1893 Marlin vs. 336rc 30-30

[hansol]

For the lever gun guys,

Aside from the obvious cosmetic differences and being an older design and such, what are the differences (positive and negative) of the 1893 Marlin rifles compared to their newer 336 sister (or the 94 Winchesters for that matter)?

I'm interested in getting another 30-30 here, and really quite like the looks of that 1893. I really like how the action seems to lock up "closed" in comparison to the 336, which has a gap between the receiver and the bolt. Google didn't turn up much, so figured I would throw the question to the experts here.

Rifle would be used for hunting and plinking, both with cast and jacketed loads.

 

[mikeystew]

Well, i'll give my 2c... the 1893 is going to be old and therefore likely difficult to find parts for. it appears to be roughly the same action style as the 1894 or 1936 with a square bolt.
as a posative it will have the ballard style rifling which is well known for accuracy, and will shoot cast very well. but depending on how it's owners over the years maintained it there is a chance the crown will need work, but otherwise these guns don't really get "shot out", but they can get "cleaned out". besides that im not familiar enough with it to say much more. but im always a little leary of guns that are old and tough to get parts for.

The 336RC is a fine rifle with a well proven history. if you can find one made before 1956 it will also have the "ballard" style rifling, and i can say these guns are real shooters cause i have one. they will also perform very well with cast bullets. the newer 336RC's or W or A or SC or whatever's are also very nice rifles (the ones built by marlin... not remington), but have microgroove rifling which will require more work to get cast bullets to stabilize properly. the many shallow grooves don't "bite" the soft bullets well and they will often keyhole and perform poorly. they can however shoot cast very well if one uses moulds that are a couple thou oversized, for 30-30 you would want to use a .310" or .311" mould, and drive them at full house velocity.

if you have more questions i would check out www.marlinowners.com
Those guys know everything there is to know about marlin.