Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Welcome to the Leverguns.Com Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here ... politely.

Moderators: AmBraCol, Hobie

Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.

Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Post Reply
getitdone1
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1302
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:25 pm
Location: Indiana

Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by getitdone1 »

How do some of you guys compare the Winchester model 94 with the Marlin 336?

I'm thinking about buying a Marlin 336 Texan--if I can find one. Would guess price would be around 500.00.

Have you had any reliability problems with the 336?

I'm aware of the quality issues with present day Marlins.

Don
User avatar
6pt-sika
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 9609
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:15 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by 6pt-sika »

Marlin 336's from 1948 to about 2006 have generally all worked well for me in a number of configurations .

Post 1963 Winchester 94's for lack of a better term are not my cup of tea . But then I look at Winchesters more as a collector thing and increase in value .

As far as accuracy is concerned I've had better luck with Marlin's .
Parkers , Mannlicher Schoenauer’s , 6.5mm's and my family in the Philippines !
User avatar
Old Savage
Posting leader...
Posts: 16793
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:43 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by Old Savage »

There is no difference with 30-30s.
In the High Desert of Southern Calif. ..."on the cutting edge of going back in time"...

Image
User avatar
Griff
Posting leader...
Posts: 21016
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:56 pm
Location: OH MY GAWD they installed a STOP light!!!

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by Griff »

Marlin 336s require a "handle" (read scope) to carry comfortably. Winchester 94s are perfect without the appendage. Either is easiest to accurize in rifle form. Barrel bands complicate the procedure, not insurmountable; otherwise, what OS said! :P :lol:

For best accuracy w/cast, get all the copper fouling out; For best accuracy w/copper, get all the lead fouling out!

The above are just my opinion, but based in fact... from my experience, anyway!! :twisted: :twisted:
Griff,
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93

There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
20cows
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 2278
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:55 pm
Location: East West Texas

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by 20cows »

There is no difference with 30-30s.
Well,....

they LOOK different. :lol:


Ford or Chevy, what's your favorite?
User avatar
6pt-sika
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 9609
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:15 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by 6pt-sika »

Old Savage wrote:There is no difference with 30-30s.

You would think that wouldn't you but I beg to differ on that opinion .

Or as was said in an earlier post in this thread "from my experience, anyway!! ".
Parkers , Mannlicher Schoenauer’s , 6.5mm's and my family in the Philippines !
User avatar
6pt-sika
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 9609
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:15 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by 6pt-sika »

Griff wrote: Barrel bands complicate the procedure, not insurmountable; otherwise !
I originally was of the NO BARREL BANDS group . But after having messed with the 1964-1975 Marlin 444's for the last 6 or 7 years I don't find it to be the "problem" I originally thought it to be .

Matter of fact they seem to take to cast bullets pushed relatively hard very nicely or as you said "from my experience, anyway!! ".
Last edited by 6pt-sika on Fri May 11, 2012 11:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Parkers , Mannlicher Schoenauer’s , 6.5mm's and my family in the Philippines !
User avatar
meanc
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 902
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:01 pm
Location: Fl

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by meanc »

My Winchester holds 7 in the tube, Marlin holds 6.

Other than that, nothing else.
...and I don't think he even knows it...Walks around with a half-assed grin...If he feels fear, he don't show it. Just rides into hell and back again.
User avatar
Panzercat
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 965
Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 1:25 pm
Location: This thread is USELESS without pics!

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by Panzercat »

Personally, every 94 action I've handled is smoother than the Marlins, but then it might just be the ones I've touched. Top eject on the 94s might cause you issues if you ever plan to scope.
...Proud owner of the 11.43×23mm automatic using depleted Thorium rounds.
User avatar
earlmck
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3541
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2010 12:10 am
Location: pert-neer middle of Oregon

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by earlmck »

A nice point in favor of the Marlin is the ease of breakdown for thorough cleaning. One screw and she falls apart in your hand. The Win is a whole order of magnitude bigger pain to take apart. Consequently it doesn't get taken apart very often.

Some percentage of Marlins left the factory with poorly fitted lifter and so will give you an occasional "Marlin jam #1". Guns with this "jam #1" get traded off and so you find them for sale in the usual places. It is an easy fix and there are posts on this forum and on Marlin Owners forum on different fix techniques should you end up with one of these. My favorite 30/30 is a 1950 336A -- real smooth and reliable and a joy to shoot but it came with the dreaded "jam". And in fact the fellow who sold it to me would not have parted with it except for the jam which it would do about once per 10 shots. And I have a 336 in 35 Rem from the 80's which also had the jam and was fixed the same way (I used a little shim epoxied in the strategic spot, but apparently a small judicious upward bend on the carrier also fixes the jam).

