Dustin,

The Winchester 1873 is the best of the bunch if you don't wanna scope it, that would be a sin. Don't sweat the Jap thing, they are great craftsmen.

Don't be afraid of the 1894 Winnie but they can have snags. The Win 94 is like the "AK" of the old west, it rattles and eats dirt, but works.

I'm sure many here will debate it. The Marlin 94 leaves a lot to be desired mechanically with several types of jams probable. If you have a "Widdermatic" action job done, you'll have a top notch lever gun. Being new to levers as I think you might be, I hope you steer clear of the Marlin 94, "JM" or not. Do not confuse the 94 action with the 336/1895, there are some small differences on a couple of parts that can make your experience hell.

The Rossi 92 can be a great gun too, especially if Steve Young down in South Texas gets a hold of it.

Consider a Browning 1892 (IF) you can find one.

The Spaghetti versions are pretty good too, Cimarron, Stoeger, Uberti, taylors, and so forth.

The Henry is sound.

Feel free to visit stevesgunzdotcom and do a search for widdermatic. If the Marlin 94 is the route you choose, take a look at rangerpointprecision of texas, they might can do some "things".

There will not be a scope on it. I carry a Marlin 30-30 in my truck every day and owned a marlin 45-70 and always liked them which is why Marlin was one of my choices. I hope to find both of them at a gun show this weekend and actually handle them to pick one

I here ya brother, like I said above, not the exact same workings

If you are wanting something handy with the option to get it straightened out (If) you have a problem, I'd just get a Rossi 92.

The Marlin 336/95 action is great!

All of the pistol caliber rifles have another problem...You might have to go through a buttload of diff ammo to find what it likes, and 7 times outta ten, it ain't the load you wanted to shoot. The 44 is the worst of the bunch in this regard.

I know you have a levergun now, would you consider the Ruger 77/357 bolt action? Its a better brush gun than any levergun, maybe even mine. My favorite Marlin weighs 6lb 5oz with scope and 16" barrel.

I had seen a few threads about people talking about trying to find the ammo it likes but hadn't done much looking. I do really like the looks of the 1873 more than any others.

Just don't pick it up, you might be hooked!

I'm not trying to push the Rossi but they can be low cost, trouble free, working guns.

My dad has a Winchester 1894 that was made in 1912. The thing still fires and cycles like a jewel. Real good guns. I was looking at a Marlin for the .308MX.

The lever addiction once started will never end... You will need another safe or two just for them. Find a quality lever gun and you have an heirloom that your descendants will be using.

My next toy will probably be a lever gun in 45LC.

Truth.

TexFlip you da man!

Sounds like you are broadening your parameters. If you handle a pre-64 Winchester lever gun of just about any stripe, I believe you will forget about anything else. I have toted all kinds of rifles for over 45 years - nothing feels as natural to me as carrying a pre-64 Winchester levergun. Nothing.

The more I look the more I like the looks of the 1873 but the new winchesters on gunbroker are pretty pricey. The Taylor's are sharp and a bit cheaper. What's the difference in Taylor, Uberti, and Win? I say new because that's just what's on there right now

The Winchesters are made in Japan, the rest are Italian-made.

The Italian made guns are excellent, the Japanese made guns are the best.

The ones made in South America are hit or miss... Some are good right out of the box, some need a bit of work but will slick up nicely if you put a little extra time and money into them.

Another option for ya to consider: Marlin 336Y
I too started down your path, and after much research and consideration ended up snapping up a good deal on a 336Y chambered in 30-30.
Edit: the Y is the COMPACT version 16" bbl and 33" overall! also called a 'youth', but it is full 336 shortened.
Couldn't be more happy - got my compact lever (16.5"bbl), high quality, and a fraction of price of pistol caliber.
I easily load pistol-equivalent light loads in 30-30,
AND have the option to carry FULL-Power LeverEvolution loads to decimate piggies at any distance. try that with pistol caliber!
Best of both worlds! Accuracy is much better than pistol cartridges, definitely more powerful, and a way more versatile option.

I reload for 45 Colt so that isn't an issue. In a good strong action such as a 92, 45 Colt can level just about anything.

All good advice.

It is hard to beat a 16" Marlin 336 30-30 and plain old 150 grainers when compared to an average pistol caliber.

I've got the 30-30. I'm set on a 357 since I've got a revolver in 357/38.

I went to try and find one at a gun shop about a year ago along with a sig 938 and left with a Dan Wesson 1911 I'm set on finding and getting one now

Marlin... cant go wrong

killed my first deer with a turdy turdy, that was over 30 years ago since then i went all the way around the clock as far as calibers, did the magnum thing, got caught up in the bc sd mentality, did the classic, the laminate and the thumbhole thing, but now ive come full circle and back to where it all started, it was about hunting. took my biggest deer 2 years ago with my new rossi and god willing im gonna get and even bigger one this year i have my eye on, with the same gun. she now sports a scope as my eyes are now failing me. this rossi truly amazed me how good it shoots, it will do an inch at 100 with 170 gr factory fodder. went to the range the other day and she put it a 1/2 " low of dead center so i put it right back in the case.

my son got this one last year with the same gun after sporting a scope. the turdy turdy always get berrated and i was guilty of doing it as well. after using it again its no slouch, that big round slow moving bullet sits them on their butt and leaves big holes.

They'll all knock em down. I have several 30-30's but I also have a soft spot for pistol caliber leverguns. I shoot 600 fps mousefart loads out of my 45lc but also have some loaded up to lower end 45-70 loads.

I have a 1894 Marlin and a 1873 Uberti (Codymatic) in 357 mag and both are fabulous rifles. The Marlin is an 18.5" and is very easy to handle and a dream to shoot. The Uberti is a 20" octagon barrel I use primarily for CAS. The Uberti's are a little easier to come by than the JM stamped Marlins in 357 mag.The Marlin and Uberti were both worked on and are smooth as silk. I have traded many pieces in the past but these two will always be with me. A good lever gun is just plain ole Heaven to shoot.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=516253098

I love the look of this gun.

Well update to the thread. Went to the gun show Saturday and was almost to to end and ran into a guy carrying a Marlin 1894cb. It was in good shape and a good price so I couldn't say no. I still love the 1873 but I can buy two of what I bought for one 73. I will eventually have a 73 though.

We went and shot after that yesterday and I was very impressed. It's a tack driver and ate every type of 38 or 357 I fed it with no issues. Tons of fun to shoot

You found an 1894 cowboy in 357.... Score!!

Love my octagon barrel 44mag but a 357 is even more desirable..