Henry or Marlin, Help me make a decision.

[DPris]

The Marlin was due to be shipped last September, an update about a month ago says probably next month.

With the upheaval involved with Remington's physical location coupled with Marlin trying to make absolutely sure they've got the gun right this time, they've been delayed.

Pre-pro sample I have here from June is markedly improved from those guns just after the Marlin move to Ilion.

Henry's H006 line (the Big Boys) in 20 and 16-inch barrels is drilled & tapped for Henry's scope mounts.

Not necessarily trying to push you toward a Henry, but as a counterpoint- In rimfires, I prefer a tube mag. They are easily cleaned, unlike the Ruger rotary, and they don't stick out & get in the way at the natural balance/carry point.
Neither are they as easy to lose in the wilds as a detachable box mag.

In the centerfires, they also don't chew up my loading thumb. When I do an extended session with 150 or more rounds fired, even a polished frame-loading port gets to bugging me. The tube-loaders never wear skin.
I can shoot a Henry centerfire all day long without aggravating any body parts, can't with a side-loader.

That 16-inch .357 with the oversized lever's kinda a neat little gun.
The Marlin .357 is inarguably lighter.
Just things to consider.
Denis

 

[C.R.]

If you think the Henry is too slow to load,make a speed loader for it.I got the idea from Backwoods magizine take a hunk of tubing the approriate diamiter figure out the lenth you need,install a perminent plug one end and a removible cap on the other end when its reload time,pull out the magizine follower,remove cap on the speedloader you built and pour the ammo in put the follower back in and your shooting,probably as quick or quicker than if you had a loading gate I made one for my .22 and it works slick.

 

[eastbank]

i only care for the magizine tubes on my .22 rifles, on my centerfire lever action rifles i want the ability to top off the magizine after shooting 3-4 rounds with out holding the rifle between my knees and pulling out a rod and while holding the rod,gun and digging new shells out of my pocket, it,s not for me. and brass-bronze recievers went out with the win. 66, even they knew in the 1870,s that iron-steel was stronger with out the bulk. the .357 mag and the .44 mag are high pressure rounds and i will not use a brass-bronze reciever with them as i think they will not stand the test of time with a high round count. eastbank.

 

[Salmoneye]

on my centerfire lever action rifles i want the ability to top off the magizine after shooting 3-4 rounds with out holding the rifle between my knees and pulling out a rod and while holding the rod,gun and digging new shells out of my pocket,

Exactly...

The Marlin loading gates can be removed and 'relieved' on the backside to lighten the spring tension...

 

[Badlander]

Not sure how folks are hurting their thumb on the loading gate. I put A round part way into the gate then push it home with the next round using my thumb for the last one. And that has never hurt me.

 

[GBExpat]

Not sure how folks are hurting their thumb on the loading gate. I put A round part way into the gate then push it home with the next round using my thumb for the last one. And that has never hurt me.

I think that it may be more a result of quantity.

IIRC, DPris mentioned it in the context of an extended session with 150 or more rounds fired ... and I realized that I have never loaded more than, maybe, 50 at one sitting, so I do not know if 3 times that would damage digits.

 

[DPris]

I've done extended range sessions with a boatload of leverguns over the years.
Using the push-one-with-another cartridge loading method is slow, for me.

Thumbing them all the way in is just quicker & more positive, doesn't let any back out & drop on the bench or ground.

Some gate cutouts are smoother-finished than others.
That's one area I've had polished on a couple keeper leverguns.

Some rifles have stiff gates, which may be something else to have "adjusted".

Extended sessions do chew up my thumb.
If you don't do extended sessions, or if you use the pusher-cartridge method, then it's not an issue for you.

Not defending the Henry or trying to sell it (argued against it with Anthony Imperato when those centerfires were first coming out), just pointing out that it does have a 'painless" loading sequence with that tube port.
Denis

 

[Guns&Religion]

Thanks for the advice folks. I've decided to go with a Henry. I called in the order today and should have it shipped to my local FFL dealer in a few days. While I like the look of a loading gate, like the Marlin has, I don't like the occasional pinch I get when loading.

The weight won't be a problem, because I'm not hunting with it, also I have an SKS with a bayonet on it that weighs the same as the Henry, and I am comfortable with that heft. (I also like the look of the brass, what can I say).

It turns out I was reading a review of the Henry that was based on the "Generation One" they stopped releasing in 2011. I then found out the "Generation Two" they have now will easily take a scope mount or aperture. That sold me.

 

[Guns&Religion]

I thought I should give you guys an update. I picked up my Henry Big Boy in February. As my first firearm with a shiny brass receiver, I have become aware of how easy it is to get nicks and scratches. (I've also become acquainted with "Never Dull" metal polish to fix the scratches, and I have purchased a gun sock and a soft lined rifle case).

The rifle had a few problems with the lever jamming. I sent it back to the factory and they promptly fixed the issues, and a few scratches in the receiver that I missed. They also kindly re blued the bolt (though I see the bluing seems to come off slightly with trips to the range). The service dept did well.

The rifle is accurate, and shoots like a dream, and is now reliable with the issue fixed. The only I problem I have with it is the fact that there are many brands of .38 special that don't seem to feed. The only ones that seemed to feed were a box of PMC Starfire. All Magnum rounds fed just fine.

I'm looking for a good scope, something small and on the lighter side. I've heard the .357 round out of a rifle barrel is good to about a 150 yards or so, so I'm thinking of a small 4x scope. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[Cee Zee]

I know the current fad is to bash everything Marlin but it's been my experience that they are better than people have suggested. I go to a LGS that has the rifles out on racks where you can check them out to your heart's content. I checked out at least a dozen Marlin's during the time they were supposed to be so bad and I never saw a single issue on a one of them. I don't doubt there have been some problems. I just don't think they are as universal as some say. I've seen some good ones. I nearly bought a .45-70 during that period but ended up buying a CZ instead. I really don't have a good use for a rifle with that much power so I've backed off my interest in one but I still would be willing to buy one if I felt the itch.