Marlin lever guns are back—and a lot of folks say they’re better than ever. In this episode, we walk through Marlin’s “renaissance” under Ruger, from the tactical 1895 Dark Series and compact 1895 Trapper to the nostalgia-soaked 1894 Classic in .44 Mag.

We cover what Ruger actually fixed after the rough Remington years—fit, finish, accuracy, and machining—plus why the .45-70 Government still reigns as a hard-hitting, do-it-all hunting caliber. We’ll compare Marlin’s new rifles to Henry, talk classic vs tactical setups, and explain why so many shooters think Marlin has truly returned to legendary status.