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Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
Other than the obvious difference of side eject on the Marlin, what are the pro's & cons of buying one over the other?
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RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
[ol][*]Winchester is a little handier with a slimmer receiver[*]Marlin has a forged receiver[*]Marlin feeds ammo better[*]Marlin has a better trigger[*]Marlin is more accurate not that it matters that much[*]Marlin is still made [*]Remove lever and you can clean the rifle from the breech[/ol]
Forgot all about advantage 7 |
RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
oldelkhunter's probably right. Most objective evaluations I've seen usually come back saying the Marlin's a better gun.
I still like the Winny, though. Nothing warms my heart like a Winchester 94. Hard to explain, I guess. To me, it's kind of like two old GTO musclecars. One has an automatic transmission and the other's a stick shift. The automatic probably cost more back in the day and was easier to drive and there were probably fewer made, etc. But which one is more fun? :D No, Win 94's don't have great triggers. They are lighter, though, which IMO makes them more handy. To me, they just feel right, both carrying around and shouldering. I've never had any feeding issues with them, though, and with iron sights, the 94 with the new pointed Hornady ammo will shoot better than most hunters are capable of. I believe it's going to be easier to throw a scope on a Marlin. The newer 94s have a side eject which makes a top mounted scope possible, and the old ones can be fitted with a side-mount scope. But to me, using a scope with a 94 (or any lever-action) kind of defeats the purpose and takes a lot of the fun out of it. I'd say get your hands on both and see which one calls out to you. Good luck and happy shopping. |
RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
I have a Marlin and I think it is one of the best built deer rifles ever made. Mine is a deer killing machine.
The major pro I see is like okie said It is still being made. It also doesn't have the straight grip. ("I" never liked them much). Mostly though it will come down to personal preference. |
RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
Oldelkhunrer [ol][*]Winchester is a little handier with a slimmer receiver[*]Marlin has a forged receiver[*]Marlin feeds ammo better[*]Marlin has a better trigger[*]Marlin is more accurate not that it matters that much[*]Marlin is still made [/ol] Can't say it better!:) |
RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
I've had horrible luck with 2 of the 3 Winchester model 94's I've had. I won't even consider them anymore. My 94 30-30 wouldn't shoot at all. No matter what ammo we shot in it just wouldn't shoot. Sent it back, had local gunsmiths look at it. No luck, just wouldn't shoot. I traded it for my 336CS 35 Rem. and haven't looked back. I had a model 94 Big Bore in 444 Mar. This was the singlebiggest piece of s#*t firearm I've ever owned. WhenI shot it,the action was very hard to open. The more I shot it the worse it got. I owned this rifle for over a year before I shot it and realizedthere was something wrong with it.Winchesterdidn't want to know anything about it. Traded it for myMarlin 444. I didn't have any trouble with my model 94356 Win.My friend wanted it, I didn't use it so I sold it.No more model 94's for me. [/align][/align]I've hadno problems at all with either of the2 Marlin's I've owned over the years. Still have my 35 Rem. I stay with what I've had good luck with, and stay away from I'vebad luck with. [/align]
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RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
I had a model 94 Big Bore in 444 Mar. This was the singlebiggest piece of s#*t firearm I've ever owned. WhenI shot it,the action was very hard to open. The more I shot it the worse it got. I owned this rifle for over a year before I shot it and realizedthere was something wrong with it.Winchesterdidn't want to know anything about it. Traded it for myMarlin 444.  I have a similiar experience with the444. A friend of mine at the time sold me a 444 Marlin 336. That rifle could just plain shoot. A week after I bought it home he received his new 444 and it was a Winchester timber carbine . He went out and shot it and a week later asked me if I would sell the Marlin back . I should have said no but I never let a gundeal go sour with anyone especially a friend so I let him have it back. Holding the timber carbine in my hand it felt superior to the marlin until I worked that lever and squeezed that trigger. Then I knew why he wanted the old Marlin back. I guess he finally got his wits back. |
RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
I have owned neither, however I do have an old Winchester Modell 55, take-down, which is mighty close (if not the same) as a 94, and it's a nice rifle. That said, and going purely by my grandfather's advice, ... he told me if I wanted to buy a lever gun and i was deciding between Marlin and Winchester that I should buy the Marlin. The only reasons he gave me were ...
