Winchester 94 vs Marlin 336 Price Discrepancy
- Thread starter mgmorden
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
They're priced as higher quality guns. They're also made in chamberings and configurations not available in the later domestic versions. It's up to the consumer to decide what to use them for. All mine have been afield. This year I was planning on blooding a commemorative I paid a little too much for ($1300) because it had really nice wood. Seems a lot of folks' perception is based on $300 pawn shop, 20th century carbines thrown behind the truck seat. The original Winchester leverguns were some of the finest rifles made in this country. So are these.
ThomasT
Member
Craig you are probably right. The perception for these lever guns have pretty much been field use guns and so aren't given the same respect one might give to a high dollar custom built gun. But I think a 30-30 lever action is one of the best guns you can own. I like the simple operation and like the fact that the round uses such a small dose of powder. Only about 5 grains more powder than the typical 223 load.
There would be nothing wrong with owning one of the Miroku built guns either. A nice looking rifle is always good to own. And I am glad your own guns are not safe queens. Thats a far worse way to treat a gun that getting it a little skinned up from use as it was designed to be used.
There would be nothing wrong with owning one of the Miroku built guns either. A nice looking rifle is always good to own. And I am glad your own guns are not safe queens. Thats a far worse way to treat a gun that getting it a little skinned up from use as it was designed to be used.
MidRoad
Member
Got any pics of that commemorative?
You really can-t hot rod a 30-30. The cases will not last but a loading or two. I already know because I have done this before. If the standard loads won't kill what you are hunting then you don't need hotter loads. You need a bigger round.
Or better shot placement.....30-30 is good for 99% of all american critters. I would say it 30-30 is not doing it you need to learn to shoot better.
Trey Veston
Member
Really?
Myself and thousands others can see the difference quite easily.
This is my Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum made in the 90's. I bought it for $400 in 2006...
Notice the highly polished receiver, beautiful wood with gloss finish and fine cut checkering.
It also functioned flawlessly and the action was smooth as glass.
This is my 1894 in .45 Colt that was purchased in March of this year.
Notice the receiver and metal surfaces are much rougher and show machining marks. The wood is mediocre, matte finished, and the checkering is stamped, poorly, and is just awful.
It also needed gunsmithing work to get it to cycle 90% of the time and came with a crushed plastic magazine follower from the factory.
Sending a rifle back to Marlin these days is a joke. Most people end up wasting a year sending a rifle in and getting it back either not fixed or something else wrong with it.
I would advise anyone considering buying a Marlin rifle to go to the Marlin Owners forum and read what actual Marlin experts have to say about the current garbage being produced.
I ended up selling my old Marlin for $1000 to someone who knew the difference between quality and garbage.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
No pics of the Legendary Frontiersmen but I need to.
Yeah, really. Marlin has been rough around the edges for decades. Yeah, I have them from the `90's to, right up to just prior to the Remlin switch and one made in the last two years. My 1894S is from 1998 and my 1894 Cowboy Limited from 2006. Marlin polishes the sides of the receivers and bead blasts the rest because it's easy. The bead blasting is an obvious attempt to cover up an as-machined finish. Wood to metal fit has always been so-so and the actions are usually rough. When they came out with the 1897 Century Limited I looked at a bunch of them and couldn't find one that was put together nicely enough to warrant the price tag. Bought another Winchester 94/22 instead. My 1895SS is recent production and better fit & finished than those from 20yrs ago. If I wanted a Marlin made in the last 100yrs that would be the equal of the current Miroku Winchester, I'd buy a brand new custom shop model.
