.44 magnum rifle

[TienLungTaoist]

I was wondering if anyone knows of a good quality .44magnum Carbine or long rifle. Im leaning toward the Marlin 1894ss because it is stainless like my 629 but I wish it had at least a 24" barrel. I was looking at a Rossi M92 but I have read mixed reviews on the quality. I would like to build my .44 mag kit, rifle, Revolver, and maybe a MR Desert eagle .44 mag once I graduate. I would only have to load one caliber ammo.

 

[TACC1]

Ruger has made a couple different model in 44 Mag, carbines.
I don't think they're still being produced. Mine is the Deerfield, with
rear aperture sight, and rotating bolt.
Try Gun Broker, rifle, 44 Mag. There were 162 examples.
TACC1

 

[M29since14]

I was wondering if anyone knows of a good quality .44magnum Carbine or long rifle. Im leaning toward the Marlin 1894ss because it is stainless like my 629 but I wish it had at least a 24" barrel...

The Marlin is very popular here in Indiana, as is the Ruger 77 bolt gun. I hear very few complaints about either - maybe just a little grumbling about the silly magazine of the Ruger (but it seems to work OK).

There is really no reason to consider a long barrel for a 44 Magnum. The round is generally loaded to be efficient in shorter barrels. I doubt there is anything at all to be gained with a barrel longer than 18-inches or so, and 16 might be handier.

If you fancy the '92 type, you might snoop around for one of the older Browning knock-offs. But, beware. I have a friend who used to own one of those. One day he was telling me how brutal recoil was, and I had to laugh at him because not only did I not know any better, but also I thought the idea of a 44 Magnum in a carbine was a bit fanciful. It did not take more than a couple shots to convince me he was right.

If I were buying a carbine to hunt deer, I would want the Ruger, or something similar, because I like bolt-actions, but I believe the Marlin would probably be just as accurate.

 

[Fishinfool]

If you like bolt actions, the Ruger is the way to go. Lever actions? - I have owned both the Rossi 92 and the Marlin 1894. To my way of thinking, the Marlin is the nicer rifle, and is more accurate to boot.

Ruger also made two semi-auto versions, as well as a lever action. None are as well rounded as the Marlin 1894, though my fathers three digit serial number Ruger Deerstalker is a nice rifle, with a lot of game under its belt. Just not real accurate, or reliable, for that matter.

Larry

 

[ldausmc1369]

Ruger 96/44

Excellent little, and I do mean little, gun for the .44mag! I've had mine for many years and have hunted hogs & deer all over with it. With hand loads, it will hold a consistent 2" group at 50 and around 3" at 100. Plenty of knock down on both ends! Kicks like a Missouri mule! There is an aftermarket recoil pad for the Mini-14 that fits perfectly and adds around an inch to the LOP and dampens the recoil. They are scarce, as they have been discontinued for years, and rather pricey!

 

[off road]

Barrel Length / Muzzle Velocity

Notice that the relationship between velocity and barrel length is not linear (you are a student right, so you should know what that means). The longer the barrel gets, the less velocity increase there is per inch of extra length. Notice that the difference between a 17" and 18" is a mere 11 fps. For comparison, the difference between a 2" and 3" barrel is a substantial ~132 fps.

So....I am suggesting that a barrel longer than ~18" is just wasted metal that is going to make the rifle all the more clumsy to handle in the brush (these were deep woods whitetail guns when I lived in WVa). So, get the Marlin and forget any thoughts of a longer barrel!

 

[PDL]

Not to knock Marlins, cause they were great. But I've seen a lot of complaints since Remington bought them. Do some research if you're buying a 'new' gun. An older used Marlin is a different beast. As they say YMMV.

 

[Stevie]

I just bought a Rossi stainless M92...only thing it needed was the rear sight lowered a bit(didn't have quite enough adjustment to get on target).

Once I got the sights set it's an excellent shooter...feeds good..loads good too.

Does have a superfluous safety on the back end of the bolt...wood fits pretty decent but not perfect..its some sort of stained hardwood..not walnut(not unattractive wood..looks fine). The metal works and parts appear well made and fitted.

The rear sight not having quite enough elevation adjustment is about the main gripe I can bring against the stainless Rossi .44 magnum. I spent just a bit of time reducing the height of the rear blade and deepened the sight notch a touch and the gun shoots sweet.

I like it better than a old model Ruger .44 mag carbine I used to own..mainly because the Rossi lever-gun will shoot reduced power loads that wouldn't begin to function the Ruger's semi-auto action.

 

[BearBio]

I LOVE the Ruger. Cousin had one long time ago (1960's?) and it was a great little packing rifle-we were working a gold mine in the hills above Los Angeles and had several lions hanging around. So, don't get me wrong on this.

I think the Marlin is a better gun. I've got one I bought the wife and then she wanted the 357 Cowboy for SASS. Every time I pick it up to sell it, she just grabs me, gives me a big wet one and whispers "What does the wife know? Put me back in the closet. Just so you know I'll always be there for you." Then the knees buckle and I'm lost.....

