Gents:

I'm trying to educate myself on these two rifles and in particular the 336 and 94 iterations. Though I am putting together an all conditions 375 on a M70 I'd like to look for a good little deer woods carbine and was thinking about either the 30-30 or the 35 rem cartridge.

A buddy told me to look for a 336 with Ballard rifling though I can't say I know what that is.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jeff

marlin has offered rifles in ballard style rifling and 'microgroove' rifling. There are some that say ballard rifling is more accurate with cast bullets. It makes no difference in the rifles I have, both styles of rifling are accurate with anything I choose to shoot.
Today, the most important consideration in purchasing a marlin is to be positive you do not buy one of the 'transition' rifles. Freedom group bought marlin, closed the plant and sent the machinery to the Illion remington plant. Many of the new guns have 'issues'.
Buy a used or new old stock gun. Look for North Haven on the barrel and a JM proof mark. My advice would be to especially avoid marlins with the fist two letters of the serial number being 91. These have had reciever barrel issues on many models where the barrel is not on straight.