New Marlin 1894 CST, CSBL or 336 SS

Well, I have a LOT of Marlins, been collecting them for years, and I've owned a few of the new ones that are made by Remington. Here is my suggestion, take it or leave it.
Purchase a used JM stamped(pre-Remington Marlin). The Remlin quality control is still spotty at best. You can get a good one, but if you don't, you are in for some pain. A lot of rifles are still being turned out with canted barrels poor fit and finish and very rough machining inside. I check them in the LGS's at least once a month, and I have yet to not find one that needs to go back to the factory! I'm a dealer, I'd stock them....but I'd be sending back 3-4 out of every 10 I purchased....so no thanks.
Folks will say they've gotten better, over the years....10 years actually.....and they still don't have it right...but who knows....maybe this will be the year!
I'd purchase a Henry if it wasn't for the lack of a loading gate...bought them tried, them, sold them....they are nice rifles, but it's what you like and are used to!
Good luck with whatever you decide!
mazer

Purchase a used JM stamped(pre-Remington Marlin). The Remlin quality control is still spotty at best.

This^^^^^
I have an 1894c that was produced during the transition from JM to REM. The barrel was improperly indexed, but I didn't notice until I installed a rail. It went back to Remington custom shop, and they re-indexed it. They also stamped it with the Remington proof. So now it has a JM and Rem proof. I added a Wild West Trigger Happy Kit, and William's FO Firesights. Both are fantastic mods. Nice 3 pound trigger with no Marlin flop, and sights that are extremely bright in minimal light. My Cowboy assault rifle is a blast to shoot, and plenty of power when needed @ almost 1500ft/lbs.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=103

Yea I've done a good bit of research about the Remington buyout and all of what y'all said is correct. I too have heard they have gotten better, and the only reason for looking at new is the warranty and not having to worry about if the rifle was ever NOT cleaned properly.
The 30-30 is extremely popular, but I also live in SC, most of the time the 30-30s for sale are from the type of people who leave them sitting in the bed of their truck all deer season and they do not have a JM stamp.
They guys who actually care about their tools/guns tend to hold onto those JM rifles. And much like duck boats down here, people think they are made of gold.

I too like the Henry's, but same thing with the loading gate. Only rifle I ever had like that is my 22 from when I was 8 lol.

As far as hunting goes, after Google-ing for a while, I could use 357 for short range hunting if I wanted too, the performance literally increases by 40%+- and some of the hotter stuff was shooting at 2000+ fps. (I also usually hunt deer etc with my M1A)

I'd been wanting to pick up a 357 lever carbine for a long time, and was going back and forth between a used JM 357, Henry Big Boy Steel and new 1894CSBL. I decided to roll the dice on a new 1894CSBL and I'm glad I did, what a nice rifle.

Fit and finish on the Remlin is excellent; equal to my JM 1894SS 44 and just slightly under my 70's era 336 30-30. Everything lined up; no canted barrel (like a former S&W I owned), no sharp edges, great stainless finish and stock, just a little gap in the tang (being picky), but it is even with the stock and no sharp corners sticking up. Really like the balance and the compact size; it snaps right up for quick shots.

I was a little concerned about feeding 38's, but right out of the box it shot dead on with multiple brands of 38's and 357's; not one issue with feeding or ejecting over 200 rounds. POI for both calibers was very close up to 100 yds. The action is very smooth and the trigger is excellent. I've had several guns in my life where everything just clicked and this is one of them.

Just thought I'd pass along my experiences so far, for those who were considering one of these...

Oh I got mine for $900/shipped. More seem to be showing up now, and the prices appear to be dropping a little.

I dont have a Marlin, or any lever action for that matter. But.... I love 38/357 and have been eyeing the CST for a while, too.

No offense, but I think this thread is looked at in a different light by me, I'll explain. I have many 357's, TRR8, 66-2, V-Comp 629, 686-6 7 shot and my favorite rifle of all time.... my custom Ruger 77/357. Cut to 16.5, threaded (shoots a form 1 can), Boyd's At One stock I have customized and VXR Patrol 1.25-4x and some other goodies.

So, 357 vs 30-30, I am biased here, as noted above. But, if you want to get into hand loading, 357 is the way to go. I load everything from gallery loads (1 000 buck in a 38 special/38 short colt, good small rabbit popping or backyard fun) up to a subsonic 245 grain cast 35 Whelen bullet (352 SAECO mold) for some serious subsonic quiet thumpers out of my suppressed Ruger. Think sub 300 blk out, but heavier and cheaper, 13 cents a round. This "thumper" round has energy of a medium 10mm out to 250 yards or so, would you take a deer with a 10mm? I dont hunt deer, but wouldnt think twice, especially at 100 yes or maybe longer. Drops like a brick, but give/take, always get compliments about how quiet it is at the range. I have also been shooting 158 XTP at about 2200 FPS with Lil Gun in my rifle, so can be hot rodded, top-not so quiet even suppressed, lol. Lil Gun is a gamble in revolvers, though, forcing cone errosion-just for caution. But there are pages and pages of reload data for 38 and 357, its just been around for so long that alot of powders and bullet combos have been shoved in that case. So you can have a serious hobby spent on 38/357 (if you wanna get creative like competition guys add 38 LC and 38 SC to the mix, Starline makes these last 2 to 38/357 dimensions for this reason) round for pistols and rifles, lots of possibilities with the same dies, Casting molds, casings, etc.

Side note: it's also why 357 is my SHTF choice,because it is versatile and it's pretty easy to find/make reload components for. And pistol to rifle changes the round a bunch, again, versatility.

Another thing is that the CST is threaded for suppressors, that's why they are expensive and in higher demand. The "T" in the end stands for threaded. So Its not a clear and cut comparison on platforms here, price wise. Some company actually makes a M-Lok handguard for the CST as well. So think Benelli eagle vs Benelli duck hunting shotgun, or 1911 vs Sig P320 all decked out Hunting/old school vs tactical/tacticool.

So, if your going to reload, 357 all day long. If your going to suppress, Marlin CST or Ruger 77/357 (cut/threaded) all day long. Want a legendary rifle round and rifle? 30-30 old school Marlin, but Marlin 357 is legendary, too, hard to find, wonder why?


Oh, and you should google 357 for deer hunting and even bear (I wouldnt suggest bear, but people have done it, even moose). Its a round that many say is weak, well, read the stories about Elmer Kieth taking 400? 500? Yard kills of goats and antelopes from pistols!! Compare ballistics and read the history. Now a days people think you need maximum energy for anything. I've met people that have taken deer with a 6" revolver, many older guys, at 75 or so yards. Now enter rifle and modern powders/bullets. I'm suprised people dont hunt rabbits with .223, it's just the craze nowadays.

Heres my 77/357 just for poops and giggles at the range. You can see the "thumpers" in the blue box.