For a lot of deer hunters, this is the rifle. The Marlin 336 has been a lever-action staple since 1948, and it is chambered in .30-30 Winchester, the classic whitetail cartridge. This version has a 16.3 inch barrel and holds five rounds.

Marlin's seller notes point to what sets it apart from earlier models: an open side ejection port, a flat-top steel receiver, a chrome-plated breech bolt and a takedown design. Micro-Groove rifling came in during 1956. Because the ejection is on the side, a scope can be mounted low over the receiver, which many hunters like. Spend an afternoon at the range with it before you count on it, so you know how it handles and where it shoots.

A short barrel makes a rifle quick in thick cover. The 336 carries well in a saddle scabbard, rides in a truck without trouble and comes up fast on a deer in the brush. The .30-30 is mild to shoot and has taken more deer than almost any other round.

It is a reliable, no-nonsense rifle for the woods, and the price is friendly. The rifle ships to your local FFL dealer, where the background check is completed at pickup.