Winchester 94 vs Marlin 336 Price Discrepancy

[mgmorden]

Ok, I'm just posting this out of curiosity. Growing up there were always 2 lever action guns that were competing: the Winchester 94 and the Marlin 336. It seems like most people I knew thought both were good guns but that the Marlin was a slightly better choice from a practical standpoint because of its side ejecting (ie, easier to mount a scope).

I hadn't priced them in a while but I just looked and noticed that the Marlin 336 currently starts new at around $400. The Winchester 94 starts at around $1000.

I can understand preferences between one model or another, but even for people who prefer it, is the Winchester 94 really THAT much better to warrant 2.5x the cost of a Marlin 336?

Particularly since there's other players out there now with Mossberg having one available starting around $375 and Henry around $700. (All .30-30's that I checked since that's what I generally consider "quintessential level action"s ).

Maybe I'm missing something (and if I ever buy another Model 94 I'm certainly looking towards the used racks), but I just don't see how the gun could command that level of price.

 

[MidRoad]

Pretty sure the new wins are made in Japan, and are very nice quality. The new Marlin's are not like the ones of days past . I say check both out in person and you may see why the Winchester is more expensive .I'm not saying it justifies the 2.5 cost factor. But they are very nice. I had a 2015 made 336ss and it had feeding problems and the machine on the internals was very crude,lots of deep marks, and the action wasn't very smooth amongst other things. I sold it for a loss and have the money set aside to put towards my next levergun. I won't be buying another marlin unless it says JM on the side of the barrel, call me a snob if you wish, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[jmr40]

Marlin quality has gone down some. The $400 Marlin is a cheap budget rifle with matte finish and cheap wood. A top end Marlin is closer to $600. Winchester no longer makes the 94. They are being outsourced and made in Japan. Those rifles are basically custom shop quality, much better than Winchester ever made.

 

[ThomasT]

I have looked at some of the new Marlins at Academy. The first one I looked at had Hardwood stocks and a finish that looked like BBQ Grill paint for a finish. Just a low quality looking gun and not one I would spend money on. But I wouldn't buy a $1000 Winchester either. If I wanted another 30-30 I would be checking the used rifle rack or online sales or even a gunshow.

 

[DPris]

You can't compare the current guns.
The Marlin is US-made, to an unfortunately lower standard of manufacturing.
NOT bad, just not as nicely done.

The current Winchester 94 is built in Japan by Miroku, and it's a part of their low-production "nostalgia series" leverguns.
There is no Winchester factory & really no Winchester gun company.
The brand is licensed to Browning by Olin (who owns the name & still manufactures Winchester ammunition) so Browning can import "Winchester" brand guns from more than one foreign source.
Both Browning & the Winchester rifle operation (such as it is) are owned by FN in Herstal, Belgium.

The current Winchester 94 is beautifully made, and far better than anything the brand put out domestically for several years before closing the old US plant in 2006.
They cost more because they're better built, produced abroad, and not available in large numbers.
Denis

 

[LoonWulf]

While i have no interest in a 1000+ dollar ..30-30, I would spend the extra for a new 94 in another cartridge. As JMR (and Denis, since he types faster than me ) said, the only one I ever held was so much better fit and finished than any 94 ive held before its worth the difference to ME.
This isnt to say im going to run out and buy one, but were I interested in a lever gun, the least expensive one Id be going for would be the Henry, and most likely getting something like the 94 in .450Marlin.

The Mossbergs ive handled have been pretty decent little rifles, and very much worth the 400+/- they sell for.
336s have gone up to 550-650 around here, and at that price i wont buy one.
Again they are useable rifles and if your just looking to kill stuff, or go out and have a good time punching holes in things they will work perfectly (buddy of mine has a stubby little 336..."traper"? maybe...that handles well, but it just dosent appeal to me).
The Henrys are nice guns as well, but heavy, and you lose the loading gate....if that matters to you.

Again what your willing to spend, and what you WANT will dictate if spending the extra for something like a new 94 is worth it...again for me, Im not interested in the rifle as a hammer sort of tool.....More like a custom Harley; not gonna ride it often, but im gonna have a lot of fun keeping it clean, and taking it out for a spin now and then.

