a question for the experienced ones.......

[micro911]

My short range gun, less than 150 yards, is either Marlin 44 Mag or Rossi 44 Mag lever guns. They are accurate, and I love them.

[Calif Hunter]

I have a couple Win M-94s, a couple Henry .22s, a Rossi M-92 in .45 Colt and a newer Taurus/Rossi in .44 Mag. They are all fun to shoot but only the Henry's lend themselves to a scope. With my aging eyes, that limits how far I am willing to shoot with open sights. I haven't handled a Marlin 336 much, but always wanted one with the 3/4 length magazine - either .30-30 or .35 Rem since I reload.

[Meety Peety]

I had a Marlin 336 pre crossbolt and it was a fantastic rifle. I stupidly sold it back in the days when I had to sell one gun to fund another. It was my first rifle that I bought on my eighteenth birthday. I really still can't believe I sold it. I have tried to buy it back several times to no avail. I would highly recommend one in .30-30.

[RNE228]

I would pass up the Win94 for a Savage 99. Smoother, carries nice, and had nicer selection of calibers. Savage 99 in 243 or 308 would be awesome. Or a 250 Savage; awesome classic cartridge.

When I shoot a Win94, it feels clunky, and I do not like how the guts practically fall out when you work the lever.

My Sav-99 in 300 Savage shoots much nicer than my Dad's Win-94 30-30. Mine is from '56; Dad got his Win94 new in '62 or '63. And, the Sav-99 uses a rotary magazine, which can use pointed bullets.Only thing about the Sav-99, they stopped making them so any rifle would have to be used.

I like the style of the 94's, but for shooting prefer others.

If I were to look at lever actions, I would look at:
Savage 99
Browning BLR

I grew up shooting Dad's, now my, Winchester 94, so I'm biased for sure. The Marlin 336 while a fine lever gun, [to me anyway] does feel "blocky" and rough compared to my pre 64-94.

Nothing quite says "Lever Action" like a slick and slim, Winchester.

JM2c

[javithewrench]

45/70 is the way to go and my favorite to shoot. I do own a few lever guns in 30/30's, a 35 rem, 308 Marlin, a blr in 308 win, 357 mag, 44 mag, 22lr, and my second favorite is a model 71 in 348win.