30-30 ammo?

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Cal44

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A couple weeks ago, I bought a Marlin 30-30 lever action.

I just like lever actions and revolvers -- what can I say.

Anyway, the LGS I bought it from didn't have any 30-30 ammo.

I checked another few places and didn't find any.

I didn't even have a single round to try out my new gun.

Well, today I found one box of 20 30-30 rounds at Wally World -- the first time I've seen any there in a year.

I remember several years ago reading that a great rifle to buy is a 30-30 because you could get ammo anywhere.

Boy was that wrong.

I really don't understand why 30-30 is hard to get. It can't be government agencies buying all of it. The last time the army or police bought 30-30 they were still fighting Indians.

The black rifle types don't use it. I can't see deer hunters hoarding 1000's of rounds. It's not considered a great defense round by the Zombie Apocalypse preppers, is it?

What happened to it?
 
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It's still a popular deer cartridge and its fall.If I was using one I would have stocked up months ago (if I didn't have dies brass and bullets).
 
My son has a 30-30 Marlin 336. Wonderful firearm! You're gonna love yours. My son took a Turkey last season at 70 yards and neck shot the bird on purpose! Great gun.
Ammo....I have not seen ammo for a 30-30 in my area for nearly 1 full year!!! Nothing at all. Luckily I had bought him a couple boxes of Hornady Leverloution a couple years back.
30-30 is the LAST round to "come back" in my area. Way way popular, everyone owns one, ammo goes like mad. Consider yourself lucky on the smallmart find!

DR
 
I think 30-30 isn't in large demand compared to 223 9mm 22 etc. since its not in as high demand, ammo makers make less of it. When the panic hit, folks bought EVERYTHING if they had a gun for it. It's going to take a while to see more 30-30 since they produce less of it. Once it does come back, I think it will be in stock all the time since no one rushed out to buy lever actions. Just my $.02
 
I took my first buck with a Model 94 Carbine in 1953, one shot. Still have the old gun. Think I'll get it out & use it this deer season. Many Thanks for the reminder.P.S. Also took my biggest buck with it in 1964, a 4x5 Muley.
 
I have had good luck finding 30-30 online. I've tried about every type of ammo there is and I've had the best luck with Hornady Lever Evolution. My model 94 is my favorite rifle...took my first buck with it.
 
The 30-30 is a great deer rifle and has killed thousands of deer with the "Old style" ammo if you stay within its limits.

You can add another 75-100 yards if you get the new improved Hornady LE ammo with a soft spritzer tip and higher BC, than the standard flat lead tip bullets have.

They all work............glad you found some ammo.
Lots of years of enjoyment ahead for you.
 
I wonder of the ammo manufacturers just swapped their lines over to make 223,9mm,45acp, etc. because of the great demand, and haven't gotten caught up enough to swap back yet.

I can't find any flat nosed projectiles suitable for reloading 30-30 ammunition.

I doubt the demand has increased for them any great deal. I just suspect they haven't made any in some time now.
 
Truthfully, the .30-30 is probably all that 90% of the deer hunters in the US would ever need. The shortage of ammo is temporary and now becoming localized. We have plenty in my area now, and eventually supplies will bounce back everywhere from the late ammo panic.

Most folks don't realize that ammo companies don't stockpile huge amounts of ammo. Storing it costs $$$, so they try to maintain stock at an adequate level to meet usual seasonal demands. Combine big government orders which take up existing production capacity, add to it panic buying stemming from fear of bans or restrictions, and you get a classic ammo famine. .30-30 has been, due to its popularity, high on their priority lists for catch-up production, I am sure, but high demand means it will still take time for it to come back to previous levels of availability.
 
Never ran out of 30-30 in this part of GA. Took my first mule deer, in fact two of them at the same time, back in 1964. Fortunately two were allowed in CO then. A nice 4x4 ran out of the scrub about 75 yards uphill and I shot and he disappeared into some head high manzanita and came busting out the other side and I shot him again and down he went. When I got up the hill to dress him out I looked to my left and there was the other one piled up in the brush. Two one shot kills and way more work than I bargained for. I still have that Mod 94 Win.
 
The most popular deer rifle calibers in western PA have been slow to come back, .30-30 and .270 in particular. The easiest to find is .308 Winchester, then .243 and .30-06. .223 is not legal for deer here, and is the single easiest to find ammo at this moment.
 
Cal44 said:
I remember several years ago reading that a great rifle to buy is a 30-30 because you could get ammo anywhere.

Boy was that wrong.
Click to expand...

That is not wrong under normal circumstances, however, these are not normal circumstances.

I think quite a bit of production is used on the military and defense calibers that everyone wants right now. That said, supply on hunting ammo such as .30-30 and other popular hunting calibers should get better as hunting season is just around the corner.
 
Part of the problem is that 30-30 is seasonal in nature because it's a distinct classic Deer Hunting caliber. As a result it's produced by many manufacturers during the lead up to the Deer Hunting season. I expect that quite soon you'll see ample supplies of this caliber showing up and would suggest that you purchase a years supply for your stash. Because once the Deer Season ends all you'll see in the shops are "leftover" from this run and it probably won't last a full year.
 
No back orders needed here. Had plenty of 30/30 then got down to less than a 1/2 dozen boxes so I got dies and bullets-- haven't loaded any yet, but can do so any time. 270 is not a problem as I have loaded that for years. :)
 
I think I may have a box or two and I sold my 94 about 20 years ago.Kind of regret that,but the v twin really looked good lol.
 
People went nuts after last winter. My Local small shop had 15 boxes that sold in 2 hours after that craziness.

I have a 336 in 30-30, but also have AND LOVE my 2 336 SC's in 35 Remington! All are early 50s rifles in mint shape but all Hunted.
I love the 35 Remington.
 
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