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It's not my primary deer rifle, but I have an old Marlin (actually, Western Field, but I understand they were made by Marlin for department stores, back when that was a thing) that I use when I'm in an area that tends to have closer shots. It's my uncle's old deer rifle...he was a good ole boy who didn't care much for seasons or others telling him when he could fill his freezer. He was also a WWII Marine who took zero crap from anyone and, to the day he died, always had an open beer in his pickup (he died from lung cancer, not drunk driving). There's a lot of history in that rifle and my cousin's grandson, named after my uncle, will receive the rifle when he's old enough to start hunting.


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Looks like there are still lots of hunters using leverguns for hunting. Thanks for the responses.


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I have a marlin 336 in 44 rem mag. Great combo

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Originally Posted by TnBigBore
I have noticed that in my part of the country you still see a few folks using Marlin or Winchester leverguns as their primary deer rifles. I used to see a lot more back in the 1980s. What about in your part of the country?


I think they'll always have a following. Also, most every serious hunter has one in his safe. There so easy to just grab and go. And out to a couple hundred yards they still get the job done. they're just part of America.


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four lever guns here. Three marlins, 35 remington 44 mag, and a 45-70. My other one is a savage 99 in 300 savage. It was my grandpa's

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Interesting question. I have 4 Winchester Model 71s in .348 WCF. Very close to the original 1886.
The 348 will take on anything from mulies, Coues deer, elk and-bear and moose.
Iron sights tend to make still hunters out of the dedicated. Have a few pre-64 M-70s but
they are for the inter-mountain elk and mule deer. Even AK is good territory
for lever guns. The 71s and 1886 rifles will reliably lever cycle much faster than any bolt action.
Nice to know that in grizzly country.


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Not a lever gun but I do use a tc contender 30-30


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I still hunt with mine and I will next year. I just refurbished one and had it re-bored and chambered in 35/30-30, so I'll try it out. I can't get a shot past 75 yards, so it doesn't matter if it's not a long range rifle. I switch around from bolt guns to lever guns, but it's hard to beat the handling and feel of a lever gun for deep woods.

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I deer hunt in a restricted firearm zone (straight walled rifle cartridges only) so my main deer rifle is a 444 Marlin.

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Been hunting with Marlin lever actions for 25 years or so. One day I was 25-30' up a pine tree in a thicket where I could only see about 35 yards. I looked down at my rifle and realized that I didn't have the right rifle for the job at hand. What I had in my lap was A Browning A-bolt Stainless Stalker in 25/06. It was loaded with my handloads that pushed a 90gr Sierra HPBT at 3400 fps. The wrong tool it was. By the time season opened the next year I had found a 1973 Marlin 336 in 35Remington to hunt the thick stuff. I finally realized that it would easily handle probably 90% of the shots I would make in the woods I hunt. There are several more Marlins in my safe now but the 35Rem. is the one that I grab the most. I know most people say that the Winchester model 94 is the classic American lever action deer rifle and it carries better than other leverguns. But I have shot scopes for almost all my hunting from my air rifle on. Marlin simply scopes better without having to carve out its receiver. For that reason I started out with Marlin and have never looked back. I've come to the point that the Marlins, whether scoped or not, look better than it's competitors too. But the greatest reason I have stayed with Marlins over other lever actions is the variety of calibers available. There is something that's just almost magic about a medium bore rifle pushing heavy bullets at ho-hum speeds. They really do seem to kill game far better than what the gun rags tell they should. To copy what gunwriters say, "They kill far out of proportion to their paper ballistics."

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Last edited by Goat; 02/20/20. Reason: Clarity

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In addition to my Marlin 336 44 mag (1962) I have a Marlin 444 and a Savage 99 EG 300 Sav 2 guns I regret selling where a Winchester ?browning 1895 that was re-bored to 35 Whelen and a Savage 99 Saddle gun 250-3000 What was I thing when I sold those 2? I am an idiot

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Have always loved hunting with levers, mostly Winchesters. Have finally settled on the 356 have a trapper, 20in barrel on the top eject 375 action and a 24in version all with peep sights and cerakoted. Settled on the 200gr factory load and 250gr Kodiaks. Hunt Alaskan rain forest for moose/deer.

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I'll be hunting with my newly refinished, refurbished and re-bored Marlin 336 next deer season. I had it bored and chambered in the 35-30 Wildcat because some idiot ruined the original bore. It was a fun project and now I have until November to work up a load. So far It shoots great. I put a 2.5x fixed power scope on it and it worked out perfect.

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I have hunted whitetail since 1966 my first deer rifle was Marlin 336 35Remington killed several deer with it. As money came along easier I filled a gun safe with all sorts of bolt guns in many cartridges from 223 thru 458. As I got past I got to kill something stage I started using that old Marlin again also a Win model 94A 30_30 and a Rossi 92 45 Volt where I hunt it is mostly open timber. Sometimes my old eyes miss a shot I know I could've make with most any of the couple dozen scoped bolt guns I ow but I really don't care. Truth is I am just happy having had a shot and I just enjoy carrying a short lever gun. But when I get a buck with one it makes it all the sweeter.

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I just can't leave my win 71 at home when heading for the woods. we have deer and black bear. Love this thing.

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Yup

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1894 .25-35


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Ancient order of the 1895 Winchester

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I was recently handling an antique Marlin and was very impressed with the way it balanced. If the deer stop walking in front of my scoped bolt action, I may get a lever and walk'em up.

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I took my first deer with my grandfathers Winchester M94. So I have always had a soft spot for the 30-30. Got a Marlin 336 in my early 20’s and I personally prefer it over the Winchester. I have not been without a 30-30 since. I would say 95% of my hunting is done with a Marlin 336 in 30-30 topped with a Japanese made Simmons 4x scope. Absolutely love that combo.

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Depends on where I'm hunting. In the east Texas piney woods, my spot has max 100 yard shots and most are 50 yards. My Marlin 336 in 30-30 is a great gun in there and I took a nice buck this year with that lever gun. Out in west Texas, I prefer something with a little more range and less drop, so the 30-30 gets a breather when I'm out west.

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As a kid in Pa I started with a marlin 30-30 but have hunted with so many guns and calibers because I am a rifle looney, bolt action, single shot,etc but this year's deer hunt will be a lever action hunt just need to decide which one , 30-30,.375 win, 45-70


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