A question for you thick woods deer hunters.

[teumessian_fox]

I'm contemplating buying a deer rifle (I've owned several, but sold/traded for whatever reason) and like the Marlin lever action.

The ones I like are the 16 inch, 18 inch or 20 inch barrels.

Is there truly that much of an advantage in portability in the 16 inch barrel over the 18 inch? Why would somebody want a 16 inch over the 18?

According to Marlin's web site, each barrel length all weight the same: 7 pounds, so there is no weight advantage.

 

[Fremmer]

It'll help a little bit in heavy brush to have a shorter barrel, but I wouldn't go shorter than 18", and I'd probably just stick w/the 20" barrel, anyway. It won't be as quite as loud or as have as much flash as the shorter barrels, and when you're in the thick stuff, you're gonna get hung up and thrashed no matter how short the barrel is. 20" is a pretty short barrel on a hunting rifle.

 

[T.R.]

This is my older Glenfield 30-30 carbine made by Marlin. Glenfield line of rifles and shotguns were built a little cheaper using birch or beech stocks and marketed through national chain stores such as Western Auto and others.

My carbine has a 18.5 inch barrel. It's "just right" for balance, accuracy, and hunting in rough country. I wouldn't want it any shorter.

Hope this is helpful.

TR

 

[Uncle Mike]

Either get the 16" or the 20".... 2" doesn't make any difference, with rifle barrels, anyway, so if you had a 16" barrel you would enjoy the ability to navigate dense brush easier than the 20" barrel, but add two more inches to that 16" barrel, or take two inches from that 20" barrel, and I bet you won't notice the length difference at all.

 

[grtwhthntr]

I would go with the 20" tube for added muzzle velocity. 20" is a very short rifle barrel to begin with, I don't see any advantage to going shorter.

 

[LoonWulf]

Ive hunted mangroves, swamp brush, and thick stickygrass with my 24" savage 110. Ive also done it with a 18" barreled 30-30 and an even stubbier carbine. I didnt notice the differance between the .30 carb and the 30-30, but my savage took more work and i had to move more slowly. Id probobly go with either the 18-20 but thats just my preferance...this is coming from a guy who just bought a 26" 7mag on a full 3.7" action, and fully intends to use it for just about all the hunting i do.

 

[wrs840]

"Thick-woods deer-hunting with a Marlin lever-gun" makes me think 20" 336 in .35 Remington.

Les

 

[grtwhthntr]

"Thick-woods deer-hunting with a Marlin lever-gun" makes me think 20" 336 in .35 Remington.


That would be an excellent choice!!! 30-30 ammo prices are better, but I'd sure like to have a .35.

 

[Abel]

18.5" is a handy package, but shorter than that is giving up more velocity than I would want. I have both an 18.5" and a 20" Marlin 336 and use them both in thick woods stands. The 18.5 is a 30-30 with a peep sight and the 20 incher is a 35 Rem. with a 4x32mm.

 

[CZguy]

"Thick-woods deer-hunting with a Marlin lever-gun" makes me think 20" 336 in .35 Remington.

You beat me to it.

That's about the best woods rifle out there. I've used one for years with great success in the woods. For open field shooting I switch to a bolt action in 30-06.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

This season, I will be using a Remington 700 in .308 with a 16.5" barrel, this rifle is only 36" in length. Just a mere suggestion.....

 

[shootr]

+1 on 336 in .35 Rem. 20" works fine for me in the thick stuff.

 

[Roughneck08]

My Marlin 336 had the 20 inch barrel. Had no troubles whatsoever treking through thick brush chasing hogs and roaming the woods along the Brazos at work. I had no troubles with it and I loved it. No scope just irons easy to manuever through it. Love it.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

tough to beat a marlin or win in 3030 or 35 with a 16-20 inch barrel for a swamp gun barrel lenght and caliber are more of a personal decision as the deer will never know. that been said my favorite gun for that job is my 356 big bore i had cut to 16 inch. It knocks the cork out of every deer ive shot with it.

 

[smartshot]

I've used a MArlin 336c in 30-30 for years. It threw the 170 grain core lokt through both shoulders of a 250 lb black bear at 60 yards, put him right down within 10 yards of where he was hit. I have not killed a deer with this one, but I assure you, it will kill a deer, especially up close like you are talking about in thick timber. Also, this gun disassembles like a gem, all quality parts.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I hunted with a 336 "Texan" (18" barrel, straight stock) for many years. 2 inches doesn't make a heck of a lot of difference in velocity over a 20 inch model but in the jack pines it was a LOT handier than any bolt gun I've owned.

Marlin's 'guide guns' will make you appreciate short bores as they really show you how to push a monster cartridge with a lightweight rifle. You need that extra inch on the recoil pad end instead of the barrel, but they really are a fine example of a 'brush gun.'

 

[hardluk1]

I grew up hunting with a 28" barreled springfield pump shotgun in south florida swamps. Some where so thick you could here the water drip off a deer but not see it. Killed a lot of deer bck then. Never thought twice about wanting a short barrel.

 

[SwampWolf]

My vote is for the 20" barrel. Even in the very thick cover I hunt in, a twenty inch barrel is plenty short enough. Imo, the difference between an 18" barrel and a 20" barrel in terms of portability and/or velocity is an instance where size matters little. For me at least, the longer barrel handles and points a little better.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I sent mine out to have it chopped from 20" to 16.75" (wanted 16.25" and I'm not sure why smith added half an inch). I am very very happy with it. I would do it over again without hesitation. I went from 6+1 rounds to 5+1 round capacity.

 

[dogrunner]

Well, I hunt in thick brush with the occasional clear cut that'l test your ability out to three to four hundred yards. I also run Walker hounds and that means the target is really moving when I do get a shot. Best solution for that sort of hunting I've found is my lightweight Browning BAR in '06 with a 20" bbl.. That rifle is remarkably accurate and comes up on a target as fast as a well balanced bird gun. Mine carries one of Bushnell's Elite series variables, but stays on it's lowest power unless I just want to glass game far off.

I can honestly say that in my nearly 70 years I have owned quite a few rifles but never one that was as snappy and fast handling as this. Plus it'll hold well under an inch with my hand loads at 100. Wish I'd owned it half a century back!!!

 

[LeverGunJunkie]

Hard to beat the 30-30 with a 20". But an alternative that works well for me in thick woods is my WIN Pack Rifle in 44 mag. Sports an 18" BBL and wears a 1.5-4.5 variable. Inside 100 yrds it normally anchors the deer on the spot. If not, the 240gr XTPs make a big nuff hole so a blind man could follow the short blood trail.

 

[Water-Man]

18.5" seemed just right for me. Two inches either way won't matter much.

 

[desidog]

The advantage of a 16" bbl is that your ears will still be ringing while you pose for a picture with your kill.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

we do have thick brush here in Texas, but I am so glad I get 300 yard shots and more on a regular basis to test my marksmanship...some pastures I can see over a 1000 yards..in the brush I carry my .44 mag or .45 colt...