Thanks for the replies.
I have to agree with TeamNelson about the Marlin giving the Savage 99 and the Ruger 96 a run for their money, IF they had made them in a few more calibers and kept making them. There is much to be said for the short throw lever, and I don't see why there are so few offerings in that kind of action. I have one of the Ruger 44 mag 96-44 rifles. It's nice, but I wish it was available in .357. I'm not a Ruger basher by any means, but I certainly give the nod to Marlin on many points of quality. Enough said on that.