Marlin Lever Rifles
- Thread starter dak0ta
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Cosmoline
Member
I wouldn't choose a Marlin for .30-30. Maybe .35, but not .30-30. The 336 is a fine rifle, but it's chunky and a little clunky. It's the same action on the big boomers. A vintage Win 94 is a lot quicker in the hand and about a pound or so lighter. You really don't need the extra strength for .30-30.
The .45-70 is a fine one to start with, though I prefer the .450 Marlin. Just be careful you don't do a double charge in your handloads.
The .45-70 is a fine one to start with, though I prefer the .450 Marlin. Just be careful you don't do a double charge in your handloads.
Abel
Member
The 336 allows for easy bolt removal & easy scope mounting. The 94 is a nice weight though. I like those with a Williams FP.
historicgun112
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i recently acquired a marlin 39 rifle with an octagon barrel not sure what kind of shape its in but i called the marlin company and they say it was made around 1924 or 1925, they didnt know because the records from that time period were lost in a fire. if i had to guess id say 70-80% over all. i paid $650 and was wondering if that was a good deal.
Abel
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Check gunbroker.com
historicgun112
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i did and the prices varied
Abel
Member
OK, good. So now what? What's the weather like where you are? How's your new 22 shoot?
historicgun112
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i havent fired it yet sadly just bought it yesterday i live up in Connecticut and maybe ill get a picture of it by tomorrow.
76shuvlinoff
Member
scope on a lever
With a scope my old 39A is one of the most accurate 22s I've used. With irons it's not.
Yep the problem is certainly me and now that I'm going into warmer weather I am going to give my skinner peep site another try but in the end it'll be whatever works best for these eyes.... lever or not.
With a scope my old 39A is one of the most accurate 22s I've used. With irons it's not.
Yep the problem is certainly me and now that I'm going into warmer weather I am going to give my skinner peep site another try but in the end it'll be whatever works best for these eyes.... lever or not.
paducahrider
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Listen to Dr. Winslow!
Howdy!
Dr. Winslow's answer made a lot of sense to me.
There really isn't a wrong choice here, if the gun feels good to you.
They can all shoot pretty darned good, out of the box, with factory ammo, and even better if you like to tinker.
Just imagine you were 15 years old and someone gave you any one of those rifles.
Would you be happy??
Darned right you would.
Would you care if it had a scope or not?
I doubt it.
You'll find out quick enough if you want to scope it.
Close your eyes and spin 'em!!!!
Thanks for your time.
Corky.
Howdy!
Dr. Winslow's answer made a lot of sense to me.
There really isn't a wrong choice here, if the gun feels good to you.
They can all shoot pretty darned good, out of the box, with factory ammo, and even better if you like to tinker.
Just imagine you were 15 years old and someone gave you any one of those rifles.
Would you be happy??
Darned right you would.
Would you care if it had a scope or not?
I doubt it.
You'll find out quick enough if you want to scope it.
Close your eyes and spin 'em!!!!
Thanks for your time.
Corky.
I picked up the Marlin 30-30 just this past weekend. I admit it was a tough choice due to the fact that they also had the Marlin 45-70 available. They both felt great in hand but I settled on the 30-30 due to the fact that deer is the only big game I hunt at the monment. (Gives an excuse for another purchase down the road
. Get what will suit your needs.
Personally I'm thrilled more than a kid in a candy store.
. Get what will suit your needs.Personally I'm thrilled more than a kid in a candy store.
Dear Uncle "dak0ta": 
Well, I'll tell ya. The .444 Marlin will shoot as flat as a .30-30, and hit as -hard-as a sledge hammer. Anything I hit with the .444 Marlin didn't go very far, as in not more than about 10 feet. For me, because I already have other deer rifles such as .270, 308 and 300 WM, I would go the larger bore (for me). For you, what works best, or fills a void?
Now, you really can't lose. If you buy it and don't like it, my birthday is coming up on May 08. You could just box it up, and send it to me as a birthday gift. I'd be happy with any Marlin lever gun!
Geno (your self-adopted nephew)
Well, I'll tell ya. The .444 Marlin will shoot as flat as a .30-30, and hit as -hard-as a sledge hammer. Anything I hit with the .444 Marlin didn't go very far, as in not more than about 10 feet. For me, because I already have other deer rifles such as .270, 308 and 300 WM, I would go the larger bore (for me). For you, what works best, or fills a void?
Now, you really can't lose. If you buy it and don't like it, my birthday is coming up on May 08. You could just box it up, and send it to me as a birthday gift.
I'd be happy with any Marlin lever gun!Geno (your self-adopted nephew)
Airborne Falcon
Member
Wait until your eyesight starts going in your 50s but you want to continue shooting your leverguns ... you'll change your mind.
IMHO the 338 MXLR would be a strong choice - by so would an 1894 in 44 Mag, et al.
That's the beauty of peep sights, we can use them as we age.
I prefer Lyman receiver sights. They are more bulky than the Skinner, but allow for (repeatable) shots at different ranges. The Skinner while beautiful is more of a one range sight. Which is probably just fine for the vast majority of lever action shots. Like everything, it all comes down to personal choice.
