Author Topic: winchester model 94... versus and plus... marlin (Read 1551 times)

corbanzo · « **on:** January 09, 2006, 07:52:32 AM »

I know that the winny's and the marlin's are dear in the hearts of many hunters, this is why I am going to purchase both sometime here in the near future... but what I am thinking of is getting one in the 30-30 for deer, and one in a .357 or .44 for action shooting, fun, whatever. Now I was leaning towards the model 94 in the .30-.30, because it's a legend as we know, and just seems the right way as an american, then get the .357 or .44 in marlin, which way would you fellas go, and this is to get both calibers, both brands?

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2006, 08:28:42 AM »

corbanzo: Gun Tests Magazine just ran a comparison between the Winchester 94 and the marlin 1984, both in 44 magnum.

They chose the Winchester: the sights gave the most speed and accuracy, and the action was light enough to short stroke. They felt the Winchester 94 Trapper simply outdid the Marlin. Their website is www.gun-test.com if you want to review the article. HTH. Mikey.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2006, 11:45:34 AM »

there both good proven guns.

ihmsa70 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2006, 02:42:24 PM »

Don't get the Winchester. I've had a .357 Legacy in the Browning/Winchester repair shop since Dec. 13th. Tracking Service says, "Shop Backlog, Waiting to be assigned to gunsmith." (Cartridge slipping out of mag under carrier.)
Clyde

rs · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2006, 02:44:50 PM »

I have the model 94 in 44 mag and it seems to be a pretty good little gun in my opinion,although i really dont shoot it a lot, wish it was chambered in 357 instead.

Oldtimer · « **Reply #5 on:** January 09, 2006, 03:05:23 PM »

As for a .30-30, try out both, borrow a couple if you can, and pick the one that suits you best. There is no way to say which brand will outdo the other, both are good choices.
The Marlin model 94 was designed for pistol length cartridges, so I would choose it over the Winchester 94, or a Marlin 336, for that matter. If you just want a plinker, I would go with the .357.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2006, 02:05:34 AM »

Went to a gun show in Orlando this past sunday and saw a "ton" of Winchester 94`s. Prices went from $175 up. There were plenty of really
nice ones so getting one you would like is no problem.
If your in the market and you have gun shows in your area that`s where
i`d be.
Plus, with Hornady coming out with it`s new Leverevolution shells
in 30-30 (plus some others) they say it makes it a much better round. Speed, power and the like. Could make a nice combo, IMO.

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

Savage .250 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 10, 2006, 02:13:24 AM »

A Win 94 in 30-30 teamed with the new Hornady OLeverevolution shells
would make a nice combo.
Hornady says the new shells are much better than existing loads so
if that`s so they`ve made an old favorite even better. IMO.

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

Savage .250 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 10, 2006, 02:25:00 AM »

Sorry for the double post. i thought it didn`t "take". My puter said so. :oops:

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

Savage .250 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 10, 2006, 02:25:00 AM »

Sorry for the double post. i thought it didn`t "take". My puter said so. :oops:

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

victorcharlie · « **Reply #10 on:** January 10, 2006, 02:30:03 AM »

You won't go wrong with either, and both lever actions are good rifles. The only real advantages are that the Marlin will allow for standard scope mounting, (winchester does have an AE, or angle eject) and the Marlin is easier to completely disassemble and reassemble.

If there is a cowboy action event in your area, you might get first hand experience with both if you were to attend. I've found that most cowboy action shooters love to let interested parties work the action of their rifle. These aren't normally the standard out of the box rifle, as most have had a fair amount of action work. Both rifles can be made to operate slick as a whistle.......

This is really a matter of personal preference as both rifles have a huge following.........I've owned both........my preference is a Marlin. Scope mounting really isn't an issue to me......but I do like the way a Marlin comes apart.

Sixgun · « **Reply #11 on:** January 10, 2006, 03:56:54 AM »

I bought a pre-64 Win 94 in January, last year, at a gun show. I got a load worked up real fast and shot my first Cowboy Rifle Silhouette match in March. I got a 29 out of 40 in that match. I shot the next match in May. I got a 31 in that match and was match winner. In July I shot the same gun and load at my state Cowboy Silhouete match and won the match. There were 35 shooters in that match from most of the western states and one from Canada.

The load that I seteled with was a RCBS 180 fp over 34 grains of IMR 4831 with a CCI standard rifle primer. Volicity is 1800 fps and the 200 yard group is 3" from a sandbag rest.

Could I have done this with a Marlin? Maybe, but not likely. That Micro Grove barrel is a real drawback on a Marlin, as far as I am concerned. The 30-30 begs to be used with cast bullets. Not only can you use the same powder charges that the books list with the jacketed bullets, but since there is less friction with a cast bullet, volicity is always higher and sometimes very much higher, using a cast bullet.

I don't think I could have worked up this good of a load, this fast working around the micro groove barrel of a Marlin.

So, That is what I think of what your choice for a 30-30 should be. Now on to the 357 or 44 mag.

