Aaryq said:
How does 30-30 compare to 30-06?
That question leads me to ask questions that no one else has yet: what purpose is this rifle going to serve?
Hunting? If so, what?
Plinking? General purpose?
And why, exactly, do you want a lever gun? (I'm not suggesting that there's anything wrong with lever guns. Quite the contrary: lever rifles rule in my world.)
.30-30 is a fine cartridge that will take deer and antelope at ranges under 200 yds. (Further out maybe with the new Hornady LE.) The ammo (except that Hornady stuff) is inexpensive and WIDELY available in any gun shop anywhere, and a lot of hardware stores and general stores in back country, US.
.30-06 will take down any animal on North America, but you're going to pay more for that in recoil.
And you won't find .30-06 in a lever except in Brownings, which will also cost you (= "not affordable" in the same sense that Marlin 336 in .30-30 is).
Given the questions you're asking, I'd suggest Marlin 336 (any version: A, C, W...) in .30-30 to start with.
If you decide later you want a .30-06 (or some other rnd based on it), look for a bolt gun.
Just my 2c. But that's just one opinion. You'll find hundreds to thousands here.
Keep us posted on your decision.
Nem