Kachok
Member
Within 150 yards the 30-30 is all you will EVER need on deer sized game. With 170gr bullets within 100 yards it has a solid reputation for droping full grown elk!! Don't let anyone fool you this is potent medicine in the brush.
Marlin or Winchester 30-30
- Thread starter Hunter72
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788Ham
Member
I don't know..... I've never owned a Marlin, but I wouldn't trade my Win. Big Bore .375 for one just to see if they are better. You did good son, that's why they make bolts, sliders and autos, everyone wants something they can call their own!
AStone
Member
I looked at both, but went with Marlin. Owned one as a kid, sold it, regretted it, bought another.
I looked at Winchesters the second time around. Classic rifles, and beautiful.
But the Marlin won me (again) based on how it felt, the action, even the sound,
not to mention reviews that I read.
Now that you've got a 336, click on "levers" in my sig line, and come join the 336 club.
I looked at Winchesters the second time around. Classic rifles, and beautiful.
But the Marlin won me (again) based on how it felt, the action, even the sound,
not to mention reviews that I read.
Now that you've got a 336, click on "levers" in my sig line, and come join the 336 club.
Freedom_fighter_in_IL
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You may change your mind on that thought when you start getting older and your eyes just don't cut it on irons anymore skiking. And I have yet to own a Winchester mod94 that pointed any better than any of my 336's or .444's. I don't think I have had a deer complain about which "brand name" I killed it with either
The 94's are "prettier" but in all actuality I have yet to see a "pretty" gun function any better than an efficient, well put together, solid performing rifle.
GuysModel94
Member
Get one of each
I own both and they are both great guns, the Marlin is tighter and i do have a scope on mine. Both of these are the easiest guns to bring to your shoulder and get on target, which is why i've owned a model 94 for more than 30 years. I enjoy both rifles on their own merit!
I own both and they are both great guns, the Marlin is tighter and i do have a scope on mine. Both of these are the easiest guns to bring to your shoulder and get on target, which is why i've owned a model 94 for more than 30 years. I enjoy both rifles on their own merit!
The whole reason I pack a levergun is because they are very compact, relatively snag free and very quick on target, if I put a scope on it I might as well just take the bolt gun out instead. And I have never fired a Marlin that lined up on target effortlessly, they just don't feel right.
BLACKHAWKNJ
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- 1,134
I am a Marlin Man myself, though I intend to get a M1894 "someday". IMHO it's like Colt vs. S&W. Both are excellent, neither is better, they're just "different".
Tomcat47
Member
I prefer the Marlins myself, but have a few of each.
I think the Marlin is a better built rifle than the Winchester and the Micro Groove rifling is more accurate hands down.
They both shoot good and perform good, and handle good! I have hunted deer and varmints with the both of them and am fat and happy and the freezer has meat in it.
You should try some of the new Leverlution ammo for your new gun and be amazed. It will reach out even in 30-30 to the 300 envelope with substantial energy and accuracy.
also if you going out varminting or coyote management try these Remington 30-30 Accelerator....200 yard coyote eliminator! Perform very well out of Marlin.
Happy Hunting
I think the Marlin is a better built rifle than the Winchester and the Micro Groove rifling is more accurate hands down.
They both shoot good and perform good, and handle good! I have hunted deer and varmints with the both of them and am fat and happy and the freezer has meat in it.
You should try some of the new Leverlution ammo for your new gun and be amazed. It will reach out even in 30-30 to the 300 envelope with substantial energy and accuracy.
also if you going out varminting or coyote management try these Remington 30-30 Accelerator....200 yard coyote eliminator! Perform very well out of Marlin.
Happy Hunting
AStone
Member
Hmmm. I want to learn more about these ...
76shuvlinoff
Member
Being a southpaw if I was going to scope a lever, Marlin.
Abel
Member
Yep, that 375 is a nice cartridge. I wouldn't trade either....but you could buy the 375 a buddy to keep it company.
