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Didn't they chamber the Win 94 for 444 or 450 Marlin for a short time as well?

I know the regular 94s have given it up in some tests when pushed beyond their intended use.

Are you referring to a Big Bore 94 XTR failure? I wasn't aware of such. Thanks for any info.

Scott

You're right, but those are relatively low pressure rounds in comparison to the Big Bore trio (.375, .356, and .307).

Scott

Read again! The Marlin was the first one to fail. Not that it matters because they all failed very quickly.

Maybe YOU should read again!

... The fact that the Winchester Big Bore '94 we used for our .454 project was the first of our test Winchesters (fewest rounds fired...) to get beat into submission. The receiver was so soft and stretchy that it failed in something like 25 rounds."

The beefed up Winchester 94 (AKA Big Bore) was indeed the first to fail. Marlins are not Winchesters.

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I always thought that the 1895 Win was the strongest lever. It was available in the .405 Government and chambered for the .30-06 after it was introduced. I have a modern one in .270 Win.

Here ya go. Guess you missed this part.

"Interesting, my BLR is marked "Made in Belgium" and has no plastic parts... "

Them days is long gone.

I am extremely confident and comfortable with the strength of my
Winchester Model 1892 built in 1906.

It is chambered for the full blown, factory .25-20 load.

" the Winchester Big Bore '94 we used for our .454 project was the first of our test Winchesters (fewest rounds fired...) to get beat into submission."

Read it again, first WINCHESTER to fail was the Big Bore which is supposed to be the strongest. What part did I miss? It says that the Big Bore was the FIRST.

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marlin just chambered the 336 in 2 new rounds, 308 and 338. i found data on hodgdon website for 47,000 psi for the 308. i would expect the 338 to be around 50,000 psi, just like the 307,356,375 winchester. the marlin has been proven to be a strong gun. lots of people handload for it including myself, and others that know it,s strength. i sold my winchester bigbore in 444 marlin because there were to many people having problems with them related to strength. The few marlins that i have seen fail the bolt is not the problem as said already it is the barrel shank. i also have a puma 92 in 44mag and think it is the strongest.

Savage 99, Win 88, Sako Finnwolf

JBLEDSOE,

I see the misunderstanding now. You said, "

I read that to mean you thought the Winchester was the first rifle to fail in the tests and it wasn't, the Marlin failed first. I got you now. You meant the Big Bore was the first Winchester to fail. I will add that Buck said that action was very soft so it may not have been properly heat treated.

I have experimented with two wildcats on a Big Bore Winchester receiver and I have come to the conclusion that it is a pathetic little action. I can't believe the Marlin is any better. They are both flimsy rear locking actions. Both are good for what they are good for and that is all.

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Hi Marc,

I understand, now. Dah! We were arguing two different points. Guess I had my blinders on.



How very true! Enjoy them for what they were designed to do.
I do enjoy there discussions but in reality I run my lever guns well below the maximum listed in the manuals. The exception is the 35 Rem that shoots best with loads from the old "pre-lawyer" manuals.

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As strong as the Savage 99 action is I'd place it below the strength of the Winchester 88 , which has a locking bolt head that really is a bolt action operated by a lever. Front locking actions tend to be stronger than bolts that lock farther to the rear since the design resists stretch better. This is not to malign the Savage's strength, it is a very strong design!

Can anyone supply me with a link to the project referenced above???

Thanks,
Scott

BLR by browning
Savage 99
Sako Finnwolf
Winchester 88 and 1895

All reamed for 308 win class... 52K cup

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I like to keep throwing fuel on the fire to keep the discussion going. In reality, I have no favorites so it's very hard to call one stronger than another. There are many factors involved other than bolt locking systems. The 86 is probably the winner of the older designs. Of the newer lever guns it's a three way tie IMO, Win. 88, Sako Finnwolf, or Browning. Winchester and Sako is the same design.

What this all comes down to is this; These guns all were designed for a specific cartridge or family of cartridges. Any time we try to re-engineer a gun to something other than it's original intent we are asking for trouble.

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