Yeah, really. Marlin has been rough around the edges for decades. Yeah, I have them from the `90's to, right up to just prior to the Remlin switch and one made in the last two years. My 1894S is from 1998 and my 1894 Cowboy Limited from 2006. Marlin polishes the sides of the receivers and bead blasts the rest because it's easy. The bead blasting is an obvious attempt to cover up an as-machined finish. Wood to metal fit has always been so-so and the actions are usually rough. When they came out with the 1897 Century Limited I looked at a bunch of them and couldn't find one that was put together nicely enough to warrant the price tag. Bought another Winchester 94/22 instead. My 1895SS is recent production and better fit & finished than those from 20yrs ago. If I wanted a Marlin made in the last 100yrs that would be the equal of the current Miroku Winchester, I'd buy a brand new custom shop model.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I agree and am of the opinion that if you're gonna spend more money than usual on a firearm, it should be something you use the most often. A leveraction .30-30 is just such a rifle that might be used far more often than most others.
ThomasT
Member
I agree. This is my sig line from another forum.
earlthegoat2
Member
As far as I am concerned the Marlin is a better gun for my uses.
I will not contend that the Miroku made Winchester’s are extremely nice and are at a price point that is commensurate with that niceness.
I will not contend that the Miroku made Winchester’s are extremely nice and are at a price point that is commensurate with that niceness.
Trey Veston
Member
Do your uses involve owning a rifle that jams and that you have to send back to the factory repeatedly?
You might get a good one, and you might not.
https://www.marlinowners.com/forum/#/forums/109?page=2
cdb1
Member
I guess earthgoat2’s marlin doesn’t do those things.
earlthegoat2
Member
I’m sorry for all those unfortunate few who have had mechanical issues with Marlin 336s. I would call that quite rare even during the Remington takeover.
However, yes. Fit and finish were lackluster and still is. Also, all my Marlins are pre-safety not just pre-Remlin so really I am not even comparing newer Marlins to Winchester’s here.
Marlins are better for my uses because they are side eject and are more available with the pistol grip stock and are more available in calibers such as 35 Remington which I like. Not to mention they are generally less expensive no matter which era of manufacture you are comparing.
I use a low power scope for all my rifles because my eyes just flat out are terrible for open sights. The Marlin is just better for me and I have never had a real malfunction and am pretty sure they are not too common on the 336.
However, yes. Fit and finish were lackluster and still is. Also, all my Marlins are pre-safety not just pre-Remlin so really I am not even comparing newer Marlins to Winchester’s here.
Marlins are better for my uses because they are side eject and are more available with the pistol grip stock and are more available in calibers such as 35 Remington which I like. Not to mention they are generally less expensive no matter which era of manufacture you are comparing.
I use a low power scope for all my rifles because my eyes just flat out are terrible for open sights. The Marlin is just better for me and I have never had a real malfunction and am pretty sure they are not too common on the 336.
Mine does not thank you very much....but then again it is going on 30 years old....and I am in shock that the 80's was 30 years ago....i feel old.
I do not have any experience with the new offerings....that stupid safety just turns me off....is that not what half cock is for.
Charlie Martinez
Member
If in addition to superior fit & finish the buyer is also greatly motivated by nostalgia to buy a lever gun the Model 94 is the best choice. However the Marlin is a stronger design, easier to scope due to the side ejection & being so much cheaper a better value for the money.
I like the Winchester 94 a lot but even when Marlin 336's and Model 94's were about the same price back in the 70's I decided on a Marlin in 35 Remington & I have never regretted my decision.
I like the Winchester 94 a lot but even when Marlin 336's and Model 94's were about the same price back in the 70's I decided on a Marlin in 35 Remington & I have never regretted my decision.
cdb1
Member
I’m with Charlie Martinez. I like the looks of the Model 94 better than a 336 and always figured I’d own a 94 if I ever got a lever gun. When I finally got one ten years ago a 336 made more sense to me and that’s what I got. I still believe the 94 is better looking but if I had to do it again I’d still get a Marlin.
HPJeep
Member
If shopping the used racks for a lever 30-30 don't forget about the other lever gun. The Savage 99. I'm a Winnie guy but the 99 had some elegance to it.
cdb1
Member
I’d take a Model 99 over a 94 or 336.
Speedo66
Member
Anybody have any experience with the Rossi Rio Grande .30-30 model?
Newtosavage
Member
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I'd pay a grand for a Miroku Winchester in 7-30 Waters. In a minute.
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