Are the new stainless Marlin XLR's worth it?

[Ridge Runner]

I want to get a stainless 30-30. I was looking at the traditional Marlin 336 in stainless and the XLR.

I have a few questions:

Will regular Marlin 30-30's perform well with Hornadys new rubber tipped ammo?
How important is the 24" barrel over the 20"?
Will stocks and forarms interchange in all 30-30 models (except the Spikehorn)?
What is the big deal about the new XLR's?

Thank you.

[kyelkhunter3006]

I don't have any of these guns, but I've read that the "regular" guns work fine with the Leverevolution ammo.  You lose about 100 fps or so with the shorter barrel.  Maybe an inch difference inn trajectory??? You'd never notice out to 200 yds.  Buttstocks are pretty universal, obviously a pistol grip stock won't fit a straight stocked gun, there's no curve to the lever.  Forearms are not universal, some need a fore-end cap and some use a barrel band.  Big deal about the XLR?  They are darn cool looking.     Longer barrel means a bit more velocity, barrel rifling is different, laminated stocks are more weatherproof than walnut, same with the stainless steel vs blued.  I'm very surprised that some of the guys with the XLR haven't answered this.  Hope it helps out.

[teddy12b]

Hey,
        I've got a 336W 30-30 that I was handloadign for.  I tried some of the Leverolution ammo in it and it is a 1" shooter at 100 yards now.  My handloads don't shoot as well as the new Hornady's do.  That being said I don't handload for that rifle anymore.  So to answer the part about whether the new ammo works in the regular style 30-30's that's a very big YES.  To answer the part about the stainless XLR models, only you're going to decide that.  Go with whatever feels better to you.  You're not going to go wrong with any Marlin rifle.  Good luck and let us know how you decide.

[Bullseye]

Too expensive for what it is.  Not worth in my opinion.  But that is just me and others may be willing to pay for because they think those features are worth it.

[pastorp]

I don't like the laminated stock and a 20" barrel is perfect in my opinion. If you want stainless I would buy a regular stainless with the wood stock.  But that just me. Byron

[Ratltrap]

I like my 336SS, but for what I use a 30-30 for I don't need a 24' barrel or the LE ammo. I put on low power scope and a Ramline stock and am liking it. The Ramline has a narrower forearm and slightly higher comb that I prefer over the OEM stock and no more worries about the wood swelling when it gets wet.

I've heard good from many others, but the LE ammo doesn't shoot in my particular 30-30. It will do MOA with handloads though.  Go figure.

[Mac11700]

Are they worth it???...Well..in short...to me they are...They balance better than most other Marlins I own...it shoots great...and no...I didn't buy it for shooting Hornady's ammo thru it...I much prefer to shoot Nosler Partitions and Federal Uni-cores thru mine...hand loads or factory...

Federal 300 grain Uni-core..



Hornady...Winchesters..and Remington's..



Mac