6 of one, half dozen of the other...Wichester or Marlin Lever Action .357

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Christmas is comming, and I have decided to scratch my itch for another play gun by getting a lever action .357.

Big 5 near my house(I know, support the local firearm dealer) has both the Marlin 1894C and the Winchester Model 94 Ranger Compact in stock. Both routinely go on sale for $299. I have handled both, and really can't notice much of a difference in the way they handle.

The Winchester is listed as a little lighter, and has a two inch shorter barrel, but it didn't much difference...both are still light, handy carbines that seem like they would be a hoot and a hollar at the range, while also filling a role for 'social work'.

I was just wondering if there were any major differences in them? If one eats the cheaper .38 special ammo better than the other, if one feeds smoother than the other, or if one was easier to mount an optical aid on than the other.

Thanks folks!

greg
 
I am a Marlin fan. I have a 20+ year old Marlin levergun which is showing some wear on the extractor (a relatively cheap part) but otherwise is like the Energizer bunny. It just keeps going.

If you get a Marlin, expect it to be more accurate until the barrel warms up, then start to string due to the effect of the barrel band. I'd suggest checking to see if the screws have loctite on them from the factory and if not, then put some one and tighten them back. I got my Marlin used so I have no idea if the new ones have loctite on them, but it is a really good idea.

Don't know nuthin about no Winnys. :confused:
 
I like Marlins for heavier calibers, but love my Win Trapper in .357. I put a Williams peep on it and it has all of the accuracy that you would expect of it. It likes heavier bullets in both .38 and .357. I've taken squirrels with with the .38s at 30 yards, and a dying coyote at about 60 yards. The 16" barrel really kicks those 158 grain bullets up in velocity. The Winchester white box stuff was chronographed at an average of over 1700 fps, and some old Samson rounds clocked over 1800 fps. Lighter bullets(110,125) vary greatly in their accuracy, but the heavy ones are pretty consistant. All in all, a great little companion.
 
The Marlin IMHO has better quality and I'd get it IF it does not have that micro-groove rifling which is poor for shooting lead bullets.
 
Among the cowboy shooters, the Marlin has the superior rep for reliability in pistol calibers. The 94 Winchester doesn't seem to be as well adapted to short rounds as it is to thutty-thutty or the like. I just bought an Marlin 1894C in .357 to go with my .44. I'm well pleased.
 
There's no doubt ..... Marlin is already well ahead.

I have a Win 94 in .357 but, whilst I enjoy it .. it has some silly things that irk me ... the lever safety needs squeezed too hard ... the lever hand slot is a tad ''sharp'' on the fingers ... silly stuff but annoying. I should have waited for a Marlin.

I want a .44 mag carbine ... and it will for sure be a Marlin.!
 
"I'd get it IF it does not have that micro-groove rifling which is poor for shooting lead bullets."

No offense, but this is a fallacy. I have shot a ton of cast bullets out of my microgroove 444 barrel with terrific accuracy and no leading at all. It is done all the time by serious cast bullet shooters.
 
Marlin 1894C owner here...

.357 Mag, 18.5 inch barrel, great sights, outstanding wood-work, slick chambering. My wife (the "gun angel") just walked in one day and handed me a Marlin box. "I think you'll like this". Did I ever! When she first gave it to me, I went right out and purchased several different brands & weights of .357 mag in an attempt to determine what my particular Marlin liked the best. Turns out that EVERYTHING I tried chambered like it was on wheels. I haven't tried .38 Special as of yet and I doubt I ever will. Very little recoil here. Personally, I like to shoot 170gr Gold Dot "GDSP". Big flat lead nose. Nice. If I was going to hunt, this is what I'd choose.
I'll probably purchase a Winchester at some point--probably in .357 mag too. Maybe a 16 inch barrel. Maybe Terry Murbach will come & reply. I could listen to him talk ".357 mag lever actions" all day long. :) He's a true believer~~he is!:D

KR
 
I'll probably purchase a Winchester at some point--probably in .357 mag too. Maybe a 16 inch barrel.
Click to expand...
KR ..... I have a feeling you might be a tad disappointed .... my .357 Win 94, whilst I enjoy it and it shoots pretty good . has a number of things which irk me .. mostly small things. I have tho decided that a .44 carbine when I can get it, will for sure be a Marlin ... I am coming to think they are way superior.

Just an 0.02 for you. This pic BTW was when I had a rather huge scope on .. have changed that to try a red dot instead. Yet to get that sighted in and tried out.

win94_s.jpg
 
Any of you Marlin 1894C shooters lefties? I've got the itch to get one in .44 and was wondering how the brass ejects. I've got a 30A in 30-30 that manages to get the brass out without smacking me in the head. Wondered if the 1894C is of the same design.
 
Chris...

I have a "Red Dot", but it has a silver body. It just doesn't look right on a blue, lever action rifle. I can't get past that. My 1894C is bone stock. Perfect...just out of the box. The only thing I've added is an idiot mark. The only thing I WILL add is a sling. I'm truly impressed with my Marlin. Like I've said before, I like my 1894 more than my AR-15.

KR
 
It's not a fallacy...read Marlin's brochure

No offense, but this is a fallacy. I have shot a ton of cast bullets out of my microgroove 444 barrel with terrific accuracy and no leading at all. It is done all the time by serious cast bullet shooters.
Click to expand...

My experience with micro-groove rifling with hard cast lead bullets from plain base to gas-checked in the various weights and calibers;

357.............110 to 180 grain
.44.............180 to 240 grain
45/70.........300 to 500 grain

Marlin 1894 .44 mag., 1894 .357 mag. carbine, 1895 Marlin 45/70,. all with micro grooved rifling
At velocities over 1200 fps accuracy (from a REST) was terrible, (no better than a hand held handgun) regardless of powder/bullet combination I used. Yet a Browning or Rossi Model 1892 (traditional rifling) outshot the Marlin micro-groove hands down.

Its not a fallacy, thats why Marlin switched over to their "deep cut Ballard rifling", read Marlin's advertising brochure. Thats why I now have an 1895 Guide Gun (scope mounted) and got rid of my old 1895 micro-grooved Marlin. Now if we are talking JUST reduced loads, thats a different story but why put up with micro-groove rifling? There's no benefit.:barf:
 
How about a 3rd choice - a used Browning 92 in .357 = perfection.
Slick, accurate, great ergonomics - even the little things like gently rounded edges of the lever loop for your comfort.

standard.jpg
 
Another lefty here with a Marilin '94 in 44 mag. Brass is ejected out the port at a 90* angle: no problems whatsoever.

Of all guns I own, the Mariln is my absolute favorite.

pig-rig.jpg


My Pig Rig, above, consisits of a 1894 Marlin w/ 20" bbl, Ashley Scout mount, Leupold IER 2.5X scope, Leupold QR rings, Ashley peep with Williams aperature and Williams Firesight front. The RedHawk is for CQB with a bent out of shape boar. ;)

DIY Marlin smithing:
http://www.marauder13.homestead.com...NING_M_1894.htm
http://www.marauder13.homestead.com/files/Marlin94.html

And the Trigger Happy Kit is a drop in that leads to a very light and very crisp trigger that must be tried to be believed
 
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