[mrrev]

First post, but been reading alot from you guys though. I'm fairly new to guns, started with the 22, then 12ga, 03.06 and recently an SKS, and now I'm ready for another... The level action has taken precedence over a mini14, just because of what I've been reading on the mini's accuracy and price, eventually and most likely the next one will be in a 223 cal, so any suggestions are appreciated. Ok, I been liking the looks of the Winchester 94 Legacy in 30-30, put the sales guys suggested the Marlin 1894 due to it's more ridgid reciever and all. And how about the choice between a 30-30 and the 45/44 or 375 mag., choices, choices.......
by the way, live in the California central valley, I'll be using it pretty much for plinking and some varmint busting....nothing serious yet, but again I want to have a choice for later, my friends go deer hunting every once in a while........
sorry for all the questions, one doesn't have to answer them all....thx...

[epijunkie67]

As for the first part of your question, I think you are going to get a lot of people on both sides of the isle for Marlin VS Winchester. They both have loyal, some would say rabid, fans. Truthfully, they will probably both be a good gun. My suggestion is to handle both and get the one that feels the best TO YOU.

Which caliber you get will depend on your anticipated shooting needs. 30-30 is a fine short to medium range deer rifle but you may find it a little expensive to just plink with. If you want a fun, cheap to feed plinking rifle then get the .357. Very low recoil, wide range of ammo from .38 special through .38 +P up to good heavy hunting ammo in .357. You can plink all day if you want or you can throw a serious magnum round in it and hunt deer as long as you're realistic about ranges. You aren't going to be taking deer with a .357 at 400 yards but should be fine around 100-150 yards.

When you say 45/44 I don't know if you mean 45-70, 45-40, or 44 magnum. All of them will cost more to feed than the .357 by some degree or another. The 45-40 has less power than the .357, and the 45-70 will have way more recoil. I've never shot a 44 mag in a levergun before so I can't advise you there.

[SamlautRanger]

Go with the Marlin. Much better action and stronger. Easier to mount scope on it. Get a 30-30 for general purpose. For only self defense get the 357, 44 mag, or 41 mag (and also pistol compatible), and for general hunting usage get the 45-70.

[Brady]

I have both Marlin and Winchesters and like them both. In Win.,I have 2 30-30's Model 1894,a Trapper in .44 and 2 Model 1886's in 45-70.

In the Marlin,I have a Model 36 in 30-30 and a 1894 in .44.They are accurate enough for the shooting I use them for. In my way of thinking,the Winchesters look nicer,but the Marlins seem to be made stronger.But is moot point,because how much shooting are you going to do with it. So with the previous writers,go with what you like.Whether its the looks or whatever and the calibers you intend to use. For Deer,either the 30-30 or .44 will do,except the .44 will put a bigger hole in it. The 45-70 you can load up or down etc.

Brady

[mike1966ga]

for me I like the marlin over the winchester, though the winchester is lighter, the side eject of the marlin wins hands up ;)
another thought.......I really like the Savage 99. I like its clean lines and the way it handles. As a lefty, I love its ambidextrous nature. I like the comfort with which you can carry its round-bottomed receiver. most Savage 99s have a rotary magazine suitable for sharp-pointed bullets.
It also has a receiver and ejection system that are both compatible with conventional scope mounting.

[MrMurphy]

I generall prefer the Marlins.. flat top reciever to mount aperature sight, stronger action, true side ejection.

For your purposes, get the .357. I have the same gun in .44, it's got more thump, ammo is more (and .30-30 is even more expensive).

[Brian Williams]

I eally like my Marlin, I looked to see what the folks who shoot a lot of plinking rounds thru their lever guns and the SASS guys and gals tend towards the Marlin in 357 for their gun, because the shoot, last a long time and the side ejection. Get to a Big 5 store near you and get the plain vanilla Marlin 1894 that they often advertize for around $299...

