Win Trapper .44 vs. Marlin .44?
- Thread starter Kestrel
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My dad told me a story about taking a 30-30 Winchester as a camp rifle on an outing in Alaska. As they beached his john boat, he hopped on a sandbar to find fresh steaming bear tracks. the 30-30 being the only rifle available, he reached in the boat, retrived the rifle and loaded it.
Only to find thet somehow, he managed to catch a cartridge between the bolt and load gate??
To this day my dad swears he will never own a Winchester lever gun. Now I'm SURE my dad's experience is an exception to the rule.. but its one of the reasons my first lever gun was a Marlin.
Other points: The marlin's lever has less side to side play. The Marlin can be had in ballard or microgroove rifling (though miscrogroove has been discontinued). The marlin has a covered front sight and the side ejection allows you to mout a standard eye relief scope.
The Winchester is lighter, doesn't have an annoying cross bolt safety that allows you to drop a half cocked hammer, and costs a bit less.
I'd give the Marlin the nod, but like I said I'm a little bit biased.
Only to find thet somehow, he managed to catch a cartridge between the bolt and load gate??
To this day my dad swears he will never own a Winchester lever gun. Now I'm SURE my dad's experience is an exception to the rule.. but its one of the reasons my first lever gun was a Marlin.
Other points: The marlin's lever has less side to side play. The Marlin can be had in ballard or microgroove rifling (though miscrogroove has been discontinued). The marlin has a covered front sight and the side ejection allows you to mout a standard eye relief scope.
The Winchester is lighter, doesn't have an annoying cross bolt safety that allows you to drop a half cocked hammer, and costs a bit less.
I'd give the Marlin the nod, but like I said I'm a little bit biased.
Tom C.
Member.
Win 94 vs. Marlin 94
The problem with the Winchester Model 94 in a pistol cartridge is that the receiver is made for rifle cartridges (.30-30, etc.) and tends to malf with pistol cartridges, by angling the cartridge nose up and raming it into the barrel above the chamber. The Marlin is much better. If you want a Winchester, consider a Model 92. They are made for the pistol cartridges and work much better.
The problem with the Winchester Model 94 in a pistol cartridge is that the receiver is made for rifle cartridges (.30-30, etc.) and tends to malf with pistol cartridges, by angling the cartridge nose up and raming it into the barrel above the chamber. The Marlin is much better. If you want a Winchester, consider a Model 92. They are made for the pistol cartridges and work much better.
Black Snowman
Member
Marlin looks better and feels better build IMHO. Kamicosmos has one in .44 Mag and it's a great rifle. Hasn't shot it a ton but as far as I know no malfs to speak of.
commygun
Member
I used to own a Marlin 1894 and currently own the Trapper in .44 mag.
Unlike most folks my Trapper is a much more reliable feeder than my
Marlin was, at least with .44special. I also think that the Trapper is
handier, better looking, and has better sights than my Marlin did. The
Marlin is most likely sturdier over the long run and had much less felt
recoil than the Trapper which kicks pretty sharply. That said, a Marlin
336 in 30-30 is what I take hunting and the Trapper is there for
plinking and the whole ride-the-high-country evocation.
Unlike most folks my Trapper is a much more reliable feeder than my
Marlin was, at least with .44special. I also think that the Trapper is
handier, better looking, and has better sights than my Marlin did. The
Marlin is most likely sturdier over the long run and had much less felt
recoil than the Trapper which kicks pretty sharply. That said, a Marlin
336 in 30-30 is what I take hunting and the Trapper is there for
plinking and the whole ride-the-high-country evocation.
Bigjake
Member
I've got a marlin 94 in .357 mag, no troubles with it malf at all. my dad had a winchester 94 in 30-30 which he always swore by (not AT 
). i personaly prefer the look of the win, but the marlin side eject is really nice to have.
). i personaly prefer the look of the win, but the marlin side eject is really nice to have.
AK103K
member
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I've owned a Winchester Trapper in .44 and now own one in .45 and other than breaking the front sight off the .44, have never had any trouble them. They have always fed anything I've put in them and have been accurate. Its a short, light, handy little rifle. I wouldnt hesitate to get another.
I have a Winchester Trapper in .44 magnum that I transformed into a Wrangler by replacing the standard lever with a large loop lever. While it's fun to shoot and has been reliable and fairly accurate with my reloads, I feel that my Marlin (chambered in .356 Winchester) is a much stronger rifle.
It's just the individual designs, but I don't like the way the Winchester levers "wiggle" fore and aft and I don't like the way the Marlin triggers "wiggle".
Bottom line...I think the Marlin lever action guns are a tad better than Winchesters.
It's just the individual designs, but I don't like the way the Winchester levers "wiggle" fore and aft and I don't like the way the Marlin triggers "wiggle".
Bottom line...I think the Marlin lever action guns are a tad better than Winchesters.
I have both rifles chambered in .44 Mag. The Win I own holds one less cartridge than the Marlin, and is much smaller, lighter, slimmer, and easier to carry. The Marlin does get the nod on accuracy over the Win: for target shooting I bring the Marlin; for carrying in the woods, the Win.
My Marlin had problems (until returned to the factory for warrenty repair) with the feedgate binding cartridges, requiring disassembly between shots (a very user-unfriendly single shot); now its very smooth and reliable.
The Win has been very reliable, but the '94 action is a tad slower than the Marlin. The Win did get returned to the factory also for a canted front blade, but that's another story...
My Marlin had problems (until returned to the factory for warrenty repair) with the feedgate binding cartridges, requiring disassembly between shots (a very user-unfriendly single shot); now its very smooth and reliable.
The Win has been very reliable, but the '94 action is a tad slower than the Marlin. The Win did get returned to the factory also for a canted front blade, but that's another story...
I have had a Win Trapper in 44 for 3 or 4 yrs now and it has not given me any problems at all. I also have a mid-70's Win 30/30 antique that has never had a problem. I don't have any Marlins, no kick against them - just have never had one. I have been completely satisfied with my Winchesters.
Bob
Bob
Old Pa
Member
I have both a Trapper and a Guide Gun in .44 Rem Mag. Both are also equipped with Williams receiver sights. Neither has demonstrated any reliability problems. The Trapper is much more accurate with cast bullets than the Guide Gun, and substantially more accurate with jacketed loads as well. The Guide Gun may well be going out the door . . . .
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