Marlin Model 336 Classic

The Marlin 336 is the rifle that defined American deer hunting for three generations. Ruger acquired Marlin from Remington in 2020 and restarted 336 production at the Mayodan, North Carolina plant in 2024, with the Classic configuration on shelves nationwide by late 2024. Build quality is the best the 336 has seen since the original New Haven production: cold-hammer-forged barrel, fitted American black walnut stock, deep blued finish, and a checkered satin walnut forend.

The action is a side-ejecting lever that clears the top of the receiver, so a scout-style scope mount or a low-ring traditional scope mounts without an offset rail. The .30-30 cartridge is exactly what whitetail hunters have used inside 200 yards since 1894, and the 6-round tubular magazine plus one in the chamber gives the same payload profile that has worked for every previous Marlin generation. This is the right pick for stand hunting, brush country, and anyone who wants a rifle that fits the cultural memory of American deer hunting.