Best Lever Action for Pistol Caliber - 1892 Winchester Vs 1894 Marlin ??

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lyle1

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I could sure use some help and advice concerning lever action rifles. I went down this road briefly two years ago, but did not follow through. Anyways, I am considering purchasing a "fun gun" lever action for plinking, mostly at the range. I will not be using it in competition and will not be hunting with it.

Through my very limited research, it looks like a 1892 Winchester or a 1894 would work great as they are appropriate size actions for a pistol caliber. The 1873 is supposed to be very nice, but it sounds like the action is a bit of a weaker design and if I decide to go for a 44 mag, it won't do the job. I am not interested in speed shooting, so the 1873's faster action is of no benefit, or so I am told? For handiness, a 20" barrel sounds attractive, but I am open to suggestions....Caliber would be .357 mag or 44 mag.

What about cleaning and take down? Are the Marlins much easier to do this?

I don't mind paying a premium price for a "special" version such as an octagon barrel or case hardening, but I am not looking for a collector or a commemorative editon.

Any advice and opinions are welcomed. Thank you for your time.
 
I love pistol caliber rifles and am partial to Marlin's. I have two 1894C and CSS (357/38) among other Marlin's. I do find the Marlin actions easier to disassemble. Side ejection is superior in my opinion as well.

You can wait months or years for the right one to pop-up on the EE or go south of the border and have one imported since you're willing to pay a premium.
 
I have the 92, 94 and 2 Henry big boy "trappers" in 357, they all have pros/cons. My favourite is the 94. I had a Marlin and couldn't get rid of it fast enough. My advice: try as many as you can before making up your mind.
 
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I have both types & like both, but the Marlin 94 is easier to take down. I have a stainless Rossi 92 in 45 colt I like for hunting & it is so nice to carry with it's rounded bottom receiver & 5-1/2 lbs with 20" barrel. It is a versatile gun with enough power for rabbit to deer sized game within 80 yrd or so with the right powered ammo.

For your reasons for having one either would serve you well. Nothing wrong in your choice of cartridges either. The hard part is choosing between them! Good luck & have fun with it!:)
 
I've owned both , and like both . The Marlin is easier to take down and is easy to scope , not important for everyone , but I've got old eyes and iron sights just don't do it anymore . If you're good with irons , pick the one that fits you best . Either one make a handy little rifle , but like ruffbird says , the 92's carry really nicely . Decisions, decisions .
 
The 1894 Marlin is your best bet, if you can find a JM Marlin and not a newer Remlin.
While some may disagree, Remington has not returned to JM quality, according to those who have purchased and dismantled them.
Look for one with Ballard rifling so that lead bullet hand-loads will be accurate.
Your best caliber is .44 Magnum, if you plan on deer and black bear hunting.
It works better through the action than .45 Colt and has magnum cartridges available without reloading.

For plinking, however, you might enjoy the .357 Magnum version more. It's shorter, lighter, and better-balanced, and is really fun to shoot off-hand.
 
Would it be safe to say that the fit and finish on the new production Winchester 1892's are better than the Marlin 1894's?
Of course it looks like the Winchesters are quite a bit more money?
 
Rossi are nice if you are willing to pull them apart and do sum grinding to slick them up a bit
SteveGuns make a DVD that will walk you through the whole process
The nice thing about the 357 is running 38 special for small game and with the same rifle pop in 357 for deer
 
Uberti 1873 special sport in 45 LC. They're pricey, but a work of art and they shoot great. I looked at both this and the Winchester, and this was the better gun
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carverk said:
Rossi are nice if you are willing to pull them apart and do sum grinding to slick them up a bit
SteveGuns make a DVD that will walk you through the whole process
The nice thing about the 357 is running 38 special for small game and with the same rifle pop in 357 for deer
Click to expand...

First, let me say that I am running an Winchester (Muroku) 1892 and I love it. Of course I will say that is the one to get.

Just be careful. If it says (and it will) ".357 only" on the barrel, it means .357 only. .38s will not cycle properly. If you reload, you can simply seat your bullet out to the .357 length and you are good to go but it needs that extra length.
 
I own both Marlin 1894s and Winchester (Miroku) 1892's.

Pros for the Marlin:
-Can use a peep sight or a scope if you want due to closed top
-Can be taken apart easily for cleaning
-More readily available parts due to the fact that only Marlin makes them not just any company

Cons for the Marlin:
-Googe the "Marlin jam" - aka the carrier can get worn over time to jam up the gun
-It's not as strong as the Winchester 92 but it wouldn't matter unless you load it to the moon
-Screws can come loose after lots of shooting
-Later models had hit/miss quality

Winchester 1892 pros:
-Can come in any flavour from Rossi to Chiappa to Miroku
-Are stronger than the Marlin 1894 and if you hot rod it to death it'll hold up better
-Thinner and more handy
-If you find a load it likes to feed, it'll likely always feed that one

Winchester 1892 cons:
-Can't really do much with the top due to the open top design
-Less predictable brass ejection
-Can't take 'em apart like the Marlin, and have to clean from the muzzle unless you have a takedown
-Parts don't interchange very easily due to many companies making them and having different internal designs
 
My Rossi 92 .44mag is the tops all around, as mentioned an action job is required but once done it's very slick. I am however looking into an 1873 for competition, I'll do a short stroke kit and the whole nine yards.
 
mr00jimbo said:
I own both Marlin 1894s and Winchester (Miroku) 1892's.

