Marlin 336RC 30/30 versus winchester 94 pre-64 30/30

H Wally

H Wally

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I'm amazed, I went through 6 pages of searched threads and didn't find this once.


Here are the competitors:

Early model Marlin 336 with ballard rifling, strait lever/stock, full mag carbine chambered in 30/30 - new

VS

Winchester 1894 carbine pre-64 with steel butt plate in 30/30 - like new


Which would you choose and why?


- no plans to scope them, they will be used in steep and dense bush.

My background - I've owned the marlin 1893 rifle and the winchester 1894 carbine, both in 3030. I LOVE how easy the win 94 points and shoots, and I'm wondering if the Marlin 336 will be similar. I like the appearance of the marlin more, which is why I'm having so much trouble deciding (known functional good shooting gun vs ?shooting/?feel?, better looking gun)
 
I actually prefer the Marlin, and not just because there may not be many more made. Marlin's are so easy to put a scope on and the design keeps dirt out of the action better. In the mid 50s the 94 was drilled for an aperature sight, but much earlier 94s were not. The newer Marlins are drilled, and actually the same sight fits both rifles.
I like the somewhat fatter fore stock of the Marlin.
Having said all that, my 30-30 is a 94 from the 1940s!
 
H4831 said:
I actually prefer the Marlin, and not just because there may not be many more made. Marlin's are so easy to put a scope on and the design keeps dirt out of the action better. In the mid 50s the 94 was drilled for an aperature sight, but much earlier 94s were not. The newer Marlins are drilled, and actually the same sight fits both rifles.
I like the somewhat fatter fore stock of the Marlin.
Having said all that, my 30-30 is a 94 from the 1940s!
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Interesting you would say the marlin design keeps dirt out better.

With the action closed on the win 94 there isn't much space anywhere, but on the marlin there's gap around the exposed bolt, and the feed gate seems to have a big cup in it.

I could see the marlin being a better design for mud if you were working the action in a WW1 scenario, but otherwise seems like the marlin 1893 or win 94 close up tighter to dirt....

Just playing devil's advocate;);):p
 
I suspect if one is having to roll around in the dirt and mud while using their 30/30 then they have bigger problems to worry about. :D
 
Personally, aside from having maybe 8 moving parts unlike the Winnies( I own 2 of them) they are actually designed to be easy to take apart and you can clean the barrel thru the chamber. I have an 1894 38-55 that I hope never has to come apart whereas my Marlin comes apart by removing one screw for the most part. It is an inherently good design meant to be easily maintained. Accuracy should be about the same but I feel good design should be rewarded by product loyalty. Plus they make them in big cals-right up to 308 and 45/70. Actually if I bought another lever 30-30 it would be a Savage 99C:)
 
Calum said:
I suspect if one is having to roll around in the dirt and mud while using their 30/30 then they have bigger problems to worry about. :D
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Exactly - that's the beauty of armchair musings:p:D

Actually I got to thinking of this because of the PCMR (pacific coast military rangers) and their being issued winchester 94's in world war two for coastal defence. In several of their journals it's mentioned that the nature of the fighting (close in forest fighting and ambushes) the win 94's were thought to be superior to the arisakas because of how many rounds they could hold, their hitting power at close ranges, their speed of fire and ability to top up the gun with a round in the chamber.

Then again, I don't anticipate a war with japan any time soon so I'm not too worried.


bogie said:
Personally, aside from having maybe 8 moving parts unlike the Winnies( I own 2 of them) they are actually designed to be easy to take apart and you can clean the barrel thru the chamber. I have an 1894 38-55 that I hope never has to come apart whereas my Marlin comes apart by removing one screw for the most part. It is an inherently good design meant to be easily maintained. Accuracy should be about the same but I feel good design should be rewarded by product loyalty. Plus they make them in big cals-right up to 308 and 45/70. Actually if I bought another lever 30-30 it would be a Savage 99C:)
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Oh god... the savage! I forgot about them.

I don't really have a problem with cleaning winchesters to be completely honest.

