yotesmoker
Member
I]ve given trying to find a marlin 45 colt lever action at a decent price so I'm looking at winchesters.What is the difference between the 1892 and the 1894 winchester?
45 lever
- Thread starter yotesmoker
- Start date
- Status
bhk
Member
I have both a Marlin .44 and a Japanese made Browning 53 in 32-20. The Browning is made on a 92 action and is made by the same company making the new Winchester lever guns. It is a wonderful rifle.
The 92 action is designed for pistol length cartridges and the 94 for rifle length cartridges. The 92 is , therefore, much more compact and much more suitable for the .45. The Japanese made levers made by this company for Browning and Winchester are better made and finished that most of the Winchesters ever were, and far better made than the newer Marlins are. I like both the Marlin and the Browning, but the difference in quality is very noticable (day and night). If they were anywhere near equal, I would buy American and get the Marlin. They are not. Of course, you will pay much more for the new Winchesters.
The 92 action is designed for pistol length cartridges and the 94 for rifle length cartridges. The 92 is , therefore, much more compact and much more suitable for the .45. The Japanese made levers made by this company for Browning and Winchester are better made and finished that most of the Winchesters ever were, and far better made than the newer Marlins are. I like both the Marlin and the Browning, but the difference in quality is very noticable (day and night). If they were anywhere near equal, I would buy American and get the Marlin. They are not. Of course, you will pay much more for the new Winchesters.
Last edited:
yotesmoker
Member
cowpoke......the problem,can't find one in 45 colt at a fair price soooo am going to winchester
Publius1688
Member
I feel your pain on the scarcity of second hand Marlins in 45 Colt. I've been 'in the market' for quite some time, and unwilling to fork over the new rifle price.
One word of caution--I've always been told: "buy cheap, buy twice". And it's true. I'd keep looking for the Marlin unless you find someone willing to basically give away the Winchester---which you can then dump cheap when you finally find your Marlin.
One word of caution--I've always been told: "buy cheap, buy twice". And it's true. I'd keep looking for the Marlin unless you find someone willing to basically give away the Winchester---which you can then dump cheap when you finally find your Marlin.
atlanticfire
Member
I got one just before the market went to poop. There are two guys at work in the PD that have been asking me to help them fine one and its been impossible. What to all of them?
oldfool
Member
you really should personally handle
the marlin "94"
the Winchester '94
and any '92, brand X or Y or Z
no matter what caliber those on the shelf happen to be in, handle 'em
they have differences in personal fit and feel, that matters more than brand X vs brand Z
all good, but all different, such things can matter
good luck with your search
but if too frustrated re: 45, you could consider a 44 mag model, probably not as hard to come by
(not sayin' you should, though)
the brazilia flavor (Rossi/LSI, Navy Arms, etc. all made by Rossi, all '92s, are nice at a bit lower price, IF it is your "fit")
PS
if you stumble into a Browning '92 in 38/357 at any price, high or low, do NOT buy it, they are just crappy, worthless
just PM me instead, and I will try to make sure nobody else gets stuck with it !
the marlin "94"
the Winchester '94
and any '92, brand X or Y or Z
no matter what caliber those on the shelf happen to be in, handle 'em
they have differences in personal fit and feel, that matters more than brand X vs brand Z
all good, but all different, such things can matter
good luck with your search
but if too frustrated re: 45, you could consider a 44 mag model, probably not as hard to come by
(not sayin' you should, though)
the brazilia flavor (Rossi/LSI, Navy Arms, etc. all made by Rossi, all '92s, are nice at a bit lower price, IF it is your "fit")
PS
if you stumble into a Browning '92 in 38/357 at any price, high or low, do NOT buy it, they are just crappy, worthless
just PM me instead, and I will try to make sure nobody else gets stuck with it !
oldfool
Member
dunno
but Indiana deer hunting now says rifle calibers, NO, but pistol caliber lever actions ok
mebbe them *&#* yankees is snarfin' 'em all up ?
Piney Woods
Member
All of the Cowboy Action Shooters that I know who started with a Winchester 94 have gotten rid of them, as the Winchester 94 action design does not handle pistol caliber rounds well. It's prone to jamming and failures to feed. Of all the lever action problems I've seen at CAS matches (and I've seen a lot) at least 75% of them were with Winchesters. The Marlin 94 action is MUCH more reliable. Mine has over 12,000 rounds thru it, and it's as smooth as butter.
I have a Winchester 94 45 long Colt that was given to me as a gift around 1997. I love the idea of it - the short barrel, cowboy loop, etc. I thought it would be a nice match to my Vaquero in the same caliber.
Gun-wise, it's junk. Jams all the time and you need a screwdriver to clear the jams, and the trigger is worse than any stock shotgun I've ever shot. The only redeeming quality other than looks is that it does shoot half decently.
Gun-wise, it's junk. Jams all the time and you need a screwdriver to clear the jams, and the trigger is worse than any stock shotgun I've ever shot. The only redeeming quality other than looks is that it does shoot half decently.
- Status
