I saw this for sale on a local website for $350. Couldn't pass it up. It has some nicks, dings and wear. That's okay with me. I had been looking for a deal on a shooter grade lever action in .357, so the timing was perfect.
I'm thinking the heavier loads, like the Grizzly 180 and 200 grain loads, should work well. Anybody have experience with these rounds and micro-groove rifling?
UPDATE 6-10-18:
I pulled the stocks off, gave them a good sanding and refinished them with Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil. This is supposed to be really good stuff, but I think I need to let it dry for a few weeks to harden fully. It was a big improvement and I like the darker color better on this gun. The results are below.
Last edited by Shark Bait; 06-10-2018 at 01:49 PM.
They're great guns. I have one in 44 mag so I can't help with a .357 round. Let us know what year it was manufactured.
This one is a 1982 gun, 3rd year of production. I graduated high school and joined the Army that year, so it was a very big year for me. I used to have one in .44 Mag. It is one of the many guns I regret selling, for sure.
You got a great deal on that! About a third of what they are going for these days. Mine is a '79, and I bought it back when they were in the $175-$200 range everywhere. However I've never loaded anything heavier than 158gr. in mine. No particular reason why it won't stabilize a heavy bullet, I just never tried. I took a large doe with it using the 158 gr. JSP, at about 80 yards, right after I bought it, and then just used it as a plinker. It's probably the last Marlin I would ever let go of (if'in I had to that is). Congratulations! What a deal!
That is a great buy, I doubt you will find that good a deal for a while. I use a 170 GRN jacketed solid point lead nose over 14Grns of 2400. I get one inch groups at 100 yards if I do my part. This load had taken quite a few deer with no problems at all.
There was a heavily worn area on the handguard, so I have all the wood off for refinishing now. I sanded the handguard and it's looking great. Now for a couple coats of Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil. I'm doing the same to the butt stock to keep it all consistent.
Last edited by Shark Bait; 06-04-2018 at 07:20 PM.
I have 2 Marlin 30-30's.Super safe being an external hammer fired weapon.
The 30-30 is all you need unless you are going to hunt in the High Country for really BIG animals.
Home defense for me.
Last edited by mrchuck; 06-04-2018 at 08:11 PM.
Reason: left out the word BIG.
When hand loading for micro groove a .001" or .002" larger bullet may be needed. Factory jacketed rounds seem to work well. Marlin .44 mag and 45-70 in this house
When hand loading for micro groove a .001" or .002" larger bullet may be needed. Factory jacketed rounds seem to work well. Marlin .44 mag and 45-70 in this house
My other Marlin in an early Guide Gun in .45-70. I also have a Winchester 1892 in 44 mag. Lever guns go with revolvers
I have had 2 of the 357 mag Marlin 1894c carbines. They develop a problem with the cartridge elevator. With heavy use the elevator gets a slot or notch worn into the bottom side. This causes the elevator to improperly engage the magazine disconnect, no longer allowing the feeding of 38 Special length rounds, but still allows 357 mag length rounds. Getting the proper replacement part is becoming difficult these days. JB Wood recommended a section of "de-toothed" hack saw blade be epoxied on the bottom of the elevator as a long term repair. (Had the problem, never tried the fix!)
After the second Marlin had that problem I switched to Rossi 92's for 357 lever guns. The Marlin rifles in 44 and 45 caliber don't develop this problem (and the parts don't interchange!). I've had 336's and 1895's in rifle cartridges and they too seem to be immune to this problem.
When I had my last 357 (micro grooved rifling), I developed a 180 grain JSHP bullet/H-4227 round that was absolutely devastating to assorted wildlife and other targets. The only hand gun I fired this round from was a 28-2 4", it was accurate enough to constantly defeat my older brother and his Python! Usually the targets were 25 and 50 yards! I thought about 200 grain .358 bullets for 35 Remington, but never tried it. Over 30 years later I still have that box of projectiles.
The only similar Marlin I still have is a 1894 CL in 32-20! Both the 357 and the 32-30 are fast handling, light recoiling and very accurate. I highly recommend them. When buying used, watch out for the worn elevator!
I have one from the same period.
Mine’s a tack driver with 158 grn.
Spreads out with lighter weight bullets. My favorite factory load, so far, is surprisingly, American Eagle 158 grn. jsp. Mild shooting and accurate out past 200 yds
I would have paid that price with no wood. You're right about the 32-20 being another handy carbine. I just haven't found the right load for mine yet. I also agree the 200 gr is tempting, and I have some for the .35, but it can't leave a lot of room for powder. I'm sure it's been done.
