Rossi R92 Vs Marlin 1894

G

g123

Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
329
Hey Guys,

What can you tell me about these two rifles and which do you like best. The Rossi R92 is on 5.o lbs and the Marlin 1894 is 6.5 lbs. I like the weight of the Rossi, but which is more reliable and accurate?

What are the differences?

Thanks,

Geoff
 
IMHO and thats worth what it cost..........

Every Marlin I have worked on was a quality production gun. (not a hand fitted custom built) Tolerances are better than most and they slick up nice. There are 'High speed' springs ETC. available and several company's do lots of high end work on them. They have a reputation of good or better accuracy. It is a good strong design. Very popular with the Cowboy action shooters. Not real happy about the cross bar safety.

Rosie is a knock off of the Winchester '92, an action I happen to like but that has several weak points.(shell stops and locking bars) These are more of a problem with the clones. The metal in the few Rossie's I have been around was not as good as the Marlin but not as soft as some of the Italian guns. The Winchester action will not stand up to hotter ammo as well as the Marlin will.

After building a Winchester '92 (Japan) and a Marlin '94 both in 45 colt I would pick the marlin if I could only have one and planed on it being a working gun.......and back it up with a '95 in 45-70.:thumbup:

But thats just me. :D
 
Agreed. As between those two, I would definitely prefer the Marlin. I have several and they have performed well. I've shot Rossis but never owned one. Not as impressive.

I've heard that at least one company makes a part to eliminate the cross-bolt safety on Marlins (mine are pre-safety models, so I haven't needed that part). Some guys who don't want to go that far put a small o-ring in the groove on the safety to help prevent it from drifting toward engagement after the rifle is fired repetitively.

DancesWithKnives
 
Well I have a Navy Arms 92 in .45 Colt and my wife has a Marlin 94 she hunts with in 44 mag.

Both seem to be very finicky as far as to what ammo they will shoot the best with. This is in contrast to my Marlin 336 .35 which seems to shoot any brand well.

I think the Marlin 94 would be easier to put a scope on. The Marlin also has a slicker action than the 92.

HOWEVER the big downside to the Marlin 94 and the reason my wifes is waiting for me to find time to get it to a gunsmith is the design flaw that causes the Marlin 94 jam.

We got hers used in the early 80's and over time it kept getting worse and worse till the only thing we could get to cycle is 44 mag JHP's with a full jacket. Now it won't even cycle THOSE.

If you buy your Marlin new and you are not a hard core shooter like my wife and I I think the 94 is a more versitile gun. However if you buy it used or shoot it for over 20 years like we have then maybe fix the problem when you get it?

I can tell you it is a MAJOR BITCH to try to clear the jam, nearly impossible in the field.

PS: Google "Marlin 94 Jam " and see what you get


The "Marlin Jam" as it is affectionately known is caused by an inherent design/manufacturing flaw of the Marlin lever. The lever has a snail shaped cam surface that goes around the pivot screw. Every time the lever is cycled the carrier bounces on the forward edge of the cam. The forward most edge of this cam is left sharp at the factory (the flaw).
After many thousands of cycles, the sharp edge cuts into the carrier enough so that the timing is slightly changed. At first, you will feel a slight "hitch" when cycling, then the timing will get worse; the carrier nose gets lower in relation to the magazine tube opening so that two shells are allowed to exit the magazine. The first shell comes in on top of the carrier as normal, and the second shell slips past the carrier nose and gets trapped between the top of the carrier and the magazine opening in the frame.
Marlin calls this "letting in two" because rather than letting in one cartridge at a time, the carrier allows two to slip by.
Click to expand...
 
I have the Marlin 94 in .357 mag. I am a hunter not a plinker.So only hunt with mine. I have a Leuplod scope on it and it works for me.I have killed Deer and Wild Turkeys with mine. I have not tried the Rossi or any other Brand.
Try the marlin you will like it.
 
Hey Hollowdweller,

Is the Marlin Jam associated with older models or also with newer models.

Thanks,

Geoff
 
i love my m92... i used to own a marlin 336... good gun but chunky... whereas the m92 is sleek and smooth... i comes down to which handles better to you an if u want to scope it or not... imo MY lever is for quick handling at close to medium range, so no scopes for me... but if u want a scope the marlin will fit the bill better... articulate your needs, find the tool that fits...
 
Between the 2 I would go Marlin 100%. Same with Marlin vs Winchester.

Marlin makes the best lever guns IMO. Quality, pretty guns.
 
