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Message
Opinions wanted on future rifle purchase
Posted on 11/14/25 at 12:55 pm
Posted on 11/14/25 at 12:55 pm
I’ve got $500 in BassPro/Cabelas gift cards and am having a hard time deciding between a Springfield M1A Scout and a Marlin Lever Action.
I want to use either for hunting and feel like the M1A is the better choice. I feel like Springfield M1As aren’t going anywhere while Marlin lever actions are harder to get.
Undecided on a caliber for the Marlin lever action, but I just wanted the board‘s opinion.
I want to use either for hunting and feel like the M1A is the better choice. I feel like Springfield M1As aren’t going anywhere while Marlin lever actions are harder to get.
Undecided on a caliber for the Marlin lever action, but I just wanted the board‘s opinion.
8
Posted on 11/14/25 at 1:03 pm to hometownhero89
Odd comparison to work through.
An M1A with a scope is a very big and heavy rig. Difficult to make into a very accurate rifle. Scope mounts are complicated and expensive. Its a battle rifle, made to be reliable and durable enough to bayonet and beat people to death. Its a .308 so obviously will work well for big game.
Marlins make fine hunting rifles. They aren't going anywhere in the immediate future. Quite expensive for what they are but if its what you like, itll be easier to hunt with than an M1A.
An M1A with a scope is a very big and heavy rig. Difficult to make into a very accurate rifle. Scope mounts are complicated and expensive. Its a battle rifle, made to be reliable and durable enough to bayonet and beat people to death. Its a .308 so obviously will work well for big game.
Marlins make fine hunting rifles. They aren't going anywhere in the immediate future. Quite expensive for what they are but if its what you like, itll be easier to hunt with than an M1A.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 1:05 pm to hometownhero89
quote:
Springfield M1A Scout
Good looking gun without a scope. With a scope it just looks odd to me.
quote:
Marlin Lever Action
Can't go wrong with this especially if want a "hunting rifle".
quote:
Undecided on a caliber for the Marlin lever action
A .30-30 would be a classic caliber with readily available ammo. My buddy has one in .35 Rem that is a deer slayer though.
This post was edited on 11/14/25 at 1:06 pm
Posted on 11/14/25 at 1:14 pm to hometownhero89
The m1a is a bit more cumbersome for hunting. The marlin would likely be easier to tote around. If you plan to shoot more than 200 yards often, the M1A might be better suited caliber-wise.
45-70 and 30-30 are excellent deer cartridges though.
45-70 and 30-30 are excellent deer cartridges though.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 1:39 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
An M1A with a scope is a very big and heavy rig. Difficult to make into a very accurate rifle. Scope mounts are complicated and expensive. It’s a battle rifle, made to be reliable and durable enough to bayonet and beat people to death. Its a .308 so obviously will work well for big game.
My buddy lives in Idaho, and I figured that the M1A would be better for Elk hunting. I figured since the M1A can shoot 7.62 with a soft top and a .308 that I had more discretion in round choice for what I was going after in Idaho. Cheaper to go up there and hunt with him on BLM land than trying to setup a lease situation here.
quote:
Marlins make fine hunting rifles. They aren't going anywhere in the immediate future. Quite expensive for what they are but if its what you like, itll be easier to hunt with than an M1A.
I agree and love lever actions, I want both of these rifles at some point but am just looking for advice on which to grab this Black Friday.
I was leaning on a .357 or .44 caliber for the lever action but I think I will lean toward the 45-70 and 30-30 instead.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 1:44 pm to Clyde Tipton
Great info and thanks for the response.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 1:45 pm to hometownhero89
quote:
Elk hunting
Oh God no, get something lighter. For what an M1A costs you can get a tikka T3 and a good scope. Lugging around a scoped m1a on an elk hunt would be terrible.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 1:46 pm to Theduckhunter
quote:
The m1a is a bit more cumbersome for hunting. The marlin would likely be easier to tote around. If you plan to shoot more than 200 yards often, the M1A might be better suited caliber-wise.