[jwhisler]

i own a Win 94 with a 16" barrel in 44 mag; 44 special feels like a pop-gun compared to the magnum loads

cant wait to take some west virginia deer with it next season

[W Turner]

I strongly favor Marlin in this debate. I am in the process of selling my only lever gun right to pay for another purchase, but I will not be without one for long.

For 90% plinking and 10% hunting which sounds like what you will be doing with it, I would look at the Marlin 1894 in .357mag. A 50-rd. box of .38spl. runs about $8 at Walmart, less if you by the 100-rd. value packs and you can fairly easily get good 180gr. .357mag hunting loads that will do the job out to 100 yards or so. I wouldn't look at the 16" versions though. That short barrel will lower velocity and reduce the effective range for hunting.

W

[Sistema1927]

I personally like Marlin (336, 1894C, and 39A), but have also owned a Winchester 94 in .32 Special, and it was no slouch.

Recognize that these guns are still with us after 100 years + because both designs are very good.

[Legionnaire]

Both are great guns. I favor the Marlin, though. Had a .30-30, but sold it, not being a fan of that cartridge. Settled on an 1894S in .44 Mag, and mounted a Lyman peep sight on the receiver. I don't think you can go wrong either way.

[SLCDave]

If you're looking at the .357/.38 version, the Marlin will (generally) feed .38 specials more reliably than the Winchester.

[Malamute]

Both Marlin and Winchester guns are entirely adequet strength wise for the loads the factory chambers them in. Anyone that thinks the difference is enough to get excited about is incorrect, particularly if they think Marlins are stronger, they are not. It is a common misconception not born out by actual experience.

Tests were done with various lever gun actions converted to 454 Cassull, (60,000 psi loads), the Marlin action failed sooner than the several Winchester models, the newer Winchester angle eject not lasting as long as an older pre-war 94 action, and the winchester 1892 type action lasting longer than any of the others tested, it actually survived the tests and has been living a useful life afterwards. As I recall, none of the guns tested lasted more than about 30 rounds before failure, and none failed by "blowing up", they just becams inoperable from receivers bulging around the locking bolt (Marlin) to frame stretch making it impossible to fire or function.

The Marlin action looks stronger, but the actual area of the bolt supported by the locking bolt is much less than the Winchester designs (94 and 92), and the receiver tends to try to spread at the locking bolt area when overloaded. The 94 Winchester action has much more of the bolt supported by the locking bolt, but the bolt is angled slightly. The 1892 Winchester action has the locking bolts (2) supporting much surface area of the bolt, and the bolts are at right angles to the bore and bolt line. Both 92 and 94 Winchester actions have a web of steel bridgeing the inside of the receiver that seems to help keep the receiver from trying to spread apart as the Marlin will.

Before flaming me, I'm NOT trying to be critical of Marlins, just relating what the tests showed. My preference is Winchesters, but the strength issue is not a major concern for me. All are entirely strong enough for regular cartridges and standard pressure loads, and should last a lifetime. My preference is for the top eject action that makes single loading small game rounds easier, clearing a round from the chamber and leaving the magazine loaded without the "juggling act" that Marlins reguire to do this, and the reduced need to take the gun a part to clean it. I can keep Winchesters clean without taking them apart, I can't keep a Marlin clean unless I take it apart. I've used both for many years, I've just tended to Winchesters over time, they seem more user freindly to me. In 30-30, the 94 Winchester is lighter than a comparable Marlin if weight is a concern.

As far as the "top eject vs "side eject" thing goes, I think it's a Marlin marketing concept. I've never had any problem with anything getting in a "top eject" Winchester, or a "top eject" M1 Garand, or "top eject" bolt action, etc, nor have I ever heard of it being a detriment in any of these guns. (The Savage 99 is also a "top eject" design) Earlier guns that were scoped gave the advantage to Marlin, but with angle eject Winchesters, this isn't an issue any longer. Just get what you like best, but don't think either has any great advantage. They are both good guns, and will both shoot better groups than most people can shoot with loads they like. I've had both that would shoot groups of an inch or under with good loads. Maybe not every day, on demand, but to do it without going to any special care other than trying for a decent group is very gratifying.