Marlin or Winchester 30-30?

[Northslope Nimrod]

Original poster:

Well, I've made my decision. The Winchester Legacy, IMO is more B.E.Autiful. I also like the balance better in the Winchester. However, the trigger is more crisp in the Marlin. The action is more smooth and feels better in the Marlin and the whole gun just feels more rugged. No..I don't care for the safety's on either weapon....but I can learn to ignore them....I ignore a lot of people & things all the time.
I also agree that a scope does not add to the beauty of these guns. That is why I have my old Model 94 that is not drilled for a scope. I may even take the scope off the Marlin after the hunt.

 

[kennh]

Why the Marlin of course.
To eliminate the "clunky" look with a scope, use the "scout" type mount and a Leupold scout scope.
I just installed same on my 45-70, looks great!

 

[Malamute]

"Marlin--stronger action, less expensive, less complicated internally, doen't top eject."


Can we define "stronger"? The only real real life comparison I've heard of, the Marlin action failed sooner with high pressure loads than the Winchesters, even the old one. The guns were converted to 454 cassull.


My next point is, all the strength questions mean little or nothing in the real world. Both will last longer than any of us will when used with the rounds they were built in.


The Marlins need to have the bolt taken out to be able to clean the action, the Winchesters don't, they can be easily kept clean without taking them apart. A $2 brass muzzle guard negates any problem with cleaning from the front. I've never heard of having to clean from the muzzle as being a problem with an M-1 Garand, M-1A, Mini-14, Savage 99, SKS, or AK. nor has the top eject been mentioned in regards to any of these models,(except the AK) or virtually all bolt actions.


In the same caliber, (30-30) the Marlin weighs slightly more.

Trigger pulls on individual guns mean little in comparison, as both can be slicked up to be equal. I've heard of both having inferior triggers compared to each other.

Lever wiggle is a personal thing. If it bothers anyone, OK, but it means nothing in strength, and to me it means the looser one will tolerate more junk without a problem.

I've had very accurate examples of both makes, both have good and bad points.

I like the thinner profile, easier to load (smoother feeding of rounds into the gate), and some other quirks of the Winchesters. I carry one daily.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Well, dang.

If you aren't going to agonize over the decision any longer than that before you make up your mind, why even bother asking for advice?

8^) lpl/nc (ya shoulda got a Marlin and put ghostring sights on it- hope you enjoy the Winnie anyhow)

 

[Gewehr98]

Good choice.

(Pssstt...) Wanna see some pretty wood on a Winnie 94?

 

[The Jackal]

The Marlin all the way! Side ejection is the only way to go with a LA. Top ejection makes scope mounting a pain. The Marlin is also easier to dis/reassemble because of the simple design.

The only major design flaw I see in the 336 is the trigger flop. It is simply annoying. It will cost ya $90 to get a new trigger and sear to get rid of the flop and give a nice crisp 2-3 lb trigger pull.

I will take my Marlin thuty-thuty over any other rifle, any day. Do I sound biased saying that?

 

[glazer1972]

Marlin.

 

[gt_down_hill]

Malamute said:

I've never heard of having to clean from the muzzle as being a problem with an M-1 Garand, M-1A, Mini-14, Savage 99, SKS, or AK. nor has the top eject been mentioned in regards to any of these models,(except the AK) or virtually all bolt actions.

SKS's don't have to be cleaned from the muzzle. All you have to do is pop off the reciever cover and take out the bolt assembly and you can get a rod into the breech no problem.

 

[Malamute]

My mistake, it's been a long time since I owned one.

 

[pioneer]

http://leverguns.sixgunner.com/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=4872&whichpage=1
well,i hope i dont irritate anyone with this link,but it does kinda show what the limits of what lever action rifles are capable of when it comes to pressure.in fact im kinda impressed with both the marlin and winchester brand of rifles for even handling the pressures that they where put too.

 

[MinScout]

The the slim fore arm and the checkering on the Winny is sure nicer than on the newer Marlin's, IMO.

 

[Kaylee]

Now it's been a while since I had an AK.. but I seem to recall being able to clean from the rear with a rod on that one two. I know I could with the SKS.

Personally, I don't see that as a big selling point dif between Marlin and Remington. Sure, it's possible to unscrew the lever and pull the bolt out, but that doesn't seem like a good idea for "everyday" maintenence -- seems like you'd risk stripping the screw mount in short order, to say nothing of losing your ejector every time you open up the gun.

Seems to be the Otis or similar cord-based cleaning kit is a much better solution for either option. Same with the M1-type actions for that matter -- no sense playing with removing the action from the stock when you don't have to.

-K

 

[Malamute]

Kaylee, that's the point I was wanting to make, I just don't see it as an issue which end they are cleaned from.