I am a huge older Marlin fan and have 4 (30-30x2, 44 Mag, 32 Spc.)...the older Marlin 336's are really hard to beat for the $ and accuracy. Their micro-grove barrels are great! That being said, as you can see from my signature I have a thing for the Savage 99's and have several different cal's...my .308 was my longtime go-to gun for everything for years when the only 2 guns I owned was this one and a Marlin 336 in 30-30. I also have 2 Browning BLR's (308 and 243), a Browning Model 71 in 348 Win, and a Winchester Model 88 in 308 (don't tell my wife!) (I still need a Winny Model 94, right???...yes, I do!)...I love lever guns but if I had to pick the best one of all of them? I'd have to say the Marlin Model 336's are the best all-around guns I own in lever action...