ID Grandpa's Old 30-30

[texwest44]

Hey y'all, going through the process of moving my grandpa (95 years young this year) out of his house and into a "facility", and he's gifted me his rifles (some very interesting ones in the mix). This 30-30 is well fabled in the family, but unfortunately has fallen victim to lack of care over the years and is in rough shape, and missing the magazine. I'm going to get it cleaned up and see if it can be returned to a usable state, but unfortunately, it doesn't have any markings on it whatsoever. No caliber, no manufacturer, no model or model number, nothing. It's been a lot of years since grandpa last used it, and considerably even more years since he bought it, and he can't remember the manufacturer or model, only that it's the 30-30 he mostly hunted with. He believes it was made in the late 40s or early 50s. I'm wondering if anyone here wants to play the game of "what's that rifle" so I can replace the magazine. All guesses welcome, and any help is greatly appreciated. I can post more pictures if there's anything specific you want to see up close.

 

[elkantlers]

Looks like a Savage Model 340

 

[texwest44]

Looks like a Savage Model 340


View attachment 362291

This is an excellent guess! I'm Googling around and it seems to be either the 340 or the 325 - and it turns out the stamp might be underneath the scope mount that's on it. Whoever put it on used something on the screws and I can't get it off - but a gunsmith should be able to get it off and get the final answer.

Looks like magazines range around $60. Hopefully a gunsmith can get it to working order, I'd like for this rifle to stay in the family and live on for as long as possible.

Cheers for the help, friend! I'll buy you a beer if you're ever in the neighborhood!

 

[BAKPAKR]

You might check out Numrich Gun Parts (https://www.gunpartscorp.com/) for magazines or other missing parts. I got a trigger guard from them for the Savage 32-20 that my dad got his first deer with.

It would be pretty neat to carve your own notch on that stock.

 

[texwest44]

You might check out Numrich Gun Parts (https://www.gunpartscorp.com/) for magazines or other missing parts. I got a trigger guard from them for the Savage 32-20 that my dad got his first deer with.

It would be pretty neat to carve your own notch on that stock.

Yessir, I checked their site and they seem to have one in stock. Once I get the final word on the model and condition, I'll pull the trigger on the magazine, so to speak.

 

[jpc01101]

Are the marks for deer he killed or something? I really hope it is because that's a cool story.

 

[Jbotto]

Heck that one still looks like it’s in better shape than the one I bought used a few years ago. I bought a second magazine when I acquired the rifle and I’m pretty sure I found it on eBay or Gunbroker. They are pretty fun rifles and plenty accurate.

 

[texwest44]

Are the marks for deer he killed or something? I really hope it is because that's a cool story.

Yup, they're deer notches from many years ago. It's a rifle with a lot of history.

Heck that one still looks like it’s in better shape than the one I bought used a few years ago. I bought a second magazine when I acquired the rifle and I’m pretty sure I found it on eBay or Gunbroker. They are pretty fun rifles and plenty accurate.

According to my grandpa he neck-shot a turkey with it at 100 yards once - if that isn't plenty accurate for a 30-30 I don't know what would be!

 

[pabearhunter]

Looks like a Savage Model 340


View attachment 362291

X-2

 

[bullbugle]

Didn't get around to saying it last night, but that's an awesome rifle and story. I also inherited a 3030 from my grandpa. A lot of us killed our first deer with that rifle.

 

[scub300]

I just love stories like this. . . . . Thanks for posting.

 

[belshawelk]

Send it to @p_ham and let him make is as good as new.

 

[Caseknife]

From what I found, the 325 bolt is different than the 340. 340 has the normal bolt knob and the 325 has more of a sweeping Mannlicher style.
Didn't take @elkantlers too long to ID it

 

[Benfromalbuquerque]

Looks like a Savage Model 340


View attachment 362291

Savage is the manufacturer that I thought. The barrel lock nut is a giveaway.

 

[mtmuley]

Send it to @p_ham and let him make is as good as new.

Some rifles need to stay the way they are. I have my Grandfather's 94. Not going to touch it except to shoot it. mtmuley

 

[texwest44]

Some rifles need to stay the way they are. I have my Grandfather's 94. Not going to touch it except to shoot it. mtmuley

This is definitely the goal - restore it to it's former glory (it is in pretty bad shape, unfortunately), and shoot deer with it if the urge arises. If all goes to plan, the whitetails in Lolo national forest had better look out for the 2025 season!

 

[mdhunter61]

Yup, Savage 340. Shot my first couple of deer with mine many moons ago. Mine was a shooter, pretty impressed with it for a relatively inexpensive rifle.

Sold it to a guy who had never shot anything bigger than a .22. He flinched when he shot it, and was about a foot wide of centee at 100 yards. He asked me if the scope might be off?

I took it and shot a hole throught the 10 ring at 100 yards. He bought it one the spot.

Wish I still had that rifle.

 

[Jbotto]

I fell in love with this rifle as a college kid. Just always thought a bolt action .30/30 was cool. Passed a nice one up a few years later for $250 in a pawn shop. Bought the one I owned a few years later for $135. Not nearly as nice but when my eyes are doing their job I can stack bullets at 100 yards. I’ve always wanted to try making a 110 or 130gr Barnes work in it.

 

[BrentD]

Yup, they're deer notches from many years ago. It's a rifle with a lot of history.



According to my grandpa he neck-shot a turkey with it at 100 yards once - if that isn't plenty accurate for a 30-30 I don't know what would be!

Grandpas can shoot lights out. Remember that, if you ever become one. You gotta own up to your station in life. Practice now.

 

[WildWill]

Some rifles need to stay the way they are. I have my Grandfather's 94. Not going to touch it except to shoot it. mtmuley

Have my dad's 94 that I killed my first deer with. Mom got it for him for their first anniversary in 1971 from a pawn shop it was made in 62. Bring it out every now and then to shoot a deer then it goes back up.