Winchester 94 or Marlin 336

[courtgreene]

I know, I know, ford Chevy, blah blah but hear me out as I give the specifics.
I'm looking for a gun for younger shooters/small adults for deer. Since I hand load I can make reduced loads and that, to me, says 30-30. The guns in question are both used. Both look about the same as far as condition. The Winchester is from 1908 according to running the serial number through old guns.net and the marlin is JM stamped.
The Winchester is priced at 398 and the marlin is 419. This is a no-haggle pawn shop because, obviously, staying in business doesn't matter to them. I do like the two guns though so I'm sort of married to the seller in this case.
Because of the shape the Winchester is in I'm worried the serial number has been altered. Doesn't look 106 years old to me. What do y'all think?

 

[jmr40]

Picking blind, Marlin. Over the years Winchester quality has been hit or miss. Some are as good as it gets, others not so much. Marlins have been much more consistent. Sure a few sub-par guns got out, but the odds of finding a great Marlin are a bit better than a Winchester.

 

[moxie]

The 336 is a simpler, usually more reliable gun. Field strips by removing just one screw. Cleans up very easily. Usually very accurate too.

But a gun is only good if it's accurate.

See if they will let you shoot them both. Get the one that's more accurate. If it's pretty much a draw, get the Marlin. If they won't let you try them out, get the Marlin.

 

[horsemen61]

Marlin

 

[triangleman606]

Marlin. For a young shooter you'll want a scope, much better on the Marlin.

 

[sixgunner455]

Erm, the Winchester is a collector's item that you can shoot and hunt with, with care to preserve its long term value. You should probably not alter it. If you buy it, I'd be really leery of letting new shooters hunt with it.

The Marlin is the bomb for this application: common, easy to put a peep or scope on, slick action. Bit more than I paid for mine, but what are you gonna do? JM stamps aren't being made anymore.

 

[Geno]

Two significant factors come to my mind when I compare/contrast the two rifles the OP identifies. The Marlin is indeed easier to mount an optic. However, the Winchester has rifling, not micro-groove "rifling". Micro-groves do serve well with jacketed projectiles, but in the event one elects to hand-load hard-cast projectiles, the scale tips in favor of the Winchester.

In truth, I have owned both, and I like both...equally.

Geno

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

The marlin is a better gun imho. Nothing wrong with a goon Winny though, especially if it's a pre 64.

 

[readyeddy]

The 106 year old Winchester is either a collector's item or a counterfeit. Figure that out and you have an important piece of information.

 

[mac66]

I would look elsewhere for a Marlin

 

[jmr40]

Me thinks you are looking at something wrong with the SN. If the Winchester is indeed a 106 year old rifle at that price buy it and put it back. You can find another gun for your son.

In fact a lever 30-30 would be near the bottom of my list for a young shooter. A bolt rifle in 243 will have significantly less recoil, better accuracy, better terminal performance, and is safer for a young shooter. More AD's happen while unloading lever guns than any other type. You can also buy a brand new one for a lot less than either of these.

 

[tubeshooter]

As stated, a big question is whether or not that Winchester is actually that old.

I will say that I don't think I would use a 106 year old rifle as a general-purpose hunting gun for youngsters and newbs - or anyone else. At least not without getting it checked out real good first.

Winchesters are generally more collectible and valuable, since they stopped making them awhile back. If this gun is a shooter that will never be sold, this doesn't matter very much.


I've owned the Marlin for years, but have only held the Winchester and never actually fired one. The Winchester is slimmer and lighter, and conversely the Marlin feels like a stouter build. If I were in your exact shoes right now I'd probably pick the Marlin. Good luck.

 

[rule303]

I have both. The Winchester is lighter, and better handling for sure. The Marlin is a nicer rifle in every other aspect. More accurate, conventional scope mounting, not rattly, better trigger, easy to disassemble for detail cleaning.

 

[courtgreene]

Thanks, marlin it is. In regards to the .243 suggestion, that was my original plan. However, I've never owned a lever gun and since he's 1 right now I'll be the one testing the rifle for him for the next few years. I can afford to buy things for him now and recently learned that you buy when you can afford it because who knows what situation you will be in when he's ready for a gun to take hunting in the future? This way even if we're strapped when that time/maturity level comes, I can just open the cabinet and say "here, this is yours now." Also I need something light for girls and a small (not young just small) nephew I'm trying to teach to hunt now.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm a Marlin fan...

I have a Marlin in 30-30, 45-70 and .357 Magnum. The .22LR is a Henry.

 

[jmr40]

he's 1 right now I'll be the one testing the rifle for him for the next few years. I can afford to buy things for him now and recently learned that you buy when you can afford it because who knows what situation you will be in when he's ready

That is a good plan, I did the same. My daughter recently turned 30, my son turns 26 later this month. Over the years I bought up a lot of guns just because they were cheap, and I tried to buy at least 2 similar guns. Since they have moved out of the house they each got a 1911, (Kimber & Colt), identical Marlin 30-30's, Ruger 10-22's, Remington 870's, Glock 17's, and similar Winchester 30-06 rifles. There is more to come, especially for the grandkids. I just haven't decided which will get which, and I'm still using some of them. I think my daughter's husband is the most grateful.

I've had some of these 15-20 years, bought before I retired at a fraction of what it would cost me today.

 

[Elkins45]

Is it possible that the pawn shop guy doesn't know he has a collectible Winchester on the rack? If that's the case my advice is to buy both. Keep the Marlin to hunt and sell the Winchester to a collector, possibly for enough to make the entire purchase essentially free.