[soyer38301]

Since i live in Illinois I am considering a lever action rifle since it is more or less "assult weapon" ban proof...already have a bolt 308 and a single shot 270.

Any suggestions and/or guidance? Thinkink of a 357/38 for caliber...

TIA

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[Maine-Marine]

You can never go wrong with a 30-30

 

[ekim]

You can never go wrong with a 30-30

That's what I think so that's what I got.

 

[soyer38301]

Was looking at thr Marlin 336 in 30-30 but was also thinking about it in a SHTF for what caliber might be more readily available.

Or....gee...i guess i get to pick up some more dies and reload 30-30

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[ekim]

Was looking at thr Marlin 336 in 30-30 but was also thinking about it in a SHTF for what caliber might be more readily available.

Or....gee...i guess i get to pick up some more dies and reload 30-30

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30-30 ammo should be one of the easiest to find anywhere I would think.

 

[StratMaster]

30-30 ammo should be one of the easiest to find anywhere I would think.

Sure it is. Out in the rural areas especially. In a hypothetical hardcore SHTF scenario, maybe a pandemic where people are dead everywhere, a house to house/farm to farm search would yield plenty of .30-.30 rifles and shells. Be sure and check grandpas closet! I have several Marlins ... they can be picked up cheap and handed out as necessary. Got one with a good scope for meat as well. Ditto 12 gauge shotguns... pick 'em up cheap.

 

[Mad Trapper]

marlin or win 30-30. win is hadlier, mar shoots a bit better, smoetimes

New ammo will get you faster shells, that won't bump in the mag.

browning does 30-06. Browning kicks azzz

P.S. Mine is a pre 64 94 Winnie

 

[Slippy]

45-70?

 

[RJAMES]

I got the Marlin 30-30 it gets a lot less attention from folks. Some do not think it is worth stealing. Works well, easy to handle it is the way to go in your situation. Makes a great deer rifle.

 

[ekim]

45-70?

That sir is a real lever gun!!!!:armata_PDT_37:

 

[Slippy]

That sir is a real lever gun!!!!:armata_PDT_37:

Been looking at the Marlin 1895 BL in 45-70 for a while now.

Check out the Stainless Steel Model. YOWZA!;

https://www.marlinfirearms.com/lever-action/model-1895-big-bore/model-1895sbl

 

[Chipper]

Just get a 44mag lever gun. 10 rounds instead of 5. Ballistics are the same if you check it out. Plus you can get a hand gun in 44mag pretty cheap. Why would you want a 30/30??? You can also use 44 special if you can't handle the 44mag.

 

[ekim]

Been looking at the Marlin 1895 BL in 45-70 for a while now.

Check out the Stainless Steel Model. YOWZA!;

https://www.marlinfirearms.com/lever-action/model-1895-big-bore/model-1895sbl

Not to bad, me like that one.

 

[Denton]

Just get a 44mag lever gun. 10 rounds instead of 5. Ballistics are the same if you check it out. Plus you can get a hand gun in 44mag pretty cheap. Why would you want a 30/30??? You can also use 44 special if you can't handle the 44mag.

A buddy has a .44 lever action. Crazy thing packs a wallop!

 

[Salt-N-Pepper]

Even though the 30/30 is a deerslayer extraordinaire, you can't deer hunt with a rifle in Illinois... that's kind of a buzzkill, but then again the People's Republic of Illinois totally harshes my mellow.

I've got a Marlin 30/30 (I'm not sure it is legal to live in rural Missouri without owning a Marlin 30/30, and I've got a few other lever guns. One that I'm really jamming with a lot is a steel Henry .357 with the big loop on it. I have the 16.5 inch carbine and it totally rox sox.

 

[soyer38301]

45-70?

I have never fired a 45-70 but from a couple videos i have seem it might take my shoulder out

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[soyer38301]

Leaning more toward marlin over henry from a loading standpoint, but a lot depends on what i can find at what price

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[rice paddy daddy]

45-70?

Unless you reload, cost is in the neighborhood of $2.50 per trigger squeeze.
I've got one in a single shot - New England Firearms Handi Rifle. When you touch her off, you know something just happened.

Lever guns are great guns, but I'm not convinced the hand gun calibers are the way to go - 357, 44, 45 Colt, etc.
I have both a Winchester 94 and a Marlin 336 Texan, both in 30-30. You just can not go wrong with a 30-30.

 

[rice paddy daddy]

Leaning more toward marlin over henry from a loading standpoint, but a lot depends on what i can find at what price

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Inspect any Marlin carefully before buying. When Remington bought out Marlin in 2010, they moved all the Marlin parts to New York. But not the Marlin employees. From 2010 to about 2014, the 336's were assembled from these parts by Remington employees, who may or may not have known exactly what they were doing. Fit & finish, and function was questionable.
Any made since 2014 SHOULD be OK.

You should be able to buy a used Marlin made one, they are the best. To know if it's a real Marlin and not a Remlin, look for a stamp on the left side of the barrel, above the wood and immediately in front of the receiver. The stamp will be small, not real obvious, and will be a JM inside an oval.

 

[Smitty901]

A good lever action is always nice to own. The right Marlin, Henry, Winchester. If Deer hunting the 30-30 has a proven track record. The 357 would sure be cool to own. And as others noted the 45-70 is a part of the history.
The right Marlin 336 is a great affordable weapon . It will last generations. The Henry will last many generation and each it is passed to will remember you fondly. When my second son moved out on his own at 18, one of the fire arms that went with him was a Marlin 336 30-30. The one he took his first deer with. He is 41 now and it is still in his hands and still takes deer . No doubt it will go to his daughter.
The Winchester 30-30 the Sons gave me is a Cool rifle heavy , and that hex barrel just looks right on it. Good luck in your search for the right one.