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Posted: 10/29/2015 9:50:11 AM EST
I just purchased a 20+ year old Marlin 336CS in like new condition. I don't really know why, other than the fact that it was a gun and it was a bargain. I don't own any other fudd guns other than a couple I inherited from my grandfather.

I've never had any dream to be a cowboy or a turn of the century lawman.  I can't think of a single thing I could do with this rifle that wouldn't be done better, faster or easier by one of my more modern arms.

Outside of specialty cartridges like the .45-70 or ultra restrictive jurisdictions does the classic lever gun still fill a useful role?

Rules:
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 9:52:18 AM EST
[#1]
Sometimes you just gotta have some fun.

Here's my mid-'60s vintage 336 in .44mag.


Lately, it actually gets more attention than my tactical stuff at the range. Everyone wants to shoot it.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 9:53:16 AM EST
[#2]
I love them for hunting.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 9:53:18 AM EST
[#3]
Yes. Last year we were finally allowed to hunt with pistol caliber rifles during deer gun season. Lever actions seem to be pretty popular for that purpose.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 9:55:03 AM EST
[#4]
I wish I had one.


I should fix that problem
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 9:55:34 AM EST
[#5]
I've considered picking up a few in case they might survive future gun control atrocities on semi's.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 9:56:01 AM EST
[#6]
I live in a very rural area, if things got bad I would have no problem carrying my 30-30 or 45-70 for a defensive weapon. They are a very rugged gun and have decent capacity with no worries of keeping magazines for it. Just enjoy it and have fun.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 9:56:48 AM EST
[#7]
There's no such thing as a Fudd gun.

I have a 336 also. I don't have any particular use for it, I just figured I should have one.

Link Posted: 10/29/2015 9:57:37 AM EST
[#8]
Every gun safe should house at least one good American made lever gun.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 9:58:13 AM EST
[#9]
I love my 1894C.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 9:58:40 AM EST
[#10]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Sometimes you just gotta have some fun.
View Quote


this...Honestly my favorite rifle to just grab and plink with is my 39A and half the time I end up shooting 22 shorts in it.

I had a 336 in 30-30 here for a bit, but it was my brothers gun and he asked for it back last year.  Would not mind owning one of those at all..
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 9:59:05 AM EST
[#11]
Same place as a black powder gun.  Hunting, Fun, Competition.



Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 9:59:47 AM EST
[#12]
Sub-Sonic
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:00:16 AM EST
[#13]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Every gun safe should house at least one good American made lever gun.
View Quote



Its part of a well rounded gun collection.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:01:44 AM EST
[#14]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Sometimes you just gotta have some fun.
View Quote


This. They belong in the "fun as heck to shoot" category. Also, hunting...
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:03:33 AM EST
[#15]
Hunting.  Even home defense.  Think about it. Virtually all American women have seen a cowboy flick where a lever action rifle was used.  They already know how to work the action.  

BTW, just saw the Gregory Peck flick, Only The Valiant.  A small patrol led by Peck is holed up in an adobe fort that guards the entrance to a narrow mountain pass.  From it they are to hold off the Apaches (yeah, Apaches took to horses like the Commanches or Sioux) to prevent them from attacking their main post, Fort Winslow. There are plenty of lever action goodness in the film.  Mind you, after 1870 the US Army virtually abandoned its Civil War lever action rifles (Henrys and Spencers) in favor of the Trapdoor Springfield.  Ordnance didn't want the men to waste bullets.  It was a contributing factor to why the Seventh Cavalry and Custer had their arses handed to them (one year before Little Bighorn they still were equipped with Spencers).
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:05:03 AM EST
[#16]
The JM stamped Marlins are ever increasing in value. Beautiful piece you have there!
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:05:11 AM EST
[#17]
Of course. They're a fun gun to shoot, and practical, too..
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:05:23 AM EST
[#18]
Absolutely!   That's an Appalachian assault rifle  
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:06:39 AM EST
[#19]
I bought a Rossi '92 .357 just to screw around with.  Proper .357 loads out of a 16" barrel are comparable to .30-30, I was already set up to reload .38/357 anyways, I can handload mouse-fart .38's that are pretty freaking quiet, and I can use it at an indoor range.  Semi-auto pistol caliber carbines just aren't as versatile.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:06:52 AM EST
[#20]
They do have their uses.



Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:06:55 AM EST
[#21]
What an odd question.


EVERY gun has a place!!!  Every gun needs a good home, where it can be loved and cared for.  Somewhere there is a gun that hasn't been fired since it left the factory...     Won't you please help today?
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:07:09 AM EST
[#22]
Define "useful role".

That's a very subjective concept.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:07:27 AM EST
[#23]
Model 94 Winchester was/is my first center fire rifle.

It was bought about the time I was 2 by my grandfather, and I got it for my 14th birthday.  Every deer I've shot has been with it, and I'll never sell it.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:07:43 AM EST
[#24]
Of course they still have a place.



I wouldn't feel "under-gunned" at all if I had to use my Marlin 1894 .44 mag or .45 colt as a home defense weapon....
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:07:44 AM EST
[#25]
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:07:45 AM EST
[#26]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
The JM stamped Marlins are ever increasing in value. Beautiful piece you have there!
View Quote



No kidding.
I bought a super clean '81 built 336 in 30-30 several years ago for $275 on a GB auction.
And I was the only bidder.
A rifle in that condition easily pushes $400 plus today.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:07:47 AM EST
[#27]
Hell, yes. My first gun is the Marlin 336A thuddy thuddy. Still have it.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:08:57 AM EST
[#28]
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:09:47 AM EST
[#29]
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:10:10 AM EST
[#30]

I need one.  I'll probably pick up a 30-30 model sooner or later.


