- Location
- Chilliwack
The Marlin 336 lever action and the Savage 99 lever action. Pros and cons lets here them.
The 336 VS the 99
- Thread starter bearhunter338-06
- Start date
- Location
- Yellowknife, NWT
I own a couple of each: 336 in .444, .35 Rem and .30-30, and 99EG's in .250-3000 and .300 Savage.
Both rifles have that levergun cachet; most people either love 'em...or not.
The Savage is available in flatter-shooting chamberings, not so much my two, but certainly the .243 and .284 Winchester. It USED to have the pointy-bullet advantage, but not since the advent of Leverevolution ammo. Also, since the introduction of the .308 Marlin, both can be 300-yard deer rifles.
I have found the Savages to be a shade more accurate, but only a shade. Marlins are far more accurate than many would believe.
For a truly traditional lever rifle, the Marlin has the tubular magazine and exposed hammer. The 99 has its own classic, but less frontier style.
I'm partial to both rifles, frankly, and see only the pros. Since either will kill anything I care to hunt, as far as I want to shoot, and are easy to load for, and get ammo for at Canadian Tire (at least the .30-30 and the .300 Savage!) I can't see a downside or any real advantage one has over the other. Both are pracical, good-looking hunting arms with a long history behind them.
Both rifles have that levergun cachet; most people either love 'em...or not.
The Savage is available in flatter-shooting chamberings, not so much my two, but certainly the .243 and .284 Winchester. It USED to have the pointy-bullet advantage, but not since the advent of Leverevolution ammo. Also, since the introduction of the .308 Marlin, both can be 300-yard deer rifles.
I have found the Savages to be a shade more accurate, but only a shade. Marlins are far more accurate than many would believe.
For a truly traditional lever rifle, the Marlin has the tubular magazine and exposed hammer. The 99 has its own classic, but less frontier style.
I'm partial to both rifles, frankly, and see only the pros. Since either will kill anything I care to hunt, as far as I want to shoot, and are easy to load for, and get ammo for at Canadian Tire (at least the .30-30 and the .300 Savage!) I can't see a downside or any real advantage one has over the other. Both are pracical, good-looking hunting arms with a long history behind them.
I like the older 99's (1899). The quality is there and that magazine is just great. There are no flies on the 336 - except the new ones, there are plenty of flies on those, but if I had to choose only one, it would be the 1899.
Leverevolution ammo is good if you don't want to reload and/or it shoots fine in your rifle. The Savage has no such limitations. You can choose whatever bullet you like.
Leverevolution ammo is good if you don't want to reload and/or it shoots fine in your rifle. The Savage has no such limitations. You can choose whatever bullet you like.
Rory McCanuck
CGN Regular
- Location
- Middle of Manitoba
I like Marlins for the external hammer.
I like 99s for pointy bullets.
Big bore Marlin (444, 45-70, 450) for the bush, and
a 99 in 308 for open fields, what more do you
really need?
I like 99s for pointy bullets.
Big bore Marlin (444, 45-70, 450) for the bush, and
a 99 in 308 for open fields, what more do you
really need?
I think the perception that the Marlin is so much smoother in operation comes from unfamiliarity, the 99 cocks on closing and requires a little more rearward pressure on the forend when you close the action. After you become used to them the Savages seem quite smooth, at least to me they do.
In my experience the Savage seems to hang better offhand, the Marlin is usually shorter overall, Savages are better suited to pointed bullets.Not much to pick between the two triggers, neither one is great. Marlin disassembly is easier. Savages with the safety on the lever, I find awkward, the tang safety version is much better. Fit and finish are about equally good on the old rifles and equally bad on the new ones.
Personally if the shooting were past 150 yards I would go with the 99 over the Marlin due to flatter shooting chamberings and pointed bullets being available.