So I like Marlins. But I also am fond of my Win 94's, though all my Marlins are smoother than any of my 94's. (Just within my personal accumulation, you understand).
The greatest patriot...
is he who heals the most gullies.
Patrick Henry
MrMurphy
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1947
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:32 pm

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by MrMurphy »

I like them both, but the Marlins shoulder and shoot better for me.

Oddly enough, this is only true of the '92 and '94 Winchesters. The older '73/76/86s shoulder fine and I like them, but in .30-30, I prefer Marlin.
User avatar
6pt-sika
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 9609
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:15 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by 6pt-sika »

If you pick a late 40's to early 60's 336 versus a 94 from the same time period I'll take the 336 !

If you go back further and choose between Marlin 1893's and Winchester 1894's . Again I'll take the Marlin !

Been there done that at all time periods !

Of the 12 or 13 30-30's I had there's only one left a Winchester 1894TD that seriel numbers to about 1905 . Barrels a little rough so it isn't a cast bullet shooter . But it does do remarkably well with jacketed handloads . But I've not shot it in over 5 years . Might just send it down the road in the semi near future !
Parkers , Mannlicher Schoenauer’s , 6.5mm's and my family in the Philippines !
User avatar
FWiedner
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:50 pm
Location: North Texas

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by FWiedner »

I own a Marlin 336ER and a Winchester Model 94, both in .356Win. Both have 20" barrels.

Mechanically, both are reliable and solid. They eat the same ammo and, for accuracy, they shoot the same. In that regard, they might as well be the same gun.

The notable differences are the weight, and what I'll call the 'style' of the firearm.

The Marlin is heavier. It is a hunting 'rifle' (even though the barrel is only 20" long), the Winchester has a slimmer profile and weighs less. It is what I'd refer to as a a saddle gun or 'carbine.' Easier to carry, portable, if you will.

If I'm sitting a stand or not doing much walking or for short periods of still hunting, I'll use the Marlin. If it's going to be a long day of carrying the firearm around, do in spot and stalk, it's easier to use the Wiinchester.

:)
Government office attracts the power-mad, yet it's people who just want to be left alone to live life on their own terms who are considered dangerous.

History teaches that it's a small window in which people can fight back before it is too dangerous to fight back.
Leverdude
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1518
Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2007 6:25 pm
Location: Norwalk CT

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by Leverdude »

IMHO theres not much comparison. Griff said he can carry an unscoped Win & I believe he can, but I carry unscoped Marlins just fine & they were carrying unscoped Marlins just like the current ones before there was a Win 94. And if you decide to scope it the Marlins are a better choice, Winchester had to cut away its reciever to get a scope centered on it. The problem, again IMO, with Marlins is with those of recent manufacture mostly, but the same can be said of recent made in the USA Winchesters. For me the biggest & most important difference is simplicity of action & ease of cleaning/maintaining. They both can be very smooth, acurate & dependable guns, but every gun needs cleaning. A Marlin with one screw has the bolt out with easy acess to the bore & most everything else. The Winchester is too complicated to take apart to get into. You can do it, I'v done it, but its alot different and more complex. I wouldnt recommend it on a tailgate or bench at the range. I like Winchesters ok, but I'm a Marlin guy thru & thru.
Barcelona Rick
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 655
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:31 am
Location: East Texas

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by Barcelona Rick »

The primary difference if looking for a hunting tool seems to be price in my area of the woods. You can almost buy 2 Marlin 336's for the price of 1 Winchester '94......with antler restrictions in place now on Whitetails in my part of Tejas a scoped Marlin is really the only way to go.....hard to tell if a buck has a 13" wide spread with open sights....heck it is hard to tell with a scope....

rick
jcw
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 263
Joined: Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:34 am
Location: N.W. Washington

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by jcw »

To me the 94 handles and carries a little better than the 336. The ease of maint., strength, accuracy and the ability to mount scopes on the 336 makes it a much better rifle than the 94 for me.
User avatar
Old Time Hunter
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 2388
Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2007 11:18 am
Location: Wisconsin

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by Old Time Hunter »

Prefer the "schlick, snick, snick, schlick" of the '94 compared to the "schlick, schlick" of the 336. The 336 also seems to have more drag when cycling the action.

Also, for me, the '94 seems to be an extension of my arm whereas the the 336 feels like an extra appendage.

Both shoot just fine though, at least in .30-30.
User avatar
6pt-sika
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 9609
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:15 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by 6pt-sika »

Old Time Hunter wrote: The 336 also seems to have more drag when cycling the action.
When you thought it had more drag you were probably eating cheese curds and got some cheese curd crumbs in the action :lol:
Parkers , Mannlicher Schoenauer’s , 6.5mm's and my family in the Philippines !
K1500
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 122
Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:25 am

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by K1500 »

I like the Winchester from an aesthetic and handling perspective, and that's enough for me.
C. Cash
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 5384
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:02 pm

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by C. Cash »

FWiedner wrote:I own a Marlin 336ER and a Winchester Model 94, both in .356Win. Both have 20" barrels.

