Which lever action

Mark2

Mark2

New member
My brother is looking for a new lever action. He wants to hunt deer in the future and target shoot out to 200 yds. The 2 choices he has narrowed it down to are the 30/30 and the 308 marlin express. Any thoughts as to which one is the better of the two calibers for the intended purpose. Price of ammo is not a concern.
 
Personally I think there is just something inherantly right about deer hunting with a 30-30 lever gun, especially if its a Winchester 94, so that would be my choice. As far as what chmbering is better, I have not used the 308 marlin express but it is gonna be the better ballistics of the 2 and may be the way to go with a max range of 200.
 
I'd go with the 30-30, the .308 Marlin is coolish but when push comes to shove, you will find more 30-30 ammo on the shelves of a sporting good store in a small town as opposed to a .308 Marlin.

I have owned both a Marlin 336 XLR and a Winchester 94. I ended up selling both. But the one I regret selling was the WInchester
 



Browning lever BLR in .308win, I own one and it is a good deer/elk rifle.
I also like my 1949 Winchester 1894 in 32 Special.
My 1952 Marlin in 35rem is a great brush rifle with 250gr lead bullets and fun to shoot 158gr .357 bullets.

I have a scope, Burris 3x9 on the Browning. It will shoots 4in groups at 200yds. So if you need a new rifle the Browning gets my vote. Mine has quick detachable rings with Hy-Viz iron sights.
 
Not to digress too much, but, consider a Savage 99 in .243....Plenty for deer, and some people use it for elk, coyotes, & dogs of the prairie.
 
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Personally, the only way I'd own another Win 94 is if it was given to me for free (having been through a dozen of them in the last 20yrs). The only one I kept around was a teeny tiny 94 Trapper in .30-30, only because it's shorter than any of the Marlin models and suits very well as a "behind the seat" / "just in case" rifle.

I'm a Marlin shooter. Toggle link is for the birds.

I'd encourage you to add the big bores to your list. The .45-70 is a fantastic round for white tails, and in the Marlin Guide Gun 1895, the recoil is minimal. Much greater range than the .30-30, and similar ammo availability. I borrowed my wife's 1895 last year to dump a 310lb 11pt buck at 250yrds with factory loaded Hornady Leverevolution 325grn FTX's.

Specifically between the .308ME and a .30-30, I'd WANT the .308ME, but I'd get the .30-30. I'd honestly prefer the ballistic performance of the .308, but I'm not so confident the ME will be around long term. If I knew I could resell the ME, or could tolerate losing the $, or would be willing to stockpile brass and reload long term, then I would be all over the .308ME. But, I'd still take a .45-70 over either of the 30cal's.
 
The Marlin express cartridge life is questionable. The 30-30 will be around for a long time. Browning BLR in .308 would be a good choice as well.
 
I'd take the .30-30. I prefer a Marlin 336 with a small 2x7x33 scope. It is a very good rifle for your intended purpose. I agree with the other posts regarding the .308ME. It does have considerably more power, and the cool factor is high, but at 200 yards and under, I don't think it will do anything that the .30-30 won't do for a lot less money.
 
What kind of accuracy could one expect from the Marlin 336 in 30-30 with a scope at 100 yds ?

I miss the lever action ( Winchester) and now that Hornady makes the leverveolution ammo, I may just go back to one.


To me, the lever action is much faster to work than a bolt action.

45-70 would be great for dangerous game.
 
I can honestly say I've never missed my Winchester Lever a lot, but I'd never part with my Marlin for any price. If I had to sell all but 1 of my guns for any reason, that is the one I would not part with.

One thing he may want to consider BEFORE purchase, is length of stroke on the lever. Winchester has the longest lever stroke of any of the lever actions. Second issue I had with it, on the model 94 anyways, was the floor plate drops out of the gun on lever stroke. If hunting in heavy cover, it can cause problems with brush being in the way on close. And, in my experience, they are a much dirtier gun by nature since the floor pan opens on them.

Length of lever stroke as best I recall is -

11+ inches on the model 94 Winchester
7 inches on the 336
5 or 5 1/2 inches on the Savage 99
4 1/2 inches on the Browning

Not a big difference, and you can run shells through any of them about as fast as a semi-auto, but it's much easier with the shorter stroke.

As for accuracy of the 336, I've read a few reports on the Marlin Lever Action forum that suggest barely legal to 18 1/2" seems to be the sweet spot on the barrel. The latter is carbine length barrel. I've got a Marlin model 30 TK, and everyone that owns one says it'll out shoot a 336, hands down. Barrel is 18 1/2" on those. I did run across a few guys that had the barrels shortened on their 336, and all suggested there was noticeable difference in accuracy after shortening. One was an older gun, and it may have been attributable to wear on the barrel, but another was a fairly new gun, in 35 Remington as best I recall, that the owner chopped to guide gun dimensions. All stated however, that chopping the barrel from the 20"(+) stock length, cut their shot group in half.

He may also want to consider a Henry!

As for caliber... 30-30, the availability of cartridges is endless, and with Hornady's Leverevolution ammo, it'll do anything you need to do with it for less money. If he wants to go to a different caliber, look at the Savage or Browning, both offer numerous chamberings in their lever action rifles.
 
I have a 'Texan' that I'll not part with. I also have a Ruger 96/44 that has a very short lever stroke. Both are very deadly on deer at reasonable ranges.
Like 'em both but the 'Texan' would be the last to go.
;-)
 
If he goes with the marlin definitely find a older used one. The new ones made by remington are terrible. The fit and finish is third world quality and the actions are rough. I was looking at them at Cabelas yesterday and some had 1/8" gaps between the wood and metal. A 45/70 had the front sight on crooked, about 1/4" to the left when you sighted down the barrel. It's a shame they let all the old workers go and closed the factory, it takes alot of skill to build a good levergun. Look for a JM proof stamp on the base of the barrel near the receiver. If it sais rep then it's a remington.
 
