The Tactical 30-30 Lever Action Rifle

***Gabe Suarez*** · 11-30-2003, 08:37 AM

THE TACTICAL 30-30 LEVER ACTION RIFLE
Copyright 1999, Gabriel Suarez
All Rights Reserved

Ask any student of small arms to name the most typically American rifle and chances are that they will name the .30-30 lever action rifle. Manufactured for over a century by Marlin, Winchester, and others - the lever action invokes images of the Old West. We see Jimmy Stewart in "Winchester '73" smiting the enemies of justice and freedom with his "repeater". We see John Wayne admonishing his adversaries to "fill their hands" as he gallops forward, a stubby Winchester in each hand. And, of course, we see photos of that most American of presidents - Theodore Roosevelt wielding his lever action against all manner of beasties in Africa. This ubiquitous and understated weapon has played a very major role in this country's history.

Today the lever action is most often seen in the hands of close range deer hunters as a brush gun. It is not likely to be the first weapon that comes to our minds when the talk turns to fighting. But make no mistake friends, as a fighting (anti-personnel) weapon, the lever action is just as useful and deadly today, on a lonely stretch of highway in the bad part of town, as it was in the dusty cow towns of the Kansas Territory more than a century ago.

Today a rifle of this sort might be kept in tactical storage in a hall closet, above the hearth, or in the trunk of a car for unexpected social unpleasantries. In such a role the lever action has several advantages over other weapons that are more commonly thought of as fighting tools.

Primarily, the lever action is inexpensive. Used examples in perfect working condition may be had for about a hundred bucks. Even brand new weapons will set you back less than the price of a night on the town for two. Compare that with the price of a more military-like, and hopefully still legal, Sturmgewehr-fighting rifle (If you can find one for sale these days)!

The ammunition (.30-30 Winchester Centerfire) has all the characteristics desirable in a mid-range fighting rifle cartridge. In fact, the ballistics of the .30-30 cartridge are amazingly similar to those for the most specifically designed fighting cartridge of all, the 7.62X39 Russian chambered in the AK-47. Shot for shot, the .30-30 will do everything you could ask from a mid-range tactical rifle. And it will do these things far better than many military weapons will!

Being "sporting guns", lever actions are usually issued with fairly good triggers which are crisp and conducive to hitting. Even if the trigger action is rough on some pieces, it is a simple matter to have it brought up to speed by a gunsmith. Additionally, you'd have to look long and hard to find a gunsmith that isn't familiar with the lever action lock-work. This is certainly more than we can say about the gritty as-issued, or modified triggers of the various SKS, AK, HK etc.

Finally, the lever action rifle is more compact in its 16 inch barrel configuration than most other rifles that might be chosen to fill the role. Equally important in this age of sensitive, touchie-feelie, felon huggers, it looks innocent. Don't dismiss this last attribute too easily. In our troubled and ignorant times, juries release violent murderers and rapists because they are not intelligent enough to discern the real facts from the spun fiction. Such things as a bayonet lug or a 30 round magazine from East Germany may confuse them enough to change your life's plans...drastically.

The standard .30-30 will suffice as issued for most duties. But enhancement may be undertaken to improve its performance. One area where improvements may be made is the sights. These weapons are issued with the old buckhorn type sights. They will do, but a rear ghost ring aperture sight with its accompanying front sight post will, in my opinion, do much better. These are available from various sources.

My .30-30 carbine has a modified 1903-A3 rear sight whose aperture has been opened up to ghost ring configuration. This rear sight, coupled with a ROBAR front sight at the end of the barrel, works very well indeed.

Also useful is a leather butt-cuff. This keeps extra ammunition on the weapon itself. This may compromise the concept of the light carbine, but if you have to grab the rifle and run out of your house at 0'dark 30 one night to repel the Visigoths, you'll be glad the extra ammo was there. I know that I was always glad to have a few extras!

Winchester still provides their lever action rifle in the "Wrangler" 16 inch barrel configuration. Marlin once made a similar model called the "Marauder". If your fighting lever gun is too long, it is a simple matter to have your excess barrel lopped off at the local gunsmithy (make certain it remains at least 16" long to keep "you know who" away). Such a conversion will greatly enhance handling, as well as keep the spirit of the compact weapon.

I thus modified an old Marlin 336 rifle that I rescued from the used gun rack at the local gun store. Total cost of the entire package was less than two hundred bucks (including a nice 4X Leupold scope, which I eventually mounted on another rifle!). It is short, light, hard hitting, rugged, cheap to replace if necessary...and well, it looks innocent. I obtained a supply of hunting grade PMC 150 grain .30-30 ammo and tested the combative utility of the carbine via a series of rifle exercises from Suarez Internationals Tactical Rifle school. The drills involve both close range reactive shooting as well as longer distances possible in combative encounters. For purposes of uniformity, all drills commenced from the Rhodesian ready position - that is gun held loosely at the belt level with the muzzle depressed to the offside.

