I love those old 24" half mag. Marlins.. Have had several now a .30-30 and .25-35.. Both are a blast to shoot..
I have always considered the Marlin 338-A models the poor man's Winchester model 64. The 24-inch tapered barrel on the "A" models points like a quail gun.
I have both the short magazine tube Glenfield in 30-30 which I prefer carrying the Glenfield in the field.