1. great barrel for accuracy 2. stronger and better lock-up of the bolt 3. Smoother/tighter action on the lever. I am not a smith, but pretty much took him at his word... however I have never researched it. Everything else that was different, he said, was a matter of personal preference. He always said that the Winchester was a good rifle, but that his preference was for the Marlin. He used to fix all kinds, and he said there were far fewer issues with the Marlins that came in. |
RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
Marlin is a much better gun.
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RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
well i think it is preference, and not to say 8mm/06's grandfather isnt right, but just because he worked on more win. then mar. dosnt mean that winchester isnt as good of gun, you never know how good the people treated their guns, me i am a winchester person, so i would say winchester, but i do know that marlin is also i very good gun company i would say it is all how they feel to you.
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RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
IMO it comes down to whether you want to scope the rifle or not. The Winchester(pre-64 of course) is tough to beat with open sights. It is lighter, faster handling, and every bit as accurate as Marlin, but it does not lend itself well to scope mounting. The Marlin is also a fine firearm. I have a couple of Winnies and Marlin's. My objection with the Marlin is the unsightly hole in the side of the receiver. I much prefer the older Marlin;s that had the ejection hole cover. I prefer the Marlin 1894(44 mag.), it has the cover.
For me a lever action is meant to befast handling, and to be shot with open sight's. That is why I prefer the Winchester. It just feels better in my hand's while I am carrying it, and I am slightly more accurate(off handed) with it. I would give the Winchester 94 an A+, and I would give the Marlin an A. Tom. |
RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
ORIGINAL: c j oldelkhunter's probably right. Most objective evaluations I've seen usually come back saying the Marlin's a better gun. I still like the Winny, though. Nothing warms my heart like a Winchester 94. Hard to explain, I guess. To me, it's kind of like two old GTO musclecars. One has an automatic transmission and the other's a stick shift. The automatic probably cost more back in the day and was easier to drive and there were probably fewer made, etc. But which one is more fun? :D No, Win 94's don't have great triggers. They are lighter, though, which IMO makes them more handy. To me, they just feel right, both carrying around and shouldering. I've never had any feeding issues with them, though, and with iron sights, the 94 with the new pointed Hornady ammo will shoot better than most hunters are capable of. I believe it's going to be easier to throw a scope on a Marlin. The newer 94s have a side eject which makes a top mounted scope possible, and the old ones can be fitted with a side-mount scope. But to me, using a scope with a 94 (or any lever-action) kind of defeats the purpose and takes a lot of the fun out of it. I'd say get your hands on both and see which one calls out to you. Good luck and happy shopping. I agree, it does warm my heart to shouler the old "94" but Marlin makes a better lever. You can scope it or have your choice of what kind of iron sights you want to choose. They are more dependable and have a smoother action. They seem to built stronger and are drilled and tapped for mounts. The bluing is excellent along with the american walnut they use for stocks. This sounds like I don't like Winchester, I do, I just think Marlin makes a better all around levergun. |
RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
I know there are lots of good things about the 336 but I wouldn't trade my 1962 '94 for three Marlins :) Killed a lot of deer with it and it just 'fits' me. I have plenty of scoped rifles that are fine for certain situations but when I'm planning to hunt the thick stuff, the '94 goes with me.
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RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
I like the solid top reciever of the marlin best. The action is stronger and on AVERAGE the marlins are marginally more accurate-but not by much.
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RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
ORIGINAL: millerhunter13 well i think it is preference, and not to say 8mm/06's grandfather isnt right, but just because he worked on more win. then mar. dosnt mean that winchester isnt as good of gun, you never know how good the people treated their guns, me i am a winchester person, so i would say winchester, but i do know that marlin is also i very good gun company i would say it is all how they feel to you. I have to admit that when I handle my Win Model 55 and compare it to my brothers 336 the Winchester does have an easy-to-the-cheek feel and is comfortable in my hands. But I suspect when actually shouldering in the field with a rapid heart beat I wouldn't notice a thing. |
RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
I've had both. The Marlin was definitley the superior of the two. Easier for scope mounting, cleaning, and more accurate. I really liked the pistol grip too. I have a 94 that was a gift from my wife. Its one of my favorites for obvious reasons. It is slimmer and I have a peep sight on it and use it for special occasions when Im on a afternoon doe hunt or just dinking around. I sighted it in off a bench once and my cheek looked like I went a few rounds with Mike Tyson. I still love that gun though, it'sa classy one. Im sure that that model has taken a huge share of the deer population.
