Analytical Report to determine the best rifle for hunting in northern states

Abstract

Hunting has been my favorite hobby since I first learned to shoot. During this time I have used many different rifles and variants of calibers. When I turned 18, I purchased several firearms over the course of the year, a shotgun and a Mosin Nagant and I was able to register my Marlin 30-30 under my own name and not my father's. I have been hunting deer for quite a while and I have spent a lot of my time roaming about in the Maine woods.

Through all of my time spent in the Maine woods, and extensive thought, I know what I would want to use for a hunting rifle and why. There are several conditions to think about. Cost, weight, shoulder recoil, accuracy, and takedown power (killing power). So in my report, I am incorporating my two rifles, the Marlin 30-30 and my 1942 Mosin Nagant 91/30 and my father's Savage 30-06.

The Mosin Nagant 91/30 is a Russian rifle used during the second world war. Though the first intentions for this rifle were to kill enemy troops from long distances, I will be using it for hunting deer in the Maine woods. The Mosin Nagant has a maximum range of 2000 yards and fires a round that is similar to that of a US .308 but it packs the punch of a 30-06 without the extensive recoil. I have shot my rifle many times and it is very accurate. I know that if I see a deer from 200 yards during hunting season, I'll soon see it on my dinner plate. What is also nice about the Mosin is that it is very inexpensive. Ammunition and the rifle are very inexpensive.

The Marlin 30-30 is a lighter gun than the Mosin Nagant, and fires a smaller round with a blunt tip. Reason behind the blunt tip is because the Marlin 30-30 is a lever action rifle which means the bullets are kept in a tubular magazine built underneath the barrel and if the bullets remained pointed, the recoil of the gun could cause the bullets to jam against the primer of the bullet next to it and set it off inside the rifle. This gun is fairly accurate at 100 yards and with a steady hand, 200 yards. The 30-30 has very little recoil. 30-30's can cost to $700.

The Savage 30-06 packs a punch like no other. As long as you hit your target you know you will have killed it. The recoil of the 30-06 is fairly strong but when one is hunting, one would not notice. The 30-06 is a very common caliber, yet a very expensive one. 30-06's can cost up to $900.

Introduction

Background

Hunting has been my favorite hobby since I first learned to shoot. During this time I have used many different rifles and variants of calibers. When I turned 18, I purchased several firearms over the course of the year, a shotgun and a Mosin Nagant and I was able to register my Marlin 30-30 under my own name and not my father's. I have been hunting deer for quite a while and I have spent a lot of my time roaming about in the Maine woods.

Purpose

The Purpose of this report is to find a rifle that is best suited for hunting in the Maine woods while meeting expectations in several categories including: cost, accuracy, ease of use, and weight.

Scope

I have limited my research to the following three rifles:

-Mosin Nagant 91/30

-Marlin 30-30

-Savage 30-06

I will consider the following questions in my search for the best rifle.

1. What is the background of each rifle?

2. How accurate is each rifle?

3. How much does it cost?

4. How reliable is it?

5. What have others said about each rifle?

6. How much recoil?

7. How much does it weigh?

8. How easy is it to keep maintained?

Limitations

I could not start thorough testing until November 1, 2009. This was the beginning of hunting season in Maine.

Procedures

October 10 Went target shooting to test accuracy of Mosin Nagant.

October 17 Went target shooting to test accuracy of Marlin 30-30.

October 24 Went target shooting to test accuracy of Savage 30-06.

November 1 – Present Have gone hunting with each at least twice.

Collected Data

The Basics

Mosin-Nagant 91/30

This rifle weighs 8.8 pounds. This rifle was mass produced during the second world war in Russia and various parts of Finland. The rifle has a maximum accurate range of 2,000 meters. It fires a 7.62 x 54R cartridge. The average ammo is 148 gr. FMJ (Full Metal Jacket). This cartridge has a very manageable recoil and still packs a punch. This bolt action rifle holds 5 rounds in the internal magazine.

Marlin 30-30

A Marlin 30-30 weighs roughly 7 pounds. It fires a rounded nose bullet (150-170 gr.) at a maximum accurate range of 200 yards. Generally, most hunters favor this type of rifle due to the low recoil and the fact that in the northern woods, it is relatively thick forest and a long range rifle is not necessary in order to successfully kill a deer or bear.

Savage 30-06

The 30-06 (pronounced thirty-odd-six, thirty-oh-six, or thirty-aught-six) was originally a rifle round for US snipers. It then became used for civilian purposes. Though the civilian cartridge has less power, the 30-06 cartridge still packs a powerful punch and will take down any game animal as long as you hit your target. Most 30-06 rifles weigh between 6-8 pounds.

Rifle Accuracy

NOTE: Accuracy tests done with average civilian issued ammunition. Results are measured in grouping. Grouping is determined by the distance from the two farthest impact holes, making a circle surrounding the rest of the bullet holes.

