Rossi 92 vs Marlin 1894

S

Sundsvall

Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
1,559
Which would you choose?

Rossi 92 or Marlin 1894 lever gun?

Both chamber in .44 Magnum
Both have 16" barrels
Both have 10 +1 capacity
Both have nice wood stocks

Gun will serve mostly as a bear defense gun. Maybe some hunting.

Our land is adjacent to a state park. We get black bear, cougar, coyote, deer, turkey and the occasional lost hiker.
 
Marlin.
Have a 16-inch Rossi .45 & a 16-inch Marlin .44.

The Rossi comes rough, will need some work to smooth it up.
The Marlin should pretty much be ready to go.

You can get a better trigger from Wild West Guns & better sights from several sources for the Marlin.
You can get better sights for the Rossi, but it'll take some matching up.

Parts will be easier to obtain with the Marlin, if you'll need them.

Denis
 
I also own both (different barrel length on the Rossi) and agree with DPris. The only thing I would add is that the Marlin can be cleaned from the breach (bolt comes out with minimal effort). The Rossi needs to be cleaned from the muzzle.

Overall I prefer the Marlin.
 
Since it is a bear defense gun you might want to consider upgrading your ballistics to a true rifle cartridge to at least a 30-30, 444, or 45-70. A motivated, thick hided, fat layered, bear can absorb a heck of lot of pain especially from a handgun cartridge. Granted it is coming out of a 16" barrel instead of a 4 or 6" barrel. A 16" barrel is only going to increase the velocity by a few measly hundred feet per second - and the bullet is still just a handgun bullet (the ballistic co-efficient is pathetic). Bear fur, fat, and muscle can defeat many cartridges - and if they are hopped up on adrenaline it only makes things worse.

I've seen and possess recovered handgun bullets from black bears and their performance is under-whelming to say the least and most of these bears who are shot were not even attacking (or highly motivated). In each case the handgun round didn't stop the bear, and a back up slug from a shotgun took the bear down immediately.

Now, I'm not being critical or saying you shouldn't go with your choice...just offer an alternative consideration. But you probably already knew this so I'm preaching to the choir. Just want to make sure your armed with adequate decision making info to make a prudent choice.

And since it is a defense gun, I'd go with the Marlin.
 
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no comparison, the Marlin, have owned multiple Marlins and 1 Rossi. There are alot of good quality aftermarket parts/improvements to be made to the Marlin, not so much for the Rossi. The Marlin is also much better right out of the box, metal work, wood finish etc. That dont even take into account the metallurgy, and other things we cant see.
 
Sundsvall said:
Which would you choose?

Rossi 92 or Marlin 1894 lever gun?

Both chamber in .44 Magnum
Both have 16" barrels
Both have 10 +1 capacity
Both have nice wood stocks

Gun will serve mostly as a bear defense gun. Maybe some hunting.

Our land is adjacent to a state park. We get black bear, cougar, coyote, deer, turkey and the occasional lost hiker.
Click to expand...

Neither. An 870 with slugs, when the SHTF in bear country.
 
Are we talking black bear of 200-300 lbs found in lower 48 or is there a chance you will run into brown bear of more than twice this size?
Either way if you go with the 44 mag use only heavy hunting bullets not the more common "self-defense" rounds of 240gr or less.
Good hunting bullets start at 265gr and I have seen some at 300gr, I would recommend using the heaviest hunting bullet you can locate.

If you can locate one of the 30-30 trappers made by Winchester at a decent price this would be my recommendation for a lightweight brushgun. in bear country.
 
Marlin all the way IF $ and Fit and Finish fit your criteria!!:D

AND as has been stated 300 grain Bear rounds!!:thumbup:

Shawn
 
Marlin, absolutely, positively over the Rossi. Also, be sure to use top quality ammo like this:

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=52

According to Buffalo bore if your Marlin has the 1/38 twist barrel then it will not stabilize any bullets over 270 grains. Their ammo is expensive but for ultimate stopping power and performance it is among the best.
 
Rossi isn't bad for a budget gun, but if you have the $$ for either, I'd go with the Marlin.
consistency of fit/finish, parts availability, etc...
Also take a look at the Hornady LeveRevolution ammo for higher velocity, increased penetration, and good expansion. (Barnes X solids are good, too)
 
Thanks for all the replies guys.

Looks like the Marlin is the better choice. I chose the handgun round, so that it could be paired with a S&W 44. Mag. This way you only need to pack one kind of ammo.

I am looking at a 12 gauge as well, but I think that should be on another thread.
 
Sundsvall said:
Which would you choose?

Rossi 92 or Marlin 1894 lever gun?

Both chamber in .44 Magnum
Both have 16" barrels
Both have 10 +1 capacity
Both have nice wood stocks

Gun will serve mostly as a bear defense gun. Maybe some hunting.

Our land is adjacent to a state park. We get black bear, cougar, coyote, deer, turkey and the occasional lost hiker.
Click to expand...

First I'd like to say, I envy you living so close to a state park.

Now for your question...I'd go with the Marlin. Marlin guns are awesome.

Sundsvall said:
...I am looking at a 12 gauge as well, but I think that should be on another thread.
Click to expand...

mossberg 500
 
I gotta believe the Marlin would have a higher resale value if you ever decided to part with it later. Rossi makes some dependable firearms but a Marlin will fetch much closer to what you paid when it comes time to sell.

You really can't go wrong with a Marlin. At worst you use it for one season, decide it isn't your thing and sell it for only $20 or $30 less than you paid for it. A better return than most knives, percentage wise.
 
Forgot to mention the Marlin's infinitely easier to break down for cleaning.
Denis
 
Not a good option anymore but I would take the Win 94 in .44 mag over either and I own or have owned all three. Marlins are finicky about round length, especially with handloads. Rossi's are bit on the rough side but will work if you like the old Win 92 style.
 
If you go Marlin, be sure to inspect it carefully before you buy, quality has been sliding lately on the wood to metal fit.
Denis
 
Sundsvall said:
Thanks for all the replies guys.

Looks like the Marlin is the better choice. I chose the handgun round, so that it could be paired with a S&W 44. Mag. This way you only need to pack one kind of ammo.

I am looking at a 12 gauge as well, but I think that should be on another thread.
Click to expand...

Thats what I did with my Colt .45 pistol and my Winchester and Rossi Rifle. I keep holster with .45 ammo and it takes care of both guns. Now I do have some hot rounds for the rifle in a box labled as such for when I am specifically using it for deer etc. Otherwise its nice to have interchangable ammo for several guns.
 
I have the Guide Gun...and wholeheartedly recommend the Marlin 45-70. I understand your mindset pairing the Carbine with the Pistol, but if you feel there is a legitimate Bear threat Id say go with a true long-gun cartridge paired with bear spray.

My .02 and worth every penny...
 
i have owned a marlin .444 mag and a .35 remmy.. go with the marlin. they are tried and true for lever action rifles
 
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