1894 Marlin 357 Carbine, 1980 Production

[quinn]

Due to retina damage in my right eye I have been looking for a long gun to learn left-handed shooting. Son suggested I watch out for a 357 Marlin that would take a scope as well.

At the Tulsa show a guy walked past a friend's table carrying this critter and was directed to our table. He'd bought it new in 1980, and the box had gotten damaged in a basement flood (I know--buy the gun, not the story) A cracked teacup could hold all I know about Marlins, but our tablemate knew quite a bit. I about fainted at his asking price, but I was informed that it was a good price. The seller cautioned me about touching the red sticker on the fore end--which I subsequently damaged in a new gun sock on the way home. I though the seller might cry when I told him I was going to put a cope on it and take it to the range.

18" barrel, JM marked, NO crossbolt safety (I understand this is good), 1980 serial number and not a scratch anywhere. Wasn't made by S&W, but I'm told it wasn't made by Remington, either. Good thing?

 

[Milton]

I for one would like to know how it shoots when you finally get it set up and try it out!

 

[jay73]

My teacup doesn't hold much more than yours, but that is a desirable Marlin. I've been looking for one also. As to the Remington made Marlins, I have an 1895 made in 2016 that functions well. I don't have direct experience with the early Remlins, but heard good and bad.

Beautiful rifle BTW.

 

[Goldstar225]

Congratulations on a very good rifle. After lusting for one for several I lucked into a good deal on one last year. Very pleasant to shoot with magnum loads and .38 equivalent loads (I handload them in magnum brass) are just barely above .22 LR recoil. They are hungry rascals, it's hard to stop shooting once you start.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I had a 1894 Marlin in 357 that I got new in 1982. It shot very well with cast and jacketed bullets. I developed a 180 grain SHP jacketed load with 4227 to take advantage of the barrel length. The slightly slower powder made it outstanding as a carbine load, both in velocity and accuracy. There is an Reloader article from the mid 80's about 357 and 44 carbine loading and increased performance. (the load was great in my 4" models 28-2 and 686 also

Ivan

 

[kraynky]

I've had one for nearly 25 years, and love it. They were bringing $800-$1,000 not long ago. Remington started making them again and the prices settled down a little bit, but not much for the early pre-safety rifles like yours. Don't worry about keeping the red sticker if your planning on enjoying it. Scope it, shoot it and have fun! (mine's a '79 & looks just like yours) It's my most often used rifle at the range, although mine wears a peep sight.

Congratulations!

 

[Gripgrabber]

Very nice marlin! Congratulations mine is from 1985 when I began CAS. Mine has the cross bolt but also the Ballard rifling, a good thing for shooting lead. Lucky me I got a 44 mag JM last week!! Good luck with the scope project. I have thought about a forward rail with a red dot, like a scout with a dot.
Semper paratus

 

[Bakebfr480]

Very nice!

 

[Drm50]

You got the best of the Marlin 94s in 357. That one you have is $1K all day in these parts. The Rems aren't going to affect the price on Hi condition JM Marlins, especially the short run models. There is a demand for them, I would say Pre safety lever Marlins is the best chance to pick up sleepers if you can get them before they hit show circut.

 

[MCorps0311]

Very nice.

 

[Cal44]

I have several Marlins and have been "collecting" them for several years.

I have two 44 Magnum versions of the 1894 carbines -- but the 357 Magnum versions are harder to come by.

Just recently a friend offered to sell his 357 Mag version, and I bought it.

It's an early 1980's model. He was asking $650 and I bought it for that price.

It's in great condition, but not NIB.

Very nice shooter and accurate.

The "Remlins" (Marlins built by Remington after acquiring Marlin) were not as well made or reliable for the first several years. Hence the Marlins with the JM stamp on the barrel are worth more. In the last couple years, Remington is reputed to have gotten it's act together and the new Remlins are much improved.

Now to find one in 41 Magnum witch are even more rare...

 

[shouldazagged]

I'm envious. I love JM Marlin lever guns without the crossbolt safety.

 

[BigMuddy]

The perfect "saddle gun".

Dan

 

[Texas Star]

My teacup is evidently a little fuller. And it holds tonight Taylor's of Harrogate's Darjeeling tea, a favorite. Actually, I know more about tea than I do about Marlins... literally! The OP is in San Antonio. My son and his family live nearby and say the HEB grocery stores carry both Taylor's and Twining's teas. They're my favorite brands.
Taylor's also offers the luxury blended tea, Yorkshire Gold.