About 20 years ago I had a .357 Winchester 94 and traded it off like a fool.  


Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:10:37 AM EST
[#31]
I have a Rossi 92 in 357 mag.  The only real purpose it serves is my own amusement.  Which is enough.  Iowa is shotgun only for deer hunting so the classic 30 30 never had much use here.  Owned one several years ago, a Win 94 , and found the experience very underwhelming.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:10:56 AM EST
[#32]
Very soon I hope a lever action Winchester will have a place in my safe. I've recently realized I've overlooked this in my collection and hope to remedy this soon.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:10:57 AM EST
[#33]
My 336 is my favorite gun to shoot.  Period.



End of thread.




Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:12:22 AM EST
[#34]
Take a look at some of the YouTube videos that show people who practice with lever guns for Cowboy action matches before you make a decision about whether or not they are viable defensive firearms.  with some practice, a lever gun having a 10-15. Round capacity would be VERY useful in a fight.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:12:58 AM EST
[#35]
My BLA says yes.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:13:33 AM EST
[#36]
Longmire says yes.


Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:13:45 AM EST
[#37]
They are great pig-hunting guns.  I installed ghost ring sights on mine; the standard 336 sights suck.



BTW, I see prices on them are creeping up. New, blued models at Wal-Mart are pushing $400.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:15:06 AM EST
[#38]
One of the guns I lust after....
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:15:26 AM EST
[#39]
Yes
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:15:26 AM EST
[#40]
I still need to by me a 30-30
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:15:46 AM EST
[#41]
I used to think like you.

I sold a lot of my c/r guns and owned an AR in .223 and 308 and a glock.

Dependable, efficient, best tools for what I needed to accomplish. Only 3 tools to take care of everything.





How fucking terrible of a hobby does that sound like?


Yeah, I agree. Pretty shitty. I don't want to spend 60 years of my life with 3 practical guns doing the same thing over and over again. Now I have a ton of useless guns that I enjoy shooting and fondling. Dim the lights down low. Whisper sweet nothings to them. Play pretend shoot in my garage when it's too cold to go to the range and the wife can't see me. BANG BANG!!!! PEW PEW!!!!

Goddamn vietcongs creeping up to my shop? Or injuns? or Whatnots? You betcha, we gonna paint the town red. Kill all them sonsabitches. BANG BANG!!!! PEW PEW!!!!

I buy guns bc they are fun, not practical. I have no practical use for a gun at this stage of my life other than a long rifle in my pickup for coyotes when I check cattle.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:16:16 AM EST
[#42]
Welp, I'm a takin' my model '94 30-30 a deer huntin' this year
So, yeah
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:16:21 AM EST
[#43]
My dad has that same gun. He likes it for hunting every once in a while.

I wouldn't mind one in 45-70.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:17:32 AM EST
[#44]
Lever guns make some of the best "walking around" guns for several reasons.

They are generally lighter and shorter than semiauto rifles, unless someone is building a specialty ultra light build, or the lever gun is uncharacteristically heavy for caliber.

They are more reliable than semi auto with a wide variety of ammunition. You can load super hot or very light, and reliability does not change. I can load a very light 44 special for squirrel, and then immediately have enough power from a heavy, hard hitting 44 magnum for bear defense at the stroke of the lever. Neither of these rely on a gas system to operate.

They are generally less expensive than semi auto rifles. A decent lever gun can be had for $450-600 NIB, which is the low end of on sale ar15 type rifles from the "value" brands. I've seen 99% condition lever guns for sale on the Facebook groups for as little as $250.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:20:50 AM EST
[#45]
125 years ago they were cutting edge technologies in firearms.  If the antis get their way we will be having discussions on which Eotech for 45-70.

I would very much like to have a lever action in .357 along with a SAA in the same caliber.

Like some else said, I should do something about that.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:27:42 AM EST
[#46]
1. It's light, handy and reasonably powerful.
2. Ammo is reasonably easy to find.
3. It's easy to stash in a vehicle and  equally easy to get out quickly because of its sleek nature.
4. You can have an untrained user up to speed on its manual of arms fairly rapidly.
5. Its appearance doesn't attract unwanted attention in most cases.

You got a quality gun for cheap.  Done over think this.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:28:50 AM EST
[#47]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History


Gun nut moment:

I was beside myself when he started popping that thing off, one after another.......... without working the lever.

Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:29:52 AM EST
[#48]
Of course they do.  Controlling ejection is great when you don't want to loose brass.  Closed bolts suppress better due to no action and no extra gas noises.  Lever's may not be the speed kings, but they pretty sweet elsewhere - and are a good speed compromise when compared to bolt actions.  
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:32:40 AM EST
[#49]
Yes, especially in 45-70.
Link Posted: 10/29/2015 10:32:42 AM EST
[#50]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I have a Rossi 92 in 357 mag.  The only real purpose it serves is my own amusement.
View Quote


This is why I bought one. It's just fun to shoot. Not everything has to be all tactical-smactical
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