44 Mag Lever - Winchester or Marlin?

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batex

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I'm looking to get a lever action in 44 mag as it's one of the pistol cartridges I load for. A local shop has both a late model Winchester 94 straight grip model with the cross bolt safety and a Marlin 1985S straight grip also with the cross bolt safety. This would be fun gun, maybe see some hunting, but would primarily shoot my reloads for plinking and at targets. The Winchester is $350 while the Marlin could be had for $300 out the door. Which one would be a better choice? I know the Winchester name may be more "revered" historically, but this is one of very recent production.
Thanks.
 
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Marlin

One, they are still in business, and
Two, Model 94s in .44Mag have a reputation for problems with the carrier, due to its construction and the length of the action. I see some folks who had no trouble with their 94s in .44, but I know of others who have had trouble. Action length is a factor. Marlin puts their .44 in a shorter action than their .30-30.
 
Either way, both good. The marlin will cycle a little quicker, but unless you are on the cutting edge of cowboy shooting it won't make a difference and you might'nt even be able to pick the difference. My first lever gun was a 44/94 and it was the bee's knee's. I have a few friends who have them and have never heard of any problems. The Marlin is tailored for that length of cartridge so should be a little neater in operation. I currently have a 1894 Marlin and a 92 Rossi in 44 mag.

If scope usage is envisaged, the Marlin would be my choice, but they are butt ugly compared to the Winchesters. (calm down guys, I own both, but there is no escaping the goofy lines of the lever, etc on the Marlin :D).
 
.44 '94 Win Trapper.....13 Whitetail deer, one Black bear, and one Bull Elk down by the Clark Fork up the Bitter Root... enough said.

Like my Winchester better than my Marlin 'cause it handles cast bullets better also.
 
It comes down to personal preference, you're either a "Winchester guy" or a "Marlin guy", much the same as in shotguns, you're a "Remington guy" or a "Mossberg guy", there is very little overlap between the two.

One thing to consider is that the Winchester is no longer manufactured, that means that as a "collector's piece" it won't loose any value (it won't necessarily go up, either). Take a look at the prices for the Winchester 9422's, they've gone nuts!!

Either one would be a good choice, if you decide on the Winchester, try and find made before they put on the top tang safety, the older the better.
 
Well when I compared a Winchester 92 to a Marlin 1894... the Winchester had features I didn't care for, and the lever had a LOT of side to side play.

I looked at a Browning made 92, and several clones as well, I still prefer the Marlin.
 
I've been wanting a lever action also. If and when i get one im going for the marlin, it just fits me better. I like the looks of both of them,if i wanted to be really cowboy i'd get a winchester.
 
The Marlin feels a lot smoother to me and from shooting them side by side, it's quite a bit more accurate also, at least the ones I shot were. This is no different than with the .30-30's. I own a Marlin and a Winchester and the Marlin beats it hands down too. They really make a good lever gun.
 
I have a M1894 Marlin purchased in 1982. Make sure that your Marlin has a rubber recoil pad. Mine came with a hard plastic buttplate and hurt something awful to shoot. Then I learned how to grind a pad and life is much better.

I have a number of threads on the SASS wire, and the folks there seem to prefer Marlins. One reason is that the solid top of the Marlin keeps the next round from popping out the top. Apparently happens with the M1892 replicas. Those guys are into fast shooting and it seems the Marlin is more reliable in feed.

I have never owned a Winchester lever action, but have handled them and read the take down instructions. A Marlin is a lot easier to remove the bolt which allows wiping out the innerds. A Winchester seems to be on the same order of complexity as an Auto 5 shotgun disassembly. Disassemble one of those, it takes a while and there are too many parts!
 
I have owned both Marlin and Winchester lever rifles in .44 Mag. I only have a Marlin 1894S now, as my old eyes really need that low power variable scope.
This is the rifle I most often take when hunting deer or hogs here in North Florida.

5_4.jpg
 
I prefer the win 94's. All of mine (6 of them, 2 30-30, 2 357 mag, 2 44 mag) are dead on accurate. I've never had trouble with feeding.

Marlins are fine, too. The reason I like the 94's over the marlins? Weight. The winchesters are lighter and faster handling. At least in my experience.

If I find a marlin in 41 mag, it'll be coming home with me.
 
While Winchesters are the historic and vaunted "How the West was Won" rifle, Marlins are in fact the better of the two Lever Rifles.
Marlins are easier to Repair and Maintain. They are also Current Production. With the exception of Copies Winchesters aren't being made at this point.
 
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