Handles great, handles extra heavy bear loads (I didn't say she likes them but she'll handle them). Put a williams rear sight and a fiber optic front sight on her (something in HOT ORANGE!) and you'll be set to go!

ps: You can put a faucet washer on the safety and it prevents it from slipping on when you don't want it to.

 

[jkc]

Barrel Length / Muzzle Velocity

Notice that the relationship between velocity and barrel length is not linear (you are a college student right, so you should know what that means). The longer the barrel gets, the less velocity increase there is per inch of extra length. Notice that the difference between a 17" and 18" is a mere 11 fps. For comparison, the difference between a 2" and 3" barrel is a substantial ~132 fps.

So....I am suggesting that a barrel longer than ~18" is just wasted metal that is going to make the rifle all the more clumsy to handle in the brush (these were deep woods whitetail guns when I lived in WVa). So, get the Marlin and forget any thoughts of a longer barrel!

Well said, and spot on --- there's no ballistic advantage of barrels longer than 18" in .44 Mag.

My latest project has been a stainless/synthetic Ruger M77/44 --- a short, handy, featherweight carbine. I've equipped mine with a New England Custom Guns receiver sight that fits into the Ruger scope base dovetails with no gunsmithing required, a Tech Sight's front sight, and a short length of Picatinny rail on the forend, to hold a Surefire flashlight in a Vltor mount --- it illuminates both target and front sight! All in all, a much more satisfactory arrangement than the .44 lever guns or Deerfield Carbine semi-auto I once owned...

 

[Nightowl]

Take a look at the Marlin 1894 Cowboy version. It has a longer octogon barrel. I think it is 22 inches which is plenty. Good sight radius. I like octogon barrels!!

 

[sw44spl]

a tc with a 44 mag barrel or the marlin but get a older marlin not a new one.

 

[RobertJ.]

My next rifle is going to be a .44 Mag. carbine. I like the Marlin, I could go with that. But I do have a Rossi .357 Carbine, and it's a great shooter, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one in .44. I did upgrade the sights, I put a Williams peep on the rear, and a Lyman front with a big white bead. I also replaced the safety with a plug from Steve's Gunz in Pt. Arthur Tx. It's accurate and reliable, and for me it's a toss up between the Rossi and the Marlin.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I'm shooting an older (pre CBS) Marlin 1894 44 and it's really nice!

Interestingly, lever guns typically slug different than a revolver, so that ammo for both thing might (I say might) not fly. I size .431 for mine, but truth be told, that size is better for my S&W's too - less leading. In the 1894 it translates into accuracy, bolt gun acuracy.

Ruger bolt guns in 44 have a good reputation!

One thing to know, that 265g cast bullet I shoot at 1200fps in my S&W moves @ 1700fps in the Marlin - same load. At 100 yards the bullet is moving faster than it is at the muzzle of the revolver. So, you get a boost in power and it makes the 44 a serious hunting round.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I read over and over that the bore on many .44 Magnum rifles is not the same bore you will see in a revolver. I'm in on a group buy for a .44 cast bullet mold and the mold diameter is .432 for mine. They are also offering a bigger one. I asked why and several guys said because their rifles shoot so much better with them since they slugged barrels or kept trying larger diameter bullets. So if you find your .44 Magnum rifle isn't shooting very accurate, this may be why. My M29 is right at .429/.430 so I size mine to .431 and they are pretty darn good. The same bullet in a rifle might cause leading and not be so accurate... So the regular thought of the same ammo for two guns maybe isn't as cut and dry as one would think.

 

[Engineer1911]

Marlin 44

Marlin "Microgroove rifling" doesn't work with lead bullets unless you use the "correct" cast bullet, but will shoot jacketed bullets accurately. I had 1 bullet mold, 1 sizer die, and could not find an accurate rifle load.

A rifle / handgun combo that shoots the same ammo accurately is tough to do. A suggestion: nickel cases for the rifle, brass cases for the handgun.

 

[rond]

I really like my Ruger 96/44, handy carbine, and it likes cast bullets. Shares the same ammo as my Super Blackhawk.

 

[Chop]

I have a older Marlin 1894 from about 1975. I've shot lots of factory .44 Spec. and .44 Mag with no problems at all. Nice, light, handy rifle. Its perfect for backpacking, holds 10 rounds.
Chop

 

[ladder13]

Have both a Win 94AE and a Browning 92 in 44 mag, neither has the cross bolt safety. The action on the Browning is slick as could be. The recoil on both is quite stout though.

 

[beach elvis]

I've had both a Winchester Ranger and Marlin 1894, both in .44 mag.
Sold the Winny. Nice and carry-able, but with the recoil that it had, I'd go with a .308. If I'm gonna be shooting something with that much jump, it might as well have more juice.

Love the Marlin. Less recoil, better field stripping, more accurate (with my revolver load) than my old Winchester. 'Bout the Winny's only advantage was resale value, just because of the name. Don't know about Remington-era stuff. If you can score one that's pre-crossbolt safety, you'll be as golden as your rifle's trigger.