Looking at adding the above to my collection, interested in any personal experience/ recommendations. Henry looks nice, made in America. Not a lock-in though.

Had pretty good luck with a Marlin 1894. Early 80's model with no safety. Easy to carry, but recoil was pretty stout as well. Weighed about 6lb as I recall.

much more recoil than I expected, and crescent butt plates are painful.

Henry's are certainly nice, but I like a side loading gate and blued steel receiver so I got an 1894 Marlin, recent production.

Bought a Marlin 1894 in 44mag new about 2 years ago. Marlin/Remington looked to have their $%!* back together as fit and finish looked rather good. Looked at the Henry and really liked it till I picked it up. Heavy!
Yes, recoil will surprise you with full on magnum rounds. Do yourself a favor and hit a pumpkin with one at around 25 yards! I reload so I've got some reduced loads that are accurate and fun to shoot.
Could NOT get along with the buckhorn rear sight. Putting a Skinner rear peep on it made all the difference.

I looked at a Henry .357 at a gun show. Thought seriously about buying it until I picked it up. That sucker was heavy. Had the octagonal barrel. I guess the round barrel models are lighter, but they don't have the sex appeal the octagonal models do.

If I were going to buy one today, I'd go for the Henry. As you stated - Made in America and it really is a great product as well. Most Henry firearms are worth the money.

That said, among the Henry's I do own, I don't have one in .44.

My only .44 is a 16" Winchester 94 with the large loop. I bought it after an unusually large paycheck working at a cannery during summer break in college. I didn't know what I wanted, but I wanted a gun and I had some cash. Drooling around the gun shop on a precious day off, I finally narrowed it down to a Garand they had listed for about $300 and the Winchester for $395.

The decision was easy since I had just picked up a CMP Garand a few weeks earlier for about $200. The Winchester went with me. While I would have preferred it in .45LC to go with future six guns, it was there and I was there. Young, dumb and in a hurry.

Turns out I got lucky. I absolutely love that rifle!! It's very accurate and is kind of a short cannon with heavy .44 loads. .44 Special loads are like plinking. It's taken a few hogs back when I lived in California.

I haven't shot it much these past few years, but this thread is making me want to bring it to the front of the safe and maybe even a trip outside.

The Winchesters are pricey though, when you can find them. Too bad I didn't buy three back then.

I had a Rossi once, in .45Colt.
Nice rifle and trouble free, built on the 92 system.
And it is made in America South, but still...

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Jamie wants big boom

Yea, don't discount the South American made model 92 copies - most get rave reviews from their owners, and the 92 is a slick & strong action. A browning 92 copy would be real nice as well, for more $$.

Owned several Marlin 1894's in 44 mag., as well as a model 94 Win. Much preferred the Marlins. Not sure of how the Henry centerfire rifles are made, but the internals of their .22 versions do not inspire confidence, smooth lever travel aside. The Marlins are all forged steel.

Larry

Henry's are nice and American made. I own a Winchester Model 94AE (post 64) and love it. 44REM.





I like it better with the scope removed.

Rossi 92 in 44Mag ia a good shooter!!! very good for brush hunting up to 50yds ( 200pounds animals) ,and good companion of a S&W Model 29!!!.. it is a fun gun to shoot in "Cowboy Shooting" too, the Model 92 is a very strong action designed by Browning!! The best carbine is the original Winchester .44mag (USA made) or Browning 92(Belgium made) but they are priced high if you can find one!!....
Regards
Roberto Renauld

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"Off we go..."

I have a 94 in .44 and have not had any problems with it in a few hundred rounds.

Many years ago I had a Model 94 Winchester in .44mag and loved it! At 100 meters a fist could cover a pattern of 6 rounds using the iron sights!! After checking the Winchester site the only new model I see in production with the .44 is the 1892. I'd be all over that one if I didn't already lust after a lever action in 500 S&W Mag caliber.....

For the price, and after having one for 40 years, I vote for the Marlin.
Too much recoil? Huh? It's a handgun round. Shoot specials if it hurts too much.

Look at the Marlin .444.The real deal!

An older Marlin or if you want a new gun, hard to go wrong with a Henry...

My 44mag is a Winchester Trapper carbine. I also have a Henry 357mag. The thing a lot of guys don't like about Henrys is there's no side loading gate. Makes reloading a bit more of a problem. Because of that, much as I like my Henry, the edge goes to the Winchester.

Back in my Cowboy Action Shooting days, I also had the 16" Trapper Model 94 Winchester in .44 Mag (similar to the pictures shown in #10). A very sweet and handy carbine, and it shoots a good group with my Cowboy lead bullet reloads (in .44 Special) out to 50 yards with open sights. I still have it, but don't shoot it very often these days. If I couldn't have a handgun, I would take that Trapper or a .30 Carbine. I can't say anything about the Henry, Marlin, or Rossi lever action carbines, as I have never owned nor fired any. The .44 Mag M94s are not often seen these days. If you find one at a good price, buy it.

Looked at a new Marlin 1894 carbine in .44 Mag last week. Fit and finish were excellent. However, the rifling is incredibly shallow. I'm concerned with lead bullets stripping across the lands after a few rounds. Passed on it until I can get more feedback from anyone who has bought one this year.

Since the early 80's I have owned several. The best modern production is a Browning B-92. I let that get away for profit in 1995 but I still am sorry! The next best would be the fairly rare Marlin 336. I believe they were made for one year. Next best would be Marlin 1894 (the much older ones with the gold trigger.) very, very smooth actions. After that, Winchester 94, newer Marlin 1994, Rossi 92 or Henry- pretty much all about equal, with the Rossi having an advantage in being unbelievably strong!

