Load DataInline FabricationRotoMetals2Wideners
Titan ReloadingMidSouth Shooters SupplyLee PrecisionReloading Everything
Repackbox

View Poll Results: Which Gun? Lead only. <100yd Brush gun

Voters
236. You may not vote on this poll
  • Keep the Marlin 336 30-30

    188 79.66%
  • Trade for Rossi M92 357mag

    48 20.34%
Page 6 of 8 FirstFirst 12345678 LastLast
Results 101 to 120 of 141

Thread: 357 Rossi or 30-30 Marlin brush gun?

  1. #101
    Boolit Master

    Eddie Southgate's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Southern Middle Tennessee/ Hillsboro Alabama
    Posts
    1,177
    Had a stainless Rossi in .45 Colt and thought it was nice till I started shooting it and comparing it to the Marlin Cowboy .45 Colt rifle I also had . I then realized it was just a bit short of being junk so it went first chance I got . I'd pass on the Rossi and wait on something better if you decide not to keep the 30/30 .

    Eddie
    Grumpy Old Man With A Gun....... Do Not Touch !!

  2. #102
    Boolit Master

    HiVelocity's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    SC
    Posts
    803
    I would keep the Marlin 30-30! Much more knock-down power than the Rossi. IMHO.

    HV
    Life's biggest tragedy is we get old too soon, and wise too late.

  3. #103
    Moderator
    Texas by God's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    14,333
    Lazarus thread?
    I’ve used both, I’ll take the 30-30.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  4. #104
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Blackwater, Virginia
    Posts
    710
    I'm a Winchester Buff. I've had the Rossi 357 & it was an ok rifle no real complaints. I sold it & still have 3 30-30's , one I had JES re-bore to 38-55 which I really like. I'll probably hang on to the ones I have & may add to them in the future. They just work!

  5. #105
    Boolit Master Shawlerbrook's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Central NY
    Posts
    2,916
    Not going to disparage the Rossi 357 as it on my to get list, but no comparison to a Marlin 30 30.

  6. #106
    Boolit Grand Master

    jonp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    8,281
    30-30 won't do much a 308 couldn't get done at any range so I think I would go with the 357Mag for under 100yrd brush if you really want one as you could carry a sidearm of the same caliber.
    I Am Descended From Men Who Would Not Be Ruled

    Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum

  7. #107
    Boolit Grand Master popper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    10,572
    My first rifle was marlin 336 30/30, I won't sell it. Thought about the 357 or Max in a single shot but opted for BO. Not a real hunter so what I have will do.
    Whatever!

  8. #108
    Boolit Master Jim22's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Eastern Washington
    Posts
    590
    I don't like the .357 with 16 inch barrel because of muzzle blast. My Marlin 94 has eighteen inch barrel and it's too short. Don't need to make my tinnitis any worse.

  9. #109
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Greater Portland OR.
    Posts
    1,741
    The 308 with a low power scope is probably the best brush gun mentioned here. It has a flat trajectory that will let you shoot through small holes without hitting hunkc of wood. Many years I believe Outdoor Life shooting column did an article on shooting through brush. An assortment of calibers were tested. Don't remember the small, fast one but the 45/70 was the big slow one. After much testing the conclusion was if you hit wood your bullet was going to be deflected . My early hunting experience confirmed thus. Shot at a deer standing behind fairly thich bush. Useing a 6.5 x 55 swede with 140 gr factory jacketed bullet. First shot broke both front legs. Deer ran slowly but stayed behind brush. It took several shot to put it down so I could bet close and applied a final shot. If you want to shoot in brush have a scope and flat trajectory so you can pick your shot and shoot through holes that wii exist in brush. If your target is close to brush your bullet won't deflect that much , 10 feet or more behind the bush you are probably not going to hit anything. Low power scopes are for old eyes and shooting in heavy cover.

  10. #110
    Moderator


    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Way up in the Cascades
    Posts
    8,073
    .30-30 or .357.........30-30 every time!

    DG

  11. #111
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Posts
    149
    Chalk up another vote on the 30-30 board.