 

[DPris]

The Marlin's getting better, and I think it's a dependable working .30-30.
It's just not as well done as the Winoku.

You decide which one you want to put your money on, and which level of quality you want to take home.
The Marlin you won't mind dinging up, the Winoku will bring tears to your eyes if you scratch it.

Both will PROBABLY shoot about the same.
Denis

 

[cheygriz]

IMHO, the Marlin is a slightly better, stronger weapon.

Having said that, the feel, balance nostalgia and ergos of the Win. 94 are such that I wouldn't trade one 94 for a dozen 336s. Just personal taste.

 

[mgmorden]

Thanks. As I said I was mostly just interested from a curiosity standpoint. I own a 1980's vintage Marlin already and bought one of the Winchester 94 AE's for my brother as a gift years ago that I've shot myself quit a few times. Nothing wrong with either of them I just didn't see the Winchester as being THAT much better. Particularly since both were bought within the last ~12 years or so and I didn't pay more than $200 for either of them (obviously used).

If I was going to drop the money on a new one it'd probably be a Henry.

 

[d2wing]

I am so glad I have my old '94. I use it for still hunting and tracking.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Hit the used racks !

 

[If1HitU]

Used or new,i'm going the the Marlin.

 

[Elkins45]

Hit the used racks !

Yep. The eastern half of the US is awash in used 30-30 rifles, especially near the end of each month. I bought a 70’s production Win 94 with a Williams aperture sight on GunBroker for $265 back in the winter. Armslist usually has a number of guys selling Marlins for around $300.

It wasn’t all that long ago when $200 was the going rate for either.

 

[ThomasT]

In the late 80s and early 90s I paid a flat hundred bucks for Marlin rifles. I did pay $115 for a Ted Williams branded model 94 that my brother in law bought from me for half now and half never. He still has the gun too. And loves it with the Williams 5D peep sight he borrowed. Its still borrowed. I guess is his now.

In the last year I have bought two Marlins. A 336 in 35 Remington for just a little over $400 and a Marlin/Glenfield 30D 30-30 with a half mag for $375. It came with a Marlin branded 4x scope that is very clear. I haven't shot that one yet.

There were so many of these guns made that are still in excellent shape that I can't see buying a new one. I think they still make some of the best truck/tractor type guns you can get. I would pick a good 30-30 over an AR any day. They serve my needs better than a lot of other rifle/cartridge combinations. Not to mention how much work they will do on such a small dose of powder with a simple cup and core bullet.

 

[MidRoad]

In the late 80s and early 90s I paid a flat hundred bucks for Marlin rifles. I did pay $115 for a Ted Williams branded model 94 that my brother in law bought from me for half now and half never. He still has the gun too. And loves it with the Williams 5D peep sight he borrowed. Its still borrowed. I guess is his now.

In the last year I have bought two Marlins. A 336 in 35 Remington for just a little over $400 and a Marlin/Glenfield 30D 30-30 with a half mag for $375. It came with a Marlin branded 4x scope that is very clear. I haven't shot that one yet.

There were so many of these guns made that are still in excellent shape that I can't see buying a new one. I think they still make some of the best truck/tractor type guns you can get. I would pick a good 30-30 over an AR any day. They serve my needs better than a lot of other rifle/cartridge combinations. Not to mention how much work they will do on such a small dose of powder with a simple cup and core bullet.

Aye, I'm a fan for 150 gr federal flatpoints. Work very well for the ranges I hunt .

 

[Riomouse911]

I have both the 1894 (4 of them) and the 336 (and an 1895 Guide Gun, which is similar).

I like the straight-stock look of the Winchester far more than the Marlin.

Even with the "Angle Eject" in the newer 1894's, I like the scope-mounting option of the 336 (along with the .35 Remington caliber option) more than the 1894.

They pretty much duplicate each other, so find what fits your shoulder (and your wallet) and buy .

Stay safe!

 

[George P]

Like the 870 WingMaster and the newer 870 Express, the Marlin now has several layers of quality, wit the newer iterations made to a low price point to compete with the cheap imports. This has been going on with ALL brands world-wide, since the last 150 years or so and is still practiced to this day.

