[Blackhawk44]

Have had both. Traded the Marlin, kept the Browning.

 

[okotoks]

I have both and love to shoot both, the 1886 is (much) more accurate and forgiving on loads and bullets, mine is 'a fancy one' and I while I would love to shoot an elk or bear with it, I much prefer to clang steel at the range. It shoots most any trap-door load, with a Lever-style bullet, very accurately. My Marlin Guides 1895 likes or needs high velocity, "knock the snot out of ya' 45-70 loads", to group well. I had some lead put in the stock and a Pachmayr decelerator pad installed to make it "more fun" to shoot. In the heavy Browning I can shoot the same nasty 'elk" ammo, with just a slip on a pad. I carry the little Marlin around North Park CO in November. I had a big ring lever (un-necessary) and XO ghost ring sights installed (very necessary for me anyway). I haven't got around to installing a Soule site on the Browning but probably will eventually.

 

[DJWright]

I've had several Marlin '95s, and Winchester & Browning 86s. After all said and done I sold all the Winchester & Browning 86s, '1885s, & B78s, and kept the Marlins. Reason: IF you are gunna hunt with them, the Marlins are much more convienient to carry because of it's thinner reciever, and lighter. However out of the Marlins; the Cowboy with a full magazine and heavy loads, will rip the front magazine hanger from its dovetail because of the leverage it has. The straight grip versions with shorter barrels will hammer your finger harder with heavy loads, much more than the pistol gripped, 22" barreled guns which I consider the most shootable of them all. They seem to handle recoil better then the rest. I have a short, straight gripped guide rifle now, but will get another 22", pistol gripped one as soon as I find an old one for sale. With the open sights removed and plugged, and a Leupold straight 2.5 power scope, they are about the slickist woods gun going IMO. Good shootin!

 

[biggun]

I must mention that there are several bullets made for Marlin's 1995 that will not chamber as well in the 1886, Cast Performances 440 gr. is one of them. I can live with what I got, besides I just received Marshal's new 425gr. slug the other day and will start playing with it. Marshal says they will chamber in the 1886 and I have absolutely no reason to doubt him. Hey, this project has been alot of fun and I have what I always wanted and then some. Hope this helps.

DocRob, I own a Miroku Winchester 1886 ELW and my brother owns a Browning 1886 saddle carbine like yours. Like you, we've found that these guns are very short throated. I bought a throating reamer from Brownells and lengthened the throat on mine .075" with no effect on accuracy. The biggest farce was taking the gun apart to do the reaming.