Head shots were fired from the shoulder at 25 meters. Body shots were next at 50 meters, 75 meters, and 100 meters. Multiple targets were shot at 50 meters distance as well as up close at 7 meters. Close quarters targets were engaged both with snap shots from the shoulder, as well as from the Close Contact CQB position. Approximately 200 rounds were fired to get an overall impression of the lever action rifle in the anti-personnel role. Our findings were that there is very little that a realistic rifleman (acting as an individual - not a member of a military rifle squad) can expect from his weapon that the lever action cannot deliver.

If you are in need of an economic and effective rifle that offers as many advantages as a single rifleman can use within "defensive" or "urban" conflict distances, take a serious look at the lever action carbine. I think you'll like what you see.

**Vig Creed** · 11-30-2003, 08:53 AM

Gabe,

My lady and I are both CAS/SASS shooters and have multiple lever guns. I've got a 16" Winchester 30-30 with ghost-ring peep, similar to what you described. But the lever gun I like best is a Browning 1892 replica in 44 Mag caliber. The big advantage, other than higher quality, is that it holds 10+1 shots, which is double what my 30-30 holds. The disadvantage is that it is a shorter range caliber.

At CAS matches it is truely amazing how fast and accurate lever gun shooters are! Two shots per second at 50 yards, with 100% hits on torso size targets, is normal.

I certainly wouldn't feel unarmed carrying a lever gun, especially in short range urban settings.

creed

**michael** · 11-30-2003, 01:42 PM

It's interesting that you mention this now. I've been pondering purchasing a lever gun in 30-30 or 45-70. I haven't made up my mind which one I want yet, though. I do think it is very practical and has a lot going for it, and I like the "low key" approach when possible. Gabe, in your experience, which do you prefer, the Winchester or Marlin and why. I would be interested in your and others comments and suggestions.

**RedDevil** · 11-30-2003, 02:43 PM

I've been looking for a cheap 16" lever action rifle for some time now to keep in the truck. www.wildwestguns.com sells a light mount that would be perfect for self-defense applications. I'd like to know how well one would do if using one of the levers at a tactical carbine class.

**sanchezero** · 11-30-2003, 04:11 PM

That's a slick light mount, man.

Some guy took Urban Rifle at Thunder Ranch with a lever gun and wrote a review of the class. You could probably google for it.

***Gabe Suarez*** · 11-30-2003, 04:46 PM

Early Sept. I taught a class in Amarillo, Texas. The class was a mix of AK, AR and a couple of 30-30 levers. They held up just as well as the semi auto boys.

Personally, I like the Marlin slightly over the Winchesters, but that is a personal thing. Winchester makes nice guns. I'd go for one without the stupid button (the safety button gizmo on the side of the frame) if you can find one. If not its a simple task I hear to disable it.

For urban/self defense I'd go with .44 or 30-30 with the edge going to 30-30 for its anti-car capability.

For back country specially in "big animal" territory (Bears, Lions, etc.) I would go either 30-30 or 45-70. The edge here going to 45-70 if bear repelling may be required.

**Poohgyrr** · 11-30-2003, 09:04 PM

We've had Levers handy about the home or ranch for years. I'd have a difficult time arguing against the 30-30 round's effectiveness. A short .44 will work with power levels from Special through the 300 gr magnums. And the Marlin 45-70's become real thumpers when loaded with good ammo. These are pretty handy carbines/rifles with accuracy that can be surprising.

**nail** · 11-30-2003, 11:01 PM

Picked up a Marlin 45-70 (1895 Model) that has a 21 inch barrel. Any problem cutting it down to 18+ inches and relocating the front sight? Using a good gunsmith of corse.
Need to keep it over 18 inches to be legal to import into Canada for deer hunting.
I agree this is one of the best bruch guns around. With a red dot sight it is a cool gun to carry.

**sionaprhys** · 12-01-2003, 05:33 AM

If you're looking to purchase a used Winchester model 94, be careful of the ones made in the late sixties. Winchester made a run of 94s with a sheet tin lifter that doesn't work or wear worth a darn. Just open the action and examine the lifter; if it's made of stamped sheet metal, pass on that rifle and look for another. They only used the tin lifters for a year or two. The steel lifters won't fit in the tin lifter mechanisms but there may be an aftermarket lifter available somewhere.