Mechanically, both are reliable and solid. They eat the same ammo and, for accuracy, they shoot the same. In that regard, they might as well be the same gun.

The notable differences are the weight, and what I'll call the 'style' of the firearm.

The Marlin is heavier. It is a hunting 'rifle' (even though the barrel is only 20" long), the Winchester has a slimmer profile and weighs less. It is what I'd refer to as a a saddle gun or 'carbine.' Easier to carry, portable, if you will.

If I'm sitting a stand or not doing much walking or for short periods of still hunting, I'll use the Marlin. If it's going to be a long day of carrying the firearm around, do in spot and stalk, it's easier to use the Wiinchester.

:)
Don't have a whole lot of experience with Marlins, but that pretty much nails how I feel as well. But I'll tell ya, the Marlin 336 Texan in 44 Mag. is a treat to handle and points as naturally as the 94. Maybe the best of both worlds.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
User avatar
El Chivo
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3652
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 5:12 pm
Location: Red River Gorge Area

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by El Chivo »

I carry the Marlin and leave the Winchester for the range. The Winchesters have coughed up small parts and stopped working, whereas the Marlin never does. Also the Marlin is sturdier for climbing and rough use.
"I'll tell you what living is. You get up when you feel like it. You fry yourself some eggs. You see what kind of a day it is."
User avatar
6pt-sika
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 9609
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:15 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by 6pt-sika »

C. Cash wrote:I'll tell ya, the Marlin 336 Texan in 44 Mag. is a treat to handle and points as naturally as the 94. Maybe the best of both worlds.

Yes sir !

Here's my Marlin 336-44 circa 1967 as it arrived to me after a quick cleaning !
It now has a nice old Weaver K3 on top instead of that Mickey Mouse Bushnell !

Image

Image

I'm also partial to 444's as anyone here surely knows . But this one seems to handle so nicely . It's a circa 1966 that I cut the barrel down to 19" reblued the metal and redid the stock with Tung Oil !

Image

Image
Parkers , Mannlicher Schoenauer’s , 6.5mm's and my family in the Philippines !
User avatar
Hobie
Moderator
Posts: 13902
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:54 pm
Location: Staunton, VA, USA
Contact:

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by Hobie »

I have both and in use there is no difference. What does differ is how you FEEL about each. I LIKE both.
Sincerely,

Hobie

"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend." Robert Louis Stevenson
C. Cash
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 5384
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:02 pm

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by C. Cash »

Great looking Marlins/Texan 6pt! They are super nice indeed. I can't put mine down.

The Winchesters probably have the better barrel steel(chrome moly 4140). I'm not sure of the mix Marlin uses but it has been noted that is a good bit easier to ream out than the Winchester barrel. Not sure if this translates into anything real gained with Winchester in terms of wear resistance...maybe if one shot only jacketed, and shot it a lot. Maybe the chrome moly is better suited to the high pressure stuff like 356 Win. if you are going walnuts to the wall with it as well?
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
User avatar
AJMD429
Posting leader...
Posts: 32800
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:03 am
Location: Hoosierland
Contact:

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by AJMD429 »

Leverdude wrote:IMHO theres not much comparison. Griff said he can carry an unscoped Win & I believe he can, but I carry unscoped Marlins just fine & they were carrying unscoped Marlins just like the current ones before there was a Win 94. And if you decide to scope it the Marlins are a better choice, Winchester had to cut away its reciever to get a scope centered on it. The problem, again IMO, with Marlins is with those of recent manufacture mostly, but the same can be said of recent made in the USA Winchesters. For me the biggest & most important difference is simplicity of action & ease of cleaning/maintaining. They both can be very smooth, acurate & dependable guns, but every gun needs cleaning. A Marlin with one screw has the bolt out with easy acess to the bore & most everything else. The Winchester is too complicated to take apart to get into. You can do it, I'v done it, but its alot different and more complex. I wouldnt recommend it on a tailgate or bench at the range. I like Winchesters ok, but I'm a Marlin guy thru & thru.
I wholeheartedly agree...!

I will say that one of the most BEAUTIFUL guns I've ever owned is my Winchester 94 in .375, in large part because I like the quality checkering of that era.

Image

Definitely my Winchester has the edge over either of the Marlins below, when it comes to beauty, and perhaps even 'class'; however, the Marlin 336 and 1894 actions are SO simple and reliable, and have such few and sturdy parts, you'd think Browning designed them to go with his fabulous 1911.

Image
Last edited by AJMD429 on Sun May 13, 2012 9:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
Doctors for Sensible Gun Laws
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.


Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
User avatar
Buck Elliott
Member Emeritus
Posts: 2830
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:15 pm
Location: Halfway up Sheep Mountain -- Cody, Wyoming

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by Buck Elliott »

I'm probably NOT the guy to ask...

