When and why did 30 30's go through the roof? Do you think some company may try and come out with one $400 $500 price range? My son has one, I told hill never to sell it without checking with me first.

Yeah I noticed that to. I was wondering why Marlins and Winchesters have gone over the 1k mark.

If a company makes one for $500 it's going to be out of turkey or something.

Winchester going under started it, then all the volatility in Marlin kind of finished it off. When Ruger started producing them they realized it takes a lot more to produce a lever gun than a bolt action and people were willing to pay a little bit more so the prices went nuts. Just like with pickups when new prices go crazy, old prices jump up too.

The good news is, even though they're made in Japan the Mirkou Winchester's are excellent rifles, and it looks like Ruger Marlins may be better than the remlins or the last of the JM Marlins which were pretty horrible themselves

For some reason I woke up this morning and had a hankering for a 788 in 223

Checked GB…

They too doubled since the last one I bought one lol

Think I’ll get a Gen 2 Ruger in 223 now

'Took Dad's pre-60 336 to the blind a couple weeks ago. Pigs didn't show up.

Like said above I can imagine it’s quite a bit more involved in building compared to a bolt they should cost more.

What amazes me is that budget bolt guns appear no better or worse constructed and seem to be about the same price they have been for over a decade or two despite the dollar being worth a fraction of what it was.

Glad I snagged one earlier this year before prices get any crazier. It comes along on pretty much any trip to the rifle range. Speaking of Turkish lever guns, I wonder if the Savage Revel was testing the waters on a rimfire before maybe they come out with a centerfire. A revival of the 99 would be pretty neat.

Crazy times we are living in.


I remember you could run down to Walmart and pickup a Winchester 94 or Marlin 336 for about $350/$400 bucks. They were the "economy" rifles of the day. Marlin Model 60, Marlin 336/Winchester 94 and a Remington 870 express was the "starter kit" for many an outdoorsman.



I personally don't see the value and wont pay for a 94 saddle carbine or 336 at the prices they are wanting. A high grade 94 with a pistol grip and 24" barrel I would, but not for a saddle carbine.


I do like the 336's better than the 94. Sold the last one a few years back and don't' miss it.

Love me my 45-70, just plain & simple. I was lucky enough to find it NIB for $1,100 or so at Americana Arms just outside of Beeville. I'd make that drive and purchase again.

I’ve got a pre-64 Winchester 94 that I enjoy but at current prices I’m considering getting rid of it. Too many other things I could do with the money and the usefulness of a lever gun for that price just doesn’t make sense.

I have been wanting a 30-30 ever since I sold my last one I think. Ended up trading a cheap 1911 and $150 for one the other day. Not too clean a gun but a good shooter and for the cost I'm more than happy. I got about 650 in a total and while that's a lot more than they used to be, so is everything else LOL

For me they are complete novelty, much like many overpriced items for a lot of folks these days. I always wanted a lever action 45 colt. Inherited two winchesters recently, a 30-30 and a 375 win. They are neat rifles and I fulfilled a dream of tagging a deer with one this year. The 30-30’s smaller frame fit my son perfectly, paired with a red dot and slip on recoil pad he successfully collected his first deer with it, both big times for us, but at the end of the day if you leave the warm fuzzies of hand me downs and neat factor out I’d be a heck of a lot better off with any of the bolt guns I have.

Pretty much my opinion on lever actions.

lever actions are better and more effective than long bows.

Just ask Crazy Horse.

If you grew up carrying one, there's nothing like it in your hand. 'Feels like home.

When I asked the millennial behind the gun counter that same question,, he replied………..Covid. 🤦🏻‍♂️

My first rifle was a Winchester 94 .30-30.

Still carry a Henry .22 often.

But when push comes to shove, I’m picking the bolt guns over the levers

Some claim they're the best Winchesters ever made as a result of extremely tight tolerances produced through closely monitored CNC machining. A few others claim the quality is so good they're more display pieces than something you want to take to the woods. All the pieces fit together perfectly.

For a hunting gun for 98% of the population, anything outside a savage axis in .308 with your choice of $200 3-9x scope could be considered “novelty.”

I like lever guns; shot a lot of critters with them. However, I can’t make myself believe a new 336 in 30-30 should cost anything north of $500. At $1200 it’s definitely a novelty

My 336 30-30 was used and $100 at a pawn shop. I’ve killed a lot of animals with it. Many of them running. A lever rifle is a lot like shooting a shotgun. It has a natural swing and is instinctual with open sights. I never thought I’d quit carrying one until my eyes quit working properly. I now can’t shoot a rifle I hardly ever missed with.

Lever action surge...

2018 (?) Jurassic Park re-release for anniversary
2023 Jurassic Park re-release in 3D
2019 or so until... still on??? Paramount's Yellowstone series

Then once the demand was up to support aftermarket flourishment you get the "tactical" pieces and parts drawing the AR crowd. Ruger, of course, brings Marlin back.

What else? I'm sure there's more.

Don't forget Wind river

For the past two years I've been on a vintage pre 50's Win & Marlin 30-30 kick. I have my pop's mid 1940's Win model 94 32 Win Special which I had restored to factory new many years ago due to neglect on his part. I decided I wanted to leave my boys some legacy firearms when I'm gone. I started looking on Gun Brokers and International guns sales and prices were ridicules as some have mentioned. I started shopping estate sales. I picked up my first 1940 Win Model 94 30 WCF in ok condition for around $500.00. Next I picked up a 1959 Win Model 94 30-30 in pretty good condition for $476.00. My latest estate sale grab was a 1947 Marlin 36-RC 30-30 in decent condition for just over $400.00. I stumbled across a full box of unfired Western 30 WCF ammo from 1906 verified by the Cody Firearms museum. I've also picked up a few full boxes of unfired Western 30-30 ammo from the 1928, 1948 and 1950's verified by the Cody Firearm Museum. I had to send detailed pictures of the boxes to get the correct dates. Each box has the email confirmation from the Cody Firearms museum.

With the exception of my pops 32 Win special, the other firearms are currently being restored to factory new. If you look at GB a factory new looking Model 94 from the 40's and 50's will sale for $1500 on up. Each rifle that I plan on handing down to my boys will have a full box of ammo from that era or as close as I could get. My goal is they keep them to hand down to their boys. At least that's what we've discussed.

When I get them all back probably around Feb or so I'll post pictures of the rifles as well as the ammo. The super cool thing about the 1906 30 WCF ammo. There is a W stamped in the middle of each primer.

Paid approx 10X for this what it cost new. That was a good deal as it's doubled in value since I got it 5-6 years ago.

1951 Marlin 336RC un-drilled "waffle top" with a Redfield peep sight (check the prices on those now). I also have a Ranch Dog mold, Redding dies, Lee FCD, etc.

May sell it if the prices keep climbing...

If I were in the market for another rifle, 30-30 wouldn't even be on the long list of cartridges. It's too much for not enough. If my brother hadn't got Dad's 336 stolen, I'd put it in the safe to pass down. I shot my first deer & pig with that rifle, sentimental is it's only value to me. We are in an era of better options.