I want to buy another Marlin, but which one?

[leoparddog]

I used to own an 1895 45/70 and enjoyed it, but it was a bit to heavy for the GA deer woods.  I didn't really buy it for GA deer hunting but for Elk hunting in the timber.  Long story short - I sold it, but really want another Marlin for GA deer hunting.

The .30-30 is great, but I don't want one of those, so that leaves me with the 35 Rem, 38-55 and a few of the other more rare calibers.

Used guns are fine with me and what I really want to know is do I want a relatively new Marlin or should I look for a more vintage gun?  What model/years would you suggest excluding the .30-30 and 45/70?

Thanks!

[inluvwithsara]

I have a guide gun too, and a 1894c 357 and love it...if I could have anyone marlin I'd want a 1894p but they discontinued it...go 44 man...it will take anything this side of the Mississippi...that or check your laws, and get the 357 and handload it or buy Buffallo Bore ammo for it...its a great house gun too!!
no problems making sub two inch groups at 50m...should be able to do better in better hands...

[leoparddog]

I hadn't even considered the pistol calibers.  Thanks for the idea.  A 44 Mag or 45 Colt would do the trick.

Does Marlin make one in 45 Colt?

[Harry Snippe]

I hadn't even considered the pistol calibers.  Thanks for the idea.  A 44 Mag or 45 Colt would do the trick.

Does Marlin make one in 45 Colt?

The 1894 Coboy comes in 45 coltTwo models to choose from.

[bigjeepman]

Please take a look at the 1894 Cowboy Competition in .45 colt. This is one sweet rifle and is slicked out at the factory. My son and I took ours boar hunting in Tennessee last November and nailed two nice Russians weighing 225 lbs and 245 lbs. Both were one shot kills and using the lever action Marlin made the experience that much more rewarding. We had many other rifles to use but we chose the Marlin and it was the right choice. I had my son's mounted for his wall and the first thing he tells people when they see it is that he got it with a lever action Marlin in .45 colt. Knowing the .45 colt first came out in 1873 along with the 45/70 is kinda cool too.

The only downside to some concerning this rifle is the price. I paid $650 for mine and I understand they have gone up. Since this is my favorite rifle in my favorite caliber, I think it is easy to understand I do not have "buyer's remorse."

[southern utah]

I have an extra Marlin Cowboy Limited NIB in 45lc. 20" oct barrel 1 of 1000 Davidson run.  Letter from Marlin.

[old geezer]

I bought a new Marlin 30-30 midway through the season, and it's first deer dropped in her tracks at about 60 yards.  Bought another one in .357 just after season ended, and can't wait for next season to open.

That's providing I can pry my 8 year old grand daughters hands off it.  She really likes the little 94.  She gets a kick out off busting clays at 25 yards with it.

[Old Griz]

:cb2: I've never had a .35, but everyone who I have talked to that has one says it's the best, or in the top two, of guns they have ever owned.

[papajohn428]

Old Griz is right again.  The only people who love the 35 are the people that have them.  :wink:   Find out why!

PJ

[Rustyinfla]

I have a Cowboy in .44 mag that I think is great. Factory ammo will shoot right thru most hogs. All of the ones I've taken BTW, just leavin room for hogzilla if we should ever meet. The .44 has been used to take every game animal on God's green earth and most of the big ones were when it was used in a handgun.


    Lots of reasons to buy the .45 too.

             Rusty <><

[Coyote Hunter]

If you're going to exclude the .30-30 and .45-70 there are still excellent choices:

35 Rem
.375Win (if you can find one)
.356Win (even harder to find)
.307 (will have to be a Winchester)
.44 Mag
.444 Marlin

For the woods I think a .44 Mag would be  great choice.  The only issue is your range will be more limited, but under 125 yards its a real thumper.

[Big Paulie]

If you are ruling out the 30-30 (which an absolutely superb deer round), then go with the .35 Remington (which is also superb).