I’m a big baw so that shouldn’t be an issue. But the distance you bring up is exactly why I wanted to reach out to y’all. Seems like it’s a situational ask and solution either way.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 1:47 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Scout 9.3 lbs
Marlin 7.6 lbs
Marlin 7.6 lbs
Posted on 11/14/25 at 1:55 pm to hometownhero89
quote:
I will lean toward the 45-70
I'd stay away from the 45-70. Plenty off knock down power for an elk, but the bullet drops fast because it's so heavy.
However, and this is interesting, because the bullet is so heavy, if you learn how to shoot the round it can be very accurate because windage doesn't affect it as much. Keep in mind though for a 300 yard shot you'd be aiming nearly 3 feet above it's back.
From Google AI...
quote:
The 45-70 can strike targets at 1,000 yards; however, it does not have a flat trajectory. If you sight in your 45-70 hunting rifle at 200 yards, you'll shoot nearly 7” high at 100 yards and have about 30” of bullet drop at 300 yards.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 2:05 pm to hometownhero89
quote:
I’m a big baw so that shouldn’t be an issue
Big and heavy is an issue on an elk hunt both for equipment and people.
M1A is a cool rifle and fine for a box stand and all but an absolutely awful choice for western hunting.
I deer hunt with a Garand quite often. Trust me. That platform is designed for warfighting, not hunting.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 2:25 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
Big and heavy is an issue on an elk hunt both for equipment and people.
I have an AR-10 that is close to 15lbs in 6.5 CM. I'm a big guy as well (6'4" and 240lbs). I carried it hunting one time with my son when he was little. Had the gun, backpack, heater, etc in a box blind.
Shot a doe. Carrying all that and dragging the doe .25 mile back to the truck just about did me in and I was in pretty good shape at the time. I can't imagine toting a 10-12 lbs rifle and a quarter section of an elk, and a pack up and down hills trying to get back to the vehicle that's no telling how far away and doing that 2 or 3 times.
What i'm trying to say is that you will be carrying with you way more than the rifle.
This post was edited on 11/14/25 at 2:26 pm
Posted on 11/14/25 at 3:20 pm to hometownhero89
Another cool gun is the Browning BAR.
ETA: but I’d do the TIKKA 3 lite for elk if I ever had a chance. Just saying.
ETA: but I’d do the TIKKA 3 lite for elk if I ever had a chance. Just saying.
This post was edited on 11/14/25 at 3:22 pm
Posted on 11/14/25 at 3:28 pm to hometownhero89
you need to go handle an M1A if you haven’t. Very cool rifle with rock solid action but it’s a 10 pound load and pretty uncomfortable to sling and and carry. As the others have said it’s a civilian version of a battle rifle.
It would be pretty far down the list for me as a hunting rifle. If you do want a scout in 308 (and you should) the ruger gunsite scout is a far better choice
It would be pretty far down the list for me as a hunting rifle. If you do want a scout in 308 (and you should) the ruger gunsite scout is a far better choice
Posted on 11/14/25 at 3:50 pm to W2NOMO
quote:
Another cool gun is the Browning BAR.
That's what I deer hunt with in .270.
I'm pretty sure they make one in .338 Win Mag.
Now that's an Elk gun.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 3:52 pm to hometownhero89
You’re looking at two poor choices. And by the time you buy an elk tag and travel to Idaho, you will not have saved any money.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 5:20 pm to 257WBY
quote:
You’re looking at two poor choices. And by the time you buy an elk tag and travel to Idaho, you will not have saved any money.
I don’t think anyone saves money elk hunting
. That being said, what would your other option be? 
Posted on 11/14/25 at 6:13 pm to hometownhero89
quote:
Marlin lever actions are harder to get
Marlin was recently acquired by Ruger so they're not going away and the quality should step up significantly from when Remington owned them
Posted on 11/14/25 at 6:47 pm to hometownhero89
M1A Scout, I love mine.
Posted on 11/14/25 at 7:03 pm to hometownhero89
quote:
Elk hunting
FWIW the guide my grandfather used to hunt with in Wyoming pretty much exclusively hunted with a 30-30.
You’re looking into some cool guns for sure, but less than ideal for Elk hunting.
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