Henry or Marlin(Guns)

[Downbeach]

Since I broke my system down a couple years ago due to health reason, and sold the boat last spring, I've decided I need to start....actually re start another hobby. I haven't been hunting, or even shooting for many years, in fact the last weapon I shot was my M-14(obviously its been a while). I've had a number of guns early in my life, mostly Mauser actions from a MS and Springfield 03A3 in .30-06 and a couple Rems in .243 and .270. These were all great guns, but I realized my favorite gun(s) to walk through the Pa. woods/hunt, was a Win. 94 30-30, and a Colt single action .45 revolver. I started doing some research and quickly learned the Winchester no longer makes the '94, so I started looking at Marlin. The problem I've read with Marlin is that since they were bought out by the Freedom Group(Remminton) in '07/'08, their quality has suffered greatly. I've read a lot of good review about Henry, but, I'm not too happy with the method they use for loading(although its not a deal breaker). I was thinking about either a .45-70 or a .30-.30(I know, big difference), and was considering the Henry H010 or H009, or (depending on feedback) the Marlin 1895GBL or 336BL. Any opinions and/or feedback is greatly appreciate, thanks.

 

[tom reilly]

What are you hunting?

 

[helen ann]

@Diesel

 

[MaiReef]

Love my Henry, but it certainly matters what you are hunting as both make excellent firearms

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I have a "Marlington" lever action 30-30 that I bought around 2012. It's not like the older Marlin's, but not much is made like it used to be. That said, I love that rifle. Never owned a Henry, but I've not heard anything bad about them either.

 

[Diesel]

Ugh, rifles.
I have a few but I advocate compact bows only for the last two seasons.

 

[Downbeach]

What are you hunting?

Stumps mostly:rolleyes:. IF I hunt, most of it will be in upstate Pa where I come from, so mostly White Tail 125 -150lb max. So, I know the 30-30 would be the best choice, both for that kind of hunting and overall expense, i.e. availability/cost of ammo, etc. But, I have had a couple opportunities to hunt in Maine which would make the .45-70 a better choice for the larger game.

 

[Downbeach]

I have a "Marlington" lever action 30-30 that I bought around 2012. It's not like the older Marlin's, but not much is made like it used to be. That said, I love that rifle. Never owned a Henry, but I've not heard anything bad about them either.

I'm leaning in this direction, both of the Marlins I linked have the features I'm interested in, i.e., pistol grip, hooded front sight, large loop lever, etc., and I will get more use out of the 30-30. I've just read a lot of bad press about them after the buy out, and need to feel more warm and fuzzy about the investment. The only Henry that has most of those features is the .45-70, and I feel comfortable enough with what I've read that it would be a good investment.