[PushPuller]

So I have been looking to cross off my next, and cheapest bucket list gun.

Which would be a Marlin lever action.

But lever actions are not in my field of knowledge and I need some good honest help.

I am looking for one that I can go hunting with so i dont have to lug my long and heavy 91/30 mosin around.

What caliber would you reccomend or should I stary from a lever action in general.

[grizcty]

Quote:       Originally Posted by PushPuller

So I have been looking to cross off my next, and cheapest bucket list gun. Which would be a Marlin lever action. But lever actions are not in my field of knowledge and I need some good honest help. I am looking for one that I can go hunting with so i dont have to lug my long and heavy 91/30 mosin around. What caliber would you reccomend or should I stary from a lever action in general.

As a lover of Marlins, here is my view.
A cheap gun is a MOSIN, a superb gun is a Marlin!
Most Marlins are not cheap to buy, unless you can find a good used one.

I reckon the caliber, depends on what your gonna hunt with it.
Small game, medium game, or the largest North American game.
You can never go wrong with buying a .22, 30-30, .32, 35 rem, .357, .44, .444, 45-70 Marlin.

Hells Bells, you cant go wrong with buying any caliber Marlin! LOL

[PushPuller]

Id probably hunt deer, and turkey with it most likely.

Iv heard a lot of good things about the 30-30 even though i myself have never shot it! hell my grandpa shot his largest elk in the rockies with it!

[GLS_1956]

Get the Marlin 336 in 30/30. You should be able to find ammo for it just about anywhere.

[Sav .250]

" cheapest bucket list gun....." Unfair characterization of a really sound lever.

"hunt deer and turkey with it...." Hunting turkey with a 30-30?

If you do get a Marlin 336 in say 30-30, you`ll be getting a fine, well built, long lasting weapon. Especially if you find a "pre-bolt safey" one. Gun shows ,if you have any local ones ,are a good place to start.

[Jay]

If you can find an older Marlin lever gun with the flat bolt, it will keep the innards a bit cleaner while hunting.

[big shrek]

Marlin 336 in .30-30 is my go-to gun for deer/hog/black bear.

You can find them at pawn shops from $200-400, depending on condition and the amount of the loan they got...

For Nebraska, you've got those same critters, plus wolves I think...so it'd do justice to any of 'em.

Most older folks have a distaste for the cross-bolt safety which appeared in 1983...
however, that's not necessarily a bad thing, as there is a kit which removes the safety and replaces it with a Saddle Ring mount...
Saddle Rings weren't available on most models of 336, only Special Eds...so it gives you a way to get a ring mount on there

Then there are the 2005-2011 Marlins, made during the "Disgruntled Period"
serial numbers start at 95xxxx to 89xxxx...on those, Inspect Carefully for faults...
like improperly indexed barrels...and a couple other cosmetic flaws...nothing that major that couldn't be easily fixed...
fit & finish of wood to metal is questionable for those years...some good, but about half sucked...
for the 2010/2011's, if the lever is hard to work...which means a polish job for all internals...

2012...the most recent 336 I saw was as solid as the 2000-2005's's, but they're still getting their squish together,
others report hard-to-work actions at Walmart...but heck, I ain't buying from the cheaper Walmart ones anyway
"336W" don't mean Walnut anymore...so give em another 6-months/year before buying a New lever-action...

[Jim Rau]

Quote:       Originally Posted by PushPuller

Id probably hunt deer, and turkey with it most likely. Iv heard a lot of good things about the 30-30 even though i myself have never shot it! hell my grandpa shot his largest elk in the rockies with it!

You nailed it. I have used the 336 in 30-30, 35 Rem, 444, 45-70, 357 Mag, 44 Mag and have never had one problem with any of them.
I currently have a 336 30-30 in Stainless new in the box I am considering parting with. I bought it to use myself, but I just can't put down my old 336!!!!

[nathangdad]

Marlin lever actions are strong, easily scoped, and just phenominally reliable.

However, you might wish to visit the Browning website where you will find Browning lever actions in some calibers not offered by Marlin.

Between Marlin and Browning you will get to choose from a very wide range of cartridges.

The lever action itself has a long history of success throughout America and Canada.

[gandog56]

336 is the classic answer. It was my first deer hunting gun.

[aris_unlimited]

When it comes to marlins, personally I really want to get a .338 marlin express. Just think that would be a pretty good cartridge for a lever action.

[TXplt]

I have 4--but my favorite is the 336 in .30-30. I have a .45 lc 1894, a model 39a, and a .450 carbine (kicks like a mule). ALL have been great guns.

[gandog56]

Only lever action I have now is a 1916 dated Winchester 95 in 7.62X54R. It's a shoulder thumper, that's for sure!

[Jay]

I have a Model 1936 (made in 1936) in 30-30



...a 1894 in .44 mag w/ octagonal bbl...



...and I too, like Model 39A's...




...then there are the Winchesters.... oh... another thread ...

[hamburgerhelper]

i bought .44 mag hp, and the gun will not feed it w/o problems......

should i have bought fmj, or something else?

[big shrek]

For practice...inexpensive, yet quality ammo...get it sighted in to YOUR particular eye/cheeck/grip/etc...

For hunting, get the good stuff, and use a few at the range to get honed in on that particular ammo

With .44mag, you'll be at pretty much bowhunting ranges...about 75 yards max...
so you'll REALLY be crafting your woodsmanship skills every time you go hunting, especially if you Stalk!!
.44Mag is Perfect for Hog, great for deer, and will punch big holes in pretty much every other critter in North America

[aris_unlimited]

Just a heads up for the marlin lovers out there. I have been looking for a .338 marlin express recently. Couldn't find one anywhere. Started reading that Marlin was going to be shutting it's doors for good. Then found out they were just going to be moving there warehouse. Called Marlin looking for answers, couldn't get anything definite from them but the guy I talked to said that they wouldn't be making some stuff til next year. So anyone looking might have to wait a while.

[mouser868]

Really like my Marlin 336C in 35 Remington, ammo is not as available as it is for a 30-30 Win, but I personally feel it is a better cartridge.

[texnmidwest]

My go to deer rifle is an older Glenfield/Marlin 30-30. It is a store brand made by Marlin. Quick handling and accurate. If you can find a Glenfield it is a little cheaper on the used market.

[DaTeacha]

Quote:       Originally Posted by big shrek

For practice...inexpensive, yet quality ammo...get it sighted in to YOUR particular eye/cheeck/grip/etc... For hunting, get the good stuff, and use a few at the range to get honed in on that particular ammo With .44mag, you'll be at pretty much bowhunting ranges...about 75 yards max... so you'll REALLY be crafting your woodsmanship skills every time you go hunting, especially if you Stalk!! .44Mag is Perfect for Hog, great for deer, and will punch big holes in pretty much every other critter in North America

I would think a .44 mag handloaded for rifle use is probably very capable of making deer size game quite dead out to 125 yards or more. Around here, I would not hesitate at a 75 yard shot with my Redhawk if conditions allowed for an accurate shot. Rifle loads can be hotter than the 1600 fps 200 grn. hollowpoints I brew up.

I am presuming the rifle will have a scope, just because my eyes wouldn't let me use irons at anything beyond SD ranges.