I have an old marlin 30-30 and think it's great under 100yrds. The only problem I have with it is the hammer. In cold rain or snow it can be hard to let the hammer back down after you have seen a deer and adrenaline has kick in. However the new ones have taken care of it with the new safetys. More deer have been killed here in Maine with a 30-30 than any other.