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Ridgerunner665
Member
Whether or not I am lucky enough to be the same way or not, I don't know...but my Grandads eyesight never went. He died at 87 and could still shoot with open sights...even a pistol. (he never missed...not that I know of)
Murphys Law
Member
Well, if your eyesight does go, try the 1-4x20 VX-2.
http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/products/scopes/vx-ii-riflescopes/vx-ii-1-4x20mm/
I switched over from a peep (Williams 5D) to this scope on a Marlin 94. Its fast with plenty of field of veiw at 1x and if I need and have time, I can dial it up to 4x which is plenty of magnification for the brush. At 9 inches long and only 9 ounces it doesn't overwhelm the handling too much.
http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/products/scopes/vx-ii-riflescopes/vx-ii-1-4x20mm/
I switched over from a peep (Williams 5D) to this scope on a Marlin 94. Its fast with plenty of field of veiw at 1x and if I need and have time, I can dial it up to 4x which is plenty of magnification for the brush. At 9 inches long and only 9 ounces it doesn't overwhelm the handling too much.
ijosef
Member
I'd go with a 336 in .30-30. They're very inexpensive used and ammo is cheap compared to other centerfire rifle cartridges (excluding commie caliber imports and surplus).
I bought my 336 for $125 last year. It's a late 70's model in pretty good shape and came with a low end Bushnell scope mounted with see-thru rings. I took the scope off and have just been using irons so far. I still need to find screws that will plug the holes in the top of the receiver from the scope mounts (the originals weren't included).
I bought my 336 for $125 last year. It's a late 70's model in pretty good shape and came with a low end Bushnell scope mounted with see-thru rings. I took the scope off and have just been using irons so far. I still need to find screws that will plug the holes in the top of the receiver from the scope mounts (the originals weren't included).
W.E.G.
Member
A scoped rifle gives you a full hour of extra hunting time.
Extra half hour in the morning... extra half-hour in the evening.
Guess when deer move around the most.
Unless you have bionic eyes, you cannot see the contrast of the front sight against a slow-walking deer moving through cover in the shade at dawn and twilight unless you have a good optic.
I like the clean lines of an unscoped lever-gun.
But, I'll never hunt deer again without an optic.
I've screwed myself enough times already, thinking iron sights were "good enough."
Been a lot of deer killed with iron sights.
Been a whole lot missed too.
Extra half hour in the morning... extra half-hour in the evening.
Guess when deer move around the most.
Unless you have bionic eyes, you cannot see the contrast of the front sight against a slow-walking deer moving through cover in the shade at dawn and twilight unless you have a good optic.
I like the clean lines of an unscoped lever-gun.
But, I'll never hunt deer again without an optic.
I've screwed myself enough times already, thinking iron sights were "good enough."
Been a lot of deer killed with iron sights.
Been a whole lot missed too.
Mullins81
Member
Putting a scope on a lever gun is like hauling your wood home in the back of a Dodge Shadow.....you can do it, but its just no supposed to be
Lever Gun= Iron sights
Bolt/Semi= Scope
Dont ever forget it lol
Lever Gun= Iron sights
Bolt/Semi= Scope
Dont ever forget it lol
oldfool
Member
OP, ignore the "woobie warfare" if you can
best advice on caliber was already stated... depends on what you do
likewise best advice on type of sights ... depends on what you do
45-70 or 444 w/ high X power in heavy brush, 300# angry hawg, scope nope
BLR in 308 for antelope 200-300 yards, high X scope, good choice
nice thing about lever guns like the Marlin, you can easily try all flavors of sights with minimal pain
PS
peeps work great for some old eyes, but not mine old eyes
I vary between open iron, red dots, LOW X power intermediate eye relief compact "shotgun" scopes 2.5X or less (and the both eyes open fast target aquisition works for me, YMMV)
some people like the scoutmount thing.. just never appealed to me though
haven't tried the ghost ring yet, but probably will
I don't generally do high X scopes on lever actions, but would not hesitate to do so if/when it's the thing to do that fits the task (although cheekweld can be an issue, you have to decide for yourself)
probably not on the calibers specific to this thread, but never say never, a 45-70 can reach a long long way if loaded to do so
half the fun of owning a gun is trying out different setups
best advice on caliber was already stated... depends on what you do
likewise best advice on type of sights ... depends on what you do
45-70 or 444 w/ high X power in heavy brush, 300# angry hawg, scope nope
BLR in 308 for antelope 200-300 yards, high X scope, good choice
nice thing about lever guns like the Marlin, you can easily try all flavors of sights with minimal pain
PS
peeps work great for some old eyes, but not mine old eyes
I vary between open iron, red dots, LOW X power intermediate eye relief compact "shotgun" scopes 2.5X or less (and the both eyes open fast target aquisition works for me, YMMV)
some people like the scoutmount thing.. just never appealed to me though
haven't tried the ghost ring yet, but probably will
I don't generally do high X scopes on lever actions, but would not hesitate to do so if/when it's the thing to do that fits the task (although cheekweld can be an issue, you have to decide for yourself)
probably not on the calibers specific to this thread, but never say never, a 45-70 can reach a long long way if loaded to do so
half the fun of owning a gun is trying out different setups
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