When my 50th came around, I was leaning towards a Henry. However, after a lot of research and talking with others, I opted to search out for a pre-safety JB stamped Marlin. Glad I did. Picked up a '61 that was the original owners safe queen for $450. Groups at 100 yds with Leverevolution's had the gents at the range awestruck. And all with open sites.

I now have a '54 .22 and a '72 30-30 and have no desire to look for anything else other than these older Marlin JB stamped lever guns. Next in line to find will be a 45-70. Oh Santa!

 

I agree. The older Marlin JM stamped rifles are the best. I have a '72 30-30 and love it.

 

You didn't say what caliber Pat. I have two Henry's, one in .22lr and one in 22WMR. Both are fine rifles at reasonable prices. I also have two Marlin's, one in 38/357 and one in 30-30. Both are mid '80's vintage. The are both great rifles and I would not trade them for anything. Depending on caliber you are interested in I would suggest a clean used Winchester or Marlin for a center fire and a Henry for rim-fire. Afraid I don't have ant experience with the Henry center fire rifles.

 

Yeah, lever guns are fun!! All good points mentioned above. I'll add an important choice you have is side gate or tube end loader. I grow up shooting a tube end loading Remmy 22, but opted to give our grandsons Browning's 22lr that load from the butt stock.

We didn't want the potential safety issues related to loading a rifle near the muzzle. There are many great lever options that don't involve loading high up on the barrel. Even Henry now offers a side gate 30-30...


Cheers

 

now that henry offers side loading rifles, i would buy one of those if i was shopping for a henry rifle.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/ar...man.org/articles/2019/4/26/tested-the-new-henry-side-loader-lever-action-rifle/

 

I have 4x Henry’s. .22, .22WMR, .357/.38spl & .44mag.

I also have two Marlins in 45-70.

The Henry’s have a smoother action. But all are great rifles. The Henry’s have a greater feel and look of quality. You have to hold and shoot one to understand.

If I was going to go with one, I’d go for a Henry Pat (assuming it’s available in the caliber you want). The new Henry’s with the additional gate loader are interesting but I’m hanging out for one in a caliber I want to shoot.

If you go for a tube loader, buy a Spee-D-Loader (available in .22/.22WMR) available at MidwayUSA or Browning’s (in the first pic below). Or other tubes for larger calibers on Amazon. You won’t regret it!

 

Multiple Marlins and Henry,s. All bought new. The Marlins are rifle calibers. Bought the Henry pistol calibers when I got tired of looking for JM Marlins in pistol calibers. After owning and shooting the Henry,s I quit looking for Marlins. That’s not to say I wouldn’t still buy a Marlin pistol caliber if the right deal came along, just that I am very happy with the Henry rifles.

I also have a Henry Long Ranger in 308. Awesome rifle.

 

+1 on the smooth Henry action. It took decades of use for my Marlins to be as smooth as my Henry’s. Not complaining about the Marlins at all, just a whole different mechanical action. Having shot Marlins since the 60s, it was weird not feeling the engagement points in the Henry, as compared to the Marlins.

Of course, coming of age in the 60s and 70s, sometimes weird was welcome.

 

So, would it be less expensive to feed her .30-30 or .357/.38Spl?

Based upon the tube loading vs. side gate feedback, I'm going with side gate.

If used, is there something regarding wear or signs of abuse that I can check for?

Anything on the bolt or barrel I need to be concerned with?

 

A lot cheaper to go with .38/.357
30-30 ammo is expensive

 

I would have liked side-loaders if they were available but I like my Big Boy Steels in .38/.357 and .44Spec/.44Mag.

https://sigtalk.com/guns/46603-henry-big-boy-steel-44mag-44spec-quick-look.html

 

Yeah, luv shooting my 1873 'Assault Rifle' - Tons 'o fun!! This Uberti's in 357/38

These are 50yd targets on iron sights.

Cheers

 

Awesome KC45!
I love case colored.

 

Yeah, the old styled stuff really blows up my skirt!

