Winchester lever action

[Nelly2014]

Our club has got a 94 357 gold/brass coloured action Winchester I was admiring today, at £550.
I was wondering why Marlin seems to be the favoured make for lever rifles. As Winchester were one of the first to make these rifles why are they not rated as highly as the others?
Many years ago I had a 9422M which I loved and always regret giving up.

[Alpha1]

I own a Winchester 94AE in 38/357. It was the second rifle I bought after the pistol ban. So that's how long I have owned it. It performs flawlessly it cycles as fast as you can work the action. Would I swap it for a Marlin no definately not. Would I sell it no never.

[Joe Pugh]

Now I could be wrong hear but I did hear that Marlin are more popular/ common simply because parts are more available as the Winchester 94 is not made anymore.
Although Marlin are on and off production now days so it's a funny one.

Happy to be corrected just my understandings.

[the running man]

It's not funny it's simple, the marlin is used by the gallery rifle folk, they are side ejecting trick up able and are accurate and are able to mount scopes on...they are not as easily rackable as a Winchester....when you trick and slick a marlin u can cycle it with your little finger..the parts are available yes but the overall control and adaptability to the gr comps is what makes it so popular...hope this explains things a little better.....

[saddler]

Fashion/fad.....perceived "design advantages", etc.

Back in the pre-Angle Eject Win 94 model days, the Marlin allowed easier scope mounting.
That advantage went about 40 years ago.

The BIG factual difference now is the Marlin has a shorter lever throw arc.
Marlin users trying my Win 94 tend to "short stroke it" on the first few shots.
No "Marlin jam" type dramas with the Winchesters & the Winchester action is extremely easy to tune/slick.

I know at least one member of the Scottish gallery rifle squad still using a Winchester 94.
Winchester 94s are great rifles.

I'd only part with my 94 if I found the identical Trapper version in the 92 action; something that both Browning & Winchester have recently offered in take-down form, but far outside of my budget. Still looking though....

[GeeRam]

I was wondering why Marlin seems to be the favoured make for lever rifles.

I have no idea.

All the ones I've shot have been horrible (our club gun levergun is a Marlin) plus 4 members own them, so they are the most popular, but, we also, have a Rossi, a Henry and two Uberti '73's including mine, and all these are much nicer to shoot than the Marlins.....IMHO.

[Robert303]

My Winchester used to shoot any type of 38 special or 357 magnum, it was slick and reliable. Then I had the cartridge follower go on it and it had to go in for repair. After that it was very fussy about what it would shoot and I had to go to .357 cases. After that the lifter broke and I was very lucky in getting a replacement out of the USA due to the 'No export' policies of a lot of traders. It now feeds properly about 90% of the time. As I've been ill I've not had time to look at it again but unless I can get 100% feed reliability it's no use.

[saddler]

. It now feeds properly about 90% of the time. As I've been ill I've not had time to look at it again but unless I can get 100% feed reliability it's no use.

....no use?
Will have a look down the back of the sofa for spare change, what with it only being worth scrap value now that you've broken it

[the running man]

Fashion/fad.....perceived "design advantages", etc.

Back in the pre-Angle Eject Win 94 model days, the Marlin allowed easier scope mounting.
That advantage went about 40 years ago.

The BIG factual difference now is the Marlin has a shorter lever throw arc.
Marlin users trying my Win 94 tend to "short stroke it" on the first few shots.
No "Marlin jam" type dramas with the Winchesters & the Winchester action is extremely easy to tune/slick.

I know at least one member of the Scottish gallery rifle squad still using a Winchester 94.
Winchester 94s are great rifles.

I'd only part with my 94 if I found the identical Trapper version in the 92 action; something that both Browning & Winchester have recently offered in take-down form, but far outside of my budget. Still looking though....

not saying they are not nice but for the most who shoot gr the marlin is the leaver action of choice...

I have a Winchester myself...it's ok despite its faults..

[safetyfirst]

Ovenpaa on here did a great job on mine including a new follower...