I would say that if youwant a nostalgic back up gun, go 94. If its your primary gun and you need a scope for 200 yard shots, go marlin. |
RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
Let me say first I love the Marlin Lever guns, but If I had to chose just one deer gun it would be my 94. They are slim, light, and point like a dream. I scoped mine this year with a low power scope to take advantage of the new Leverevolution ammo and try something new. What a great combo. I've had no issues with the scope or mounting. Next year though I will probally go back to iron sights on this gun. Like it was said before, this gun really is made for snap shooting iron sights. As for cleaning the inards its really not that hard. It looks a little tough when you start, but if I can do itI am sure that the majority of people could pull it off.
I do believe however that the Win 94 is best suited to 30-30 and similar. I didn't care for the Big Bore versions. I really think you need agun that is a little more robustfor 45-70, .444 and such cartridges which is where the Marlin shines. |
RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
ORIGINAL: oldelkhunter I had a model 94 Big Bore in 444 Mar. This was the singlebiggest piece of s#*t firearm I've ever owned. WhenI shot it,the action was very hard to open. The more I shot it the worse it got. I owned this rifle for over a year before I shot it and realizedthere was something wrong with it.Winchesterdidn't want to know anything about it. Traded it for myMarlin 444. I have a similiar experience with the444. A friend of mine at the time sold me a 444 Marlin 336. That rifle could just plain shoot. A week after I bought it home he received his new 444 and it was a Winchester timber carbine . He went out and shot it and a week later asked me if I would sell the Marlin back . I should have said no but I never let a gundeal go sour with anyone especially a friend so I let him have it back. Holding the timber carbine in my hand it felt superior to the marlin until I worked that lever and squeezed that trigger. Then I knew why he wanted the old Marlin back. I guess he finally got his wits back. I have a Model 94 Big Bore and I get along great with it! I've had NO problems what so ever with it. I must admit, if I'd had the same experience that y'all had, I would have been pi**ed too! For me, I'mwith Winchester all the way. Iwill admit,I do agree for the big stuff, Marlin makes a stronger rifle. But as mentioned earlier, I like the feel of my 94's much better than a Marlin. I like the quick handling of a 94 and I'll admit, I'm attracted to the nastalgia part too. Does that matter when you're trying to shoot a deer? Hell no! I know most of y'all have heard that in Indiana we can now use rifles with pistol cartridges in them and man I can't tell you have "cool" it felt to be able to hunt with one of my ole 94's! I grabbed that 44 mag and headed out to the woods and I was on cloud nine! As cj said, it's kinda heartwarming! How about both!!?? A scoped 336 for the longer shots loaded with the Leverevolutions and an iron sighted94 with some good ole Winchester Power Points and you have it all!!!! Great thread! I've enjoyed the reading! |
RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
Marlin 336 by a long shot-- I have had the opportunity to own both and still have my golden 50 Marlin in 30-30. Yes the Win. is a little lighter, but imo the Marlin is a better manufactured gun. It mainly boils down to personal preference though. Good luck in your choice.
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RE: Winchester 94 vs. Marlin 336
Killed a big ol' doe with the Marlin today, and a five-pointer last Friday. Great rifle, the Marlin 336 - it just says hunting.
I've gone through other rifles, and they were fine. But the Marlin is satisfying. I don't see need for another one one, yet. Maybe if I join a club or get access to land with lots of big crop field... where's I'll need to be taking shots waaaay out there - maybe then. But the Marlin is pretty, carries well, is accurate, and drops the deer RIGHT NOW, more often than the .270 did. Get a Marlin. It'll kill the deer as well as anything else you can buy, with the added virtues of moderate recoil and noise, and cheapest factory ammo in a deer-appropriate calibre. A further benefit is it gives lie to the clowns who claim the 30-30 is too weak, old, or obsolete. |
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