Look at old US brands of clothes like Carhartt, LL Bean, Land's End, Pendelton, Danner, Rocky Boot, etc. IF any still make stuff here it is $$$$$$$$$; most are relying on memories of the good old days while corporate ships mfg overseas; guns are just another product in that vein. Cars and trucks? Look where your US companies make them. The "imports" are made here; same is happening with some foreign brands of guns and ammo - Fiocchi ammo, made in the US; Federal made overseas

Welcome to the world-wide economy where consumers have set the price and thus the level of quality.

 

[cdb1]

I think DPris pretty much covered everything in his first post.

I grew up around lever guns, that’s what my uncles hunted with. All model 94’s, none scoped. I always knew if I ever bought a lever gun it would be a 94. Didn’t get a lever gun until I was 50 and I bought a 336. After minimal research I realized a 336 suited my needs better.

A $1k lever gun doesn’t fill a niche I have or even a want. If I wanted a lever gun with 94 lines I’d get a Mossberg. I also don’t believe the Miroku 94’s are over priced. They are very nice, anything put out by them is top notch.

 

[fpgt72]

I just....well not just, but played with two when looking for a lever in 357, looked at both Marlin and Winchester....Older guns think the newest was an early 80's flavor.

The winchester felt smoother out of the (again used) examples I looked at but we all know the Marlin is a stronger action, and as I might hot rod the thing lets get the stronger rifle.

Still really like the early winchesters, and might get one some day.

 

[Elkins45]

At $800+ you are well into Browning BLR territory. I know I wouldn't drop that much on a Marlin or a Winchester lever gun unless I needed it immediately to shoot my way out of a jam.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

In the late 80s and early 90s I paid a flat hundred bucks for Marlin rifles. I did pay $115 for a Ted Williams branded model 94 that my brother in law bought from me for half now and half never. He still has the gun too. And loves it with the Williams 5D peep sight he borrowed. Its still borrowed. I guess is his now.

"half now half never". That's good.
My 94 is a 1947 flat band carbine in 32 Special. Still trying to get a deer with it.

 

[ThomasT]

The winchester felt smoother out of the (again used) examples I looked at but we all know the Marlin is a stronger action, and as I might hot rod the thing lets get the stronger rifle.

You really can-t hot rod a 30-30. The cases will not last but a loading or two. I already know because I have done this before. If the standard loads won't kill what you are hunting then you don't need hotter loads. You need a bigger round.

 

[Jackal]

They both run about $300 on the used market. Henry makes one of the best new leverguns on the market.

 

[CraigC]

As has already been stated, they cost more because they're better made guns. I have several Miroku made Browning and Winchester leverguns and they're easily head & shoulders above anything made domestically, now or 100yrs ago. The comments about Marlin's quality having taken a dive, I don't see it. Aside from the Remlin growing pains, Marlin has never been top for fit & finish, not for the last 30yrs or so anyway.

 

[Slamfire]

I always thought the Marlin design was better, to clean a Marlin 336 all you do is undo the lever screw, pull out the lever, bolt, and ejector. You can then get a cleaning rod and chamber brush through the back. I do swab out the interior the best I can. I looked at the disassembly instructions for a Win M1894, and I did not want to do that. I did not pay $150.00 for a new Win 1894, when they were $150.00, or $200.00, when they were $200.00 and I am sure not paying $1000 for one. Neither am I going to pay more for a pre 64 M1894.

Now the pre 64 M70, I have paid $1000.00. That's a great rifle, depending on the caliber.

I did talk to Marlin back when they were JM. They had no expectation of their rifles being target rifles, barrel quality had improved by 2000, but before then, my Marlin 44 Mag M1894 (1980's) went through two barrels due to constrictions and tooling marks in the bore. I sent it in for a Ballard barrel around 2000, and their barrels were much improved.

This Marlin has its factory barrel, and the chamber was reamed so large, that I am four grains over max, to achieve factory velocities. I tried soft seating a bullet, to determine where the throat was, that did not happen. The cartridge ended up so long I had to remove the bolt and lever to eject the cartridge. I am sure it has a throat, might be 18 inches up the barrel.






With its best loads, it will shoot 2 MOA



Greasing the cartridges on the first firing, so I don't experience case head separations on the first firing.



This is how much the shoulder was blown forward on firing




Those were the days: