Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General is it bad I like the 94 better than the 336?

the last year the lever action bug has bitten me. I first bought a marlin 1894 in 357 and just loved the thing. Then I thought lets try a 336, so I picked up a really nice 1980 336 in 30-30. its a very solid gun with a great trigger. but it wasn't near as handy as the marlin 1894. for the last several months I have been wanting a winchester 94. YES I know they are the most common deer rifle ever made. but living in utah where the dang thing was invented they aren't very easy to find. So I picked up a 1954, winchester 94 in 30-30 off gunbroker. It weighs 2 oz more than my marlin 1894c. The fact of the matter its just quite a bit handier than the 336, its at least a half pound lighter. The action seems to lever in those long 30-30 cases with less clunkiness than the 336 does. Don't get me wrong the 336 is beefier, more solid feeling. The 94 is looser fitting and less solid feeling.

to me the secret sauce of a lever gun is how handy they are. how fast can they swing on target. how fast can you lever in a new cartridge. the winchester 94, handles more like my marlin 1894, but shoots a much more potent 30-30 case. I have no intentions to ever hunt deer with any of these lever guns. To me they are funnest just going on a walk through the sage brush hunting jackrabbits and just plinking at stuff. I call the model 94 in 30-30 the high power option when it comes to jackrabbit hunting. I am so glad I bought a pre 64, model 94. the gun just has a soul to it. its got patina, the wood aint perfect, the bluing on the corners is worn a bit. all I gotta say is everyone needs at least one model 94 winchester.

+1

Nobodies perfect.

Clamp it to the post in the park and let's get a picture of it.

I feel the same way about my 94. All the same, it's a funny machine. Browning obviously dropped some acid before he did the Model 1887 shotgun and was trippin' on making it's guts come out when you cocked it. The 94 got a bit of that, and the 95, well, you see what happens to the trigger when you pull that lever down? And then in the 94 there is the carrier. Do it with linkage? Changing fulcrum compound linkage? No, no, no. Far too pedestrian, far too direct. I will put a spring in the secret place, just strong enough. Can you see? Can you see what I can do? No, I make a mystery for you.
Santa gave my kid a 336. I love them both.

I’d say it is a sign of good taste.

I currently have two 94's and a 336. I too like the 94 better for it's sleek good looks, light weight and slim, sweet carryability. I killed alot of deer and assorted varmints with my 94's, especially when I was younger and my eyes were sharper. That said, it's darn hard not to love my 336 too and I truly do. No, It's not as light and sleek as the 94 but it still carries nice, wears a scope well and is more accurate than any of the half dozen 94's I've owned. In fact, it's as accurate as most of my bolt actions and more accurate than some. Both are great deer rifles and carry better in the hand than any fat bolt action ever will.

Yes

If you like straight grip stocks, a slimmer overall package, and shoot iron sights, the Winchester 94 is a good choice.

If you like pistol-grip stocks, don't mind a little meat on the bones, and shoot optical sights, the Marlin 336 is a good choice.

I like the Winchester 64 and the old Marlin 336A better than the 20" full length magazine tube carbines.

I think that the Sako Finnwolf is the best factory specs lever action rifle ever made in 243 and 308, if those two cartridges fit/fill your wants and needs.

Nope. I sure like the 94 more too.

here's a 1965 336 in 35 Rem......a bud's from AZ

Cleaned 'er up & scoped it for him..good solid rifle

But for me....the '94 is just a lot more handy.....



'94 on a stump

1894’s don’t count tikka. My 94 30-30 is only 2 oz heavy than my 1894c. Its never going to be as handy as the 1894c it’s way closer than a 336 is to it. And it shoots the way more potent 30-30

my badd.......

'94 Win........

Marlins easily to clean & maintain

. Nuthin quit like a walk in the high desert sage with an 1894 or model 94 is there? Hopefully I can find some jack rabbits this year to pop

the 94 is a lot handier but it feels like you're ripping the guts out of it cycling the action. but if i was looking for a strictly open sited lever gun i'd probably pick an older 94. i have a couple and like them but i need/want a scope and the 336 is the ticket for that. the 336 seems heavier and chunkier though. i have a 94 timber carbine in 450 marlin and it amazes me that it can take the beating. the gun weighs about 6 pounds and could be one-handed. a comparable 1895 feels like a 2x4 in comparison.

The only reason for me to get another Marlin 336 again is the 35 Remington.

I love them both but like said above, nothing is handier and more ergonomic than an old Winchester 1894. Like carrying a big boy’s Red Ryder.

shop for an early 70's........or older....

my '71 35 Rem.......gold ole solid Marlin

Had a 94 Ranger years ago, prefer it to the 336 till it comes time to pull the trigger, thereafter it's the 336 all the way. Mine had a terrible trigger and accuracy was barely adequate if that. My 1979 336 has a way smoother action and has a trigger to rival many bolt guns. It's been bored out to 38-55 by JES and is accurate beyond my abilities from field positions.

Preference the 94. Have owned several of both models.