I have an old hand me down 30-30marlin but if I were going to buy one today it would with out a doubt be a browning. The action is geared vs. mechanical like the marlin and others. If you open the action on the browning look in the clip channel underneath you will see where the gear runs. I studied them a good bit when I was looking and the brownings are smoother.I looked at them a few months ago when I was thinking about getting one in a 308. They never could get me one in so I got a tikka instead. I still want one for the arsonel though.