Marlin or Henry???Centerfire.

J

jeager106

Moderator
Ohio will allow at least 20 rifle calibers for whitetail deer season this fall. Rifles must be chambered for straight walled cases, i.e. .357 magnum, .45-70, & in between.
Naturally leverguns fly off dealers shelves. There are way more Henrys available than Marlin.
Friends know I'm a lever guy; ask me "Henry, or should I search for a Marlin?"
I suggeset Henry tho I don't, never have, owned one. I do that because Marlins are more money, not so available, & a Henry Big Bore should make a good whiteail rifle.
You that own Henry & or both Henry & Marlin, how do you feel about the Henry centerfire being equl to but different from the Marlin, caliber for caliber?
I have plenty of Marlins, no need for a Henry, just want to steer locals right.
Thoughts? Calibers of available Henry rifles are .357, .44 mag., .45 Colt, 45-70, all plenty adequate deer rifles. Henry does not chamber for .444 Marlin do they?
I'm excited about Ohios new deer regs & will take to the field with my Marlin 1 of 1000 in .45-70 + 300 gr. h.p. handloads.:D
 
The Henry is a smooth & accurate Magnum, but it's a heavy gun for carry.

The Marlins are markedly lighter, with generally good accuracy.

The Marlin 1894C in .357 Mag is being re-introduced, it's scheduled to start shipping by September.

I have a pre-production sample here that's put three shots in under an inch at 100 yards, iron sights.
Quality is much improved.

Denis
 
The Henry is a smooth & accurate Magnum, but it's a heavy gun for carry.

The Marlins are markedly lighter, with generally good accuracy.

The Marlin 1894C in .357 Mag is being re-introduced, it's scheduled to start shipping by September.

I have a pre-production sample here that's put three shots in under an inch at 100 yards, iron sights.
Quality is much improved.

Denis
 
I just cannot like the Henry. It is a lever action, but it is everything a lever is not supposed to be.
 
There's no history with the Henry and it's like no other center fire lever ever made. I like the Golden Boy but the big bores are a turn off for me. They're basically a vamped up .22
 
Find an older Marlin lever made in CONN. Have a JM mark on the barrel. Since Freedoms has take over their quality has dropped. I believe they are moving /consolidating again too. I'd go for a Henry myself. I have a brass Big Boy in 45C. Beautiful rifle. Not a vamped up 22...http://www.henryrifles.com/ My Marlins are JM guide guns in 45-70. I remember when Marling closed shop. It was a bitter sweet time.

JMO
 
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Marlin's upped their game.
Story on it in The Prisbrey Report, Volume 2014-1, just out yesterday, if it's allowed to mention a Kindle eBook here.
Denis
 
Despite the fact that Marlin has not produced decent lever guns in years, there seems to be a good deal of hostility towards the Henry .45/70 on the internet. Almost all of this seems to be directed at two features of the Henry: its appearance and the tube loading feature. Appearance is purely subjective. I like it's looks as well as the Marlin. I don't particularly like the tube loading, but can't imagine it would be a problem in the field. Few of us ever have to reload after 4 or 5 shots at game.

I own a 10 year old Marlin Cowboy .45/70 as well as the Henry. Both are great guns, terrific fit and finish on both. Function is perfect on both. The Marlin with a 26" barrel and tang sight is a bit more accurate than the 18" Henry with its ghost ring. The Henry is much handier and has a smoother action.

Marlin is supposedly improving but I would steer clear of any of their recent products until we are sure all is well. I'm sure the older Marlins or a new Henry would fit your needs well.

gary
 
The new-production .357 sample here shows marked improvement over the one I returned unfired 3 years ago.
Denis
 
I don't hunt so please educate me. What is the intent of of a law that forces the use of straight walled cases? I can only assume it has to do with distance...
 
I just cannot like the Henry. It is a lever action, but it is everything a lever is not supposed to be.
Click to expand...

And what is that? Beautiful, smooth, accurate, reliable? Or the fact that is 100% American made, using 100% American material?

I own a Henry big big in 44. It's the smoothest action on any lever gun I've felt straight out of the box. It is heavier than the marlin but I don't mind, the extra weight really mitigates recoil. The tube feed seems to annoy some but I have no qualms with it either. I've never had a need to do a tactical reload in the field, and it's way easier on the thumbs.:)
 
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My Henry Big Boy in .45 Colt is the finest firearm I own, and I own a lot.

It's a work of art with a light crisp trigger, smooth action and great accuracy with my cast handloads.

If you don't have far to hike get a Henry.
 
I'm not a fan of Henry since with that name they are just trying to make people believe they have some roots with the 1860 model. A lot of people know Henry's rifle was the first regular cartridge lever but not many realize that the "Henry" rifle you can buy new today has no ties what so ever with the original. The closest you can get is a reproduction gun, Winchester doesn't even offer their own reproduction so you're looking at Italian guns. And those are .45 Colts, not .44 rimfire like the 1860.
But honestly, even guns from Winchester aren't technically guns from Winchester. I don't know if I'm the only one that feels this way but company sold out and the guns are made in Japan. Still high quality but its not the same.
I've only heard bad things about the modern Marlin guns, I have no experience with them.
Rossi is made in Brazil. My dad had one of their lever guns in .45-70, he had to send it back twice. Their tolerances were too tight for our winter and the gun wouldn't cycle. I do have a suggestion, what about the Rossi Circuit Judge? They are available in .45 Colt and .44 Magnum. I have a .45 Colt and it works great.
Have you considered single shots? NEF Handi Rifles are well worth the money and low priced.
 
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Henry makes the smoothest action I've ever seen on a lever gun. Is it true to the form of a Winchester or Marlin lever action....no. Stilla damned nice gun.
 
Marlin is a piece of American History, especially the 39A. Marlins are forged, aren't Henry's cast? Besides, out of the two, which one would The Duke have?;)
 
Name it what you want. It's still the smoothest action on a levergun out there. Including my BLR.
I'd also have to believe that anyone interested in an 1860 Henry could take one look at the present models and realize they're not the same.
Even taking a look at the website they reference henry then and now.
Plus Henry is making 1860s now in 44-40. I know it's not 44 rimfire, but that's due to ammo availability.
 
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