I have had 3 all together all .308's .. Bought the first one as soon as it came out and it was Belgium made...Nice gun but the stock didn't impress me, impressed checkering. I then bought another 308 in 1980 and it was a nicer gun , don't know why I got rid of it . I recently purchased a lightning in 308 and it is sweet. All my 308's have been very accurate and dead reliable. The rifle has the smoothest action and strongest lockup of all lever guns, plus the fact it shoots pointed bullets.. The trigger in my opinion has not been a problem at all and there are no idiotic crossbolt safeties to contend with. I don't think I would buy one in the magnum configuration because they are a bit light. I think the funniest thing I have seen is Marlin pushing XLR rifles that push pointed bullets in a tube magazine and sell for a similiar price to the browning..Why anyone would pick it over a BLR is one of lifes unsolved mysteries.