    Zingger

  12. #112
    Boolit Grand Master uscra112's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Switzerland of Ohio
    Posts
    6,313
    The Marlin is much the better gun, regardless of the cartridge. Make it a 336 in .35 Remington and you've got the best of all possible worlds.
    Cognitive Dissident

  13. #113
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Blackwater, Virginia
    Posts
    710
    Maybe not the best of all possible worlds. Some prefer the 356, 358, 375, & or 38-55. Which could be down loaded to the 35 Rem. But everyone has there preferences. That's what keeps it all interesting....-06

  14. #114
    Boolit Master Rapier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Location
    NW Florida
    Posts
    1,449
    With the 30-30 Marlin in your possession, I would put a 2-7 scope on it and develop a load with the 30-30 using an RCBS flat point mould, something like the big flat meplat 150s. If you do not have Unique, you can use 3031 or 4227 and pushed up to around 2k fps. The 30-30 in a decent lever is capable of excellent accuracy with a scope and the Marlin is built to take a top center mounted scope.
    “There is a remedy for all things, save death.“
    Cervantes

    “Never give up, never quit.”
    Robert Rogers
    Roger’s Rangers

    There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
    Will Rogers

  15. #115
    Boolit Master

    Sig556r's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    West of H-Town
    Posts
    1,055
    Got both, but my R92 357/38 has a 22” octagonal barrel that’s a lot forgiving on my old shoulder.
    I still load light 30-30s for my old Marlin (not the newer Remlins)
    ...Speak softly & carry a big stick...

  16. #116
    Boolit Master scattershot's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Posts
    1,532
    The 30/30 is the better choice for a lot of reasons, but it sounds like you really want the Rossi. If you can’t have both, keep the Marlin.
    "Experience is a series of non-fatal mistakes"


    Disarming is a mistake free people only get to make once...

  17. #117
    Boolit Buddy braddock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Dover, UK
    Posts
    128
    I had a ruger #1 in 308 and decided to sell it and bought a win 94 30/30 to replace it then along comes an r92 and an offer I couldn't refuse and I bought the rossi and kept the 30/30.
    I'm not in the same boat as you as the rossi and the win 94 could be twins, same size, same weight, trouble is the 30/30 never goes out the door with me now.Click image for larger version. 

Name:	new toy.jpg 
Views:	13 
Size:	83.1 KB 
ID:	315206 In the image, the win 94 is the one with the red dot. The 357/38 is cheap as chips to reload, I have over 4500 small rifle primers about 500 ponds of roofing lead the 30/30 is about the same to reload but I'm down to my last 1000 large rifle primers and they have to load another caliber as well.
    Of the two, the rossi is slightly more accurate and with 185 grain cast flat points at just over 1750 fps is a real powerhouse, the 30/30 with 185grn fp cast at just over 1900 is too, but a 35 caliber hole is bigger than a 30 caliber hole all day long....
    I'd say keep them both.
    The only thing that I don't like about the rossi is it is stainless.

  18. #118
    Boolit Grand Master
    rockrat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    5,311
    I would keep the 30-30, but the 357mag is easier to load for. The carbide dies speed things up.

  19. #119
    Boolit Master

    firefly1957's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Harrison Michigan
    Posts
    2,782
    It has been 8 years are you now happy with your choice ?

    About the same time I was looking for a .357 Mag lever gun but ended up getting a 1953 Marlin model 336 and have been very happy . Two things Mechanically I prefer on the Marlin 336 . A) my "old eyes" need a scope to hunt with B) The pistol portion on the stock allows my "OLD WRIST" much more comfort holding the gun.
    I chose only cast bullets for the gun the Lee 170 mould casts a pure lead bullet that coated (Spray enamel paint and baked) is 184 grains . I load it with not the maximum load of IMR 3031 from a Lyman book velocity averages 2040 f/s and groups at 100 yards are well under 2 inches. The bullet of soft lead preforms a lot like a jacketed bullet for me mushrooming rather then breaking up .
    My second load is for pest control rather then the .22 rimfire . I load the lee 90 grain .32 caliber (hard cast) bullet it is sized at .310 after powder coating and loaded at 1040 f/s . This load shoot dead on with scope at 25 yards and makes small groups , The gun is sighted dead on with other load at 100 yards . This slow load drops about a foot to 100 yards but I rarely would use it past about 40 yards .
    When I think back on all the **** I learned in high school it's a wonder I can think at all ! And then my lack of education hasn't hurt me none I can read the writing on the wall.

  20. #120
    Boolit Buddy

    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Smyrna, Tennessee
    Posts
    123
    I would have the 30-30 rechambered to 30-30 Ackley Imp. Compare and judge for yourself.
    Forty Rod
    .

Page 6 of 8 FirstFirst 12345678 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check