BUT.... If I had to have a lever action 30-30 I'd hold out for an older version made by Marlin or Winchester cost be damned. There are about 14 million of them out there. You're buying for the history, might as well have the real thing instead of a copy.
I would agree 100%.
I currently own two 30-30's and I won't part with either. One is JM 336 my dad bought me used when I was a kid, the other is a 1950's vintage 94 my uncle bought new and I inherited. I haven't hunted with either much or at all recently because I often am presented with longer shots than would be appropriate for a 30-30 or I'm going after elk. As a hunting rifle, I think the 336 would be the better choice. It's just a little more stoutly built and mounting a scope is easy, and that rifle scoped shooting Leverevolution ammo would be a pretty formidable hunting rifle out to further distances than you might think for a 30-30. I do like the 94 better overall, though. Nothing carries like it and it just has a look and feel to it that the Marlin can't quite match, imo.