Im deciding on a new rifle that i can shoot lots and double as a short handy bush gun. I have narrowed it down to two different guns. The classic Marlin 336 in 30-30. or the Remington model 673 guide gun in 308. I haven't checked my local gun shop yet but do they still produce the 673? cause remington removed it from their website. Any body have a suggestions on which would be better.
Marlin vs Remington
- Thread starter B.A.M.F
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cat_IT_guy
Member
key words there are 'handy brush gun'...the marlin instantly comes to mind, plus you get faster follow up shots than you would with a bolt gun.
Your choice is between a bolt action .308 and a lever action .30-30, why not mix the two into a lever action .308 and get a Browning? All the merits of a short brush gun with the handiness of a lever action and the convenience of a detachable mag, not to mention the advantages of the .308 for power and range. Of your two choices as is though, I would go Marlin.
dracphelan
Member
You might want to look at a Marlin 308MX. It is supposed to have similar ballistics to a 308 bolt gun. However, ammo will be harder to find and more expensive. But, it will be handier in brush than a bolt action rifle.
TCB in TN
Member
+1 on this. I love my Browning BLR 308. It shoots great, along with the sweet handling characteristics of the Lever action!
R.W.Dale
Member
As handy and fast as a Marlin 336 is the little lever gun has nothing on a 7600 Carbine, These things are just SLICK. And if you opt for a chambering such as 30-06 or 308 you can "kill two birds with one stone" and have a handy brush gun that's still up to the challenge of 300yd shots should the need arise.
http://www.remingtonle.com/rifles/7600.htm
http://www.remingtonle.com/rifles/7600.htm
And surprisingly heavy. Is that just the .223 version, maybe?
Hornady's new ammo can do that in a 336.
AFAIK the 673 is no longer made.
I like the Marlins. I like 870s, which are a lot like the 7600.
But have you checked out the Ruger Frontier? Nice little package. A tad steep, but it's a neat gun.
My next gun is another Marlin lever, but that's me. I'm trying to decide between the 336 and the even lighter 1894 in .44M.
Don't Tread On Me
Member
Relatively speaking, Marlin has maintained higher quality in their firearms than other companies. Just my observation and opinion.
R.W.Dale
Member
In my hands my 7615P feels lighter than my 35 caliber 336
According to the MFG specs they both weigh 7lbs
Hornady can claim that until they turn blue in the face but with less than 1000 ft lbs of energy at 300 yds and an almost 2' total bullet drop at that range doing so would be little more than a STUNT
The new 30-30 ammo isn't even in the same ball bark as 308 and 06 based rounds. Improvement over STD 30-30 loads is marginal at best
R.W.Dale
Member
Except for that retarded crossbolt safety! I hate those.
I know that it's required that one bitches about the crossbolt, or else he just isn't cool.
But frankly, I have no problem with it in the field. I don't use it if I'm just hiking around; I drop the hammer and thumb it cocked when I want to shoot. However, if I hand the gun to someone, hop a ravine, or need to be sure the thing absolutely won't go off when I drop the hammer, I can use the safety.
How is the presence of a manual hammer block safety a handicap, especially on a gun that can't easily be unchambered?
R.W.Dale
Member
Because instead of blocking the trigger movement as a crossbolt safety should the retarded half a$$ thing allows the hammer to drop partway. So in the heat of the moment you don't squeeze the trigger and think oops I inadvertently left the safety on. OH NO that would be too simple. Instead you drop the hammer and are left wondering if one of three or four different things went awry allowing your state record buck to make his escape.
OK I gotcha, It's now OK as per the golden rules of firearm safety to climb fences and ravines with a LOADED rifle as long as your marlin is equipped with a completely superfluous mechanical device.
I like non crossbolt Marlins and Winchesters (I own both) but what I would really like to see is a Marlin with a rebounding hammer (like a modern winchester) without the too easily movable crossbolt. And trust me crawlin around the woods with heavy winter gear on,that safety will get switched without your knowledge, It's just in a bad location .
R.W.Dale
Member
http://www.realguns.com/archives/120.htm
The above link has some real eye opening data regarding various 30-30 loads including the new hornady loadings
The above link has some real eye opening data regarding various 30-30 loads including the new hornady loadings
B.D. Turner
Member
a new rifle that i can shoot lots and double as a short handy bush gun.
I would go with a Marlin 1894 in .44 magnum or .357 magnum. Both are great rifles and easy to reload so you can shoot lots. These are handy and at bush ranges will work great. You will not need a .308 or 06 at brush gun ranges if you are hunting deer. In the words of John Wayne "Too much gun"
I would go with a Marlin 1894 in .44 magnum or .357 magnum. Both are great rifles and easy to reload so you can shoot lots. These are handy and at bush ranges will work great. You will not need a .308 or 06 at brush gun ranges if you are hunting deer. In the words of John Wayne "Too much gun"
R.W.Dale
Member
PAH! no such thing.
In the words of a co worker of mine when someone stated that with his swapping to a different bullet that he would lose too much meat.
"GOOD that would be an improvement. Cause right now I'm losing the whole damn deer."
B.D. Turner
Member
That John Wayne line always comes to mind. Glen Cambell shot a turkey with a 45/70 (or something close) in True Grit. Must have been a body shot.
That Remington 7600 (not in tacticool trim) has been used all over the US for 50 odd years, the new one gives you a longer sight radius, though I don't like the 'ghost rings'. The carbine model had the rear sight on the barrel.
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_7600.asp
The pump gun is far more suited to the 'brush' than a bolt gun. The Marlin is a fine choice, though I hate the crossbolt safety too, my 1894 has one.
.30-06 or .270 is a lot more rifle than .30-30. It really comes down to caliber.
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_7600.asp
The pump gun is far more suited to the 'brush' than a bolt gun. The Marlin is a fine choice, though I hate the crossbolt safety too, my 1894 has one.
.30-06 or .270 is a lot more rifle than .30-30. It really comes down to caliber.
Nobody seems to have mentioned this, and I don't know if it is important to you, but since Marlin made about a gazillion of them a used 336 can be had cheaper than just about any other centerfire rifle out there. I picked up one that was almost like new for $250. I have seen them sell for as little as $125 in decent condition. They are especially easy to find right after deer season.
R.W.Dale
Member
You can buy a 7600P little cheaper with STD rifle sight and add a receiver sight of your choice later, But after I bought my 7615P I read somewhere that the Wilson ghost ring that Remington puts on the police models will accept STD Williams screw in apertures. Or you can buy a WGRS sight that fit's any 7400-7600 for $30 or so
Adding a williams FP to my 7615 more than DOUBLED my sight radius allowing me to be quite competitive in our local 200 and 300 meter matches
Anteater1717
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Go for the 7615 If 6lb's is to much you need to go to the gym. It a great little rifle, though not naerly as pretty as a 336.
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