Any thoughts on the new Marlins?

[sore shoulder]

Sold my JM SS Guide Gun years ago, still have 1895M, but really liking the looks of the new ones and hoping they are better than the Remlins. I handled a couple Remlins up in Cody when they first dropped and I'm pretty sure they were made by a Pakistani with a file. Anyway I kinda wanna make one of those tactical abominations and put a can on it. Dont kill me. Also thinkin I'd like another 1894 in .357. Anyway, thoughts? Experience?

[Blaine]

If ya gotta, ya gotta. New ones are $$$$. Truck guns that clean up pretty good always interest me.

[AJMD429]

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My 1894 Marlin in 357 with the threaded muzzle is one of my favorite firearms. I have a Liberty Cans mystic that I upgraded to Infiniti specifications that I use on it sometimes.
I have a Ranger Precision stock and Streamlight green laser/light on it at the moment.

[2ndovc]

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My 1894 Marlin in 357 with the threaded muzzle is one of my favorite firearms. I have a Liberty Cans mystic that I upgraded to Infiniti specifications that I use on it sometimes.
I have a Ranger Precision stock and Streamlight green laser/light on it at the moment.

Still waiting for my suppressor to be released from it's gov. lockdown, but I have to say that it is a fantastic little carbine. Shoots and feeds anything, even semi-wadcutters.
Once I get the suppressor on it, it will be the primary "yard gun". Neighbors aren't too close, but close enough that I can't go pounding away at varmints without someone, namely the weirdo raging alcoholic next door from calling the Sheriff.

I've handled a couple of the new Ruger-Marlins, but haven't bought one yet.


jb

[Turdyturdy]

Yup, best Marlins ever. Everything the new Henry’s aren’t, mainly reliable out of the box and no need for return flight.

[.45colt]

There is no downside to the new Marlins for Me. I have many JM Marlins that I bought before they were sold to Remington . I expect the new guns will work right and shoot well. seems like a lot of coin to lay out for a levergun but look at what a new house , truck , Jeep or anything else costs today.

[Bill in Oregon]

The downside to the new Marlins for me is that I will never, ever be able to pay $1,699 for one, nor would I want to.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

I handled a couple Remlins up in Cody when they first dropped and I'm pretty sure they were made by a Pakistani with a file.

I'm still recovering from that sentence ... a visual just popped into my head and I couldn't stop laughing.

Is Remington still around? I know they were sucked up by some conglomerate which is usually the death knell.

[oldebear1950]

I agree seems a lot to pay for a lever gun, I am retired and on fixed budget, and seems awful pricey to me

[oldebear1950]

But then the older MARLINS , before Remington messed em up, are pretty pricey too

[RIDERED350r]

Truth is they have all gone up significantly over the last couple of years. Some more than others no doubt, market bubbles and panic buying takes it's toll too.

Bout the only well known manufacturer of lever rifles that is cheaper than the new Marlins and Henry that I can think of is Rossi. And those are selling for a good bit more than they did just a couple years ago too. They are priced now where your average Henry centerfire was 5 years ago.

[TraderVic]

I've read nothing but very positive comments by enthusiasts who have purchased the new Ruger/Marlin leverguns. Most comments have been about the 1895 models ; excellent fit & finish, smooth cycling, accurate.
I've read similar comments about the new 336 30-30 by the few who have actually handled and shot them.

[oldebear1950]

but being retired on a fixed budget, seems pricey. 1700 dollars. Now if I could just find someone who still does lay a way, that too seems a thing of the past. And most dealers around here don't do financing

[AJMD429]

I agree seems a lot to pay for a lever gun, I am retired and on fixed budget, and seems awful pricey to me

Figure the value of a dollar for many of us is about a sixth of what it was when we were kids (or less, for the old guys on here... ). I remember buying gas for $0.25 a gallon, same as a loaf of bread. A brick of 500 22 LR's was $6.50 the first time I bought one. So although leverguns are increasing in popularity recently, so some price increase happened from that, much of that is 'inflation'. The other fact is that bolt action and semiautomatic firearms have gotten cheaper, because both are easy to make not-that-great versions of that will still do the job. Leverguns are just more difficult to make so they haven't had the relative price decrease of guns like the Savage bolt actions or AR-15 generics.

[Sarge]

Yes and 7-8 years ago those ARs were 900-1500 bucks and used Marlins & Winchesters were everywhere for 300-450. Two years later, S&W MP15s were under 500 bucks.

