Gentlemen,

I request your opinion on the two rifles I am considering in .45 Colt. The Winchester 94 Trails End Octogonal and Case Colored VS the Marlin 1894CWBY, Octogonal, Blued.

The usage would be for general powder burning, fun, and excercising my second amendment freedom, and also because I think I look sexy with a levergun ;). The other consideration is value. I am ultra-anal about the condition and care of my firearms, and as I chose them for performance and intended use, I do consider how well they would hold their value.

I happen to like the look of the case colored receiver of the Winchester, but I prefer the longer barrel of the Marlin. I'm still trying to learn as much as I can on the two, and the only levergun experience I have are in Marlin 1895 and 336

Your considered opinion on these two rifles, or others that may fit the bill would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
EMC2

Have I asked this question the wrong way, or is this not a common comparison?

Thanks
EMC2

EMC2 I am a Marlin person. I like the simplicity that allows you to remove one screw out of the lever and basicly disassemble the rifle suffieciently to clean from the receiver, so you are pushing whatever is in the barrel out, not in, and don't damage the crown. I believe the mechanism works more smoothly. It is above all a personal preference. That said I have a Winchester in 30-30, and if I happen to set up a table at the gun show to sell some of the 55 or so Marlins I have, I put it on the table and have customers lever it, then lever one of my 90-120 year old Marlins. It lets the Marlin sell itself. I know that is not fair but again personal preference.

I am a winchester fan. I am sold on the open top action and the light weight and trim lines. some of the newer marlins felt like a ball bat to me. no disrepect ment, they are very good guns just not for me. when its time to clean the action I remove the screw from the tang and clean the action with gunscrubber,let dry and oil. the more you use the win the smooter it gets. Jim.

We have a herd of both brands of rifles. Like them both.
The Winchester is no problem to take apart should the need arise.
The Winchesters have smoother barrels right out of the box.
I dislike the Winchester rebound hammer and long take-up trigger.
We have two case colered Winchesters. I have posted picturs of them on this board in the Winchester section. The .45 Colt Trapper had the saddle ring. When I removed it to install the domed plug screw for this hole the saddle ring stud had removed a half circle "ring". This shows outside the plug screw. The problem is the new saddle rings on the Winchesters are JUNK. The stud does not allow the fre movement of the ring and it ends up interfiering with use of the rifle."
Anyway, the "color case hardening on the Winchesters seems a bit soft. The only scratch we have on either rifle is at the saddle ring stud on the Trapper.
I have not seen a modern color case Marlin so cannot comment on any color for them.

The .45 Colt Winchester functions well with many different bullet shapes. The Marlin will balk with blunt bullets.

Thanks guys, the info is much appreciated. At this point I'm leaning toward the Marlin because of the longer barrel. If my asthetics kick in, I might just go for the case color Winchester, or if my overtime kicks in, I'll go for both ;)

Thanks,
EMC2

Ya wanna have some fun?

Get yourself a Winnie Trapper in 16"...that's fun!

My vote goes to Marlin. Happy Shooting!

I'm a Winchester man. My '94 trapper (.44 mag) has worked wonderfully over the years, and I can honestly say I have few, if any complaints.

I have a '92 in .45 Colt and am quite fond of it, as well. It's quite smooth, and a real nice shooter.