Rediculous and non corroborative. You won't sell this claim to me or anyone else with a need to shoot a deer at 100 yards at dusk in the brush.
Suit yourself. But my 336's with scopes all carry in my hand 10X better than a bolt action. They are a useful tool with or without the scope.
For me, it is a one-word answer:
Marlin
Oldest Brother has a Winchester in .30-30, and we have shot them side by side. Both of us liked my Marlin better. Neither one significantly outperformed the other in terms of accuracy, we thought my Marlin was a little 'slicker' and felt a bit better in the hands.
We are both middlin'-to-large guys (6' 3", 225Lbs+ each) so that MAY be a factor.
Marlin
Oldest Brother has a Winchester in .30-30, and we have shot them side by side. Both of us liked my Marlin better. Neither one significantly outperformed the other in terms of accuracy, we thought my Marlin was a little 'slicker' and felt a bit better in the hands.
We are both middlin'-to-large guys (6' 3", 225Lbs+ each) so that MAY be a factor.
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petemacmahon
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- 4
Depends on your criteria
But I'd be willing to bet that the average Marlin is more accurate than the average Winchester. My old 336 A, with the 24 inch barrel, will do 1 inch at 100 yards with both Remington 170's and the new Hornady lever evolution 165's.
It's killed over 25 deer in the last 30 or so years.
But I'd be willing to bet that the average Marlin is more accurate than the average Winchester. My old 336 A, with the 24 inch barrel, will do 1 inch at 100 yards with both Remington 170's and the new Hornady lever evolution 165's.
It's killed over 25 deer in the last 30 or so years.
AKElroy
Member
I have two 94's; an early 70's top eject w/ a Williams peep; the other a recent manufacture A/E scoped with a vintage steel tube Weaver K-4. I love them both. It really comes down to what you like. I like speed to shoulder & a quick, controlled swing. I have made shots on running game with the 94 that I do not think I could have made with any other rig.
The Marlin is a fine gun, just different. It's heavier, fatter gripped, and more likely to be sling carried. The 94 is thin & balances perfectly at the receiver allowing for comfortable one-hand carry. With its straight grip, it allows faster/easier holstering in a scabbard for mounted use, not that I spend much time on a horse. Those that do are far more likely to have a 94 tucked in their scabbard. I consider accuracy a wash between the two, but with a better receiver design for mounting optics the Marlin would likely offer more tight group potential. Both my 94's shoot where they are pointed & group just fine. Both will put multiple hits on a softball @ 100, and that's good enough for me.
As for take-down, I have heard the Marlin is pretty easy, but I have torn both my 94's down multiple times without any issues & I am mechanically declined.
In summary, I think the Marlin is too chuncky for it's lever carbine mission compared to the 94, so the winnie is my choice. It simply makes no compromises on the fast & handy front.
The Marlin is a fine gun, just different. It's heavier, fatter gripped, and more likely to be sling carried. The 94 is thin & balances perfectly at the receiver allowing for comfortable one-hand carry. With its straight grip, it allows faster/easier holstering in a scabbard for mounted use, not that I spend much time on a horse. Those that do are far more likely to have a 94 tucked in their scabbard. I consider accuracy a wash between the two, but with a better receiver design for mounting optics the Marlin would likely offer more tight group potential. Both my 94's shoot where they are pointed & group just fine. Both will put multiple hits on a softball @ 100, and that's good enough for me.
As for take-down, I have heard the Marlin is pretty easy, but I have torn both my 94's down multiple times without any issues & I am mechanically declined.
In summary, I think the Marlin is too chuncky for it's lever carbine mission compared to the 94, so the winnie is my choice. It simply makes no compromises on the fast & handy front.
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CowboyTim
Member
Shot all three, like the Mossberg, handles great, and costs less too.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Exactly! It always amazes me how folks are so polarized on this. I love all leverguns and can't bring myself to be overly critical of any of them (traditional guns, not BLR's). So it always blows my mind how folks are so critical of the one they don't own.
