New Marlin 1894

[Glenn R. McMannly]

Every lever fan needs to seriously consider these new Marlins. New 357, old JM

If only Ruger would release it in .45 Colt’s so I could pair it with my New Model.

 

[TheTinMan]

My Mayodan-made Marlins in order of acquisition:

1895 Guide Gun (18” barrel in .45-70)

336 Classic (20-1/4” barrel in .30-30)

1894 Trapper (16.1” barrel in .44 Magnum)

I had an early 1970s JM Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum but recently sold that rifle. It took a WWGW “Happy Trigger” kit and a lot of work to run as smoothly as these new Marlins. I still have an 1895 LTD made in 1997 with a 24” half octagon barrel (1 of 1,001) and an 1894 Cowboy Carbine made in 2001 with a plain, straight stock and 20” octagon barrel (.45 Colt also 1 of 1,001).

These new Marlins are at least as good as the JM Marlins from 1970 and later. Now pre-1955 Marlins are a whole different story IMHO.

If only Ruger would release it in .45 Colt’s so I could pair it with my New Model.

I’m convinced that if Marlin offered a new 16” or 18” 1894 in .45 Colt with blued steel and a nice walnut stock, it would take them a l-o-n-g time to meet demand.

 

[S-W4EVER]

Makes me glad that one of my JM 1894’s is .45 Colt w/ octagon barrel.

I also have a couple .357’s, a .44 Magnum, a .218 Bee, and a .25-20. .38/.357 is just plain fun to shoot.

 

[Imissedagain]

Within a few week period, not long ago, picked up a minty 9422,
a NOS Win '94/44M/16" barrel, for my boy and his boy, and
a minty late '90s, MirokuWin, '92, in 45 Colt.
The '92 has some scratches, as shown in a picture from
the Web. Too lazy to take a pic now.
All three were about 2K delivered.

Thought about a 357 Lever, or a long barreled 357 N Frame,
but the only gun that I would buy, is a Colt Snake,
in 460 S&W Magnum, blued with a 3"-6" barrel and
fluted cylinder.
The Green Anaconda or the Python Mas Grande?

 

[greenwellg]

Bought a stainless 44 Mag a few years ago for $600 before the prices went crazy. I think the barrel is 20 inches which really gets the muzzle velocity near 2k fps and energy close to a ton. JM proofed and nice wood as well. It's the only gun I keep loaded in the house other than the model 36 chiefs special I inherited from my FIL. Hard to believe he has been gone 25 years, since before 9-11.

 

[diyj98]

Bought a stainless 44 Mag a few years ago for $600 before the prices went crazy.

Those were the days. I bought a new 1894 SBL 44 mag a couple months ago and it cost be almost double that

 

[smoothshooter]

I cannot for the life of me figure out why Ruger has not been cranking out 336 .30/30 rifles and carbines from the git-go. Those were the bread and butter of the Marlin line.
Are they even going to?
Anybody know what’s up with that?

 

[Yendor357]

I have done enough autopsies on deer perforated with 158 Factory Federals chronoed at 2000 fps, to refrain from calling a357 rifle “Underwhelming”.

Short Range maybe. But not underwhelming in my book. Just my opinion. Feel free to have your own opinion.

I don’t understand. Ruger came out with the 336 first. They’re still available, I think.

 

[desi2358]

I cannot for the life of me figure out why Ruger has not been cranking out 336 .30/30 rifles and carbines from the git-go. Those were the bread and butter of the Marlin line.
Are they even going to?
Anybody know what’s up with that?

It may seem odd but could be related to demand from certain areas. Ever since several states went from shotgun/muzzle loader only to allowing rifles so long as they were chambered for straight wall cartridges demand for guns in those calibers skyrocketed. 357, 44 and the good old 45-70 are hot ticket items. If anything, I think they're missing a bet by not bringing back the 444 round (and leaning on the ammo makers to produce more ammo for it).

I expect they'll get 30-30s out eventually but the guns they are making are getting a lot of interest. And they seem to be selling, pretty well from what I see at gun shops around here.

 

[WardenRoss]

Thanks to all who added to this thread.

Quigley's ready for me to get rolling and get out of the house.

 

[smoothshooter]

Ran across a new Marlin 1894 in .357 and had to have it.

Totally impressed with the wood and finish. The photos don't do it justice.

That's what I get for adding a lot of light in the photo trying to capture the wood grain. It looks fine in real life.

Whatever.


,

Don’t sweat it. Still a darned good-looking rifle!

 

[smoothshooter]

It may seem odd but could be related to demand from certain areas. Ever since several states went from shotgun/muzzle loader only to allowing rifles so long as they were chambered for straight wall cartridges demand for guns in those calibers skyrocketed. 357, 44 and the good old 45-70 are hot ticket items. If anything, I think they're missing a bet by not bringing back the 444 round (and leaning on the ammo makers to produce more ammo for it).

I expect they'll get 30-30s out eventually but the guns they are making are getting a lot of interest. And they seem to be selling, pretty well from what I see at gun shops around here.

AMEN ON THE .444!!!
But NOT in a carbine.

 

[Enzo Rules]

My wife bought me one for Christmas last year, also in 357. I love it and they, including yours, are absolutely beautiful.

 

[WardenRoss]

Don’t sweat it. Still a darned good-looking rifle!

Here's another attempt to capture the true color.

The soft fluorescent kitchen lights seem to work best.


,

 

[Puller]

From my experience a .357 lever gun inside of a hundred yards will do anything a .30-30 will do.

 

[Wyo]

The thing I like about the new 1894’s is they’re so darn accurate. I had one of mine in .357 out on the Powder River yesterday and was hitting targets in the water at 200 yds. The target below was at 50 yds. They’re just a real delight to use. Kudos to Ruger for doing these rifles up right!

 

[chief38]

The 1894 Marlin's are great in both rifle and carbine lengths! I've got one in 45 Colt and that model is the 1894-S. I bought the 45 version for use in SASS matches and so I could have one caliber to shoot in competitions along with the two Colt SAA revolvers I used. I'm lucky enough to have a JM stamped model from th original company. I think I bought it in the early to mid 1980's.

For other than SASS matches (where old cowboy calibers rule) the 38/357 combo is very hard to beat!

 

[Exaviator]

Used one for several years competing in CASS shoots, and found it to be both reliable, and fitted with an aperture rear sight, a very accurate rifle.

 

[Yendor357]

This is my new one.
4X Leupold, rear sight and safety delete.

That group is about average. I’ve done better, and I’ve done worse. 158 grains of lead at 1224 fps is no joke. Very pleasant shooting.

 

[rockquarry]

This is my new one.
4X Leupold, rear sight and safety delete.

That group is about average. I’ve done better, and I’ve done worse. 158 grains of lead at 1224 fps is no joke. Very pleasant shooting.

Do you like the gray laminate stock? Bud's Discount Guns has these now (don't remember if it's the .357 or .44) reduced to $900, I think.