It's more fun to carry a Winny than it is to shoot it.
It's more fun to shoot a Marlin than it is to carry it.
The WIn 94's are skinny and light little things that are a joy to carry but I've always felt they make the .30-30 feel like the recoil more than they really do. And yet a Marlin feels bulky and ungainly (ducking for cover) to carry. I have always added a slig to mine while my father's 94 still has no sling as it just carrys so easy. But that added bulk and weight make shooting almost a pleasure. I always enjoy cooking up some new loads, testing some new bullets, or anything else involved in shooting the Marlins. When I have time...
if that 1972 vintage Winchester is a shooter, I'd expect it to be on the rack around here for closer to the $440 number you cited for the "new" Remlin 336. I'd be all over the Winchester for the stated price, and probably not do much more than give it a good cleaning and keep it lubed.
jd
I passed at $300 but the owner dropped to $250 and I couldn't say no.
My plans are almost exactly what you mentioned. Clean it inside and wipe down the outside, lube the moving parts and maybe wax the exterior to keep it from picking up any more finger prints or surface %@*&$.
It's more fun to carry a Winny than it is to shoot it.
It's more fun to shoot a Marlin than it is to carry it.
...
Maybe BUT once you strip the pistol grip off and recontour the stock and thin the forearm on the Marlin you have gone more than halfway toward turning it into a Winchester.
One of my college buddies and I used to go back and forth at each other which FELT like it kicked more.
He contended my Winchester 94 .30-30 was up there while I maintained his Brit Enfield with the spare stock wacked down to just in front of the magazine well and the handguards ditched was more annoying.
Today I'd say it would be a different bud who has a Mosin carbine.
That doesn't count the guys with the ultra-magnum whammy boomers though.
It's more fun to carry a Winny than it is to shoot it.
It's more fun to shoot a Marlin than it is to carry it.
...
Maybe BUT once you strip the pistol grip off and recontour the stock and thin the forearm on the Marlin you have gone more than halfway toward turning it into a Winchester.
One of my college buddies and I used to go back and forth at each other which FELT like it kicked more.
He contended my Winchester 94 .30-30 was up there while I maintained his Brit Enfield with the spare stock wacked down to just in front of the magazine well and the handguards ditched was more annoying.
Today I'd say it would be a different bud who has a Mosin carbine.
That doesn't count the guys with the ultra-magnum whammy boomers though.
Yep, removing the pistol grip and thinning the forearm makes a huge difference. I did that with a 35 Rem version. With a 216gr bullet launched at 2000fps is does have a healthy punch. I also have a 20" Mosin and I think it's worse. I think I'm going to get a Marlin and hack it up like the last one I did. The only difference will be that I'll leave the barrel at 20" because 16.5" had too much muzzle blast and velocity loss for me.
Did the gooberment paperwork on my latest 94 Winchester today.
Gun might be in better shape than I thought initially. Nice lady selling it said she thought it wasn't used hardly at all as her husband never used it and she thought the uncle was up in years when he got it brand new.
I seem to recall looking at your Marlin .35 modification when you posted it a while back.
At the time the barrel length thing was the one thing I thought I'd have left alone.
Talking to one of the boys at the shop today while doing the paperwork he indicated that Winchester had produced a 18" barrel .30-30. I know they put out shorty trappers for some of the pistol calibers.
I also have one of the newer Remlin 336's with the 16" barrel and while the action is a knuckle breaker to work the lever it is still a good easy to carry woods gun. I have some Skinner sights I'm in need of tuning some to get both locked down and set just right but it's still a decent even if annoying little rifle.
I really need to just find the time to sit down and finish this and so many other projects...
I am a Marlin shooter. I sold my '94 not because it didn't shoot well, it most certainly did. But it was the only Winchester in a sea of Marlins, also my friend from work was looking for a truck gun.
Having said that, I am not a Marlin snob. I think you won't go wrong with either one.
