That Marlin levergun is a great choice for hunting all of the game that you have mentioned. Ammo is cheap (except the Leverevolution ammo) and even the cheapest ammo will give you descent groups. The 30-30 may not be the hottest or flattest shooting bullet out there, but it gets the job done and doesnt ruin much meat doing it. (Something that I cannot always say about the .270). I own both, and for woods or even small open area hunting I would choose the 30-30 over the .270. I just got done with an elk hunt where I packed my Winchester 270 for about 15-20 miles in a day and I am wishing that I would have just taken my Marlin 44 Mag levergun instead, its lighter, easier to carry do to it being well balanced and with the close shots that I would have had it would have dropped the animal just the same as the .270. Leverguns just have a feel to them.