Marlin or Winchester 30-30

Where are you from Fastcast???

The Dove

Just because YOU don't do it does not make it wrong.

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And just because YOU do it does not make it right. People are merely expressing their personal likes and dislikes and most everyone, I'm sure, would concede that there is some degree of subjectivity in everyone's opinion-including yours. People don't need to be labled "purists" in a demeaning way just because they have an opinion (there's that word again) no matter how passionately expressed that differs from your opinion. You might want to iron some wrinkles out of your own panties.

When folks claim a scope doesn't belong on a levergun, its seen as being overly opinionated, not simply stating a preference. Being opinionated to that degree is offensive and folks are gonna react.

My Marlin 39 wore a scope for a while. I also had planned to put a scout scope on my 336 (.30-30). I've changed my mind in both cases. Taking the scope off the 39, not putting one on the 336. (As soon as I get them shipped over here from their storage area on the west coast.)

Instead, I'm putting on peep sights; Skinners for me. I want to go simple, minimalist, lighter weight.
I will restrict myself by choice to shorter ranges (50 yds for 39, 100 for the 336).

However, I have THR friends who shoot both with scopes.
More power to them, if that's what they want.

It's all a matter of choice and personal preference.

THe Dove said:

Where are you from Fastcast???

The Dove

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Ohio....and I can be overly opinionated at times, like most here at the THR.

Nematocyst said:

Instead, I'm putting on peep sights; Skinners for me. I want to go simple, minimalist, lighter weight.
I will restrict myself by choice to shorter ranges (50 yds for 39, 100 for the 336).

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Nice!.....and there's nothing wrong with giving the game a sporting chance.

In most cases it teaches one to be a better hunter and better man......Cheers!

Both are good and like most old timers, I grew up watching John Wayne deal with bad guys and Comanches using the Winchester '94. When I finally got some money together my dad and I headed for the LGS. Unfortunately, I hadn't gotten enough money together and the '94 was just out of reach. But, they had a lightly used, nearly new 336 at just the right price. I've never regretted it and if I were going to buy another 30-30 it would probably be another 336C.

My dad owns pre-60 Marlin 336 in 30-30 that I grew up hunting with. I at one time owned a Winchester Big Bore 94 in 375 Winchester, and recently purchased a Marlin model 30TK in 30-30.

While I'm not going to sit here and shout the Winchester is no good, I will say there are definite DISadvantages to the Winchester.

The issues I saw with the Winchester were all related to stroke on the lever. The Winchester is a beautiful gun, it does carry well, it is nicely balanced, it is just as accurate, it can be easily scoped, but stroke on the lever is where Marlin beats it.


1.) The stroke on a Marlin 336 is roughly 4 inches shorter than stroke on a Winchester 94. In fact the Winchester has the longest stroke of any lever on the market, to my knowledge. Marlin, Savage, Browning... They all got it beat.

Is 4 inches of stroke a major issue in the heat of the moment? Not really... I was told the Big Bore 94 sounded like a semi-auto on at least one occasion.


2.) The entire bottom of the receiver opens on the stroke of a Winchester 94. And, if you're hunting heavy brush, which I was when I owned the 94, and do when I'm hunting in Florida now, this presents susceptibility to jamming, along with the introduction of much debris into your action.

For that reason, I am a Marlin fan tried and true.

The entire bottom of the receiver opens on the stroke of a Winchester 94. And, if you're hunting heavy brush, which I was when I owned the 94, and do when I'm hunting in Florida now, this presents susceptibility to jamming, along with the introduction of much debris into your action.

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And when the top of the Marlin's receiver is fully exposed on the stroke of the lever and you're hunting in heavy brush, where do you suppose that debris you're talking about is going to end up?

And when the top of the Marlin's receiver is fully exposed on the stroke of the lever and you're hunting in heavy brush, where do you suppose that debris you're talking about is going to end up

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Uhhhh the top of a Marlin 336 receiver is closed. It is the Winchester that is open.

I love leverguns, and own a number of both 94s and 336s in 30-30 for pasture guns and, well, just 'cause some of them make me happy... (and one Marlin 1894 in 44 mag just for fun).

I have a scope on only one: the 336 in 35 Rem that I deer-hunt in the western NC woods with. As the longest shot I'd likely take with it is 80 yards or so, I use it because I can "usually" hit a tennis ball at that distance with it. With iron sights, maybe a basketball. "A man's got to know his limitations", as they say, and I'm not ashamed of my scoped 35 Rem 336. I'm just not as good a marksman as some of you are. The deer deserve all the advantage I can muster to get a clean vitals shot, especially in poor light conditions.

Les

Uhhhh the top of a Marlin 336 receiver is closed. It is the Winchester that is open.

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I've owned them both for more than a few years. I have no idea what I was thinking when I wrote that...

LOL. Tizz ok SwampWolf, I have brain farts more often than not anymore as well.

Gunsmith's point of view

I must side with the marlin for all the original reasons you stated to defend your decision. Installing a fixed 4x or a compact 1.5-5 power and mounting it as low as possible in a set of burris or leupold steel rings & bases is the best way to go. I even mounted an "ultra-dot" red dot scope on a marlin for a customer in 1991 & he loved the set-up. He said that shooting from an elevated tree stand & the majority of his shots were < 50 yards.

Somebody say, "red dot"?

Here is George Hill's CAR (cowboy assault rifle).

Check the bottom pics.

Somebody say, "red dot"?

Here is George Hill's CAR (cowboy assault rifle).

Check the bottom pics.

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Ug, meum likeum thatum May just have to give that a shot on one of mine. (since my son decided to adopt my 30/30 guess Ill have to get me a new one to try it on )

SwampWolf said:

I've owned them both for more than a few years. I have no idea what I was thinking when I wrote that...

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LMAO!!! I don't know what you was thinkin either!!

For the sake of those that might not be familiar with the issue I was referring to on the 94, this is open receiver bottom... and top.

Ugly, but it is effective, even for my eleven year old (at the time) daughter.

Old Time, Damnit when is your adoption of me going to be final!!!!!