Lever Rifles: Winchester, Marlin, Mossberg

pre 64 winchester is IMO the best followed by Marlin and then mossberg. I like the action of the marlin slightly better just for its solid construction but the winchester is what I grew up with. Mosberg well ok I fess up I have no experience with it at all, I cant even say I have seen one.

I really like my Marlin 336. The action is strong and well thought out. Any one of them can get off a fast 2nd shot. Do not know about the Mossberg but you can not go wrong with the other two.

I like both the Marlin and Win. 94 but would pick the Marlin if I could only have one. I'm another that has yet to see the Mossy.

I vote for the Marlin. Winchester '94's are nice to me because they are , er, um, Winchester's but to me the Marlin has it all over the Win action. I havn't pawed over a Mossie yet...

Be safe

Patty

I had a Western Auto levergun that was actually a Mossberg and it was a very decent rifle. However.... Marlin's where it's at for me. They're just fantastic firearms and rock solid to boot.

I haven't seen one of the new
Mossbergs yet.

I have owned a few Marlins over the years, though, and will always pick Marlin first.

Around here the old Mossbergs are quite rare. Almost never seen at shows or in the shops, even in Western Auto guise. They started making them in about 1972, IIRC, and discontinued them a few years later.

All things Winchesters in these parts seem to have become instant collector's items and subject to some wildly inflated prices since FNH flushed the brand. It's as if anything with the word "Winchester" on it has suddenly become a rare and Holy relic, no matter what the condition or how many millions of them were produced. Personally, when I can buy a like-new Marlin for about the same price as what some clown is demanding for a beat-up '94 it's a no-brainer. Tastes differ and YMMV.

I currently have three Marlin LAs: and old 336 in .35 Rem. that I've owned for over 30 yrs, a 39M .22 for nearly as long, and an 1895G in .45-70. All have given me yeoman service and the only part which has worn out was the ejector spring on the 39M after uncounted thousands of rounds.

Of the three you cited, a Marlin would be your most practical and economic choice, IMO.

i prefer marlin 336

I much prefer Winchesters, due to the nostalgia factor and collectability / value.
That's why I have a gun cabinet full of Winchesters and only one Marlin.

But for a practical shooting gun, the Marlin is a better gun because you can easily clean it from the rear end.

A winchester 92 or 94 is a half-day gunsmith project to take the bolt out.

Take out the lever-screw on the Marlin and shake it, and all the guts fall out on the bench.

rcmodel

I'm a fan of the Marlin, of which I own a number of variants. I have a pristine 1956 Win 94 that I just don't shoot. I have checked out the new Mossbergs (Dick's Sporting Goods), and it looks to be a very solid rifle. I'm thinking of getting one to play around with. Were I to own only one .30-30, it'd be a Marlin 336SS, as I prefer stainless for wet/humid environs like the one in which I live. Ease of cleaning alone gives Marlin the edge, IMO, and many parts are easier to replace or upgrade yourself (e.g. firing pins, lever, ejectors).

Best = Marlin

A piece of history = Winchester

Up-start with great reviews = Mossberg

Also ran = Puma

Some OTHER great slightly more expensive levers out there -Uberti for one.

My favorite is a Browning repop of the Model 1895 in 30/40 Krag. It makes a fine deer rifle.

Marlins are the best lever rifles ever made. Period.

Simple to clean and maintain. Available in calibers from .22 to .450. Made in USA using excellent materials. Prices are reasonable for all but a few models. Lots of older ones at affordable prices. What's the question?

Modern Winchesters are mere shadows of the older editions.

I have owned as many as 15 Marlins (as old as 1877) but only 9 right now: 32-20 (an 1889), 2x357, 44mag, 45LC, 30-30, 32-40, 38-55 and 45-70. I would trust my life with any of them.

Buy a Marlin and never look back.

streakr

Light, slim and quick to move. No, you can't take a Winchester apart as easy but being strip searched and prodded is not its business.
The Model 94 and the 336 are classic guns, both great and beautiful things. The Mossy is an unknown, not enough years yet in the saddle scabbards and the pack packs and the pickem' ups.

I inherited a post-64 winchester 94 and find it a blast to shoot, the action is smooth and it makes ya feel like a cowboy...hahaha

If I hadn't inherited I would have picked up a marlin 336

The marlins are stronger, generally more accurate and have better triggers.

The winchesters do carry better.

I have the Marlin 336CS and love it.....a friend of mine has the winchester and I just can't shoot it accurately.....don't know why... but I shoot the Marlin with 3 inch groups at 100 yards....

the new mossies, are a 94 clone, but do an angle eject, so you can scope it uptop, without smacking the brass around. Also, Field and stream just did a big new rifle accuracy test... and just went and pulled a great , big , bunch of rifles right outta the box, and started banging away at 100 yds, 5 shot groups. while a wetherby sub moa rifle, pulled off the top spot, and of course a few others you would suspect were near the top, Sako, Savage, thomson/center Icon, the mossy ended up being a top 10 finisher, which is a big surprise to me, for a lever especially...

The older Mossbergs were really nice in that they were side-ejecting, included a lever safety that was not easily bumped off and was on the side, but that could be replaced with a saddle ring if you didn't want a safety in your lever gun. What was great about them, though, was the trigger being mounted on the lever. No Marlin Trigger Pinch there! I have owned both the Marlin and Mossberg. As to functioning and reliability, they were about the same. The Marlin was smoother operating, though, and I suppose all things considered, I preferred the Marlin. But, I kept the Mossy and sold the Marlin as the Mossy was nothing special and made the perfect woods gun.

As to the new Mossbergs...I just don't have a clue.

Ash

Come to think of it - I've never heard that the 94s or the 336s either one ever had much in the way of jamming or parts breakage problems.

I think if I were to use iron sights I would probably take the 94 and, if I were to use a scope I would take the 336C (the straight-gripped "saddle ring" version).

rangerruck said

the new mossies, are a 94 clone, but do an angle eject, so you can scope it uptop, without smacking the brass around. Also, Field and stream just did a big new rifle accuracy test... and just went and pulled a great , big , bunch of rifles right outta the box, and started banging away at 100 yds, 5 shot groups. while a wetherby sub moa rifle, pulled off the top spot, and of course a few others you would suspect were near the top, Sako, Savage, thomson/center Icon, the mossy ended up being a top 10 finisher, which is a big surprise to me, for a lever especially...

Click to expand...

I don't pick up F&S much but I did for that issue. The Mossberg averaged about MOA with factory ammo. If that is typical of the model, they should be a success. I haven't even seen one yet though.

In my personal (limited) experience, Marlins have a smoother action and outshoot Winchester 94s. My 94 Trapper is nearly impossible to cycle without the butt slipping from my shoulder. Great little rifle though still.

Marlins are extremely solid rifles. They are slightly bulkier than the Winchesters, but are just a better design. Simpler on the inside, and very easy to clean properly.

I've never liked the Win. design, it is a very pretty rifle. But I prefer the pistol gripped stock of the 336. There is also a decent array of accessories and parts...plenty of aftermarket sighting options, etc.

Plus, prices on the Marlin are affordable. Around here, Winchesters command a premium because of the USRAC closing. i don't think they, especially the ones produced in the past few years before the USRAC closing, are worth having. The pre and post 64 94s aren't really that much different, but the last few years of production meant quality was falling off for the '94.

I'd go with the Marlin. You can smooth the lever up and do some work to the trigger if they aren't to your satisfaction, too, without too much trouble...

Anybody know how much the Marlins weigh? I weighed my late model Winnie 1894 and it weighed 6.5 lbs. It is the lightest and shortest long arm I own.