[Min]

Which would you prefer for a .357 mag carbine? And why?

[Hutch]

Among Cowboy Action Shooters, the consensus is that the Marlin 1894C is a better, more reliable gun than the Win '94 in pistol calibers. In .30-30, the Win94 is fine, but that is of no concern to Cowboy Shooters, as the rules specify pistol calibers. I have a mammoth hankering for an 1894C in .357 to go with my .44M, but used ones seem to get snapped up as quickly as they appear.

The rules for Cowboy Action Shooting notwithstanding, I prefer the side eject of the Marlin to the top eject of the Winchester. I'm not familiar with field stripping Winchesters, but the lever comes out of the Marlin with the removal of one screw, allowing the bolt to be removed and the rifle cleaned from the breech. New Marlins are sold with Ballard-style rifling instead of MicroGroove, which seems to aid with accuracy with cast bullets. The new ones also feed .38Specials as well, which allows cheap and pleasant plinking.

[P7HVN]

I always had a real urge to get a 94 .44 carbine and would just about do it every time Big5 had them on sale. However, when I finally bought one I ended up with the Marlin 1984C(w/16" ported bbl). It was about $100 more but worth every bit of that, in terms of fit & finish. To look at them side-by-side, I think the Marlin is just in a different league, like a basic Savage compared to a Weatherby. Have an Aimpoint on mine and it's surprisingly accurate, and most of the gun rag comparisons of the two usually showed the Marlin as being the more accurate one. Having said that tho'; if it's going to be used hard and/or often, and you like the feel & look of it, the 94 is still a fine rifle for it's intended purpose.

[J Calhoun]

I have a Marlin 1894CP in .357 and love it. I chose it over the Winchester for a few reasons. Some are: 1) I don't like how the Win. has exposed parts when ejecting. 2) Over-all fit and finish. 3) The Marlin feels better. 4) The Marlin has side ejection.

[MeekandMild]

Marlin. ;)

[Soap]

Until Winchester resurrects the '92, Marlin.

[lawboy]

I have the 94 trapper. I love it. I have fired both Marlin and Winchester. The Marlin is smoother on average. That is the only advantage I can see. All else is personal taste I have never had nor heard of a rifle being rendered inoperable in the field due to something falling into the action. If such were common the bolt action would have long since gone the way of the dodo bird. Easy lever removal seems like a plus ... if you plan to remove it regularly. My Winchester is as accurate as the Marlins I have seen. It feeds 38s flawlessly, shoots well with lead bullets. I like the look of the Winchester better, more classic lines. However, I also like the marlin quite a bit and bit and will own one in 45 colt before the year is out. bottomline is it really does not matter which one you buy so long as you like it.

[mainmech48]

I like the Marlin over the 94 Winchester because it's simpler and a bit more proportional to the cartridges it uses.

I like the 92 Winchester design better than either. Since USRA doesn't make them, I had to buy two from Rossi. The 16" Trapper is about as sweet a woods loafing carbine as you could ask for. Slap a Lyman 66A or a Williams FP on one and it's amazing how fast and easily you can hit with it.