1886 win. hands down..It is a better looking rifle, better made, has better resale value. Every 86 I have owned was super accurate, and not so the Marlins, some were and some were not.
Of note and as much as I have always liked the Win. Mod 71, I have only seen a few that shot worth a flip and have not figured out why an 86 is so accurate and a 71 isn't unless its the .348 Cartridge itself...I have owned a bunch of both over the years..My first 86 was still in the wooden box of celsor and was a gift to me from Bowie Cline the manager of Union stock yards in El paso. they had several in case Pancho Villa raided them..I sold that gun some years later for $150 and cut a fat hog on that deal..That was a bunch of money back then..wish I'd kept it....:)
Last edited by atkinson; 04/12/10.