     Lot's of people don't want a 30-30 because the name is so common, that its just too boring to say.  But the Marlin 336s shoot those 30-30s with the 170 grain factory loads very well, and they are extremely effective.  On broad side shots, at 150 yards, they routinely go through the deer and out the other side, leaving a nickle sized exit hole.  Deer jump twice, then drop dead.

   There is a reason that the 30-30 has been around for more than 100 years?  It works.

Big Paulie

[mr.frosty]

1895 45/70 works for me, so go with the 336 in 35 or the 444 cant go wrong with either

[Big Paulie]

By the way, Hornaday has announced that they are bringing out hi-energy 30-30 factory loads, in both 150 and 170 grain, that give you performance that is substantially equivalent to the .300 Savage.  (I think that they are within 75 foot pounds of energy with the 300 Savage.)

    This makes the 30-30 a whole new animal!!!  I am going to buy several boxes and put them away.  After shooting a few groups with the new ammo for accuracy check, I will use the standard factory loads to sight in, and then use the new ammo when I hunt.  (I can't imagine that they will print more than an inch or so higher than  regular loads at 100 yards, but I will check this out first.)

     You might want to do a web search, at the Hornaday Websight, to get more info on this new ammo.  It may make you reconsider the 30-30??

Best Regards,

Big Paulie

[Old Griz]

:cb2: I know you said you didn't want a .30-30, but folks keep bringing it up. For years I didn't want one either. I didn't think it was enough gun. Boy was I wrong. With a 1:10 twist, like the Marlin, it's accurate, low recoil, and most folks will tell you, it's very effective on deer. Oh, and did I say ammo is real cheap at Wally World? Snubbed my nose at it for years. Now it's the one gun I would never get rid of. One of the guys I work with grew up in Alaska, and killed his first moose with a .30-30! He was only 14 at the time and too dumb know that you couldn't kill a moose with a .30-30, So he did it anyway.

Sorry you've ruled out the .30-30.  :cry:

[Big Paulie]

Griz,

   My experience exactly.  Not to mention the fact that most Marlins in good shape will shoot two inch groups or less at 100 yard, with factory 170 grain Remington Corelocts.

   The sad boring fact is that a Marlin 336C, with a good 3 or 4 power scope, in 30-30, is all that anyone needs to shoot a deer (even a really big one) out to 200 yards.  Sight them in for about 2.5 inches high at 100 yards, and they will be fine at 200 yards.

    I have heard that the .35 Remington caliber is supposed to be a better killer, . . .but for me, I have never lost a deer that I (or my wife or son) ever shot with the 30-30, . . . . and really, . . .  dead is dead.  I will admit that most of them run (stagger) about 15 to 75 yards before piling up, but in the places I hunt, this is just not a problem.  

Big Paulie

[cam69conv]

Im with those that are sorry you have ruled out the 30/30....Most people dont realize this but the 30/30 has taken more overall kills than ANY other caliber on the planet....Most people in canada and alaska have them and routinely take from deer to moose with them...Ive had mine since I was 9 years old (45 now) and its one of my fav's...I also have the .444 and love it as well...The .35 is also one fantastic cal. as it will take anything on the north american continent with no problems...suffice it to say you pretty much cant go wrong as long as your staying .30 cal. or above.

[leoparddog]

I got it in my head that a 45 Colt was going to be the next Marlin, but then I had a hard time finding one and the cowboy models that I did find were not at all inexpensive.  

After much local looking I have ended up buying a gun from a gunsmith in TX - but its not a Marlin.  Its an EMF Hartford/Rossi 1892 in 45 Colt.  www.stevesgunz.com .  For $480 or so, he gives them an action and trigger job and will ship it to me.  Its strong enough to take the +P Colt loads and was affordable even with the action and trigger job.

I've decided I still want a 35 Rem Marlin and will just have to wait until later in the year to get one.
Thanks guys for all the advice.

[marlinman93]

Might I suggest a really old Marlin? Maybe a model 1893 in .38-55 or .32-40? They are much better guns than most the newer Marlins, and investment wise, they will do nothing but increase in value!