Opinion On Marlin Lever Action

I have a 336 in 30-30 also, i love mine but 30-30 is expensive for just plinking, mine is my hunting gun. If you reload it probably would not be that bad of a cost to plink with. they certainly are fun to operate though. Hope this helps you out.

Recently I purchased a 336 and it has quickly become one of my favorite rifles. It almost always puts a smile on my face. If you're looking for a fun gun, I would say a lever action is a good way to go. If the cost of ammo or recoil of it would bother you, I would say a 22 LR or 357 mag/38 special lever action would be just as fun.

$399 is sort of expensive for a 336W. Look for a 336C for that price. Great rifle though.

What I meant to say was, $399 is about 100 bucks too high for that gun. You won't have any trouble beating that price if you shop around pawn shops & used gun stores.

You'll be hard pressed to find a new 336W for under $380.00 nowadays. You can get one used a little bit cheaper but it sounds like your looking at new ones. Ammo is expensive for almost every caliber, So it didn't keep me from buying mine. It is definitely one of my favorite rifles to shoot.

.30-30 lever actions are sweet !!! A buddy of mine has a Marlin, very nice shooting gun. I've got a '94 Winchester... love shootin' the lever action. I doubt you'd be disappointed in it.

Uh, not to throw you completely off track, but if your primary is an AR, look around for a S&W M&P 15-22. About the same $$, cheaper to shoot and great cross training potential.

Other wise, get the Marlin, but, as suggested, in .357M as you can use .38 Special ammo in it.

My ARs stay in the safe since I got my Marlins. 336and 1895. Federal 30-30 at Walmart is about $12. per box. Walmart had the 336w recently fpr $349.

if it is for hunting, go for it.

If you like plinking, thake the m39 in 22lr (very handy, very cheap ammo, indistructible and virtually no recoil (i own both 336 and 39)

If you want to do some western shooting, go for the handgun caliber, teh cowboy versions with octagon barrel are very nice.

30-30 is very nice but it's very noisy, gets quite hot after 15 shots and after 40 rounds, your shoulder hurts for a few days

I've got a 1894C in .357.......it's a great gun and lots o' fun. I reload so it's extra cheap to shoot too

I bought my first firearm in 1971 and it was a brand new 336C. Still have it and still love it. I think you'll be very happy with a Marlin lever action.

I also think you will be very happy with the Marlin lever action I love mine I have 4 of them 336w,336c,308mx and 444 and I love all of them.I think you will be very satisfied with it.If you have an Academy in your area they carry Monarch ammo in 30-30 pretty cheap!!

Fun they are. And what is not to like? They come in several different flavors too.


They are even more fun at long range. It took me a few shots to get on it but I managed to ring the 500 yard dinger with my Marlin 336 Cowboy. Video hear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT92PEgnIb0&playnext_from=TL&videos=EeLHolKKTDc

I don't know what prices are like around you guys, but Cabelas has Hornady .30-30 for $23 per box of 160. 14 cents/round doesn't seem bad to me.

I don't know what prices are like around you guys, but Cabelas has Hornady .30-30 for $23 per box of 160. 14 cents/round doesn't seem bad to me.

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I could be wrong, but I believe you mean 160 grain bullets, box of 20 rounds, for $23.

As everyone has said, they are great rifles, a ton of fun, and a good hunter. They aren't cheap to feed unless you handload. As a second rifle to an AR, I think either a lever gun in .22lr or one in a .38special/.357mag would be a better range rifle, though not a better hunter. So look at what you plan to use the rifle for and then pick the lever gun in the caliber that fits your desire and ammo budget best. I will say I have been far more than impressed with all of the Marlin lever guns I have used to date. They all have shot fantastic, far better than I ever could have expected for a budget lever gun.

Howdy!
Shop around for the cheapest ammo that will fit a Marlin lever actioned rifle, then buy the rifle that matches the ammo.
You will LOVE the slick operation of the Marlin, compared to the "notchiness" of many Winchester '94s.
I have Winchester and Marlin lever action rifles, and like the Marlins best.
They're solid, well made, accurate and easier to mount a scope on, if you chose to go that route.
You'll have fun playing cowboy.
Thanks for your time.

Not to change topic, but I'll throw out there that I'm a fan of the Rossi model 92's chambered in .44 mag or .45 Colt for plinking/cowboying. Can also be used as a good 100 yd hunting lever gun as well.

I've not owned a Marlin, nor have I shot a new Marlin (only ones that had slicked up actions). The side ejection on the 94's and 336's definitely makes them scope-mount friendly.

If you plan to just plink and also reload, you might consider .357, .44 mag, or .45 Colt, just for the extreme simplicity in straight wall cartridge reloading.

i have both marlin and winchesters,but i go for the older ones in both. however this winchester 94 AE trapper came by the other day and i was taken by the super wood on it, i have never seen such nice wood on a totaly new production(not sepecial order) win. 94 AE. i had to have it and i do. eastbank.

I enjoy my Marlins too. 30AS .30-30 and 1894 .357MAG.

Picking up a .45-70 tomorrow.

late 70s 39A and 1894c in 357 Marlins... absolutely love em.

Yeah the 30-30 at the bottom is Ted Williams version Win, it works well too but I lean to the Marlins

I'm shooting a 1970ish 336. I've been loading 160g Lever Revolution bullets with 30g of IMR4895. Average four deer a year with it. Its as accurate as any gun I've ever hunted with and is on par with several target rifles I shoot. Its light, maneuverable, great in confined areas (climbing stand/blinds/brush) and is very effective with proper shot placement on Alabama whitetail.

I could be wrong, but I believe you mean 160 grain bullets, box of 20 rounds, for $23.

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I was using ammo engine, and they could have been wrong, but it still reads 160 rnds/box. Even elsewhere I wouldn't say 50 cents a round is too bad. As far as center fire ammo goes I don't think you'll do much better.

Get one! If you got money to shoot the 20 rounds for $14 a box then go ahead and pick it up. I paid $380 for mine so $399 is good deal. I love to shoot mine. I like the "cowboy" feel. I head its a good hunting rifle as well.
IF you are a "cowboy" style then pick up a double barrel action to go with it sounds like you're into handguns so you probly have a 6-shooter