Help me pick a rifle.
- Thread starter Vermonter
- Start date
new_scopeshooter
New member
What about a marlin336 inc 35rem! That should do the trick!
Lots of good advice above.
I agree that any good lever rifle in any good caliber is fine. If it will break big deer down it's going to be OK for black bear.
The question is; Do you hand load ammo?
A 357 with a 180 or 187 grain LBT gas checked bullet is something you have to use to appreciate, but left to most standard revolver ammo, I would choose a 30-30 over a 357 carbine. Now when hand loaded with the big LBT bullets the 357 actually surpasses the 30-30 out to about 50 yards.
Both will do what you need and the 357 holds a lot more ammo.
30-30, 35 Remington, 44 mag, 444 marlin 45-70, are all good.
In a Browning lever gun you can get a 260, 7-08 308 338 federal and 358.
Again all are good.
I bold guns you can have about anything you'd like. I do like everything about the Ruger scout, but I think they could have done a better job with their 10 round mag (which is all the size of a 20 shot FAL mag, but with only 1/2 the rounds and the price is almost insulting it's so high)
You also could consider the browning BAR auto loader. They have some light weights ones out that are really nice.
The autos are set up for right hand shooting, but every left handed shooter I know says they are fine for left hand shooting too.
Remington makes the M-7600 in a carbine version in 308 30-06 and at lest some in 35 Whelen.
And lastly you can look at an AR-15 in 458 SOCOM or 50 Beowulf. Those are heave hammers at close range, very short and handy, have very light recoil for the power they give and fun to shoot.
Lots here to think about
I agree that any good lever rifle in any good caliber is fine. If it will break big deer down it's going to be OK for black bear.
The question is; Do you hand load ammo?
A 357 with a 180 or 187 grain LBT gas checked bullet is something you have to use to appreciate, but left to most standard revolver ammo, I would choose a 30-30 over a 357 carbine. Now when hand loaded with the big LBT bullets the 357 actually surpasses the 30-30 out to about 50 yards.
Both will do what you need and the 357 holds a lot more ammo.
30-30, 35 Remington, 44 mag, 444 marlin 45-70, are all good.
In a Browning lever gun you can get a 260, 7-08 308 338 federal and 358.
Again all are good.
I bold guns you can have about anything you'd like. I do like everything about the Ruger scout, but I think they could have done a better job with their 10 round mag (which is all the size of a 20 shot FAL mag, but with only 1/2 the rounds and the price is almost insulting it's so high)
You also could consider the browning BAR auto loader. They have some light weights ones out that are really nice.
The autos are set up for right hand shooting, but every left handed shooter I know says they are fine for left hand shooting too.
Remington makes the M-7600 in a carbine version in 308 30-06 and at lest some in 35 Whelen.
And lastly you can look at an AR-15 in 458 SOCOM or 50 Beowulf. Those are heave hammers at close range, very short and handy, have very light recoil for the power they give and fun to shoot.
Lots here to think about
We may have a winner
I might do the marlin 336 in a 16.5" 3030. I can get one at a Local shop where I can hold it. (a big plus for me all around) for $425.
I understand this to be a youth model that will hold a total of six rounds. The LOP is an inch shorter than standard but I could either live with it or add an aftermarket recoil pad if I had to. At this point I would buy this and then someday do the scout if I could ever find a LH model while I am at it.
Any size on the smallest 336 they make?
Thanks, Vermonter
I might do the marlin 336 in a 16.5" 3030. I can get one at a Local shop where I can hold it. (a big plus for me all around) for $425.
I understand this to be a youth model that will hold a total of six rounds. The LOP is an inch shorter than standard but I could either live with it or add an aftermarket recoil pad if I had to. At this point I would buy this and then someday do the scout if I could ever find a LH model while I am at it.
Any size on the smallest 336 they make?
Thanks, Vermonter
sigshepardo
New member
Have you considered the Marlin 1894 stainless steel in .44 Mag? It might change your mind.