Something has changed alright, but it ain't manufacturing techniques of one versus the other. It's a buying frenzy fueled by $1300 + $300 marked-up MSRPs and decreasing numbers of discontinued Winchesters and Marlins. So what used to be a truck or barn 30-30 is suddenly a $900 and up 'rare collector's item'- and people are buying them. The first rule of business is 'Charge what the traffic will bear'.

And really, business is all were talking about here. If guys want to line up and drop $1500+ for today's Marlins, more power to 'em. I've got a couple of good lever actions and those will do me fine.

[horsesoldier03]

Sarge, you hit the nail on the head, and the AR market is a prime example. I hope the market softens on the good levers, but with MARLIN officially out of business all those old JM rifles and carbines will bring a premium. I am just glad I have a few!

[TraderVic]

True, the current cost for the new Marlins is a bit much for most of us, but once production catches up (supply : demand), my guess is the Marlin 336 will settle in at a more realistic retail cost. Where this average cost ends up, we'll see. If the "gotta have it now" crowd want to spend recklessly, go for it !
As Marlin introduces new models, we'll watch this nonsense repeat itself. I'll wait for a Model 1894 ; 357.

[Grizz]

well, uh,
.

Screenshot 2023-04-28 075843-inflation since then.png

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this data is a crock, actually. notice the 'value' for 2023. that's poppycock...,
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the principle is the same, the buying power of our money is dissolved by dot gov policies rather than by markets....
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that said, gold touched $2020 recently. if i sold an oz on that date, i could buy a $1700 gun and have $320
left over. If i paid $320 for that oz I will have gotten a gun and my original cost back, or a new gun for $320.
.
that is how commodities function as inflation busters. doesn't have to be gold. a few drums of copper n brass scrap will buy new guns too, if you sell the peaks of the scrap markets . . . i know someone who sold 4000# of bronze that was scrounged . . , copper periodically has exquisite price runs, you can bank on it.
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we more or less have done this with guns and lead and ammo over the years. when something of value seems cheap, stock up. i remember all the $320 leverguns i didn't buy, but Six did . . . and the other collectors . . .

kudos to all of them.

btw, i have 500 pounds of high grade sculpture quality bronze if anyone wants to trade for a new Marlin!

†
grizz

[Griff]

...btw, i have 500 pounds of high grade sculpture quality bronze if anyone wants to trade for a new Marlin!
†
grizz

My 900 lbs of lead (WWs) is probably of more use to me... but thanks for the offer!

[Grizz]

...btw, i have 500 pounds of high grade sculpture quality bronze if anyone wants to trade for a new Marlin!
†
grizz

My 900 lbs of lead (WWs) is probably of more use to me... but thanks for the offer!

Good one. However, the bronze can make solids that won't deform, more of a huge game hunting type deal........

[marlinman93]

The only deficit I've seen or read about is the price tags. The new Ruger made Marlins are getting rave reviews.
I personally would not call them "the best Marlins ever" as the old Marlins cover 1875-Rem. era, and I personally can't put a new Ruger-Marlin above any old Marlin built before WWII! Those will always be the "best Marlins ever" for me.

[piller]

While I would like to get a Marlin in .357 Mag, the current prices are making me realize that my .30-30 is capable of everything I want to do. I might just stick with what I have, and stock up on components instead.

[windy]

I still haven't seen any reason at all to buy a new one when the old ones are still available, much better, and cheaper. My 336A Ballard-rifled 30-30 will be one of the last rifles I part with, and with the lever-E ammo it's like shooting the 300 savage I sold. Shoots everything from 100gr half-jackets to 190gr pulled 303 Savage bullets well.
windy

[TraderVic]

I still haven't seen any reason at all to buy a new one when the old ones are still available, much better, and cheaper. My 336A Ballard-rifled 30-30 will be one of the last rifles I part with, and with the lever-E ammo it's like shooting the 300 savage I sold. Shoots everything from 100gr half-jackets to 190gr pulled 303 Savage bullets well.
windy

Depends where you're at.
Marlin leverguns have been popular here in the Upper Midwest, however, in recent years I have seen very few for sale.

[Walt]

The gun manufacturers are making a killing on semi-autos of all sorts. They are in business to make money and satisfy stockholders so the smaller sales volume of leverguns and revolvers will dictate smaller production numbers and therefor higher prices for the guns that we on this forum enjoy. Based on the way this country is moving, it's doubtful that the black guns market will ever be saturated. One can only hope...

[piller]

Well, the way things are going is not good for anything in my price range for anything at all. I have enough to make do. I am beyond need, and can use what I have for anything in the Americas. Want is still an issue.