I am in the market for a nice Marlin lever action rifle. I would like to be able to hunt deer and small game, and also bring it to the range once or twice a month. What do you think of 45/70 or should I consider 30/30 or somthing else for what I want to use if for. Any imput would be great. Thanks
Marlin Lever actions
- Thread starter DanTorz
- Start date
30-30 if you want to include small game. There's some good bullet choices for smaller animals. The 45-70 will likely mess 'em up. Both would be great for deer.
The new hornady leverevolution bullets and cartridges will really bring out the best in both the 30-30 and the 45-70.
I'd go with the 30-30 personally. You don't need to handload to get the most out of it, they're cheap to shoot, they don't kick like a mule, and they're more than enough gun for deer, bear or smaller.
If you want more later - bump it up to a 30-30 ai
The new hornady leverevolution bullets and cartridges will really bring out the best in both the 30-30 and the 45-70.
I'd go with the 30-30 personally. You don't need to handload to get the most out of it, they're cheap to shoot, they don't kick like a mule, and they're more than enough gun for deer, bear or smaller.
If you want more later - bump it up to a 30-30 ai
Id go 45/70
a big bore - low velocity round will not mess up edible meat, less than a 30-30 would. both are great in this regard
45/70 is just plain more fun, and better for bigger critters if you so choose to do so. can't really go wrong with either though
a big bore - low velocity round will not mess up edible meat, less than a 30-30 would. both are great in this regard
45/70 is just plain more fun, and better for bigger critters if you so choose to do so. can't really go wrong with either though
If you reload the 45-70 is a good consideration. Factory ammo is anemic for what a Marlin can do and expensive. This is way more gun than you need for your purposes tho...
And on the 30-30, every read blooded Canadian should have one I figure and if in a Marlin all the better
And on the 30-30, every read blooded Canadian should have one I figure and if in a Marlin all the better
well, see, there you run into a bit of an issue.
The 45/70 is a remake of an old black powder cartridge. Modern guns can shoot it at much higher pressures than it origianly was designed for.
But there's still some of those very old guns out there in use. Manufacturers don't want people buying 'hot' loads and blowing themselves up.
So regular ammo is pretty wimpy compared to what the cartridge could do in a marlin. You'll have to buy from one of the specialty producers, OR find someone to reload for you.
Which means it could be very expensive or very cheap, depending
Reloading keeps the cost much lower, and gives you 'full power' loads for your marlin. That's one of the reasons i was saying 30-30 if you don't reload... ammo is going to be cheaper and much much easier to come by.
trubluscrew
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Deer in Ontario?
Check your local MNR regs book. You might fall under the stupid .275 cal law. It depends on where your hunting. Personally I'm not a leaver kinda guy, but my father in law swears by his 30-30 for moose and deer.
Check your local MNR regs book. You might fall under the stupid .275 cal law. It depends on where your hunting. Personally I'm not a leaver kinda guy, but my father in law swears by his 30-30 for moose and deer.
I have a model 1936, and a model 36 - both parents of the current 336. And I have a model 375 which is essentially a model 336C but in .375 win calbre. They are excellent rifles IMHO. If I was buying a new 30-30 it would be the mocel 336C that you are interested in.
They have strong, simple smooth actions. Can be sighted or scoped about any way you could think of. And they have very good triggers, much better than some bolt rifles costing a lot more money...
They have strong, simple smooth actions. Can be sighted or scoped about any way you could think of. And they have very good triggers, much better than some bolt rifles costing a lot more money...
Depending on your style of hunting or whether you want to own more than one rifle a lever action may not be best choice as with most levers you are limited to 200 yards or less.
I have a Marlin in .444 Marlin, not as powerful as 45-70 or 450 Marlin but it will take down most North American game at less than 200 yards.
444 can be used on Grizzly if you use cast lead bullets buy most of us will not ever hunt Grizzly so not really an issue.
I load it with Speer Uni-Cor 300 gr bullets and Hogdon 335 this load will group at 1 inch at 100 yards and better sometimes(depending on shooter).
A few years ago I shot a 45 inch Moose at 60 yards with it right between the eyes, dropped him in his tracks and he was dead before he hit the ground.
I have a Marlin in .444 Marlin, not as powerful as 45-70 or 450 Marlin but it will take down most North American game at less than 200 yards.
444 can be used on Grizzly if you use cast lead bullets buy most of us will not ever hunt Grizzly so not really an issue.
I load it with Speer Uni-Cor 300 gr bullets and Hogdon 335 this load will group at 1 inch at 100 yards and better sometimes(depending on shooter).
A few years ago I shot a 45 inch Moose at 60 yards with it right between the eyes, dropped him in his tracks and he was dead before he hit the ground.
DanTorz said:
I have a 336 made in 1951.
Shoots like a dam. When my oldest boys turns legal it'll be a third generation .30.30.
With this new lever evolution rounds (if it ever gets to Canada
)I just might be in the market for a new one.... maybe stainless with a nice 4X Leupold
DanTorz said:
They're great guns. Easy to carry and don't kick much, ammos cheap, and will kill deer, bear, and even moose no problem. If you get one you will be happy with it. Any 336 is OK. Old or new. It feels like a real gun in your hands. Blued steel and a wood stock. No plastic.
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highspeedlowdrag
Regular
- Location
- British Columbia
I've got a 336CS (in 30-30). Don't use it for hunting - strictly a paper puncher. It was my first firearm and was purchased for me by my parents when I was 16. I still have it 19 years later and would never sell or trade it. The action and trigger is smooth, it shoots quite accurately at it's intended ranges, and as was mentioned in a few of the replies here - being made of steel and wood, it feels like a gun should. The only modification I've done to it was add swivel studs and I replaced the buckhorn style sights with a Lyman receiver peep...
hsld.
hsld.
John Spartan
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Just a little more to the right...
Have a 336C in 35 Remington that I picked up last year - nice, fast handling gun. Easy to strip down and clean out. Will be replacing the iron sights with XS Sight Systems ghost ring set for the .35 Rem and adding a scout scope mount. Will be trying out the Hornady Lever Evolution ammo when it arrives here in Alberta along with handloads. Should be a-ok for deer and blackbear up to 200 yards - may even consider using it for elk and moose at less than 100 yards with the proper bullet/handload. Why the 35 Rem over the 30-30? I've been told that the 35 Rem's bigger bullet results in better performance on game than the 30-30. Having put my money down on this, it'll be interesting to see how things go this fall's hunting season.
Course, I also have a few 45-70s and a .348 Winchester in lever actions which I also will be enjoying as well.
Course, I also have a few 45-70s and a .348 Winchester in lever actions which I also will be enjoying as well.
