Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Which would you pick in M336 -- 35 rem or 30.30?

Guys,
I may have the chance to pick between a marlin in 3030 or 35 rem from a relatives collection, but I have no experience with either caliber for deer hunting.
My use would deer hunting only in northern MN at typical woods range.
The 3030 would be nice for cheaper ammunition, but I've heard from guys that have shot both say the 35 rem had a noticable performance edge.
I know either caliber will work, but give me your opinion on which one to pick and why (or why not). Also add if there are design issues, for instance one caliber "feeds" better than the other.
Thanks in advance.
H

Me i would take the 35 rem in a milla second. No other reason than 35 is bigger and shoots heavier bullets which to me makes a better woods rifle. Just my opinion,nothing against the 30/30 and all the folks who love theirs. This should make for an interesting forumn for sure.

Given your choice I would go with the 35. Hornady makes pointed bullet ammo (LeverEvelution) for it. That can extend the effective range quite a bit.

I would pick the .35 Remington. Probably most on this site would do the same. We likely all have .30-30s already.

However, you may be more of a practical hunter type than a rifle looney. If cost and availability of ammunition is more important to you than coolness of the chambering, you may prefer the .30-30. Either will work for hunting deer in MN.

Depending on mfg, ballistically nearly the same, and both kill deer. One is approaching $30 for factory ammo, the other can still be found for under $15. If you reload, I'd go for the .35. If you're going after black bear, go for the .35.
You certainly can't fault either; they've been around for a very long time doing the same thing well.

35 Rem.!!!

I like the 30-30 15 1 shot kills all at woods range . Plus ammo is cheaper.

I no longer have a 30-30, but I will always keep a 35 Rem around.

wow... very 35-ish. It must be the shear volume of 3030's out there that keep the ammo cheap. I remember 35 rem used to be "on sale" with 3030/3006/270/308/243 ammo when I was a kid.

Do the deer tip over quicker? My friend that suggested picking the 35 said he never tracked past 30 yards.
Good call on the 35 for bear.
Keep the opinions coming in. We need some fire here.

This is a trick question, isn't it?
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If I were to choose between a Marlin 30-30 or a Marlin .35 Rem. Lever Action Rifle from MY relatives collection ...

I would first consider the condition, vintage, and (cough) VALUE of each rifle.

If, all these considerations be equal ... ...
I'd grab the .35 Rem. and Run.

Well I could add some fuel to the fire.. There is a rough savage 99 in 3030 and peep sight that is so old it has a curved metal butt plate.
The marlins are in about the same shape although I wish I had grabbed the half magazine 3030 my sister got.

I'd jump on that Mod 99 if the price works. Mayhap an 1899. I have four Mod 99, and none in .30-30. I really like the 336 Marlins in .35Rem. Seem like the perfect match for a quick woods rifle. But I tend to lean to Mod 94 Win in .32Spec. I have a long and a short of each. A nice little thurty-thurty never tripped my trigger, but there is one in my cabinet. Good luck.

If you go with just the <Marlins> go with the 35 only becaure once it yours and you want to buy a 30-30 there easer to find .Now throw in the 99 hands down go with that. I have one great shooter hard to find and worth more got the peep also.

Ammo would be a strong point for me, because I don't reload it's alot cheaper for me to shoot a 30-30. Plus there is alot more selection of ammo. I feel the 35 vs the 30-30 for killing is minimal, and a better shot is more important. This goes back to the price thing, the more I shoot it the better shot I will be(or should be). I own several 30-30's and I would buy a 35 but the right deal hasn't come around.

35 rem is my lever action by choice!1ST RIFLE i EVER OWNED! now have several.=)

35 rem is definitley the winner! OK guys i'll let you in on a secret...
These are my deceased dads guns and I am eyeing up what ones I want to pick out when Mom finally passes them out. I have the 35 in my safe now and I have been trouble shooting an occasional mis-fire issue (seems to be a 35 rem marlin issue) and I am really looking hard at this rough 99. It has a cracked stock that was poorly repaired, heavy varnished, weak safety spring, notches in the forearm counting the deer on one side and timberwolves on the other (I think...). It has a square rectangular cocking indicator which I think dates it to 1912. My father bought from an uncle or ??? when he was young and I think most of the abuse was done before him (dad born 1930). I'm banking on my antique hound sister won't grab it because it is very rough and I am going to fix it enough to use.
So... I'm going for both, but the 35 will be the brush buster for me unless I am in a nostaglic mood. I'll pass on the marlin 3030 in hopes to get the savage out hunting.

Grab that 99 and HAUL AZZ!

I hope my next rifle is a .35 Remington.

I'm going to consider the 336, but I'm kinda partial to an older Remington 760.

I will reload for the round.

As most of us do not put hundreds of rounds a year through woods rifles, ammo cost is not a major factor. I too would recommend the .35 Remington. A Marlin 336 is .35, combined with a low power variable scope of 1-4X, is just about ideal for eastern woods hunting.

I would go with the .35 and never look back.