Part of the thing I consider in the difference between the marlin and winchester is that taking apart a winchester takes it right down to an empty reciever. Marlins you're just removing the bolt and lever, so technically you're only doing the tiniest part of what's accomplished with the winchester.

What you guys are basically telling me is that I should have one of each right?
 
One of each sounds good Mr. H Wally.

I've never owned a Winchester 94 so i can't say anything about them. My father owns a 336 chambered in 35 remington though and i love and use that gun every chance i get. So just out of familiarity i'd go for the marlin.
 
Of course!! Like we need an excuse to buy another gun??? Actually tho to completely strip a Marlin seem to me you take out one more screw and the whole trigger tray comes out. Then again there is so much room around the parts you usually dont have to do anything like that. Now my 140yr old Henry Martini has probably not seen a good teardown while I have been alive so that one gets it for sure. My 1894 38-55 was made in 1900 but cycles so smoothly I will just leave it alone. Looks pretty good in there. Pretty radical with that 26in barrel:)
Also with the Marlin pre 60 or post 60 are all really good guns. Not so with the Winnies I am afeared.
 
yup-best leave the Savages out of this one...they're in a league of their own!

I have a pre 64 '94 and it's a handy little iron...although it's almost new because I have quite a few Savage levers...the '94 doesn't get out much...
that said,
I have always wanted an octagon barrel full mag Marlin in 45-70...

judging from the Marlin news I'd better get after it ;)
 
+1 for marlin. I have a 336, and an 1894. Awesome guns. Oh and you could get the marlin in stainless. everybody loves stainless. I will say the bluing is nicer on the winchesters but the marlin is about as accurate as a lever gets.
 
i have a marlin 336 made 1948 and a 2 winchester 94's made in 1982 and 1896 my opinion is i like the winchester better the feel of it in the hand is slender and more comfortable to me the older winchester has 26" barrel its my favorite, the 1982 is a trapper 16" barrel fast to point and shoot in the bush deadly out 100 yards the marlin is smoother cycling and looks nicer, i hunt the thick bush of eastern ontario, overall i prefer winchesters.
 
SuperCub said:
I might be wrong, but it has been my observation and experience that the Marlin is more accurate.



.
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From all of the ones I have owned and shot over the years I would say that one is no more accurate than the other on average. I guess it depends on what we are talking about here, a 100 year old Winchester might not be as accurate as a 60's vintage Marlin and it is not hard to figure out why.

Comparing rifles from the same era side by side in roughly the same condition, from my experiences and averaging them out, they would be about the same as far as accuracy goes. I have also seen a few from each maker that didn't shoot worth a chit but of course there could be many reasons as to why as with any rifle no matter who made it.
 
I have shot and owned both rifles and have a personal preference for the Marlins only because they fit me better than the Win 94. I think that fit is very important in a bush carbine where you may have to take a quick aimed shot. I do find the Winchesters slightly lighter than the Marlins.

I currently own two Marlins a RC in .35R and a SC in .32WS
 
I love the the Win 94 for it's looks and feel, but for me, the Marlin can be scoped. You said you never plan to scope it so that may be a non issue. But should you ever change your mind, an older Win 94 will look ugly with that side mount scope.

Having said that, my favourite is the Win 94 AE before the cross bolt safety... yuck!
 
Potaetoe. Potawto. I have both the Marlin RC ballard cut and a fifties Win. 94 both in 30-30. They both shoot and handle great. It reminds me of the old Chevy Ford debate. The smart man gets both and enjoys what each has to offer.

Winchester is half a pound lighter and a little better balanced to carry and shoulder. Marlin's have a simpler, smoother take down mechanism. You mentionned no need for scoping, so the Marlin's main advantage of easier scoping isn't an issue here.

I can't tell a hair of difference in accuracy between the two. Both have great crisp triggers too.

Marlin RC's may be a little less expensive to buy because of the heavy looking forearm and slightly less ###y look of the Winchester.

In the end, John Wayne liked Winchesters. So Winchester gets the edge.;)
 
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