Ivan

Over the years I have had several Marlin 94s, pre safety JMs.
These are slick rifles with no problems encounters. Shot heavy
Hand loads in them. Had 94 Trapper, no complaints but not the
gun the old model 1894 is. The Rossi I don't even want to talk
about. All these rifles need close attention paid to OCL and crimp.
I am shooting 240gr XTPS / 21.5gr of H-2400. Gun sighted for
Dead 0 at 75yds. , will cut clovers at that distance. Gun is used
for eastern deer hunting. Rifle is a joy to carry, especially if you
have carried a 45/70 or 444 Marlin in the woods.

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I had a Marlin lever action in .357 Magnum which was a neat gun but never really fell in love with it...
If your open to an alternate suggestion the lightweight Ruger .44 Magnum Carbine allows for much faster follow up shots without coming off target .







If you want something a little more modern there is the .44 Mag Ruger Deerfield carbine with rotating bolt and removable rotary mag. (LOWER)

I have a Winchester 94 AE in 44 mag/a Marlin 1894 octagon in 44 mag and an old Ruger auto carbine in 44 mag.......I suggest a Marlin if buying now......I don't like the fact that the whole magazine load & spring are held by just that little "tit" that you twist in to a groove in the outer tube.....They have been known to fail in that area....And the brass Henry's run about 1 1/2 lbs. heaver that comparable steel guns.

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S&W Accumulator

Some of the Marlin 44 mags have odd size bores for the 44mag. Some take .432/.433 bullets. I had one and loved it, but it would key hole at 50 yds. I too was surprised at the recoil. And I have no trouble with full boat loads in the handguns.

Charlie

Around here, Henry and Marlin are essentially your best options. Initially wanted the Marlin because of the side loading gate and the price, but of the few specimens I looked at, the quality of fit, finish, and function just didn't seem to be as good as the Henry.

Opted for the Henry (carbine version) and I have no regrets. It's been a great shooter for me.

Sir, what sling is that? Maker? I think I just found myself a birthday gift.....

Look up SAAMI specs for 44 magnum rifle.

I have a Marlin 1894 that I bought in the mid-seventies that is a pleasure to shoot. Even more so after I put a recoil pad and a Marbles Tang sight on it. Now I can shoot .44mags for a few hours with the kids and not regret it. The tang sight is a big improvement at long range but it's a bit fragile sticking up like a sore thumb.

I had a Winchester 30-30 from the '70s that I gave my son. I missed it and replaced it with a Rossi Rio Grande 30-30 which is a different feeling gun but it shoots very smoothly and is probably more accurate than the Winchester.

Then I bought a Rossi .38/.357 R92 which is even smoother than the Marlin and is more fun than a Daisy BB gun. It is very accurate and everyone wants to shoot it. It has a 16" barrel which makes it handle perfectly. I put a Skinner aperture sight on it which makes all the difference in the world for shooting at distance. As it's not obtrusive, it's not fragile like the Marble sight.

Next, I am going to pick up a Rossi in .45lc and I have been thinking about the new Henry's in a .243 caliber.

As others have said, Henrys are heavy but they are well made, have good factory service if needed but they cost a bit more.

Also as others have said, the Marlins seem to be improving quite a bit and may not deserve the title Remlins as they have been given for several years after Remington bought them and moved the factory.

Lever actions seem to be a little more difficult to build and put together for good function.

For the money, Rossi's are hard to beat and there is good aftermarket support for slicking them up. Marlins are probably next now that they are coming out of the factory in good condition.

Marlin 1894 is a good rifle. However, if the Marlin you choose has the micro groove barrel, you'll want to avoid cast bullets as that type rifling is relatively shallow and won't shoot them nearly as accurately as a jacketed bullet.

Engine39Guys post got me thinking.....as an FYI...

a Winchester Trapper w/ a Skinner barrel peep sight in .357.........

was replaced by a Ruger 77/375 as my cabin utility rifle..........it's a handy little 5 shot (detachable box) carbine w/ it's 1-3x20 Weaver V Classic scope.......

IIRC Ruger make a .44 model also...........................

Hard to find now, but had a friend many years ago with a Rem. M788 bolt gun in .44 Mag. It would stack bullets.

Know that Henrys have their fan base, of which I'm not a member. I've always joked that it's a way to get the absolute most weight in a gun for that amount of money.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Had a win 94 carbine and I was shocked how much kick it had with the 44 mag cartridge, sold it off because I bought a marlin 44 in stainless, 1 of 361; however, I have not yet shot the Marlin.

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NRA Endowment member

An older 1894 Marlin would be my recommendation.

The 44 magnum is a neat round.

Any quality name brand will be good. Have to decide your preference.

I got this new in 1994. Didn't even notice the 100 year marking until I got home with it. The 16" barrel makes it very handy. I added the swivels.

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No life story has happy end.

Take a good hard look at the Miroku guns either the current production Winchester 1892 or the older Browning B-92. Both are made by Miroku who has had the tooling for almost 40 years. They make the nicest 1892 on the market in my opinion. The older guns, the B-92's have prettier furniture. Some complain about the tang safety on the late model Winchesters...i have two of the current run 1892's. The first was in .44 Mag and love it so much I went back and bought another in .357.

Not sure what your budget is, but you may want to look at some the suppressed Ruger 77/44 rifles out there now. 300grs clearing the muzzle @ 1000fps and sounding like a mouse fart....that could be interesting.

That's the Brassstacker. No modifications necessary to the rifle to install. The shell holder is optional. A bit pricey as far as slings go, but worth every penny and adds a nice touch of class to an already classy firearm.