My Marlin has worked out well for me. It was my first deer gun and I highly recommend it as a first gun for others where shots are limited to under 150 yards. When I got it, I mostly hunted the woods where shots were limited to around 75 yards or so. Mine's topped with a cheapo Simmons 3-9X40 scope that's done well for me. But now that I hunt the occasional field, I sometimes wish I had a nice bolt action in a flatter shooting caliber. Either way, I love that 336 and will always have and use it. They're nice, well-built guns with a tried and true design. And the .30-30 will kill a deer (arguably has killed more than many other cartridges).