Well there AJ I'll take the 336 because:

(1) I can easily mount a low power scope on its flat top receiver.

(2) Smoothness is subjective but I like the crisp, positve stroke of the 336 lever, I am not a fan of the rackety clack of the 94 action.

(3) The 336 is made in a wide assortment of chamberings. There is someting for all in the Marlin lineup including some real big bore rounds. Winchester tried this with the "Big Bore" version with the heavy side plates way back when and failed.

(4) Side ejection vs. top or "angle eject" of later models.

My 336 with iron sights took many a deer here in southwestern Missouri before the draw of a Savage .270 with sexy optics lured me away. As I appear to be devolving into more primitive weapons (more time with my Hoyt and blackpowder), I may return to the iron sights and pass on the other to my wife or son sometime in the near future...

The 336 all the way. The one time I've been lucky enough to have a deer show up during legal hunting time my Marlin didn't let me down. I hit the thing in the neck at 50 yards and it broke the neck and never moved. My Dad had never seen a deer die that fast. I know the 30-30 has probably taken more deer than any other cartridge, but I like the extra power that the .35 has.

The way the 336 feels when I shoulder it gives it the slight edge over the '94 in my book. Just feels more natural to me.

I'm surprised that the 336 is running away with this one, but I'm OK with it. I guess I can admit that it's a better rifle. Accuracy is better than you would expect. Its big brother the 1895 usually turns out as a real shooter. Better than a lot of bolt guns out there.

i'm with WAM on the 99 but if it can't be that way, i'm with the 94. i have two of them and they are flawless in action and are very accurate. i also took my first deer with one of them.

What? I did not see a Marlin 1895g 45/70 (OR 444) in there anywhere. What gives?

No Savage 99 . . . hanging chads . . . voter tampering. MI6 may be calling 007 to look into an insidious conspiracy

hooray 336!!that theres my deer rifle.

It's known as "old-reliable" in many remote places in Alaska which came in a variety of calibers. You'll always find at least one in someones' collection no matter where I've been and traveled across the state.

Ditto and amen on the 99. Must have been some hanging chads (whatever the heck that is), some who weren't sure how to vote, or maybe representatives from Marlin and Winchester kept the 99 fans away from the polls. There should definately be an investigation!

I have owned and used both the 94 and 336, Marlin just seems to have a better take on the rifle in my opinion, however which ever one chooses they win.

I want one.

Putting aside the merits of both guns, which are considerable, I disagree with the premise of a "brush rifle". I'll wait until the deer steps out of the brush, then take him with my .270.

Oh yeah forgot to mention. My first shot out of the box with my .35 was a bullseye. So the 336 is really accurate.

I've owned both. Marlin all the way for me! Now if you wanna talk Winchester '92! But then again . . . Marlin 1893! Saddle rings, of course.

WA Mtnhunter - The Model 99 was the first rifle I ever owned (dad bought it for me when I was 13) and my son will get it some day. I own 12 rifles now but the 99 is still my favorite. After 10 years of open-site hunting I put a Nikon 4x on it which extended my range a bit but it never felt the same. It must be the nostalgia - anyway, I finally had the iron sites restored. I'll match that gun against any other lever action to 150yds.

To my fellow Savage 99 lovers:
I feel your pain. But the 336 has pretty much thumped the 94. And the 94 walloped the 99 (60 percent to 39 percent) in an earlier round.
I love my 99, too. But it went down, fair and square.

Winchester 94 is the best brush rifle! there should be no competition!