[BodySnatcher]

I bought a Marlin 336 .30-30 for my son this past Christmas. His mother told him if he earned half the money he could get it.

(I stupidly asked if I could get the same deal, she said, sure you are paying the other half...)

He shot 4 rounds out of it before I declared it unsafe. Big disappointment.

Marlin took it back, had it for 10 weeks.

Now it is a smooth as glass, I am amazed at how well that 13 year old kid can shoot with the iron sights. He can hit the 8" gong 2 out of 3 times at 150 yards. Hell I can't even see it, but I can hear it!

So from a sample size of 1, Marlin has some QC issues, but in the end, its a fine firearm.

[racingfanatic]

I just bought a 94 and love it but if you plan on scoping it i would recommend the marlin also try and handle both the 94 fits me better due to the straight stock but my buddy prefers the marlin stock go with what feels comfortable you cant go wrong

[axxe55]

i have owned many Winchester M94's over the years and one Marlin M336. the Marlin feels more robust that the Winchester and seems like the action is a little smoother, might even be a little more accurate. i don't think a deer will know the difference though. for a hunting rifle, i would go with the Marlin because unless the Winchester is an angle eject, it makes mounting the scope easier. now IMO, i like the action on the Marlin better, but i like the looks of the Winchester better. i have a Winchester m94, in 30-30 and though it's an angle eject and set up to use a top mounted scope, it will probably never have one as long as i own it.

[Georgiahunter]

What about the lengths of the two? It looks like the Winchester is longer.

[glockman55]

Winchester Model 94.

[Georgiahunter]

To all those not recommending .30-30s, the OP said he was looking FOR .30-30s, not a deer rifle in general. Please keep this in mind.

[Model70]

With the Hornady Leverevolution ammo, the old 30/30 certainly has got a new lease on life. I had some hot loads worked up 150 gr round noses, and the factory Hornady's were 1' higher at 100 yards. If its a 30/30 your wanting, that's what I be looking to shoot. And now Hodgden has released the powder they use and the FTX bullets are available so you can recreate it yourself.

I shoot a Marlin 336 C. I bought it in 2007, I don't know when they started having the quality issues but I've really been happy with mine. I had one issue, when it was brand new it would pop the lever open when I was putting shells in the magazine. But a quick trip to the smitty and that was solved.

Shoots great to. I just use the iron sights, (the C comes with a hooded front sight FYI ) and I can place all my shots were I want them at 100 yards. We set out some clay pigeons we had and I went 6 for 6 as fast as I could work the lever.

My buddy's little sister shot a little garden raiding buck last fall using leverevolution bullets in a 45/70, hit it in the neck, I was shooting clean up with the 30/30 and put him down for good.

[Intheshop]

We keep a 336,30-30 here with a nice older fixed 3x Weaver....Handloads with Hornady 150's.Its the gun that gets loaned out to guys/friends who are visiting and want to go Deer hunting.It works for lefty's and righty's......is very safe...ect,ect.It has accounted for dzs of Deer....some were "firsts".Its just a nice,easy to use setup.Don't think we'd ever be without a 336....they're that handy.


A few years ago,it got loaned out for a whole season.One of my boys friends grew up over here,shooting guns and bows.........came from a family that never hunted.After several seasons of this kid bringin home the "bacon" with his 336,he asked to borrow ours.It was so he and his dad could go hunting together.It worked....dad now goes hunting.Just a real neat story.Shopnut

[303tom]

Originally Posted by BodySnatcher

I bought a Marlin 336 .30-30 for my son this past Christmas. His mother told him if he earned half the money he could get it.

(I stupidly asked if I could get the same deal, she said, sure you are paying the other half...)

He shot 4 rounds out of it before I declared it unsafe. Big disappointment.

Marlin took it back, had it for 10 weeks.

Now it is a smooth as glass, I am amazed at how well that 13 year old kid can shoot with the iron sights. He can hit the 8" gong 2 out of 3 times at 150 yards. Hell I can't even see it, but I can hear it!

So from a sample size of 1, Marlin has some QC issues, but in the end, its a fine firearm.

What was unsafe about it ???????????

[MPsteelshooter87]

I would take my 94 over a marlin anyday.