Is it a good deal?

[kneedownnate]

Went out to look at lever guns at lunch and found a Marlin 30-30 lever for $250. Didn't catch the model, but the stock and bluing are in very good shape, as is the rifling. It looks quite similar to a Winchester, save for the lever pivot being more visible, which is actually why I prefer the winchesters, but they're more expensive.

I've wanted a lever action for a long time but never got around to buying a new one when they were cheap new back in the early 90s. Hell, I didn't even know Winchester stopped making them until the other day when I looked at their site, and now they're well over $1000 for an 1894

I know it's blasphomous, but I'll have to put a kick pad on it since I separated my chest in a motorbike crash a few years back, but it'll otherwise stay stock and open sighted.

Can anybody come up with a good reason why I shouldn't buy it tomorrow on my lunch break?

[Red Dwarf]

Based on prices I've seen around here, that sounds like a decent deal if its in good shape. I've never really checked "book" values though.

[Sully]

You won't find one much cheaper. It's a good gun, bring it home.

[Pt_Ranger_V8]

Does it have a safety? If not, that's a pretty good price.

[Halogrinder]

you can find them cheaper. hell a new 336 marlin is 300 and change...

i got mine cheap

[SilverZuk]

That is about going rate for one around here.

[reddwarf]

I prefer the Marlin over the Winchester 94. Side ejection, and just feels like more of a gun.

Once bought a REALLY nice Marlin Bicentennial edition for $120, sold it the next day for $200. I WISH I would have kept it

Try to get it for $200-225, but 250 isn't all that bad if it's nice

[mkozlows]

The Marlin being side ejection it is far easier to mount a scope. I have had a 336c for years, in my opinion they are just as good if not better built than the Winchester.

[Rattlecan]

$250 is fair.

If it's a shop tell the person behind the counter that you are paying cash and see if they'll throwin a box of shells.

[Sturgell]

Originally Posted by mkozlows

The Marlin being side ejection it is far easier to mount a scope. I have had a 336c for years, in my opinion they are just as good if not better built than the Winchester.

I like the Marlins in that aspect as well, it also is nice to not have hot brass going down your shirt. The Winchesters look more like a lever gun is supposed to look but that whole top eject thing bothers me.

[chumly2071]

Reading around on the web before I bought my 336 I read several times that the Marlins will handle the max load stuff better than the Winchesters. I have no real data to back that up though...

[wyldstallyn73]

I would have jumped on that a month or so ago- best price I could find on used Marlins was about $325 around here, so I just went and got a new 336XLR instead. Found out two days later that the girlfriends youngest son has one tucked away in his closet that he never shoots anymore- said he would take $200 for it. Probably going to buy it too.

[kneedownnate]

Ok, looked at it a little more today and it does have a safety and is the micro groove model, for whatever that's worth, and I think it was a 30a. Looked at big 5 a few days ago and the 336 was about $420 new, so I went ahead and put it on layaway.

When I go back to pay it off I'll try to talk them into throwing in a box of shells, but it's by no means a deal breaker. The gun is clean and in good shape, has a fairly smooth action and a surprisingly light trigger pull.

[Fisheadgib]

Originally Posted by chumly2071

Reading around on the web before I bought my 336 I read several times that the Marlins will handle the max load stuff better than the Winchesters. I have no real data to back that up though...

I own several lever rifles and the Marlins definitely have heavier built recievers than the Winchesters.

[WillyPete]

The only marlin I own is a .22, but the model 94s handle "top end" .30-30 loads just fine. They were built for it, after all. And it's a fawking .30-30 you're talking about, not a Weatherby cartridge

If by "top end" you're referring to loads measuring out at maximum SAAMI pressures, then I'd say that any rifle built for that cartridge will handle "top end" loads just fine

If you're trying to hot-rod .30-30... why don't you just get a .308?

To answer OP's question: that's a good price. I almost bought one at that price, but I already have plenty of Winchesters, and I wouldn't want to make them jealous. Regarding the ridiculous price on Winchester's website: those are limited runs of "collector" and "high grade" model 94s. They don't really represent the affordable model 94 they used to make. You can find used model 94s for <$300 if you look.

[kneedownnate]

Stopped by Walmart after work saturday for the weekly ammo check, saw some 30-30 on the shelf and couldn't help but buy some. I guess I'm kinda commited now

[Aces'n'8s]

Originally Posted by kneedownnate

Stopped by Walmart after work saturday for the weekly ammo check, saw some 30-30 on the shelf and couldn't help but buy some. I guess I'm kinda commited now

You can always squeeze a little more umph out of the .30-.30 with Hornady's Leverevlution ammo.

[4runner]

not a bad deal, but if you were paying cash on the spot, you could have offer $225 or ask them to toss in a free box of shells and I bet they would have...

layaway? well, you just almost have to pay full price now.


I am sure you will enjoy it regardless of the price...
post up some photos when you get it and let us know how it shoots.

[kneedownnate]

Will do. I'm sure I coulda haggled a little, but I wasn't really in the mood and really can't stand the guy I was dealing with. Seems each gun shop in town has that 1 guy who just ruins the experience for you. Either way I'm happy and can pay it off slowly.

Leverevolution will be on the list, but for plinking, the $12 box federal stuff will do just fine!