But I do know enough to know that Marlins are prized by the men I've known who used them. And some have been made in stainless steel in fairly recent years! They should be excellent utility and defense guns in the woods or in homes where a rifle may be used against intruders. I think they're fine for travellers not wanting to be burdened with a longer, more powerful rifle, and who may want a survival rifle to stow properly in a car trunk or on a cycle. Adding a 'scope somewhat defeats their basic purpose, I think. I might opt for a Ruger M-77 International .308 carbine in that role.

But the OP has retinal trouble and probably wants a light recoiling rifle. A .243 should work, maybe a 7mm-08 at most. Game there is mainly small to medium whitetail deer and javelinas, maybe a big feral hog. There are cougar nearby; my son has had them on his land. Saw two cats and their tracks. Def. not a bobcat, although they and coyotes are also present. Apart from a mean boar, the .357 will suffice at average range for all of these animals.

My only Marlin is a stainless M-795 .22. I love t! I think it was the best buy in a semi-auto .22, and the stainless construction and synthetic stock make a fine survival or jungle gun. Yes, we have members who live where there are jungles...

Lube it right and see which loads it favors, and I think you'll like that new Marlin a great deal. It's no .416, but you presumably aren't carrying it where elephant, rhino, or Cape buffalo are a threat! If you have to shoot a "lion", it'll be a mountain "lion", a cougar weighing less than half what a real lion does.

I'm a big fan of the .357 in revolvers and you have a companion carbine. Remington has made a 165 grain JHP load for deer. Do they still? If not, I've been told that Federal's 158 grain Hydra-Shok is a good deer load in a .357.

Many deer have been killed with a .32-20! I'd say that you're well ahead of that round.

Let us know how it shoots. Try several brands of ammo.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

If you want a conventional Weaver base and rings, all Marlin Center Fire Lever Actions all use the same base (the ring height depend on the scope front bell diameter.)

If you want a Scout style (foreword of the receiver), XS Sights model ML-6002RN looks like the proper base. I have this type of set-up on a Guide Gun (45-70) with a red dot. These install in about 15-20 minutes. Tools needs: Hammer, drift/punch, screw drivers, maybe Allen wrenches (SAE standard) 1)Just remove the rear sight and elevator. (use the drift and hammer) 2) place mounting stud in rear sight dove tale (no tools) 3) loosely screw base to stud, 4) screw rear of base to front pair a factory drilled scope base holes, 5) tighten front screw in stud. DONE (save the receiver screws and rear sight & elevator with your records of the gun OR save them with you scope mounting tool set. They will get lost in a junk parts box!!!- been there done that.)

If you want Iron sights along with the scout base you will need a new higher front sight and have several options for rear sights.

Scout Scopes are very fast and accurate for short and medium ranges, my eyes need Magnification for pop can sized targets beyond 50 yards and a conventional base is more suited to conventional scopes.

Ivan

 

[Chromedhearts]

Let me jump on the wagon with everyone else that loves these guns. I have one from that period, and it is one of the best shooting rifles I’ve ever had. Open sights and accurate out past two hundred yards


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[quinn]

Thanks for the advice and comments! I haven't made up my mind about a specific optic, yet. I think something compact would look best but I need enough power to really see my target. I'm hoping this kiddo will restore some fun to shooting again.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I've got an 1894CS from 1996 in .357 that I really like. Yours looks like a great rifle. Enjoy it . . .

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I treasure mine. Marlins need no drilling and tapping to mount a scope. The Microgroove rifling can be tricky to get good accuracy with lead bullets, Marlin
recently switched to Ballard rifling at the request of the CAS/SASS shooters.

 

[gehlsurf]

I've been looking for a Ballard cut Marlin for cast shooting, very hard to find (I'm not sure if this is Ballard or micro groove). None the less, they are very hard to find, so I think you may have done well!!

If you feel bad about the price. Have you looked at new ones? Or Taylor's? Lol, you'll probably feel better. Wanna feel real good? Look at the new takedown on Winchesters site. $1,700, I think? Lol. I mean, when the decision is a rifle or a used car on Craigslist, you know it's expensive....