Marlin or Henry?

[tj3006]

Thinking of Selling my Rossi 44 mag and buying either a Henry or a Marlin in the same caliber.
   Until yesterday, it would have been Marlin, no question. But on my break i stopped at Cabela's to see if they had a Marlin they didn't.
   But sitting in the rack was a Henery. For the most part, I think their rifles are ugly as hell. The Fake brass and Nickle or whatever they put on the frames is to me just awful. And if it shot one-hole groups at 100 yards with Iron sights i would still either sell or refinish it.
   This one was color cased. Bobby Tyler doing that for them? It had a 16-inch Octagon Barrel, and a slightly enlarged lever loop. And a side gate.
   The price is about the same. 
    Later on my lunch I was near another store, and they had a Marlin. Nothing wrong with it at all. But the real nice wood they put on the 1st ones was not on this one. And it had an ugly spot in the buttstock.
    Both rifles have side eject, so mounting a Skinner peep closer to my eye is better than the barrel mounted one on my Rossi.
    I watched a Video on you tube and saw how quick it is to load the henry from the brass tube magazine, and how you can top it off with the side gate, and get this, the trigger broke at under 3lbs!
    Cabela's has 10% off on Memorial Day. That Henry just might come home with me. And Skinner has a Tyler color cased peep for it! 
    Add in the almost 30.00 I get in points, on my Cabela's card, and maybe in few months a Marlin in .357 or 30/30 might get squeezed into my crowded safe too! ...tj

     

[needsmostuff]

The Henry sounds like a beauty but be aware. If you plan on carrying it any amount those octagon barrels get pretty weighty pretty fast.
Or maybe I'm just gettin old.
Still a lot of hoopla about new Marlins but I have never found any with wood above average or triggers that were not long and gritty.
The ones I have handled always impressed me as good utility guns. No more, no less.

[markwell]

For lever guns I prefer either older Marlins or Winchesters. If i needed one today I'd be patient and shop the used market. Good news is we are set, with Marlin .39s for .22s, plus a custom (Gunsite) .444 and chopped down .45-70 Guide gun. Win 94s in.30-30, .44 Mag and .45 colt fill in thegaps.

[sharps4590]

OLD Marlin.

[tj3006]

I like the old stuff too!
But I drove around yesterday looking at lever guns,
The Winchester top eject limits the sighting options,
And the old marlins in 44 mag are hard to come by and spendy. I like the new Ruger built Marlins, but this Henery is super nice. The octagon barrel adds a little weight, but it is only 16 inches long, and the gun runs just over 6 lbs.
I plan on buying one tomorrow...TJ

[bigbrowndog]

Id rather have the Rossi over a Henry, in that caliber a small red dot works great if you need an optic. The Rossi can be had with a mount suitable for such a sight set up, my Marlin wears a Burris FF2 and delivers quite acceptable accuracy out to it’s effective range. Wicked fast, light and nimble in the hands and ample caliber make it a great gun for woods walking.

Trapr

[38 WCF]

I like the Henry's but they are just to heavy for my taste's. I love my Marlins. Recently purchased a stainless Rossi 92 in 45 Colt. It is a great little rifle so far.
So, Henry, to heavy.

[z1r]

Curious as to why yo want to cut the Rossi loose in favor of a Marlin? I recently picked up two SS Rossis in 44 Mag. Unlike my Marlin, they will feed SWC's, reliably! Thinking real hard f picking up another in.357!

[sharps4590]

If the old Marlins are too pricey I think I'd keep the Rossi. The Rossi's are '92 Winchester clones, correct? I wouldn't trade that for a Henry. If I couldn't use open sights I'd be finding a Lyman or Redfield receiver sight. I don't care for optical sights on lever rifles.

[needsmostuff]

Usually when I hear a henry is too heavy it turns out they are comparing a brass framed, octagon barreled Henry to a round barreled steel Marlin 336.
If I hold a Henry Steel Big Boy then a Marlin 336 both in the same caliber, they seem about the same to me.
And the Rossi 92 is lighter than both of them.

[tj3006]

I bought the Henry.
I handled it a good deal, and it is a very nice rifle. I have handled the marlins a lot too. This model Henry has a lot going for it. It has a traditional side gat as well as the removable tube so you can easily unload the rifle. The case colors look great.
The 16.5-inch barrel does add a little weight, but the weight is at the muzzle, and I bet when shooting that added weight will be very helpful in keeping the muzzle down. I am a little concerned about how the rifle will hang when slung.
In the store I was able to sight in on objects quite well with the factory buck horns. A very nice brass bead that sits well on top of the white diamond on the rear. Not sure it will work so well outside though.
To put it in perspective, this rifle manages remain traditional in function and appearance while having some new Idea's mixed in. 
...tj

[tj3006]

Oh, and add no crossbolt safety, and a 1 in 20 twist!

[tentcamper]

Either a JM Marlin or a Ruger Marlin.

All my JMs have been great rifles. The new Ruger made Marlins look to be exceptional. Two in my area at the local Sheels currently. Both had been marked down to $899 about 2 months back and still no takers. Gorgeous, well made guns..