I just picked a Mossberg 30-30 up off the shelf at Gander Mountain and all i can say is where do they hide the brick? Those things are heavy! They kind of look like a model 94 Winnie but I'd take a 94 anyday over those things. What is Mossberg thinking?

I picked one up too about 18 months ago when deciding between Winchester and Marlin.
Then I wrote to Mossberg and basically told them the example I examined looked and felt worse that worse post '64 Winchester 94 I ever held. Loose, ill-fitting wood, bluing I could see through, large ugly gap between the magazine and barrel. Junk action.

Told them I liked the style and the safety was easy to use, but otherwise they better get serious if the ever want to sell one.
They never wrote back.

I own a Marlin 1894C, with WWG big loop and happy trigger. Ghost ring sights on the horizon... ;D

 

Its what you have to sell to make such a complex design for around $400. Thats what killed Winchester. That said I'v handled smooth tight ones & loose clunky ones. They dont even bother with Walnut.

 

Remember the Mossberg 472? Pretty much a clone of the 336. Mossberg is known for making inexpensive (read cheap) guns. I have a Model 500 shotgun, it's a well functioning gun, just looks like ugly step sister.

 

I think the 472's were at least quality though. This newest attempt is junk.

 

Its what you have to sell to make such a complex design for around $400. Thats what killed Winchester. That said I'v handled smooth tight ones & loose clunky ones. They dont even bother with Walnut.

I guess it's how you manage your company. Marlin is 20 miles from me here in the the tax me to death state of CT. The liberals here are driving business out by the train load. Marlin is still here. Still making great guns for a very reasonable price.
Winchester was here for 140 years and fell by making junk starting in 1965.

If I'm lucky I'll be moving south soon.

 

Odd, I handled one at GM a few months ago. Yes it is heavy but the workmanship was pretty decent for an inexpensive lever gun, good blueing, stiff action but managable and would loosen, very good safety. Wood to metal fitting was very good. The finish on the cheap wood was my only real dissappointment. They tried to cover the birch or whatever it is and did so poorly. Otherwise a rifle I would be ok with owning.

I hear that they are pretty accurate as well. Guess that tells us that they roll off a production line through varying degrees of QC.

Ss

 

I picked one off the self at couple of places and the ones I felt were alittle heavier than a Winchester 94. and it seemed pretty good to me. But I like most level action rifles. i don't have Marlinitis, I have leveritis, very few rifles with a lever that I don't like. Ruger 96, Browning BLR, and Winchecter 88 are the only ones that come to mind. I live even the Savage 99 but it is after the Marlin 336 (and it sister designs), Winchester 94, The Mossberg 464, and the Winchester 1895 (If they would make one in 303 British I would be in trouble.) They are in no order as to my favorite, but the Savage is after them.

 

If you think the Mossberg is heavy, pick up a Henry 30-30.

Andy

P.S. I really think there is no rival to the Marlin for a new lever 30-30.

 

If you think the Mossberg is heavy, pick up a Henry 30-30.

Andy

P.S. I really think there is no rival to the Marlin for a new lever 30-30.

I have picked one up. Seemed to pretty to make a good anchor though.

 

My folks have a Henry 30-30. I don't know why Henry decided the world needed a bull-barrel 30-30 lever gun, but they made one.

Andy

 

The Henry 30 - 30 is heavy, but it has a very smooth action, or at least the one I picked up at Bass Pro was. I have a Henry 22, but not a 30 - 30. It's smooth, too.

 

Its what you have to sell to make such a complex design for around $400. Thats what killed Winchester. That said I'v handled smooth tight ones & loose clunky ones. They dont even bother with Walnut.

I guess it's how you manage your company. Marlin is 20 miles from me here in the the tax me to death state of CT. The liberals here are driving business out by the train load. Marlin is still here. Still making great guns for a very reasonable price.
Winchester was here for 140 years and fell by making junk starting in 1965.

If I'm lucky I'll be moving south soon.

I'm involved in a discussion on another forum regarding the differences between Marlin & Winchester. I believe that a Marlin is just a much simpler animal to produce compared to the Win 94. A quick look inside proves it IMO, but not everyone agrees. Winchester had to start looking to save a buck several decades ago to keep their price in line with Marlins product. The difference I think was the ease of turning Marlins into mostly automated production compared to Winchesters.
I bet they operated at a loss in regards to the 94 for a long time.
I live in CT too & dont much like the taxes but like the state mostly. If & when I leave it'll be to the north.

 

I like em all oops ;D .Dirty-.Thirty

 

Its what you have to sell to make such a complex design for around $400. Thats what killed Winchester. That said I'v handled smooth tight ones & loose clunky ones. They dont even bother with Walnut.

I guess it's how you manage your company. Marlin is 20 miles from me here in the the tax me to death state of CT. The liberals here are driving business out by the train load. Marlin is still here. Still making great guns for a very reasonable price.
Winchester was here for 140 years and fell by making junk starting in 1965.

If I'm lucky I'll be moving south soon.

I'm involved in a discussion on another forum regarding the differences between Marlin & Winchester. I believe that a Marlin is just a much simpler animal to produce compared to the Win 94. A quick look inside proves it IMO, but not everyone agrees. Winchester had to start looking to save a buck several decades ago to keep their price in line with Marlins product. The difference I think was the ease of turning Marlins into mostly automated production compared to Winchesters.
I bet they operated at a loss in regards to the 94 for a long time.
I live in CT too & dont much like the taxes but like the state mostly. If & when I leave it'll be to the north.

Taxachusetts is north of you,I hope you aren't planing on stopping in this !!ell hole. I escape to Vt as often as I can with my Marlin, all levers are Gods gift to the shooter.