Pros for the Marlin:
-Can use a peep sight or a scope if you want due to closed top
-Can be taken apart easily for cleaning
-More readily available parts due to the fact that only Marlin makes them not just any company

Cons for the Marlin:
-Googe the "Marlin jam" - aka the carrier can get worn over time to jam up the gun
-It's not as strong as the Winchester 92 but it wouldn't matter unless you load it to the moon
-Screws can come loose after lots of shooting
-Later models had hit/miss quality

Winchester 1892 pros:
-Can come in any flavour from Rossi to Chiappa to Miroku
-Are stronger than the Marlin 1894 and if you hot rod it to death it'll hold up better
-Thinner and more handy
-If you find a load it likes to feed, it'll likely always feed that one

Winchester 1892 cons:
-Can't really do much with the top due to the open top design
-Less predictable brass ejection
-Can't take 'em apart like the Marlin, and have to clean from the muzzle unless you have a takedown
-Parts don't interchange very easily due to many companies making them and having different internal designs
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain the differences between the two. It looks like neither one is perfect as they both
have strengths and weaknesses.
 
mr00jimbo said:
I own both Marlin 1894s and Winchester (Miroku) 1892's.

Pros for the Marlin:
-Can use a peep sight or a scope if you want due to closed top
-Can be taken apart easily for cleaning
-More readily available parts due to the fact that only Marlin makes them not just any company

Cons for the Marlin:
-Googe the "Marlin jam" - aka the carrier can get worn over time to jam up the gun
-It's not as strong as the Winchester 92 but it wouldn't matter unless you load it to the moon
-Screws can come loose after lots of shooting
-Later models had hit/miss quality

Winchester 1892 pros:
-Can come in any flavour from Rossi to Chiappa to Miroku
-Are stronger than the Marlin 1894 and if you hot rod it to death it'll hold up better
-Thinner and more handy
-If you find a load it likes to feed, it'll likely always feed that one

Winchester 1892 cons:
-Can't really do much with the top due to the open top design
-Less predictable brass ejection
-Can't take 'em apart like the Marlin, and have to clean from the muzzle unless you have a takedown
-Parts don't interchange very easily due to many companies making them and having different internal designs
Click to expand...

Would you mind if I ask about calibers? Do you have both .357's and 44's? Which do you prefer? Can you run .38 Special brass in them,
or do you have to run .357 brass?
 
lyle1 said:
Would you mind if I ask about calibers? Do you have both .357's and 44's? Which do you prefer? Can you run .38 Special brass in them,
or do you have to run .357 brass?
Click to expand...

I run .44 mag through my .44 mag Marlin and Winchesters. One of my Marlins is .357 mag and it will run .38 fine but others will not. Generally, .38 is finicky in lever guns. Rossi copies of the 1892 run it better than the Winchester brand 1892 which is labeled 357 mag only.
The Marlin says ".357 or .38" but if you load your ammo too short it'll lock the action up.

The 1892, being stronger, will withstand hotter .44 mag. However, it has a curved steel butt plate so it starts to hurt shooting heavy loads.

Both will be equally reliable once you find the cartridges that they like.
 
Have had Marlin 1894's ( all modern) in 218, 25-20, 32-20, 357 mag, 44 mag. Some calibres several of them. Generally accurate but definitely not more so than a Miroku 92 or variant. Every open sighted Miroku I've had shot as good or considerably better than Marlins. Have had the Miroku in 357,44 mag and 44-40as well as a 53 in 32-20 and a 65 in 218. Also have/had a LOT of original 1892's as well as pretty much every variant of 94/86 ect. I have never had any type of jam or failure with a Winchester lever. Had the Marlins jam on one or more occasions on all I have owned with the exception of the 25-20 and 32-20 and it is a flaw I find hard to live with (have had it with 1895 45-70 as well) although I like the scope option as the eyes get older. They are to case length sensitive and I actually use my guns, a jammed Marlin 10 hrs in the bush is not much good to me. Have had Rossi in 357, 44-40, 44,45, accuracy is barely acceptable in my opinion but they function great and are good enough to 100 yards to hunt or have fun with, the only failure I had was on a 44 Mag where the mag tube came lose from recoil and a poor retaining set up which consisted only of a shallow hole at the front of the bbl and the mag tube screw that set in the hole, they are interesting enough there always seems to be one in the safe. Tried one Italian replica, a Cimaaron 1873 and it was a dismal disappointment at best.
 
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