At last count, I had three Marlins, six Winchesters, a Browning 53 and a Uberti 1873. Marlins are good guns but IMHO, their only advantage is that they are easily scoped. They also tend to have better wood. I 'had' a scope on one of them but no longer. All wear receiver sights. I still and have always preferred the Winchester. Fit and finish tends to be better on Winchesters. It is a more refined design, usually lighter, carries more easily, exhibits better balance and is better lookin'. As far as triggers, one of my Winchester 94's came out of the box with one of the nicest 1.5lb triggers I have ever used. Winchesters tend to be crisper with less creep, Marlins tend to be a little rough and creepy.
The takedown argument is silly. Stripping them down happens so infrequently, who cares? Despite what some claim, Winchesters are easy and at one point I could just about do it with my eyes closed.
The rattle argument is way overblown.
The accuracy argument will come down to individual rifles.
SwampWolf
Member
Couldn't agree more, skiking! Nothing wrong with Marlins (especially if it's a Model 39
), but I've always preferred Winchesters when it comes to lever rifles/carbines-for, albeit, mainly subjective reasons. All of my "traditional" levers, along with an older Remington Model 760 pump, wear Williams "FoolProof" aperture sights. If I plan on using a scope for hunting, one of my bolt-action rifles will get the nod. But when I'm hunting for whitetails in a Michigan cedar swamp where most shots are taken at under 100 yards (often times, much, much closer than that) and I want a quick-handling/fast-pointing carbine, unencumbered by a balance-ruining, snag-grabbing scope, I'll reach for my trusty little Model 94, chambered in 30-30 Winchester or my somewhat bigger, Model 1886 "Extra-Light", chambered in 45-70 Government; both equipped with the aforementioned peep sights (though I'm 67 years old and have always had to struggle with near-sightedness, I've never had a problem shooting accurately with receiver sights at ranges not exceeding 100 yards or so).Abel
Member
If scopes don't belong on leverguns, why do so many people use scopes on leverguns? If scopes have no place on a levergun, then why does the newer versions of the 94, and all of the 336's after 1955 come drilled and tapped for scope bases?
SwampWolf
Member
If scopes don't belong on leverguns, why do so many people use scopes on leverguns? If scopes have no place on a levergun, then why does the newer versions of the 94, and all of the 336's after 1955 come drilled and tapped for scope bases?I don't know; I guess you'll have to ask them. I thought I made it clear that, in my case at least, I only stated my subjective feelings and opinion about the matter. I have no doubt that most will disagree and I have no problem with that. I would add, however, that just because a gunmaker drills holes in their guns doesn't mean I have to fill them-though I do appreciate the holes that have been drilled by Marlin, Winchester, Savage and others that were made to specifically accomodate receiver sights. Which begs the question you posed in reverse: If said rifles "came drilled and tapped" for receiver sights, why do so few people put them on?
BrocLuno
Member
Well let's see - I'm a lever gun guy. That's not to say I don't own some bolts and a few autos, but I always liked levers. I have a 336, a pre-angle eject Model 94 and a Savage 99. They all do something different. The 99 is in .308 so it's the hardest hitting. The 336 is scoped and I shoot primarily LeverEvo ammo out of it. The M94 is iron sighted, the lightest & slimmest, and I shoot traditional flat nosed ammo out of it.
Which one I grab is dependent on the situation. For a quick grab-&-go for a neighborhood situation, it'll be the Winchester. If I have to think about it and I know what the field conditions will be (or are likely to be), I'll prolly grab one of the others.
Which one I grab is dependent on the situation. For a quick grab-&-go for a neighborhood situation, it'll be the Winchester. If I have to think about it and I know what the field conditions will be (or are likely to be), I'll prolly grab one of the others.
Abel
Member
That has been my approach as well. I have one 336 with a williams peep, and one with a Burris 4x20mm.
76shuvlinoff
Member
... but then there's always Jeannie and Audra......
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