Growing up and starting deer hunting in the 70's it was a Marlin 336C in 30/30 that I had to pay for with my own money. I mounted an old Weaver 4X scope (circa 1950) that my grandfather gave me. Actually never killed a deer with it. Several pigs in NC.

In the early 80's my dad lost the sight in his shooting eye so I swapped out his Remington 700 in 30/06 for my Marlin. He did kill several deer with it before he passed.

The Marlin is now on loan to a friend in PA and I know she keeps her freezer full. Is a good gun I just never had it with me when a deer arrived on stand.