336 ceased. Marlin was acquired by Ruger, which reintroduced the Model 1895 SBL this year, and if we are all lucky, will soon resurrect the 336 as well.
Savage Model 340 A Savage 340C chambered in .30-30.
© Richard MannThe 7 Best Rifles Chambered for the .30-30
Offered in various configurations between 1950 and 1985, the 340 was a bolt-action .30-30 Winchester. It was a very utilitarian type of rifle, but some of the nicer versions came with a peep sight. To my knowledge, all 340s had a black walnut stock, and some of were drilled and tapped for a side-receiver scope mount. For a time, and possibly starting Savage’s tradition of “packaged rifles,” Savage even offered a scope mount and an inexpensive scope with the rifle. All 340s chambered for the .30-30 Winchester were fed from a detachable three-shot magazine, and many were sold through department stores like Sears under a different model name.
So why not get a rifle in .30-30? Its only real limitation would be reach, as the cartridge is best used inside 200 yards. But if you know how to hunt—and shoot—that's rarely a problem. The .30-30’s combination of lethality, low recoil, and the fact that it is usually chambered in handy guns is what has made it one of the most popular and trusted big-game cartridges of all time.
refurbished Winchester Model 94, in .30/30.
When most people think of the .30-30 Winchester, lever-action rifles pop to mind. The cartridge did, after all, get its start with the Winchester 1894. But .30-30 has also occasionally been offered in bolt-action and single-shot rifles. These days, with Marlin currently rebuilding under Ruger management, you're options for buying a brand-new .30-30 come from Winchester or Henry. Those are both fine options, but there are also thousands of great used .30-30 rifles out there. It’s almost impossible to look on the Internet or visit a gun shop and not see several for sale. But before you buy, take a close look at this list of the best .30-30 rifles.
Winchester Model 94
There’s no rifle on the planet that feels and handles like a 94. Its slim and trim and seems to just want to jump to your shoulder. And if it weren’t for the 94, there might be no .30-30. The cartridge debuted with the rifle, and now it's hard to think of a more American combination. The gun was an immediate hit. It offered fast, repetitive fire in a handy package and became so ubiquitous that it has, by now, bee everywhere and done damn near everything.
Though not known for its precision, the .30-30 can shoot very well, even out of lever-action rifles.
Winchester has offered Model 94s chambered for the .30-30 Winchester in countless configurations. Some were plain, some were fancy, some had short barrels, others had long barrels; millions have been sold. But in 2006, American production ceased. Now all 94s are made in Japan. That said, they are made quite well. Currently five versions are offered, with barrels from 20 to 24 inches and prices ranging from $1,300 to $2,230. If that more than you want to pay, your best option is a used 94. Excluding fancy or highly collectible pieces, prices will be between $500 and $1,500. The Winchester 94 ejects from the top of the action, which limits riflescope attachment. A later version with what Winchester called “angle-eject” is a bit more scope friendly. The 94 is not the best rifle ever made, but it is a rifle I think everyone should have at least one of.
Savage 99 A vintage Savage 99 chambered for .30-30.
Though it lacks the cowboy appeal of the Winchester 94, the hammerless 99 is arguably the greatest lever-action rifle ever produced. Ultimately discontinued in 2003, the rifle’s unique five-shot rotary magazine—later converted to a detachable magazine—and its suitability for scope mounting are what really set these lever-guns apart. Also, as with bolt-action and single-shot 30-30’s, the 99's magazine allowed handloaders to use pointy bullets in the .30-30.
Prices for used 99s are all over the map. Some models were very plain while others were factory engraved with exquisite wood. Takedown versions were also offered. You might find one in a yard sale for a fraction of what it is worth, while at the same time others can bring thousands of dollars. The 99 has become a highly collectible rifle, so you need to be wary when buying; many have been re-barreled and refinished and may not be completely original. That may not affect functionality, but you can end up paying a lot more for a 99 than what it’s worth. For a good-looking and mechanically sound Savage 99 in .30-30 Winchester, expect to pay between one and two grand.
Marlin 336
The most popular Marlin 336 rifles were configured in this manner, and some were packaged with an inexpensive riflescope already mounted.
© Rock Island Auction Company A vintage Savage 99 chambered for .30-30.
Introduced in 1948, America’s other famous lever gun is the Marlin 336. An updated version of the Model 36, the primary difference between the Marlin 336 and the Winchester 94 was that the Marlin ejected from the side. This made it a natural for scope mounting. A version of the 336 known as the Model 30 Glenfield was also offered. It was essentially the same rifle with more rudimentary sights and a hardwood stock. Many Glenfield’s were sold through chain department stores. When Marlin and their parent company Remington when bankrupt in 2020, production of the 336 ceased. Marlin was acquired by Ruger, which reintroduced the Model 1895 SBL this year, and if we are all lucky, will soon resurrect the 336 as well.
Savage Model 340 A Savage 340C chambered in .30-30.
© Richard MannThe 7 Best Rifles Chambered for the .30-30
Offered in various configurations between 1950 and 1985, the 340 was a bolt-action .30-30 Winchester. It was a very utilitarian type of rifle, but some of the nicer versions came with a peep sight. To my knowledge, all 340s had a black walnut stock, and some of were drilled and tapped for a side-receiver scope mount. For a time, and possibly starting Savage’s tradition of “packaged rifles,” Savage even offered a scope mount and an inexpensive scope with the rifle. All 340s chambered for the .30-30 Winchester were fed from a detachable three-shot magazine, and many were sold through department stores like Sears under a different model name.
