Which 30-30
- Thread starter dmr2400
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Winchester.
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/category.asp?family=003C
But the stores are full of older great used Win 94's and Marlin 336's at 1/3 the price of the new Winchester.
rc
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/category.asp?family=003C
But the stores are full of older great used Win 94's and Marlin 336's at 1/3 the price of the new Winchester.
rc
The best new production fit and finish will be the Miroku-made Winchester. At a more reasonable price point, I'd suggest the Mossberg 464. Cheaper and better finished than current Marlins. Like RC said, if you are willing to go used there are millions of old Marlins and Winchesters out there.
R.W.Dale
Member
I have to say I am far from waxing all romantic about lever guns of old. But even I was horrified by the atrocious fit and finish particularly the wood of a couple of new production marlins I looked at recently.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
No one can tell you which rifle you will like best. The Marlin, Winchester, Henry and Mossberg are all good rifles, you should buy the one that feels best in your hands...
The Mossberg was released when Winchester "went out of business" and is probably the best copy of the original but at half the price. I like the Marlin best but that's just a personal preference.
The Mossberg was released when Winchester "went out of business" and is probably the best copy of the original but at half the price. I like the Marlin best but that's just a personal preference.
From a nostalgic point of view I like the older Winchester. I own three 336's and hunt with them. Winchester is WAY too proud of their guns.
I don't really like the new 336. It looks like a plastic gun and I think it should look more like a classic gun. I also know how much my opinion is worth.
I don't really like the new 336. It looks like a plastic gun and I think it should look more like a classic gun. I also know how much my opinion is worth.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
It is a shame FN decided to jack up the price of the 94 so much but I guess it's better than never seeing a Winchester again.
As for Marlin, it's also a shame Freedom Group didn't leave Marlin as a wholly owned subsidiary like they do with most of their acquisitions. Switching the manufacturing over to the Remington plant is a good financial move and that's the name of the game. It's a shame Marlins are Marlins in name only now.
Was Marlin in financial trouble before they were sold?
Odd but I never grow tired of these threads. It's fun to compare and contrast various firearms and cartridges. 
I have owned older (1980s) Winchesters, and Marlins. Each has it own appeal for me. The M94 Marlin with it's solid, flat top is great for mounting any form of optic. Too, I appreciate that it is a true side-eject. For some inexplicable reason though, the M94 Winchester feels better in the hands without any optic. If I were to buy a lever-action in the future, I would revisit the Henry before I purchased either the Winchester or the Marlin. I like the brass receiver. The Henry does feel heavier than either the Winchester of Marlin.
In terms of barrels being appropriate to reloading, the Henry and Winchester have traditional rifling, not the microgroove. If I were making hand loaded hard-cast reloads, the Marlin would not be as good of choice. So for me, I would be considering desire to easily mount an optic or desire to use iron sights, and desire to use jacketed projectiles, or also use hard cast lead projectiles. I have never seen the Mossberg, so I can't comment. I do know, I would never pay the asking price of current manufacture M94 Winchesters. As others have said, lots of used ones at a much lower price.
JMHO,
Geno
I have owned older (1980s) Winchesters, and Marlins. Each has it own appeal for me. The M94 Marlin with it's solid, flat top is great for mounting any form of optic. Too, I appreciate that it is a true side-eject. For some inexplicable reason though, the M94 Winchester feels better in the hands without any optic. If I were to buy a lever-action in the future, I would revisit the Henry before I purchased either the Winchester or the Marlin. I like the brass receiver. The Henry does feel heavier than either the Winchester of Marlin.
In terms of barrels being appropriate to reloading, the Henry and Winchester have traditional rifling, not the microgroove. If I were making hand loaded hard-cast reloads, the Marlin would not be as good of choice. So for me, I would be considering desire to easily mount an optic or desire to use iron sights, and desire to use jacketed projectiles, or also use hard cast lead projectiles. I have never seen the Mossberg, so I can't comment. I do know, I would never pay the asking price of current manufacture M94 Winchesters. As others have said, lots of used ones at a much lower price.
JMHO,
Geno
Maybe, but lets put this into perspective. Suggested retail on a new Winchester 94 is about $1,200. Adjusted for inflation $1,200 today would have bought you a $150 gun in 1962. A Remington 700 BDL had a suggested retail of $140 in 1962, so they are really not that far off. I know a 94 from 1962 was under $100 at the time. But remember, that was their 1962 "budget" gun prices. The new production 94's are top end guns which should command a premium.
http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
People complain about the poor quality of todays guns, but won't pay the price for quality. Everybody wants to make 2014 wages, and pay 1960's prices for guns, and expect the same level of quality. It ain't gonna happen.
I'd personally be looking for either a Marlin or Winchester made in the 1970's or 80's, but if it had to be a NEW lever, at reasonable pricing, I'd still buy a Marlin 336C. Not the budget W model.
The Bushmaster
Member
What RC said in post #2...
788Ham
Member
Try the Henry, won't believe the smooth action on it !
shooter1niner
Member
Not a clue on the newly made but my old Marlin 336 that was given to me for Christmas 1968 is the best.
Never did like the post '64 Winchester 94's because of the graphitic steel receiver and the general looseness of the firearm.
Never did like the post '64 Winchester 94's because of the graphitic steel receiver and the general looseness of the firearm.
BluegrassDan
Member
Funny Winchester video. Didn't wear a tree stand harness and missed the deer he was shooting at!
lobo9er
Member
94 win in 44 mag has been on my list for awhile
MrDig
Member
I have a 336, in 30-30, I also own a 1894 and it's kid brother the 1894C. Add to the list a model 56 in 22lr and you can guess I'm all about Marlin Lever Guns. So they are what I recommend when it comes to lever guns.
Normandy, Glad you got that Glenfield it sounds like you will enjoy it immensely.
As far as best New Production? it is hard to tell, I like Marlin actions over Winchesters so I would probably tolerate a lot of fine fit and finish flaws in the Remington Marlins just to have the action.
Normandy, Glad you got that Glenfield it sounds like you will enjoy it immensely.
As far as best New Production? it is hard to tell, I like Marlin actions over Winchesters so I would probably tolerate a lot of fine fit and finish flaws in the Remington Marlins just to have the action.
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