Cheers

 

What she said.

 

Really nice!

 

I have my dads (Vermont) deer rifle, a 50’s era Marlin .30-30. My dad told me his buddy from school was selling it for $25.00 when he went into the service, my dad took it , gave him $20 and said you owed me 5 bucks for a month so we’re even!
I’m not sure if my dad ever got a deer with it, I often got the impression that Vermont hunting trips were more about some beer drinking than hunting???
But it is a straight shooter for sure!

 

I generally prefer Marlins in lever actions because I like the side loading gate over Henry and the side eject better than the Winchester top eject.

For the Marlins I only look at the JM stamped ones (pre 2009) as the ones made by Remington have a reputation for being a bit more hit and miss in terms of QC, canted/mis-aligned sights are one of the more common issues.

 

I am opting for the side gate loading. But, I can't find many Henry rifles with the side gate. Maybe its gonna be Marlin for me.

 

Henry just started offering rifles with loading gates this year. So far they're only offered in 30-30, 38-55, and .35 Rem. If they ever start offer the loading gates for pistol calibers I might be in as I'd love to have one in .41 mag.

https://www.henryusa.com/news/the-side-gate-lever-action-a-first-for-henry/

 

Had the side gate been available when I bought my Henry 30-30 I would definitely have gone with it. I recently asked Henry if they could convert my older model to the side gate but they informed me that they do not have a custom shop and could not do conversions. I did reluctantly put a 1X4 scope on it since I can't see the sights very well and it is a tack driver at 100 yards.

 

Used - marlin 94

New if you can justify the cost Uberti 1873 or yellow boy

 

I have a 44mag Henry and its a great rifle and fun to shoot. I want another one or multiple ones in different calibers. My experience is non existent in other brands but some of the winchesters look nice

 

What do you guys think about a NIB Marlin 1894C for $650?

 

That sounds like a decent deal especially if that's for a .357.

If it's a Remington produced firearm(SN# begins with MR) I'd inspect it thoroughly before purchase or have someone trusted do so.

If it's an older Marlin JM proofed rifle it could be an extremely good deal depending on the year/model at least compared to prices I see around here.

To date a JM Marlin subtract the first two digits of the SN# from either 2000 or 2100.

ie: SN# begins with 12 it's 1988
SN# begins with 97 it's 2003

There's a lot more information over on the Marlin Owners forum: https://www.marlinowners.com/ Check the Marlin Rant forum there for some of the issues relating to the Remington produced rifles especially.

My .357 Marlin is probably the most fun rifle I own.

 

Now I'm in on the Marlin '94C.

Although I thought Henry at first, two things I'm finding too difficult in getting what I want: side gate and .357/.38.

Thanks for the great guidance on here!

 

Hope you find one Pat. Just to get the juices going here is a picture of my Marlin 1894C and S&W 66. Great companions.

 

I have owned several Marlins, and a used one from a decade or two back would be my choice over new.

Henry is a great company with real craftsmanship.
Also no finer person is in the gun business, and works harder at backing our gun future.

He has been very generous to the NRA and Friends of NRA. Friends is more important to me.

Anthony Imperato.

https://www.henryusa.com/news/anthony-imperato-is-interviewed-on-industry-icons/

I won an Original 44-40, and sold it to a well known guy here.
He emailed Henry on a Saturday morning to ask the best way to polish it.
10 minutes later Mr Imperato called him to personally talk about the gun, and how to care for it.

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/the-original-henry-rifle/


https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/...tic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSvZ5gSjXF8gggEVO47l35jdAZYFWAvk6B0KRBydjfqP1KKF-9zVQ

 

Jonzim,

Is that front swivel mount something you put on or is that already on there?

 

I don't remember Pat. It is part of the barrel band. I believe I bought it in the mid 2000's, maybe 2005 or 2006. It is stamped with the JM, so an original Marlin but has the cross bolt safety. Also snagged Marlin branded sling direct from Marlin before Remington bought them out.
https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/F406608

 

I'm a little partial to Winchesters.