I think you and I are sort of alone. My second choice was a bushmaster. As you look at the large bore choices the Marlin uses a modified belt. I was thinking the bushmaster must headspace on the case mouth. That must be the weakest of the three, however, the one a lot of people chose for the those states with straight wall cartridge restrctions. The socom has a shoulder Thus I thought it must be the best in that regard. I was hoping someone with real experience using a bolt action would come along and enlighten me/us.