30-30: Marlin vs Winchester

L

LightningLink

New member
I have a friend who is looking to get her husband his first rifle for Christmas. He has already expressed interest in 30-30, so that part's kinda easy.

Based on price (not a whole lot to spend), it has come down to the Marlin 30AW $250 (or maybe it's 30AS), and the Winchester Model 94 $270.

I would like some pros and cons of these two rifles. From what I can tell, they're pretty much the same except the Marlin is curved under the lever, and the Winchester looks like it ejects it's brass out of the top of the receiver. Is the Marlin more or less comfortable with this curve? And does the top ejecting Winchester have any problems with mounting a scope?

I'm sure there are also a lot of alternatives to these two rifles, but I would like to try to keep it narrow.

Thanks for you help.

LL

BTW: I would have searched, but that appears to be disabled :(
 
Before I bought my Ruger 7mm; I used A Marlin 336C Lever Action .30-30 for 15 years. My hunting partner has been using a Winchester 94 for like 20 years.

They are about the same accuracy wise. I think My Marlin was a little heavier that the Win 94. I never liked the goofy way you had to mount the scope on a Win 94. It just looked like any little bump and you'd lose your Zero.

But my buddy likes his just fine, and I always liked my Marlin.

The only real difference is its easier and you have more choices for mounting scopes on the Marlin.

Hope this helped,

Dave
 
Ditto Hook_N_Bullet

The top ejection on the Winchester is why I bought the Marlin. Never was sorry. Plus, I personally believe that the Marlin Micro-Groove rifling makes it just a tad more accurate.

If your friend's going to mount a scope, Marlin's the way. If not, flip a coin. ;)
 
The current Win 94's are angle eject (AE), this allows the scope to be mounted over receivers centerline. Much better mount than the old side mount IMHO. I've used both and prefer the feel of the Marlin's action over the 94's.

kerth
 
I have owned both and would recommend either.

Before Angle Eject '94 I would have gone for the Marlin. Now the scope on the Win is right where it belongs.

The Win offers a few more choices on barrel length, from 16" to 24" if that matters to him. I think either with the standard 20" just plain feels right.

The shorter models weigh about 1/2 pound less, and aftermarket plactic stocks knock about 1/2lb and only take about $40+ from your wallet. The favorite in our family right now is a standard AE Win '94 20" barrel Win with plactic stock that weighs 6lb 10oz complete with 4x scope. A old man or youth can carry it "hands on" all day, long after the standard shoulder cannon winds up being a piece of shoulder luggage(not good in brush country).

Tom
 
OK, my turn. :-)

Buy the Marlin. It's stronger, easier to clean from the breech (much!), and doesn't dump its guts into the weather every time you cycle the action. It's also a little less expensive, but not a bit cheaper.
 
I have owned all kinds of leveractions Winchester,Marlin,Browning,Savage.Like them all for different reasons,But I would recomend the Marlin 336 with a pistol grip and 20 inch barrel as probably the best choice for a first rifle if the 30/30 is the caliber of choice.
 
My '94 - lighter, shorter, handier

1. Scope mounting is just as easy on the new Winchesters.
2. The "action being exposed to falling debris" argument is pure bunk, unless you plan on using your 30-30 in muddy trench warfare ... and even then, other guns with open tops, like the M1 Garand and every bolt action armies ever used, somehow managed to work.
3. I have had better accuracy with my Winchester
4. Cleaning from the muzzle is not the tragedy some would have you believe. Just use a $1 brass muzzle guard on your cleaning rod.

I just recently bought the 16" Ranger Compact 30-30, and having owned a Marlin, I can honestly say I like the Winchester a lot better, though both are good. I carry my carbine in my hands when I hunt (it's brushy here) and I would not be doing that with the heavy Marlin (why I got rid of it).
 
Replying to Grapeshot, in a friendly way --

Scope mounting -- true (but I don't like scopes!) :-)

Action exposed to falling debris -- not really what I meant. I am not playing an extra in "Red Dawn" and I'm not much of a hunter but I do shoot seriously and I have had guns absorb a good bit of the countryside. When it happens, it can be a show-stopper, and none of these lever rifles have been made to military specs. I have accidentally filled actions with sand, and with most autos and levers you have a big problem. Neither of these rifles is great in that respect but the Browning-designed Winchesters are worse in that regard. Whether it matters -- you be the judge. I agree that it's a close call, but I'd give the nod to the Marlin.

Accuracy -- never owned any pair in the same caliber. I did (do) have a M94 that will shoot about 1MOA from the bench with handloads. Really. Only current Marlin is an 1895, and I've never really tried for pure accuracy, although it is a very accurate rifle. Both are more accurate than is really necessary for the job, I think?

Cleaning -- you're right. For what it's worth, I really like the tapered and straight Dewey brass guides. But I feel better cleaning from the breech. :-)

I have gone to preferring the .45-70 levers, and I really think the Marlin 1895 variations are the better choice in large-bore. In addition to the other things noted, the handloading manuals indicate that they are stronger (hence the .450 Marlin, which I think is a total marketing ploy and a stupid purchase) (take that! :-) )
 
Comparing newer Marlins to Winchesters I would say the Marlin is heavier made and more accurate in general. It would probably last longer and take more rounds. Now if you speak of the pre 64 Winchesters that is a whole different story. I would pick one (actually I have picked three) of those over the modern Marlin. Now in all fairness I have no experience with a pre 64 Marlin.
 
Thanks for all the input. It would seem that for a good first rifle, he can't go wrong with the Marlin. I've managed to trick him into going to the gunshop with me for some magazine hunting, so we'll see if he has a strong preference one way or the other.

Thanks again,
LL
 
In truth, we are debating small margins. Both are good rifles. And older examples of each tend to be nicer than newer ones. I really hate the cross-bolt safeties they're installing now. The only good thing to say about the Marlin version (haven't experimented with the Winchester version) is that you can lock it "off" with a screw.
 
Jnewell--What is your technique for locking off that annoying crossbolt safety? I was thinking of cutting all of the exposed part of the button off. Then it could never inadvertently get pushed on, yet could still be activated with a knife blade, leatherman tool, etc.
 
Buy the Marlin. Then try out both 150 grain and 170 grain loads (plural) before buying a lot of ammo. I went with the 170 grain PMC load. Accurate and consistent. Its only a 150 yd weapon so you may as well go with the bigger bullet. The longer bullets seem to work better in the micro-groove barrels also.
 
PS: People talking about scopes on lever guns -- These rifles seem to handle better without the scope. The Williams Foolproof or a good set of buck-horn rear sights will improve your sight picture and help in shot placement. My 336 Marlin 30-30 came with a scope and I removed it. Much "handier" now and I don't need to worry about scopes getting knocked out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top