I've owned both and while the nostalgia and romance of the Winchester name puts the 86 and 71 above the Marlin the most accurate and easy to shoot lever action I've ever owned was a Marlin 95 GS which would keep 5 inside 2" at 200 yards. Yet the hardest kicker was the 71 I owned for about 5 years. The Ruger #1 in 45/70 with 50,000 PSI loads, it destroyed two scopes btw, was no where near as bad as that 71 was with factory ST loads.

For those of you who love your 86/71 thats great and I'm happy for you but as for me just hand over my beloved little Marlin.

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