ORIGINAL: Soilarch

Hmm...what will you use it for? Just to have...or deer, or bear/deer? The BLR is a fine design and you can't find them in just about any popular "bolt-action" caliber. The marlins are all pretty good guns, if you don't handload but could use the extra umph of a 45-70 look at the 444marlin and 450marlin. (they're pretty much a 45-70 redone in a newer design so that companies can take full advantage of its potential without blowing up the old war rifles that are chambered in 45-70) If its just for deer and paper punching its hard to beat either the 30-30 or 44mag. I suppose the 30-30 might give you another 25...maybe 50 yards of effective range.