I have a Marlin 1894 in .44 and really, really like it. I have 11 rounds of 240 grain .44 hollowpoints traveling at around 1,800 fps in a nice slick package! I experience no jams with mine and the action has become very smooth after about 300 cycles. I have XS Halo sights on mine and can hit a 4” circle at 50 yards and a 6” circle at 100 yards all day long (This is very good for me with open sights). The sights may not be perfect for precise work, but I can bounce a can around at 25 yards, hitting it almost every shot and never let it stop moving. Halo sights make this gun a very unique firearm. I find the strait grip stock on classic lever action rifles (Marlin 1894) much better for quick shooting than the pistol grip (Marlin 336) on some newer models. It also allows the gun to be more compact and have a little less muzzle rise. The carbine length lever action guns are perfect for carrying/shooting the woods and allow you to carry enough .44 ammo to see you through anything.
 
IMO, the Marlin design is a big improvement over the Winchester 94 design. The 94 was a classic and the Marlin has a lot to owe to it, but the Marlin has a completely closed action, side loading/ejecting, stronger, and generally more streamlined.

If you are going to mount a scope or tang sights, the Marlin is the only way to go. To put a scope on the Rossi, you have to mount it off to the side and people will look at you funny and you will have nothing to say to them...
 
Marlin is the only way to go IMHO!!! I've had, 1894, 1894C, 336, 444. and now my newest one is the 1895SBL, and I LOVE THIS thumper!!!
 
I would find an older out of current production Rossi 92 in 454 Casull and call it a day.
Otherwise I think the new Buffalo Horn Armory in .50 S&W would be about ideal.
 
I have a Rossie R92 (bought an older one to clarify) and actually I love the darn thing. In .45LC I put decently hot hand loads in it and it is very accurate for me (considering its a lever gun with open sights). I carry it around the farm and have put many many rounds through it. One of my favorite walking around rifles. The thing is just a blast to shoot and carry. I may just have a good one as the trigger is really crisp with a short break...which is not exactly what you expect to get on alot of lever guns.


I have a Marlin 336C and it is also a very good gun. I like them both. I carry the Rossi more as I prefer open sites for walking around and bumming the woods and the fields on the property. The Marlin I have a scope on and my little brother uses it for Deer season. The trigger on the marlin is a bit heavier but its not bad.
 
Mulder said:
I would find an older out of current production Rossi 92 in 454 Casull and call it a day.
Otherwise I think the new Buffalo Horn Armory in .50 S&W would be about ideal.
Click to expand...

Mulder your right, forgot about the .454, now that Rossi is a keeper!!!
 
barrabas74 said:
I have a Rossie R92 (bought an older one to clarify) and actually I love the darn thing. In .45LC I put decently hot hand loads in it and it is very accurate for me (considering its a lever gun with open sights).
Click to expand...

Interesting the really hot Buffalo Bore load is one of the best shooting loads in mine:

Heavy .45 Colt +P - 325 gr. L.B.T.-L.F.N.(1,325fps/M.E.1,267 ft.lbs.) - 50 Round Box

These Heavy .45 Colt +P loads are safe in all LARGE FRAME Ruger revolvers.
(includes Blackhawk, Super Blackhawk, all pre-2005 Vaquero, Bisley, Redhawk)

These Heavy .45 Colt +P loads are NOT intended for the New Model Vaquero (small frame).

These loads are also safe in all modern Model 1892 leverguns
as well as all Winchester & Marlin 1894's
Click to expand...
 
Google "Dreaded Marlin Jam fix" There is a site that with pics, tells you how to fix this. I picked up an 1894 in .357 and did the mod to eliminat the problem. It is simple to remove the lever screw and gentley round over the edge of the cam that is too sharp and cuts a groove in the shell carrier that is the problem. If you already have the jam problem, order a new shell carrier and round over the cam as shown in the pics.
 
porterb123 said:
Google "Dreaded Marlin Jam fix" There is a site that with pics, tells you how to fix this. I picked up an 1894 in .357 and did the mod to eliminat the problem. It is simple to remove the lever screw and gentley round over the edge of the cam that is too sharp and cuts a groove in the shell carrier that is the problem. If you already have the jam problem, order a new shell carrier and round over the cam as shown in the pics.
Click to expand...

How hard is the shell carrier to remove? Is it tricky?? I read that before and considered doing it but wasn't sure if I was getting in over my head.
 
The hardest part of taking a Marlin apart is putting the screws back in the right place. Several of them are the same Dia but different lengths. If they do get mixed up trial and error will sort it out with no harm done. Do it twice and you should have no problems.
 
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