Winchester 94 or Marlin 336?

Marlin 336, unless you wish to use a lot of lead bullets. In that case, go with the Winchester. Marlin's rifling is probably "microgroove" on those, and it's not the best with lead bullets. The Marlin will be a slicker action, IME. (full disclosure: I'm a Winchester 94 owner, but that's because it was a gift from very good friends, and I reload a lot of lead bullets).

I'd go 30/30 unless you plan to hunt larger game than deer, in which case the .35 is a marginally better choice. Both are completely adequate for either duty of course, and 30/30 is much easier to find and is often cheaper.
 
Can a Marlin lever-action rifle be fired if the lever isn't fully "squeezed tight"?
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May I direct you to this thread?

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193076

or this PDF

http://stevespages.com/pdf/marlin_336_444_1895.pdf

Page 4 shows a button safety but it also recommends the lever be closed completly before shooting. I owned one 336 and one 94, the 94 was a better gun IMHO and shot better groups open sights. This is just my opinion tho, I own neither these days as I have a 30-06 weatherby and a 303 british, a husky 308. I dont see the lever gun as accurate as they are so I sold them long ago.
 
Accuracy is a good quality to have in a gun. Is the 94 or a 336 accurate enough to hunt deer with? I wish there was some historical evidence one could point to. ;)

I'm not looking to spend my days at a bench rest shooting bulls eyes at 300 yards.

Either gun will be used for deer under 200 yards. So I think either are just as accurate in a 30-30 or .35Rem within that range for brining down a deer as a 3006.
 
I have no experience with Marlins but the posts I've from owners of Marlins speak highly of them and I believe -

Those prices do seem a little high. I bought a used but in very good condition Winchester 94 in 30-30 (Canadian Commemorative) made in 1967 for $350 -here's a pic that shows the "safety" button that requires the lever to be held tightly up against the stock or it won't fire -

W94TRIGGERBLOCK.jpg


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IMG_2491.jpg


It's the lower one with 20" barrel - the other one I bought new in 1968 for $90 - but, that was a special deal - ;)
 
To bigkrackers: The Marlin 336 and Winchester 94 have probably accounted for 60% of the deer shot in North America in the last century.
 
Bigkrackers:

Both the Winchester and the Marlin are quality rifles. It is said that the Marlin is stronger then the Winchester. However shooting safe reloads or shooting factory loads won't approach won't approach the danger level. The Winchester reeks wit the nostalgia of the old west. On the other hand, unless the Winchester is an angle eject, the Marlin permits more convient scope mounting. The 35 Remington is an interesting cartridge. You'll be happy with either choice.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery Sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
for the prices listed and the guns manufacture dates I'd go with the winchester. the pre-eighties 94s are supposed to be some of the best ones around(that's just word of mouth though). the marlin 336s are very good guns and if I was picking new guns I'd go with the 336 because they only cost 450 NIB(averages) so with those prices youd be better off getting a grand spankin new 336 but again between these 3 choices I'd go with the winchester
 
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