Marlin or Mossberg?

W

wmg1299

New member
I am looking to acquire a lever action 30-30. The Marlin 336 was iconic for many years and owners seem to love the older models. I am wary of Freedom Group products due to so many posts regarding quality issues.

I am trying to decide between the Marlin and the Mossberg 464. I have never had any issues with Mossberg shotguns, and started my son on a 702 Plinkster. I also like that the 464 is built in Texas (a little hometown loyalty).

Are current Marlin 336 models as good as ever? Anyone had any problems with the 464? Any advice from shooters with first-hand experience would be appreciated.
 
The Mossberg and other modern versions just don't capture what a lever should be in my opinion. The looks, weight, and handing are all wrong although I'm sure most function just fine with acceptable accuracy.

Current production Winchesters are well made guns, but are priced at collector levels, not really shooters. The issues with new Marlins is overstated in my opinion, but I still like the older versions of these guns. The stock dimensions and other minor things have been tweaked over the years and I feel the 1970's era rifles have the best combination of stock design and other features.

If you have concerns with current quality there are 14 million older Winchesters and Marlins out there. Many are for sale for less than a new Mossberg and are of much better quality.
 
My question is why must you buy a new lever action rifle? About five years ago I had the itch for a lever action .30-30 rifle and found a used Winchester M94 for $100, it had a broken rear sight and firing pin. It cost me an additional $100 to replace the firing pin and rear sight but I have a very functional top eject M94 that's about as accurate as I expect a lever action to be with factory ammunition with me shooting it.

The only problem is the bluing on the rifle as with many 1971 model M94 rifles. I figure that can be corrected sometime in the future with a can of DIY Duracoat. Plus being a 71 model year I don't have the stupid cross bolt safety that the newer rifles have.
 
I would check out the used market for a marlin or winchester.

Many have said that remington is finally getting its act together and making better quality Marlins.
 
I would give it some time maybe another year. Just to see if Marlin makes a better lever. If the cross bolt safety is a problem. There are ways to deal with that so to allow the new to function very much like the old. There's no longer a benefit in buying old verses new as far as I'm concerned. By waiting you may very well see newer much tighter toleranced rifle. Then too. Perhaps additional calibers offers also.

As far as Mossberg's lever. Frankly I haven't heard many comments about it. I too like Mossberg products from my past experiences with them. Very much maligned but seldom deserved Mossberg is one of those company's.
 
JMR40 is right on this one. Look for a nice used Marlin. They can be had affordably, and I agree that the 70's-early 80's Marlins are the best.

I like Mossberg's shotguns a lot. My 500 has been great and I just shoot it better than more expensive shotguns. That said, I've seen mixed reviews on their new levers. I do know the Walnut versions have excellent looking wood on them, and I'm sure they're fine. But I have to defer to Marlin on this one.
 
Favorite Marlins: 1893, 1894, 36, 336T and the Cowboy versions.
Favorite Winchester lever-guns: all models pre-64, but even better before 1950.
The Savage 99 rotary-mag rifle is a fascinating contraption.
All the others don't particularly strike me.
For a 30-30 rifle, I find the model 55 Winchester particularly attractive.
For a carbine, I like the '94 Winchesters made between 1937-1949.
I seldom look at new guns anymore.
 
Marlin

Having heard the same, I looked over a Marlin 1895 last year. Fit and finish was good and it shot lights out.
 
I applaud Remington for cleaning up Marlins mess

I owned three new Marlin rifles within a year, I own none now, there were major issues with all three of them and I only paid for one. I do think Remington will eventually turn the company around and in time they will build a good product again. I can't say enough good things about the way Remington tried to help me, Marlin when they closed the doors didn't leave much for Remington to work with. I will continue to purchase Remington rifles but never again a marlin!! I believe there is a market for a good lever gun maybe the Mossberg 464 is the answer.. William
 
Not much difference?? Have you had the two side-by-side??
the way the Guts are made/materials are quite different...
They're still working the bugs out of new Marlin MFRing...
but I never thought the 2014 336's were as cheaply made as a 464.

