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Talk me into or out of a Marlin 30-30

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I've owned several 336 Marlins in 30-30. Every deer I ever killed was with one.
I haven't deer hunted for at least 30 years. I have fond memories of deer hunts long past, the fellowship and camaraderie. Lots of us used 336s back then with a Winchester 94 or military surplus thrown in.
Most of my old hunting companions have passed. During deer season I load up the old 336 and lean it there on the porch railing pretending to be a deer hunter. However I would not shoot one for it. I'd rather see them than kill them, I see deer almost daily from my porch. Sometimes I look at the rifle and the memories its holds, the deer camps and cabins and the fun we had... and miss my old buddies.
 
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I love lever action 30-30's. My first rifle was a pre-64 Win. 30-30 and I still have it. I've killed literally truckloads of deer and hogs with it over the past 33 years.

Having said that, I've never owned a Marlin 30-30 for one main reason. They are heavy rifles.

Would I love to be able to scope my Win-94 the way you can the Marlin? Sure I would. But I'd get a late model AE Winchester over the Marlin simply because of the weight savings. Lever guns were intended to be quick pointing rifles you use on the move. If I am sitting in a blind, I'm going to use a bolt action. If I'm on my feet, I want a light, short gun. Unfortunately for the Marlin, it's neither.
 
Get it! You can always resell it if u really want. But don't! Why should I get a lever action 30-30... bc it's a lever action 30-30. Lol
The real question is what barrel length do u want a compact 16" or a 20"?
 
Newtosavage said:
I love lever action 30-30's. My first rifle was a pre-64 Win. 30-30 and I still have it. I've killed literally truckloads of deer and hogs with it over the past 33 years.

Having said that, I've never owned a Marlin 30-30 for one main reason. They are heavy rifles.

Would I love to be able to scope my Win-94 the way you can the Marlin? Sure I would. But I'd get a late model AE Winchester over the Marlin simply because of the weight savings. Lever guns were intended to be quick pointing rifles you use on the move. If I am sitting in a blind, I'm going to use a bolt action. If I'm on my feet, I want a light, short gun. Unfortunately for the Marlin, it's neither.
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Intensely DISLIKE this unjustified, unsubstantiated, anti-Marlin propaganda. Very Fake Views.
 
According to Chuck Hawks...

The standard Model 94 stock has a straight hand, which I prefer to the pistol grip stock on the Marlin 336C and 336SS, and also a slimmer forend. These features, together with the 94's slimmer receiver, make the whole rifle handier, trimmer, and slightly more attractive than the Marlin (at least to me), although both are good looking rifles. If there were an award for the "World's Best Handling Hunting Rifle," I would nominate the Winchester Model 94.
Click to expand...
 
Newtosavage said:
According to Chuck Hawks...
Click to expand...

Sharing Very Fake Views does not make them less so.

Joking aside, I prefer a straight stock as well, thus the Marlin "Texan", saddle ring carbine in 30-30. Very fond of Winchester 94s as well and since, personally, I don't like a scope on a lever gun, the 94 is just fine.
 
Just get one disregard naysayers. I love guns and some anti-gunners hate them.
Some folks dont like lever actions but they are here to stay for lots of good reasons. Being a packrat, / hoarder by nature maybe its not a bad thing not to be wealthy. If I had as many as Ive seen and didnt buy due to lack of ready cash Id spend too much time choosing which one to take hunting and less time in the woods.
Marlin rifles are generally good rifles I like mine but I am not confused about my gender and find something I like about all guns just like something I like about all women, even if its just their pretty eyes.
 
RPRNY said:
Sharing Very Fake Views does not make them less so.

Joking aside, I prefer a straight stock as well, thus the Marlin "Texan", saddle ring carbine in 30-30. Very fond of Winchester 94s as well and since, personally, I don't like a scope on a lever gun, the 94 is just fine.
Click to expand...

I do love those straight stocked Marlin Texans, and will probably own one someday.
 
I'm not sure need is the right word, but a 30-30 Marlin can be a nice and versatile rifle. I took a defensive carbine class years ago with one, and did pretty well. So in addition to the more traditional deer hunting role, it can serve well for self/home defense also.

Accuracy has always been marginal and maintaining speed of follow-up shots comparable with pumps and semis requires more practice time and ammo than I am interested in doing. Reloading costs also tend to be considerably higher per round than .223 Rem. But if your volume of fire is low or you intend to reduce reloading costs with lead bullets, it can be workable. You run some risk of barrel leading unless you use milder loads with lead bullets.

Given the shooting interests of my friends and family, from time to time I think a pump .223 may have been a better use of the same money. Lower recoil, lower shooting costs, faster follow-up shots, and higher accuracy.
 
I wish I had a nickle for every Marlin 30 30 I sold back in the day, and the less expensive Glenfield versions!

We carried one Marlin lever that was extremely popular back then, in.357 magnum. 357 mag was one of the most popular handguns then, so it made a nice addition. Like the .357 pistol, you could also use 38s.

Russellc
 
Berger.Fan222 said:
I'm not sure need is the right word, but a 30-30 Marlin can be a nice and versatile rifle. I took a defensive carbine class years ago with one, and did pretty well. So in addition to the more traditional deer hunting role, it can serve well for self/home defense also.

Accuracy has always been marginal and maintaining speed of follow-up shots comparable with pumps and semis requires more practice time and ammo than I am interested in doing. Reloading costs also tend to be considerably higher per round than .223 Rem. But if your volume of fire is low or you intend to reduce reloading costs with lead bullets, it can be workable. You run some risk of barrel leading unless you use milder loads with lead bullets.

Given the shooting interests of my friends and family, from time to time I think a pump .223 may have been a better use of the same money. Lower recoil, lower shooting costs, faster follow-up shots, and higher accuracy.
Click to expand...

Can't beat Lyman 311041 173 grs over 18 grs IMR4227. Easy shooting, accurate, and cheap. With the Marlin microgroove barrels, one wants lead bullets sized .310" or .311" (mine is better with .310"). Lead bullets sized smaller than that, or pushed faster than ~ 1800 fps, are unlikely to be accurate in the microgroove barrels. Sub 1800 fps and sized correctly, they shoot very well indeed.

For low recoil plinking and varmint loads, 110 grs RN plated bullets over 23 grs IMR4198 offer not much more recoil than a springer air rifle.
 
Just get one like mine...

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