And I'm talking affordable for the average guy. Marlin's 1895 is very popular, but I have read some nagative opinions about the strength. Is the now discontinued Winchester 1886 Light a much better rifle? I see they are availabe for 6 or 7 hundred bucks on Guns America.

Have you shot a Marlin with heavy loads? You'll give out before it will, I can assure you.

The difference in strength between the Marlin and Winchester comes at a point far beyond what most shooters can tolerate, especially in the light guns.

I heard on another forum that Marlin is going to chamber a .475 Linebaugh gun. Woo hoo!!!!

That ought to lay to rest once and for all the questions about the Marlin's strength, etc. Will be interesting to see if this does come to exist and if there are modifications necessary.

Bottom line - get whichever you like, and enjoy it.

No Mike, I have not fired one. The only Marlin I have is a saddle ring 1894 in .44 mag that I bought for $85.00 back in the early 70's Killed my first wild boar with it. My question is more in overall quality. Is the Winchester 1886 a much nicer gun? The negative comments to which I referred are about the Marlin 1895 barrel cracking in a thin spot where it is milled out for the mag tube, or something like that. Now don't quote me on that because I don't remember the specifics, but that's kind of what I recall reading. Maybe it's BS, I don't have way of knowing. Just looking for opinions.


Thanks,
Neal

Neal,

My stubby little Guide Gun consumes loads that will kill anything on the planet with ease. The Winchesters are fine and perhaps slightly stronger in action but still not up to the laodings for the Single Shot Rugers and such.

Check em both out and latch on to the one you like best.

(or hold out for a .475) Double Woo-Hoo!!

Scotty

A lot of "old wives tales" regarding the Marlin 336 type action. Marlin will sometimes develop a slight bump in the bore from putting the dovetails for sights and hangers on the barrel - I've never personally observed any, though.

One thing about the Winchester leverguns is the top ejection (unless getting the Angle Eject models) which pretty much precludes mounting a scope on the receiver, unless side mounted.

Neal,

If you're talking the "average" guy, then that price tag for the Winchesters are out of the park for me. A Marlin lever will handle much stouter loads than your shoulder will....I know.
400 gr jackets at around sub-light/ridiculous speeds. I've went prairie dog hunting (40 rounds fired in one afternoon) with 350 gr. HP's at around 1800 fps, and not even a whimper from the Marlin. My shoulder looked much worse for 1 1/2 weeks though....

The new Winchester's might be the ticket if you need the "name", but Marlin has the "function vs. price".

I've also backed off the loading with my Marlin also, trying to stay within BP velocities. These loads took my deer at 280 yards with factory sights and a heart/lung shot (with some luck). I was using 350 gr. HP's, and the distance was later laser ranged....

My .02...

Bubba

Neal
You remember those saloon fights in every western movie?
I vote for the Winchester 1886. I have one of those and I don't have a Marlin.
Jim

Neal,

Several months ago I was in your shoes. Trying to decide on the Marlin 1895 or the Winchester/USRAC/Miroku 1886. Arkypete, MikeG, Mike, DocRob and many other members said go with the 1886, and I did. Once again, thanks to all for your help. I installed a Lyman receiver sight and a red Williams Fire Sight on the front. My first trip to the range was exciting. I had two boxes of factory ammo; one Remington 405 grain JSP and one Winchester 300 grain Partition Gold. After several shots to zero I started hammering the 8" steel plates off hand at 100 yards, every time. No, that's no big deal, but it was my first experience with a 45-70.

A week later I went back with some hand loads consisting of a 405 grain GC Cast Performance, 56.0 gr of H4895, WLR primers and new WW brass. My computer told me that the velocity would be 1850 fps and the energy over 3000 ft.lbs. Well, after 3 rounds from the bench I had had enough of the punishment and started firing off hand from the standing position. 10 rounds later I wimped out, retired the 1886 45-70 and loaded-up the AR-15. You WILL give out before the 1886 will, and I did.

I got the 1886 on the recommendation of our friends on this forum and because I had no plans to scope a 45-70. However, if I wanted a scoped 45-70 then it would have been the Marlin. I have five Marlins all in different calibers and enjoy shooting all of them. If you can, get both of them. I 'm working on the 1895.

Pick one - whatever you decide, you will like.

Personally I like the Win a little better for looks, and Marlin for the ease of disassembly.

I have an 1895 and a Win '94 (in .32 WS) - wouldn't part with either!

A hint on the Miroku 1886, $100 and a couple days of waiting will get a 1" Decelerator recoil pad installed. Makes it much nicer to shoot. i know its not Original that way but it's not 120 yrs old either! If it was, maybe I wouldn't have done it.

One must ask himself.... Do I want an American-made gun or an "American legend" made in JAPAN? Don't get me wrong I love my old Winchesters, but its more about the American heritage. Not the price, or minor differences in accuracy. I have the Marlin and I can consistenly hit a paper plate at 200 yards with my lyman peep sight. A penny saved is a penny earned. Just my thoughts

Neal - Go with the Marlin! Easier to break down for cleaning and parts replacement, good customer service on repairs (I know we've all heard different stories about service) and better handling that any Winchester 1886! I've hunted with both and although the Winchester is a good looking rifle (no matter where it was made), I couldn't wait to get back to camp and swap it for my Guide Gun! I got rid of it fast and used the money to build a custom .35 Whelen. Rifle's are like women, everyone has different tastes so check them both out, shoot them both and go with what feels best to you! I'll never say you made the wrong choice :D Good luck with your selection! CEJ...

Gentlemen,

Thanks to you all for your responses. My 51 yr old eyes NEED a scope, and I really don't care for offset scopes, so I guess the Marlin would be a better choice for me. I should have taken that into consideration before asking about the Winchester.

Thank You,
Neal

I have a Marlin 1895 Guide Gun. I ran across a deal I could not refuse at a local gun shop’s Christmas party. The gun (at least 90%) with a Lyman peep and sling for $350.
A few days later I visited Wild West Guns in Anchorage Alaska and purchased a new fiber front sight, trigger happy kit, bear proof ejector, and oversized lever.
I was very impressed with the difference the trigger happy kit made. 3# and no creep.
Fit and finish on all the other parts is very impressive. I had no problems installing any of the modifications. They even through in a dove tail blank to fill the dove tail groove in the barrel left behind by the factory rear site. My only complaint is that the hood over the fiber front site is very loose, and I anticipate loosing it to the brush at some point.
At the range here in Valdez, we have a 8” steel gong set out at 100 yards. The feel of this rifle combined with the Lyman peep/fiber front makes hitting that gong pretty easy.
I got this gun mainly for bear protection in the brush. Its nice short action combined by with the 45-70 round makes these guns very popular up here in bear country.