                                    100 yards                                       200yards

Mosin-Nagant :

Open sights                      11”                                                   23”

Scope                              N/A                                                  N/A

Marlin 30-30:

Open sights                      15”                                                   25”

Scope                                7”                                                    15”

Savage 30-06:

Open sights                     12”                                                    22”

Scope                               5”                                                      9”

Rifle Costs

Mosin-Nagant 91/30

Average cost of this rifle is between $60-$160 depending on several factors. These are: weapon condition, serial numbers, and which country and/or factory manufactured it.

Marlin 30-30

These rifles cost between $300-$700 new, and $250-$500 used. This does not include a scope. Scopes usually cost between $60-$250 depending on their purpose and the company manufacturing them.

Savage 30-06

The savage 30-06 rifle series costs between $600-$900 brand new. For a used gun in good condition it may cost between $400-$600. This rifle as well, the cost depends on if one chooses to purchase a scope for it. Scope prices differ.

Reliability

Mosin-Nagant 91/30

The Mosin-Nagant is a very reliable weapon. There are very few parts that are involved with the firing apparatus so maintenance and cleaning are very easy. The stock is also made from very durable wood and coated with cosmoline, making it somewhat weather resistant. 90% of these rifles did survive through the second world war so knowing that it is still accurate after 67 years makes it obvious of how reliable this rifle is. It will always provide a hunter with the necessary killing power needed to take down game.

Marlin 30-30

The Marlin is a very reliable weapon when one demands a rifle that is easy to walk around the woods with and still have decent accuracy. However, there are more parts to the lever action of the Marlin 30-30 which means that if it is not taken care of properly the rifle could easily jam, misfeed a round or even misfire. Though this instances are rare, they are more prominent with this type of rifle.

Savage 30-06

The Savage 30-06 is a very reliable rifle. As long as it is sighted in correctly, it will always hit it's target and take it down, no questions asked. Rifle maintenance is very simple with this rifle because it uses a bolt-action similar to that of the Mosin.

Customer Satisfaction

Mosin Nagant 91/30

Many are satisfied with the Mosin Nagant. It houses a round similar to a .308 but packs the punch of a 30-06. Ammunition is cheap, the rifle itself is fairly inexpensive and finding parts are not difficult at all.

Marlin 30-30

Jeffery Moats summed up everything in his article when he stated, “The 30-30 Winchester cartridge has stood the test of time for good reason. It is a small and efficient round that seems to take deer in defiance to its ballistics. The 30-30 is a gentle kicker making it ideal for youngsters and other beginners. In reality I have found few situations in the deer woods when the 30-30 wouldn't do the job as well as other more powerful cartridges. In testing the Marlin 336 I choose a couple different 150 grain loads and a 170 grain load. Recoil was no big deal with any of the loads, but I could tell that the recoil from the 170 was a little harder. All three loadings shot into about 1 ½ to 2 inches at 100 yards which is plenty good enough for hunting purposes.”

Savage 30-06

The 30-06 is a very reliable rifle. Many people love and enjoy the accuracy and the power of the caliber. “After a bad experience with a Winchester Model 70 in 30-06, I replaced it with a new Savage 110 30-06 package gun I bought from a friend who had won it in a raffle. I fully expected good performance from the Savage, and I got it. This wood-stocked rifle did very well with the Burris Fullfield II 3x-9x scope that I mounted on it, and I used it to nail a nice buck at 130 yards [. . .]”

Conclusion

Interpretation

The Mosin-Nagant is a sturdy and reliable rifle. It's primary drawback is it's weight, weighing in at a whopping 8.8 pounds. However it is extremely accurate, even with open sights. It is easy to clean and maintain. It packs a punch similar to that of a 30-06 but has less of the shoulder recoil. Overall this rifle proves to be an exceptional hunting weapon.

The Marlin 30-30 is a fine rifle. This rifle is short making it easy to carry through brush and thick woods. It sports a powerful cartridge capable of taking down large Maine game. This rifle is accurate up to 200 yards which is most likely the maximum range a hunter would ever see a deer in the Maine woods.

The Savage 30-06 is a durable and reliable hunting rifle. It packs the power needed to take down a deer or even a bear and also can give you 3 times as much range as the 30-30 but just a little less than the Mosin Nagant.

In the issues of range and power, the 30-30 is the underdog but that is no reason to underestimate it's abilities. Though the Mosin has a maximum killing range of 2000 meters, most Mosin's are not fitted with scope mounts. So for long distance shots, it is only as good as the shooter can see. The 30-06 however has the same power as the Mosin along with more shoulder recoil and the ability to use a scope. Maine woods however are very thick and brushy making it somewhat unnecessary for a scope.

Ammunition costs less for the Mosin due to the fact it is Russian Military surplus ammunition and the cartridges are made from copper rather than brass. It is $6 for 20 bullets for the Mosin Nagant (7.62 x 54R, roughly $15 for 20, 30-30 bullets, and $20 for 20, 30-06 bullets.

Recommendation

Based on this analysis, I would recommend purchasing the Mosin Nagant 91/30 from a local weapon dealer for roughly $60-$140.

Important References

Chastain, Russ. “The Savage 110 and Me”.

Moats, Jeffery. 12 June 2009. “Testing a Great Deer Hunting Rifle from Marlin”.