That being said, Pre-2005 Marlins are MUCH better rifles.
Pre-crossbolt safety even better :)
There are literally MILLIONS of Marlin 336's & 1894/95's out there...
find a pawn shop deal/etc and enjoy :)
 
Marlin/Mossberg

@ William T. Watts: Something perhaps which has not been considered is:
When Remington assumed production of Marlin Rifles, you had bolt rifle workers trying to build lever rifles. It was analogous to gas/carbureted mechanics working on diesel engines with no cross-training. The workings between the two are not the same.
With time, perhaps they will gain the working knowledge of the lever action and produce a quality product.

As for the MOSSBERG 464, The older 464 looks like the MARLIN externally, and as you should be aware, Patent Infringement prohibits identical internal workings. That said, if it works and you like it... buy it and use it.

I've owned three Mod. '94s and had trouble with all three. Sold them to someone who liked them WITH their defects [go figure]. Three MARLINS and 40 yrs. later....NO PROBLEMS. Do I tell others to NOT buy any '94s? No. Let them make up their own mind.

Things will get better at [REM-MAR]. Give them time. Or, better yet, go show them yourself how to make them better.

WILL.
 
I might be the odd ball out, but I did not notice the immediate fall off of quality When Remington took over Marlin that others rant about. It appeared to me that Marlin had already gone to crud before Remington took them over. The Remington manufactured rifles appeared just as cruddy as the Marlin rifles that were made the last couple of years before the sell off. Did Marlin let their tooling wear out because they knew a sell out was coming? From what I have seen, the Remington made Marlins coming off the line now are better than the Marlins made the last few years that Marlin was Marlin.
 
Will

The last two rifles I allude to were Remington's responsibility because of the serial range, the first had a Marlin serial number and the best of the three. however you may have a valid point about familiarity and knowing how to and throw in without adequet training that's not a good receipe. The suggesting of checking pawn shops appeal to me, I can't remember when I didn't have a 30/30 rifle. That's what I started hunting with when I was a teenager, I feel almost like I'm not fully prepared without my 30/30. Thanks for the input, gave me something to think about! William
 
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I own several Mossberg firearms and have no concerns about quality, but if I were shopping for a lever action rifle, I'd look to the experts, Winchester, Marlin or Henry. New or used. In the used market, don't overlook the old "store brands" from Sears or Montgomery Wards. These guns were made by Winchester, Marlin, Savage, etc. My brother recently picked up a mint condition Sears "Ted Williams" (Winchester 94) for $250.00.
 
I gave my grandson a Marlin 30/30 for his birthday two years ago, I did not check the bore of the rifle before giving it to him. In theory a 30 cal rifle will have a bore diameter of.308" and a grove diameter of .300", my gransons Marlin's barrel grove diameter was .3026", pitiful pitiful. I wish I knew why these type rifles barrels cannot be held to tighter tolerances. None of my other 30 cal barrels are anywhere close to these numbers (Winchester model 94 307Win (.3004), M1 Garand Nato Beretta (.3008), Ruger Hawkeye 30/06, (.2998).. When you find your rifle won"t group boattail bullets but will shoot flat base bullets fine if you check the bore you may find it oversize! William
 
at the local flea markets here there are always a few older 94 winchesters and older marlin 336 over the summer at very good prices and in very good condition. i have bought pre-64 win,s and pre-70,s marlin,s for 350-600 dollars in 30-30, 32 spl, 32-40, 35 rem and a very nice 38-55(800 dollars). i would sooner have any of these than any newly made lever actions. eastbank.
 
You can find a used Marlin 336 for about $399.00 pretty easy. They are great rifles. I have two JM stamped Marlins and three Remlins. They are all great rifles and the Remlins are as good as the JM stamped rifles. Remington is finally making quality Marlins again. It would be cheaper to buy a used 336 than a new one anyway and it will be a JM stamped one.
 
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