I have been shooting lever actions for 40 years now. I have had both Winchester and Marlins, I never liked how the winchester would jam unless you slammed the lever hard forward, and you will find nothing but Marlins in my safe now. I would go with the 30-30 over the 308 marlin express, you can find 30-30 ammo at any hardware store in the world, I have taken several deer with 2 of my Marlin 336's (1-336RC and 1-336CS) both have 2-7x33 Leupold VX-II scopes, and I like my levers scoped.

As for accuracy, I am getting 5-shot groups at 100 yards that on my good days a quarter will cover all 5 holes, and yes some days I have to use a 50 cent piece to cover the 5 shots, but either way it equals a dead deer.

As mentioned before also look at the Marlin Big Bores (444,45-70,450marlin,) I shoot a '76 vintage 444S every year now on at least one deer that I kill, ( we hunt both Minnesota, and North Dakota, and some years Wyoming) the ol 30-30 seams to stay at home since I like the 444 better. My "Triple 4" is also topped with a 2-7x33 Leupold VX-II that last year I took a nice doe with at 220 lazered yards on the run and it cartwheeled to a dead stop.

I also have a 700BDL 30-06 for the longer shots, but I love the feel of a smooth Marlin lever gun. Good Luck on your choice----Riflemann
 
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Originally Posted By: TXCOONDOGWhat kind of accuracy could one expect from the Marlin 336 in 30-30 with a scope at 100 yds ?

I miss the lever action ( Winchester) and now that Hornady makes the leverveolution ammo, I may just go back to one.


To me, the lever action is much faster to work than a bolt action.

45-70 would be great for dangerous game.

Everyone gets so hung up on the .45-70 being too big, or reserving it for "dangerous game"... I just don't get it. Sure, it's a great big bullet that will put anything it hits on the ground, but too big, not a chance. The old addage "eat right up to the hole" is true. Recoil is very mild, and penetration is tops. Meat damage is minimal since the rounds aren't cruising very fast (1795fps out of my wife's Guide Gun with Hornady Leverevolution 325grn FTX's), but the killing power is phenomenal.

CIMG1340.jpg


11pt 160class Whitetail, estimated 310-325lbs on the hoof (his body was HUGE). One shot from the .45-70 Marlin 1895 Guide Gun with Hornady Leverevolution 325grn FTX at 250yrds. 30" of drop held over with a Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40mm Plex. 45cal entry hole, close lung was cut in half, heart exploded into shreds, top of the far lung was shredded, slug stopped under the skin on the far side (broke out of the ribs). Buck ran 30yrds, jumped a fence, and crumpled on the landing.

Accuracy? Yup... This is the only pic I have of her groups (it's my wife's rifle), under 1MOA at 100yrds. She was vertically stringing, which is why we swapped it for a 4.5-14x40mm Nikon Buckmaster this year:

1895Target_zps0ccefb04.jpg
 
My statement was that I miss the lever action and not because it was a Winchester in 30-30 or I would still have it......mainly because of the long stroke and jamming issue is why it's gone. Just love the feel (handling) and sound.

My grandfather also had a .32 lever action, but I didn't care for it at all.

I've been thinking that a 30-30 with iron sights would be a nice all- round every day carry rifle for truck, ATV, saddle, brush, etc for me and the Marlin 336SS was on my mind.

I never said anything about a 45-70 being too big. I just think it would be an awesome round for dangerous game, not that I can afford a trip like that.

But since you mentioned it, I've dropped everything in it's tracks with my .308 at a lot further distances and think it an awesome round for both up close and longer ranges.

Nice deer and grouping by the way.

Lot's of good information and someone could learn from a thread like this.

 
TXCOONDOG: No offense intended. I quoted your post just for reference, but I didn't really mean to come off as taking a shot at your comments, but was rather making a comment on a trend of opinions I've seen over the last decade of shooters that discount the .45-70 as "too big".

My thought process for suggesting the .45-70 over the .308ME is thus:

Yes, the .308ME has plenty of power (not as much as the .45-70, but enough), and does have a better trajectory. But for me, the comparison is moot. I'm not convinced that the .308ME has staying power, so I wouldn't want to be the one stuck holding the baby when its diapers are full.

At some point in the not so distant future, the .308ME will be a reloading only proposition, at which time a guy will be forced to scrounge up brass from a dwindling supply of Hornady brass for the .308ME, or worse, will be forced to work up .308ME brass from an already sparse supply of low quality Winchester .307Win brass. Neither of which sound appealing to me. I've played the game where I bought rifles/handguns in "new cartridges", then got burned when they were discontinued. I understand why Marlin added the .308ME in an attempt to make leverguns appealling to the new generation of "fast is good and old is bad", but I just don't think the following will sustain.

SO, the .308ME, while favorable for trajectory over the .45-70 and favorable for power and trajectory over the .30-30, just isn't on my to-do list.

If I want .308win performance, I'd be looking at a REAL .308win, which means I'm looking at a BLR (hideous) for a levergun, which is also not in my interest, or a bolt gun, which isn't really an apples to apples comparison against a .45-70 levergun anyway.

So that's my thought process in bringing the .45-70 to the table at a debate between the .30-30 or the .308ME. Personally, I'd rather have the .308ME of the two for its trajectory, but I'd rather BUY a .30-30 (or better yet, a .45-70) because I know that 30yrs from now, my (future) grandson will still be able to get ammo for it.
 


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