Trying to decide between Henry and Marlin lever guns

[Rem06]

I used to have that problem but also with trying decide between 357 and 44 mag..
Both won. Made in America

 

[jackieschmidt]

Well, ended up with 3 Henrys, 2 S+Ws, 1 R95 Rossi, and 2 Marlins.

View attachment 1648833

All you are missing is a “Mare’s Leg” in 44 Magnum

 

[Downhill]

I have owned both. I never had a problem letting a Henry go in a trade or sale. I still have the three Marlins.

 

[alintx]

And everything in the Henry rides on plastic that WILL wear out and get sloppy

 

[Jakes10mm]

I've owned Marlin, Winchester and Rossi lever action rifles. I have reduced the herd, but my last addition was a Remington Marlin 1895 Cowboy. A Gunbroker purchase and the previous owner was without doubt a Cowboy Action Shooter! I spent "days" removing leading from the barrel. When received, I couldn't see rifling in the first 6"-8" of the barrel. Fast forward to getting the barrel clean, this rifle is amazingly accurate. I running a Lyman rear peep and globe front sight. Offhand at 100 yards, it has no problem maintaining 1/2 Minute of deer. Looking for a "shorter" field gun and debating between a Ruger/Marlin and Henry 45-70.

 

[joshb]

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1026261352?pid=805163
@joshb, you mentioned you might be interested in one of these.

Update! I got one.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Update! I got one.

I think I saw your range report on it, and it shot great.

 

[JFrank]

Older JM code Marlins with low miles will serve a family for generations and hold value quite well.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

The old Marlins were nice but the newer ones, not so much. I'd take a new Henry over a new Marlin but would take an old Marlin over both.

 

[Dgd6mm]

The old Marlins were nice but the newer ones, not so much. I'd take a new Henry over a new Marlin but would take an old Marlin over both.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Kracken McGraw]

The old Marlins were nice but the newer ones, not so much. I'd take a new Henry over a new Marlin but would take an old Marlin over both.

The new Ruger Marlin is pretty darn nice, I think they have done a great job on fit and finish.

 

[joshb]

The new Ruger Marlin is pretty darn nice, I think they have done a great job on fit and finish.

Yup. The old SS JM stamped Marlin I bought first is nice but the new Ruger/Marlin shoots better. The machining looks cleaner inside, with less rough grooves and swipes. I have a couple JM’s in 30-30 that are great guns and shoot well. To me, history can be as important as accuracy in these guns. I don’t expect little bug holes from them.

 

[JFrank]

Don’t overlook Browning lever actions.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

The new Ruger Marlin is pretty darn nice, I think they have done a great job on fit and finish.

That may very well be the case. I may have spoken too soon as the last ones I messed with were the Rem Marlins and they were crap.

 

[Gman]

And everything in the Henry rides on plastic that WILL wear out and get sloppy

Very interesting. I don't own any Henry's, but I never knew about the plastic.

 

[joshb]

Don’t overlook Browning lever actions.

They are nice, too. I bought one in 45/70 that I have a love/hate relationship with. Every time I cuddle her and pull the trigger, she kicks the crap out of me!

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Very interesting. I don't own any Henry's, but I never knew about the plastic.

They do have some plastic but oddly or not, I've never seen them give trouble there. I'm sure they could. Kinda like a Tikka magazine...They're plastic but I've never seen one fail that wasn't run over by a truck. Lol! And they're smooth, fwiw.

 

[DShortt]

Scoped a Henry Big Boy in .357mag. Brass frame. Octagon barrel. Looked fantastic.

I know what my 10 shot, 100 yard groups were like. And it was HEAVY. Constrictions at every dovetail and at the caliber/maker stamping.

I no longer own it.

I've pistols with iron sights that shoot better than that.

One and done with me and Henry.

Marlin I have no experience with.

 

[JFrank]

For myself, the lever gun is a serious tool for close range/ semi dangerous game ( mainly black bear) the JM code Marlin will absolutely cycle every round without failure. My 30-30 isn’t the most accurate but that’s not why I like it.
Messing with the Marlin yesterday at short range shooting off hand, I hadn’t zeroed it for this ammo but I’m glad I did as it would have missed badly at 100 and likely not even on paper.
This old scope has 1/2 in clicks… so it took me a couple shots to get it figured out.

 

[ISS]

I still have my Brother's JM straight grip 45-70 rifle for sale. It is a fine rifle, but I just like my Winchester 86's better.