My first deer rifle was a Marlin M 336 in 35rem, got it when I was twelve, shot my first deer with it when I was fourteen and have taken many with it since. This rifle also started a many of young hunters also in taking their first deer. It mostly stays in the safe now days, Im forty five now, I pulled it out of the safe last year, loaded up some ammo for it, checked the scope, then was lucky enough to shoot a big doe the first morning I took it out. Afterwards, I gave it a good cleanning and put it back in its spot in the safe, I think this year, I might do the same with my fathers old Marlin M 336 in 30-30, its been about twenty years since its seen any action. I havent tried any of the lever evelution ammo yet, I guess I would if I used them more.