Both the Marlin and the Winchester are weak. If I had to get one of the two I would again go with the Winchester because it will chamber a longer OAL cartridge. I don't know why Marlin uses such a short distance from the bolt face to the barrel, but when you try to use most 180gr bullets, they will not chamber because they get stuck while being lifted up to chamber. Heavier bullets than 180 gr are impossible. The Winchester will handle the longer bullets and therefore gets my vote.

My choice, which is not included in your list is the Model 92 Rossi which is also available from Navy Arms and maybe some others. It has a short chamber but can still stand the extra pressure to shoot a 180 gr bullet to almost 1900 fps. My load is the RCBS 180-358-sil. This bullet with 16 gr of LilGun, CCI std pistol primer, and lee liquod alox goes over my chrony at just under 1900 fps. With other, stick lubes, I get 1830 fps. Accuracy is 4 inche at 200 yards from a sandbag rest. Using Mag pistol primers gives me over 1900 fps but accuracy opens up to about 1 foot.

Sixgun

leverfan · « **Reply #12 on:** January 10, 2006, 12:17:48 PM »

If you're going to get both, get the .30-30 in the Winchester, and the Marlin for the shorter rounds, especially if you're really interested in using it for action shooting. Marlin '94s don't need very much work to be competitive at the very highest levels of cowboy action shooting. Lots of guys do the work at their kitchen tables, using simple tools and basic instructions. This work isn't even really needed to compete at local level matches. Marlins rank up there with short stroked Winchester '73 and '66 replicas for sheer speed and reliability in action competition.

Many Winchester '94s fail to cycle reliably at high speeds with short pistol ammo. They are NOT popular for cowboy action shooting for that very reason. The many originals and reproductions of the Winchester 1892 are far more common in action shooting than the Winchester 1894.

Having taken Marlin '94s, Winchester '94s, and Winchester '92s apart, and actually gotten them back together, the Marlins are the easiest. The '92 follows, then the '94. With a decent set of instructions, the correct gunsmithing screwdrivers, and a couple of punches, the Winchesters aren't as bad as they're made out to be, just not as easy as a Marlin. I shoot real black powder in my rifles all the time, so I have lots of practice taking them apart.

If you wanted to muddy the waters by considering a '92 replica, check out this source:

www.stevesgunz.com

You can order guns direct from him, delivered to your ffl, already slicked up and very affordable.

In your shoes, my first purchase would be a Winchester '94 in .30-30, though. I've had a soft spot for them ever since I fired my great grandfather's '94 back when I was a kid. Winchester is offering them it takedown versions again, too.

Slamfire · « **Reply #13 on:** January 12, 2006, 07:38:42 PM »

Doesn't Browning make a Model 92? :?

Lead Poison · « **Reply #14 on:** January 13, 2006, 08:46:15 AM »

If it were me, I'd buy two Marlins!

I love Winchester 70 bolt actions, but when it comes to lever action rifles Marlins are the only way to go. I love the 45-70, 444, 30-30 and the 44 magnum. I don't care much for the 35 Rem. or 450 Marlin.

leverfan · « **Reply #15 on:** January 13, 2006, 11:46:03 AM »

Quote from: Slamfire

Doesn't Browning make a Model 92? :?

From time to time, their factory in Japan does a run of '92s. Davidson's sometimes has them. The last batch that I know of came in through Winchester, and was listed in their "non catalog firearms" section on their website. A quick check on the current non-catalog listings shows only two lever guns, takedown '86 and '95 rifles. Wish I had the money for those...

Dee · « **Reply #16 on:** February 19, 2006, 12:43:09 PM »

I totally agree with SIXGUN. I have owned the same Winchester Model 94 3030 since I was 18. I am now 56yoa and my dad bought this gun new in 1957. When I got the gun from Dad it looked new (he never used it. I carried it in a patrol car for 20 years (out of the case next to me). I carried it on man hunts as a tracker, and in marijuana patches doing drug interdiction. The finish is gone but, the rifle will still hit a silver dollar gambling token at 100 yds and when the finish left the memories arrived. Every time I look at a deep scratch I remember how it got there.
As for 357mag. I bought a Navy Arms Model 92 in 24inch octogon blue. The rifle is taylor made for the cartridge. I slicked up the action and it will durn sure shoot with the Winchester at 100yds. The finish is slowly leaving and the memories are steadily arriving. When I'm gone and my boys look at the wear they will think of my hands and my life with those rifles. Their boys will do the same because the rifles will still be shooting.

demented · « **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2006, 07:05:01 PM »

The Winchesters of yesteryear and those currently being made are totally different. When FN took over, their quaity did improve but never made it back to where it was in the fifties. Marlin rifle quality has never varied too much through the years, a rifle made today is as good as one made 30, 40, or 50 years ago. I've seen many Winchesters made in the post '64 era that would not shoot under 6 inch groups at 100 yards. No Marlin I've seen from any era has done worse than three inches. Just from what I've seen, your mileage may vary...