This was sparked off of another thread and I didn't want to take over that thread so here are some of my thoughts.
Marlin 336, I can't really stand Marlin these days. Maybe not a bad hunting rifle (Marlin 336), but in my opinion the Winchester is on another level. When they were designed they were for the great west, and in my opinion the Winchester could stand the outdoors and abuse a lot better than a Marlin 336. The Winchester has a all sealed up action when it is ready to shoot. You could bury the Winchester in any terrain pick it up, dump the barrel and shoot it. Cross rivers, deserts, jungles, wastelands, I just don't see the Marlin doing that. The Winchester is just a better more reliable and for a lack of better word survival rifle over Marlin. If you droped your Marlin in the sand, river, mud, could you guarantee it would cycle, I know the Winchester would. Forget about scopes, they are for people with bad eye sight. If you were fighting indians in the old days which would you have rather had? Maybe I am just judging this one on what the rifles were designed for. I know people are alway talking about SHTF Rifles ( which I don't think I will see in my life time) so which one would you want in a SHTF scenario? The Winchester '94 has also seen more combat than the Marlin 336 why do you all think that is? Was the Marlin 336 issued in WWII? Nope, but the Winchester '94 was. Hmmmm.
Marlin 336, I can't really stand Marlin these days. Maybe not a bad hunting rifle (Marlin 336), but in my opinion the Winchester is on another level. When they were designed they were for the great west, and in my opinion the Winchester could stand the outdoors and abuse a lot better than a Marlin 336. The Winchester has a all sealed up action when it is ready to shoot. You could bury the Winchester in any terrain pick it up, dump the barrel and shoot it. Cross rivers, deserts, jungles, wastelands, I just don't see the Marlin doing that. The Winchester is just a better more reliable and for a lack of better word survival rifle over Marlin. If you droped your Marlin in the sand, river, mud, could you guarantee it would cycle, I know the Winchester would. Forget about scopes, they are for people with bad eye sight. If you were fighting indians in the old days which would you have rather had? Maybe I am just judging this one on what the rifles were designed for. I know people are alway talking about SHTF Rifles ( which I don't think I will see in my life time) so which one would you want in a SHTF scenario? The Winchester '94 has also seen more combat than the Marlin 336 why do you all think that is? Was the Marlin 336 issued in WWII? Nope, but the Winchester '94 was. Hmmmm.