In the new lever actions, Henry, Marlin, or Mossberg?

[His lordship.]

With Winchester having bowed out on new lever actions in centerfire, we now have some new choices.  The Mossberg 464, the Henry, and of course the old Marlin 336.  I have read the reviews of the new rifles, the Mossberg did well, but the trigger pull was critisized, the henry had a problem with the lever being hard to close with a full mag (tube type), and the Henry test gun had a bad barrel.  The Henry is also more expensive.

I know the Henry and Mossberg are new and there might not be enough of a track record to evaluate, but which would be a better gun of the three?

Thanks.

[mangulator]

I like the Marlin 336 there is a lot of choices in calibers from 30-30 to 45-70 and do not forget the newer 308 Marlin sthat can be effective...

[kitchawan kid]

The Marlin 1894 CB is one of the best lever's I have owned,I have it in .45 LC.the Winchesters have been trouble since I got them,the one Henry I had was so-so.

[Gohon]

For center fire cartridges both rifle and pistol type, I like my Marlins.  They're rugged, dependable, scope easily, and they simply shoot good.  But, for rimfires I think Henry wins hands down.  I didn't always think that way until I bought a Henry 22 magnum.  The action was butter smooth with a very nice trigger and accuracy was superb.   I like it so much I bought a second one in Long Rifle.

[Blackhawk44]

In a rifle cartridge, with all three on your list having QC problems of late along with Mossberg's extractor issues and Henry's overweight for caliber problems, I would look at the used gun market for a solid, unabused Marlin or Winchester that might take a bit of cold blue.  For a pistol caliber arm, at this time, I believe Rossi is the one. 

[teddy12b]

Out of those three the 336 is the king.  It's proven over time and can be easily scoped.  The Henry is too expensive for a 30-30 in my opinion, and the mossberg looks like the good old winchesters, but just doesn't give me any confidence when I hold it.  Something about it just doesn't feel like it's built tough.  Dollar for dollar, the 336 is where I'd spend my money.  You can still find winchester ranger 30-30's online for a half way reasonable price.

[Travis Morgan]

I hate Marlins, so I'll just say, "not the other two,,,"

[Oldshooter]

I dont even hate liberals, much less anything else! I do like my Marlins and enjoy shooting them. MY big preference is side ejection! Top ejection is not a big problem just a pain in the behind if you shoot with  a scope.

[Travis Morgan]

Scopes don't belong on leverguns.

[Oldshooter]

Well Pardner, I have three lever guns, and the one that will kill at over 200 yards has a scope on it! So put that in your rule book! When I was young and could see everything in every light condition I didn't like scopes at all!

[45-70.gov]

stainless marlin      XLR

my  bb guns  had scopes when i was a boy
my first  BIG  gun  was a marlin 336  in  35rem    3X9 bushnell  [1973]

shooting  with out a scope  is  akin  to  bow  hunting
nothing  wrong  with  handicapping yourself    for the chalenge

[Travis Morgan]

Yeah, all my damn sights got fuzzy a few years ago, too! I just got glasses. Still no scopes on my leverguns. I wish I'd have had the money to buy an iron sighted Springfield 1903 for $400, a while back!

[Old Grizz]

I have 18 Marlin leverguns, 2 Henry leverguns and a buddy of mine owns a Mossburg 30-30 lever, so I have shot em all and haven't found one yet I didn't like. Some have scopes and some have open sights it's all a matter of personal preference. If I had to buy one as an only rifle it would be the 1895 45-70 with a compact scope along with QR mounts and peep sight MY PREFERENCE.

[jlwilliams]

  I think that Marlin is the best of those three.  The Mossberg is really pretty good considering the price.  I saw one in a local shop (just under $300 IIRC) And it's hard to beat for that price.  The Marlin is a better gun, and it's a little more money.  If you can spend the added dough, you will be happier with the 336, if the bottom line is the bottom line then the Mossberg will do what you want it to do.

[Travis Morgan]

I just saw a scoped '94 in really nice condition for $250. If it wasn't for the fact that I already have plenty of 'em, I'd have bought it.

[mannyrock]

  The best of the three?  Marlin, Marlin, Marlin, Marlin, Marlin, Marlin ad infinitum.    :-)

  Scopes on levers?  If you have a lever gun with a pistol grip, and you put a large scope on it (with a large bell), you really impair the handling qualities. I don't like them.

  On the other hand, if you have a straight-gripped lever (like a straight gripped Marlin), and put a very good, streamlined scope on it, with low rings and a small bell (such as a Leupold Vari-X II, 2x7, or a compact 3 power), then the handling qualities are not impaired at all.  They are very quick, very sleek, very fast to the shoulder and sight, and very deadly out to 150 yards.  Give me that any day, over of a Winchester with a blurry buckhorn.  The only exception? Snap shots in deep woods at moving game under 50 yards.  And for that, the peep with a ghost site is the only way to go.

Regards, 

Mannyrock

[45-70.gov]

my  red  dot  on a winchester trapper  44 mag is my fastest rifle

[T.R.]

HENRY 30-30  Henry weighs in at 8.3lbs empty.  Its defeinatley built solid.  I love it but the price is scary - $600.



MOSSBERG 30-30  Mossberg is a light carbine that is easily mistaken for well, you know.



TR