My only Marlin 1894 is a rifle made in 1905, .44-40 caliber, 24" octagon barrel with half-magazine. Still prints 3" groups at 100 yards from the bench, as long as I do my part properly. It seems to have formed a natural partnership with my 1914 Colt SAA Frontier Six Shooter 44-40, they always go out to the range together!
Nice little carbine! Well worth a bit of cosmetic work, and will probably reward you with many years of good service.
Back when 357 Remington Maximum was popular, I'm surprised nobody took a 30-30 action and made a 357Mag/357Max rifle! I know Savage made some model 24 O/U combo guns in 357Max. That might have saved the round from the dust-bin of gun history!
Ivan
Last edited by Ivan the Butcher; 06-06-2018 at 11:28 PM.
I have become lazy about reloading as I age. I bought the Buffalo Bore 180 for hunting deer, should I get the urge. The rest of the time, I stick with the LE loaded 125 HP. They work great in revolvers and should really shine from the 1894.
Nice price for a marlin lever. The first Marlin 357 owned (microgrooved) did not like lighter bullets for accuracy, but very good with 158 on up. Also developed a load for the Rem 180 sjhp, but had to trim regular 357 cases down a little to keep under max col for reliable feeding. Very accurate/mild out of revolver.
Really wish Speer would make another run of their 357 170 gn gdsp. Extremely accurate with Lil-gun out of a carbine, and stouter than the Rem 180 sjhp.
Midway currently has the Rem 180 sjhp in stock, although they have gotten expensive.
I was really lucky with my Marlin 1894 (.357 Magnum). I got it NIB with the box, factory literature and hang tag for $500.00. A very short time later, the price went crazy for that little carbine - I've been offered $1,000.00 for it at the range. Mine shoots the 158 gr. JHP rounds - the same ammo I put in my Ruger Security Six. I took one small doe with it, and gave a hog a very severe headache with it. I added a Leupold 1x4 scope to it and it's a light, handy little carbine to have in the woods.
That's a deal and then some, you can refinish the stock and make it look nicer, or for that price, leave it as is. I know guys who would pay double what you paid here for that gun as it is right now.
Looks like you got the deal of the week. I would have raced you to the register for that one. Enjoy
Funny you say that. It was listed by an LGS. I called the next morning and they said it was still there, but they didn't open for 45 minutes. They also said they had calls and emails all night about it. I took an hour of leave from work and drove straight over there. Doors were still locked, but an employee let me in when I told him why I was there. The rest is history.
Funny you say that. It was listed by an LGS. I called the next morning and they said it was still there, but they didn't open for 45 minutes. They also said they had calls and emails all night about it. I took an hour of leave from work and drove straight over there. Doors were still locked, but an employee let me in when I told him why I was there. The rest is history.
My man!
I'd love to shoot it - I'll bring my Rossi/Navy 92 short rifle, too!
It has been my experience that a .357 XTP and lot of H-110 out of a carbine work really well on deer. Is it a .270? No, but it is certainly capable and seems to do a lot better than paper ballistics would suggest.
You have a great rifle, Sir! At least in my opinion. I have owned two. The first was one without the external safety that eventually came along. Both my revolver (Model 19) and the rifle chambered the same round, and both rode constantly with me in the howl car for a long time. I used to load the Speer half jacketed lead core semi wadcutter round and that was devastating on what ever I shot with it out of that rifle. When I eventually left off driving howl cars, I let myself be talked into trading my Marlin for something I really wanted after being offered a value that I thought was outstanding for the rifle. I got a good deal, liked what I traded for very much, but I immediately regretted not keeping the rifle and rounding up the cash to buy what I got in trade for it. Lots of memories associated with that particular rifle/revolver combination.
In time, I found a newer model for sale at a gun show for a great price and bought it. Still have it. The external safety really didn't cause me any problems other than the aesthetics with it in place. Could have probable gotten one without the safety, but it still would not have been "my" rifle. So I made do. As far as I am concerned, these Marlins in this caliber make a dandy house rifle, as well as being useful in many other ways, at least for me. And they are just flat fun to shoot!
I'm excited for you and for the good deal you got when you bought it. It will be worth all the time and effort and money you expended, I think! Congratulations! The one I now have ain't going anywhere till one of my sons or grandsons gets it when I'm done with it. I have to mount a scope on mine now since I can't see the iron sights well enough to do good work with it. Graduated to a peep sight first which I liked very much (have always liked peep sights) but it got to where I had to unscrew the disk and use the threaded aperture to use the peep sight. Finally succumbed and mounted a scope. Ain't as handy with the scope on as without, but it works! I hope you love that rifle!
Your rifle looks very nice after refinishing the wood. While you are waiting for it to fully cure, you can gently rub that wood all over with your clean hands to help that process along. I love those carbine length rifles!