I grew up an ardent Winchester fan, in spite of the 1894.. The '73, '86 and '92 have always been my idea of what leverguns should be..

I find Marlin lever action arms to be cumbersome and unwieldy, and uncomfortable to carry.. I also think the more modern Marlins are butt-ugly !

The .30-30 cartridge has never been among my favorites either.. I do love the .32-20, .38-40, .44-40, and the later "magnum" revolver cartridges (which includes the .45 Colt), for use in leverguns, and am intrigued by the .307 and .356 Winchester rounds, but in a more-amenable platform than the '94 Winchester... The BIG Winchester cartridges, along with the venerable .45-70, find their perfect home in the mighty '86. No better combinations exist, in that category, IMNSHO...

"Ease of cleaning" is found somewhere far down my priority list, when it comes to lever action rifles and carbines.. In my climate, it just isn't NEEDED as much as it may be in some other places.. A muzzle-protecting rod guide keeps that end of the barrel happy, which also keeps me happy...

Maybe Marlins always seemed to me to be more popular in the eastern, hardwood forests, while Winchesters pretty-well dominated the West I grew up in...
Regards

Buck

Life has a way of making the foreseeable that which never happens, and the unforeseeable, that which your life becomes...
t.r.
Levergunner 3.0
Posts: 816
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:00 am
Location: Ft. Braden, Florida

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by t.r. »

The photo shows both of our 30-30 carbines. Both have put a lot of meat on our table. But if I had to keep just one it would be the Winchester. It's lighter and points just a tad faster.

TR

Image
Fire Up the Grill - Hunting is NOT Catch & Release!
C. Cash
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 5384
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:02 pm

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by C. Cash »

Nice looking 375 Doc! The checkering and deep blue are super nice on the Big Bores.

Two classics T.R. Back here in PA, it's hard to tell what is more popular but I probably see more Marlins.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
User avatar
Canuck Bob
Senior Levergunner
Posts: 1830
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 11:57 am
Location: Calgary, Canada

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by Canuck Bob »

I can add only my take as an owner of each.

I am a big guy and the Marlin fits better for LOP and feel. Mine has the slim barrel band forearm from the 70s, 444S, and therefore not the fat forearm typical of many models. I prefer it a great deal. The easy breech cleaning is a big issue for me, the Marlin cleans like a dream.
I hunted snow and bad weather quite a bit and the side eject port kept the mess out of the action.

The Winchester is light and handy, the balance for hand carry is similar but the Winchester is lighter. The Winchester is one of the truly left handed guns out there. As a lefty this didn't even occur to me until I used one. It ejects over the shoulder and one can feed rounds with the offhand and never take the shooting hand off the rifle.

I don't appreciate a scope on my levers, tried it and they carry like those dreadful bolt action clubs.

I recommended the Marlin for years as a slightly better working gun. The more I use the Winchester they have become equal to me. The Marlin fits bigger and the Winchester handles quicker in my book. I am very lucky to have a Marlin, Winchester 94, and Winchester 92 in my safe. I suspect them to be the last ones left good or bad times until death do us part.

I suggest pick one and start saving for the next one! My method works well 336 action in 444 and 32 Special in the 94.
tman
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 3243
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:43 pm

Re: Winchester 94--Marlin 336--compared

Post by tman »

AJMD429 wrote:
Leverdude wrote:IMHO theres not much comparison. Griff said he can carry an unscoped Win & I believe he can, but I carry unscoped Marlins just fine & they were carrying unscoped Marlins just like the current ones before there was a Win 94. And if you decide to scope it the Marlins are a better choice, Winchester had to cut away its reciever to get a scope centered on it. The problem, again IMO, with Marlins is with those of recent manufacture mostly, but the same can be said of recent made in the USA Winchesters. For me the biggest & most important difference is simplicity of action & ease of cleaning/maintaining. They both can be very smooth, acurate & dependable guns, but every gun needs cleaning. A Marlin with one screw has the bolt out with easy acess to the bore & most everything else. The Winchester is too complicated to take apart to get into. You can do it, I'v done it, but its alot different and more complex. I wouldnt recommend it on a tailgate or bench at the range. I like Winchesters ok, but I'm a Marlin guy thru & thru.
I wholeheartedly agree...!

I will say that one of the most BEAUTIFUL guns I've ever owned is my Winchester 94 in .375, in large part because I like the quality checkering of that era.

Image

Definitely my Winchester has the edge over either of the Marlins below, when it comes to beauty, and perhaps even 'class'; however, the Marlin 336 and 1894 actions are SO simple and reliable, and have such few and sturdy parts, you'd think Browning designed them to go with his fabulous 1911.

Image
Have the identical .375. They should be classified as pre-64, because they are every bit as good, if not better. :D
Post Reply