Which is a better rifle>

[sgtgeorge]

I have a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag. (no safety) and I have a Winchester model 94 AE saddle ring carbine also in 44 mag. Both are recent aquisitions. Which rifle is better? I like them both, but I have no experience with Winchester model 94 AE, even though I am a Winchester collector. I once owned a Marlin 1894 in .357 Mag that was woefully unreliable because it failed to feed on every other round. Need opinions please. TIA.

 

[CZfool68]

Shoot them and decide for yourself. Simple process that only you can answer with those 2 rifles.

 

[Walkabout Dan]

I’m with CZ especially if you shoot reloads or hard cast lead.

 

[Tailhunter]

You are a Winchester collector and you had a “woefully” unreliable Marlin.
In your own mind have you not already answered your own question?

 

[GymB]

I prefer the side ejection of the Marlin, but they are both fine guns.

 

[S4f]

Ok I'll play
I prefer the marlin easier to scope and side ejection are the two major factors.

 

[Snal~]

There's a fix for the Marlin issue. Can't remember what it is but it's easily found on google.

 

[saiga12shooter]

Both are awesome…but personally, I prefer the Winchester lever guns for pistol calibers and the Marlins for rifle calibers.

 

[georgel]

Definitely a personal thing. Some say the Marlin's are mechanically superior, but I like the feel of the Winchester better. It is, after all a JMB design. The AE will have the unattractive and redundant cross bolt safety, which you can easily remove and plug with hole plugs from the hardware store.

 

[GymB]

I have a Marlin 336 in 44 mag, think I’d rather have your 1894. I really should have bought one when they were cheap, but I was focused on 357.

 

[Charlie]

I have both Marlin and Winchester lever actions. I prefer the Marlins for several reasons. The main reason is that they are easier to strip down to clean and can be cleaned from the breech easily. The "Marlin Jam" is caused by wear, is easily fixed, and can be prevented. The 357 M94 Marlin I had was very sensitive to cartridge length but was very reliable if the correct length ammo was used. I could not use it in Cowboy Shooting because it would not reliably feed 38 Special ammo and would not hold ten 357 Magnum rounds in the magazine. I gave it to a friend who shoots nothing but factory 357 ammo in it with no problems The other Marlin 94s I have in 44 Mag, 45 Colt, and 32/20 are very reliable. I do not have a Winchester M94 in a pistol chambering but do have several M92 Winchesters that are more prone to jams than my Marlins if I do not use ammo of the correct length.

 

[DoubleOg]

While I would rank both the Marlin & 94 as being equals and decent guns I must say Neither. The 1892 action is better for pistol cartridges.

 

[Carolina Lucky]

The main cause of problems with Marlins in Cowboy Action, was failure to keep the screws tightened. The second biggest problem was not keeping an eye on overall case length when reloading. There were some problems with cam wear, but usually when I fix one, it is because someone had no idea what they were doing when they “tuned” it.

 

[sgtgeorge]

Just looking at the Winchester, I'm not happy with how loose the lever is when the rifle is in battery (lever closed). Then again, this is my first (and only) post 64 Winchester that I ever owned, so I might be a little spoiled. I got it for a good price, so much so that I could not turn it down.

 

[georgel]

Just looking at the Winchester, I'm not happy with how loose the lever is when the rifle is in battery (lever closed). Then again, this is my first (and only) post 64 Winchester that I ever owned, so I might be a little spoiled. I got it for a good price, so much so that I could not turn it down.

Took me a while to get used to it too. But, note that last little bit of looseness is part of the "grip" safety, when you close your hand on it.

 

[cubrock]

I have both Marlin and Winchester lever actions. I prefer the Marlins for several reasons. The main reason is that they are easier to strip down to clean and can be cleaned from the breech easily. The "Marlin Jam" is caused by wear, is easily fixed, and can be prevented. The 357 M94 Marlin I had was very sensitive to cartridge length but was very reliable if the correct length ammo was used. I could not use it in Cowboy Shooting because it would not reliably feed 38 Special ammo and would not hold ten 357 Magnum rounds in the magazine. I gave it to a friend who shoots nothing but factory 357 ammo in it with no problems The other Marlin 94s I have in 44 Mag, 45 Colt, and 32/20 are very reliable. I do not have a Winchester in a pistol chambering but do have several M92 Winchesters that are more prone to jams than my Marlins if I do not use ammo of the correct length.

Same here.