Jim Burns

I have both new and older Marlins, I like the new one alot better, it has much nicer wood and is way more accurate.

Nomercy448

The only thing that I have seen different in the Marlins since the Remington take-over is the fitting of stocks hasn't been as good, and the finish isn't quite up to the old standards. Frankly, I'm a stainless shooter, so bluing quality isn't an issue for me.

I'm a big fan of the Marlin 1895 Stainless Guide Gun in .45-70. Very manageable recoil, hard hitting witout excessive meat damage, lightweight, easy handling, and fantastic styling.

Just another option to that .30-30 you're looking at. I'd find the .45-70 to be much more versatile than the .30-30, with fairly similar "challenges" for ballistics.

I dropped a 300lb+ 160class 11pt whitetail last year at a known 250yrds with a Marlin 1895 Guide Gun .45-70 under a Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40mm glass pushing Hornady Leverevolution 325grn FTX's at 1792fps (we were using moderate factory loads as it's my wife's rifle). Drops 30" by 250, but hit like a truck, and you could eat right up to the hole.

emtrescue6

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...

not the dogs

My dad bought me a Marlin 30 30 in the early 80's. I love it. Very accurate. The newer ones I'm not sure about though.

WaychoffArms

I've been looking around for USED Marlin 30-30s or .35. I found two .35 Marlins for about $280, and they were in not-so-great condition cosmetically (They had deep scratches in the stock and barrels were dinged up) The good thing is that I have many more places to look for them as my city has a plethora of gun shops.

Sheridan

Proud owner of a Marlin 336C in .35 rem (iron sights, of course).

Close cover gun for me.

The .35 is great for the deer hunter who has the chance to black bear hunt as well.

If not, .30-30 ammo is much more common.

Mr. Slim

marlin and brownings are good rifles in lever action. same with the savage 99s. if you can find a winchester model 88 they are one of the best. smooth action and clip fed. also known to shoot really well.

GTOHunter

You never did say what Your wanting to use the Lever Action to Hunt for?

Check out the Browning BLR Lever Action Rifles...personally the BLR Lightweight with Pistol Grip,blued finish,and Walnut Stock is one Awesome looking Lever Action Rifle available in .223,.22-250,.243,7mm-08 and up!

www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/finder.asp?f1=003Bg=x

MSRP of $1,019.99 up to $1,099.99 ...You can probably find it cheaper thru a Gun dealer.

BRUSE

I have a marlin and browning. Both are great but the browning has a detachable mag which makes loading alot easier and faster. You also get more caliber choices with a browning. good luck

Gunplummer

You did not say it had to be beautiful too! I am a Savage 99 guy, but try gun shows. I have not been to a show for about two years, but the last time I went the place was flooded marlin levers.