Any Marlin 1894 .44 Mag Owners here on the Forum?

[Duster340]

Hey Folks,

My wife and I purchased a small parcel of land in Northern Wisconsin last year, and will be doing some deer hunting up there. Heavy hardwoods and dense cedar wetlands make up the landscape. I had planned on using a little .303 Brit (Self Bubba-ized) carbine that has dropped a few deer in the past, but after spending time on this property I realized that shots will be less than 50 yards. Got to thinking that a little Marlin 1894 .44 mag might be just the ticket, and a nice companion to my SBH. The fact that I already reload .44 mag adds to the attraction. (As I type this, it is as if I am coming up with a good excuse to explain to "the Boss" why I need to buy another toy ) .

Anyway, I was hoping to hear from some members that own/shoot/hunt with a Marlin 1894 in .44 mag. Maybe share pros/cons? Alternative options in .44 mag (I'd love to find a old Ruger Semiauto .44 carbine!)?, pet/proven deer loads, and any other helpful tidbits?

As always, thanks in advance for the input, and be well all.

 

[gregintenn]

I believe this one was made the same year as me; 1973.

It shoots 240 grain jhp Magtech into a tighter group than anything I've been able to handload thus far.

Assuming you can find one without a safety, you've found a true prize in my opinion.

 

[Fishinfool]

I have owned a couple 1894's in 44 mag. One, a pre-safety blued, the other a later manufactured stainless steel "JM" marked gun. When looking for a used one, look for one with a "JM" marked barrel, as these guns were made before the Remington take over, and still had the high quality Marlin was known for.

Cast or jacketed bullets work well in these guns - Just be aware of the fact they are sensitive to cartridge OAL, and bullet profile to a lesser extent. Most seem to feed best with bullets in the 240 - 250 grain weight, or less.

For hunting, I like a hard cast 250 grain SWC, or a 240 grain jacketed XTP bullet over a healthy dose of Winchester 296 / H-110 powder. That longer barrel steps those loads up to 1800 fps., and hit hard.

Larry

 

[kilo charlie]

I have one from 1988 that is amazingly accurate and low recoiling. I think it is a great firearm for almost any game within it's limits, I use the iron sights and keep my shots to about 125 yards or less.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

I have one in stainless. I do not hunt but I had no trouble with hollow points, lead round nose or jacketed. I never fired any 44 special out of it so I do not know how well that works. What I can tell you is that it liked the heavier bullets around 240 grain. The 180 grain was not that accurate for me.

James

 

[6518John]

It was my first rifle as a teenager. I LOVED IT! It was in perfect shape when I gave it to a 12 year old boy when his father was tragicaly killed in an industrial accident 20 years ago. That boy is now 32 and has killed a couple of deer a year since he was 12 and countless hogs. Still looks and shots like brand new.

One can't go wrong buying one, or five or ten, in all calibers made!

 

[max]

I have a Winchester 94 in 44 and all I can say,is that with magnum loads it kicks like a mule.

 

[holo]

far right one in the pic just got it few moths ago, Ohio is now allowing us to hunt with straight wall rifle cart. cant wait to get in the woods with it. All of my shots are also around 50 yards. If you are going to get a Marlin hold out for a J.M. stamped gun its a much better made gun than the new Remington made.

1894 P.G. marlin .44 mag

 

[Pef]

I have one in stainless. Put some skinner sights on it as well. I don't hunt, but it is a nice shooter and quite accurate.

Some tips:

1) Be sure the one you buy has a JM proof, and preferably is a 2008 or earlier manufacture. Earlier the better.

2) Because you reload, put together a batch of dummy .44 mags and .44 specials. Load each and cycle to make sure the carrier timing is right. If the carrier timing is slightly off, it will "let in two." The fix may be easy enough, but for any 1894 you definitely want to cycle dummies to check for feeding issues.

 

[Electraclyde]

I have a "JM" marked from 1983. It is very accurate with my home loaded 240gr XTP ammo, same as I shoot in my Ruger Super Red Hawk.
The revolver has a scope and the rifle stays with the iron sights.
If I could only have one rifle this would be it.

 

[RobertJ.]

2) Because you reload, put together a batch of dummy .44 mags and .44 specials. Load each and cycle to make sure the carrier timing is right. If the carrier timing is slightly off, it will "let in two." The fix may be easy enough, but for any 1894 you definitely want to cycle dummies to check for feeding issues.

Excellent advice. That's also known as "the dreaded Marlin jam", and can be fixed by replacing the carrier. At least that's how I fixed mine, then it cycled great.

Also, take a look at one of the Winchester Model 92 copies, like a Rossi. I have one in .357 Mag, and while I like the Marlin, that little Rossi is smooth as glass, and one of my favorites!

 

[Squarebutt]

Lots of good recommendations. I wish I'd bought one years ago as a companion to my 629. I love my 1959 336 in .35 Remington, but that's a larger frame.
Another model you might like is the Henry lever gun. Made in USA and very high quality.

 

[Jebus35745]

I have one in 357 and have yet to shoot it. Let us all know how yours shoots and at what distance. Larry

 

[samwood]

I have the 1894P (ported model with a 16 inch barrel). Recoil, with 240 grain factory loads, seemed similar to recoil of factory 300 grain loads fired in the 45-70 guide gun. Replacing the Marlin recoil pad with a limbsaver pad made a noticeable difference for me. I find the 357 magnum version much more pleasant to shoot. I find the 44 magnum Ruger Deerfield semi auto carbine (the more recent model with rotary clip) to recoil less than either 1894.

It sounds like most other folks find the 44 magnum version of the 1894 low in recoil; so it is probably just me. I also replaced the stock sights on both 1894's with XS sight sets and found them a significant improvement; the skinner sights look interesting as well.

I put a 2.5X scope on the Ruger; it shoots the few factory loads I've tried into inch groups at 50 yards; non-jacketed loads are not recommended for this particular model.

 

[4barrel]

I thought everyone had one,

 

[Duster340]

A big Thank You for all the great responses!! Lot's of good info.

So it seems folks have no love for new models and favor the older "JM" versions. I did not realize Remington was producing them now. Is this based on a new design? Poor quality?

Also a few mention a preference for models w/o safeties. Can you elaborate on this for me? Again, bad design?

Looks like I have some homework to do LOL.

As for the Ruger Deerslayer, I have not seen one for sale in years!

 

[bigsteve113]

Used one on my ranch for years. Carried it in a scabbard either on my saddle if I was on horseback, or I would tie the scabbard to the tractor when bush-hogging the pastures. Coyotes would follow that tractor to catch the mice and rabbits running from the grass.

Many a coyote, snake, armadillo, and other vermin fell to that rifle. Once a injured horse too, which sucked to have to do, but that 1894 with a hot loaded XTP did it's job clean and quick. That rifle and the .44 round, sometimes 240 gr LSWC, sometimes 240 or 300 gr JHP, always served me well. Never foung a gun task it couldn't handle. Shoots lead and jacketed well, even though it's a microgroove barrel. Love that rifle. Still got it but since I'm taking a lil hiatus from cowboying right now I hadn't shot it lately. This tread is gonna make me go dig it out the safe!

If you got a hankerin' for one, get it! It will compliment tour .44 sidearm well. I carried a .44 Magnum Ruger Vaquero with mine. Especially with average 50 yard shots, of course it's capable of much further shots. I wouldn't be scared to take on a grizzly with that rifle!

 

[Pef]

A big Thank You for all the great responses!! Lot's of good info.

So it seems folks have no love for new models and favor the older "JM" versions. I did not realize Remington was producing them now. Is this based on a new design? Poor quality?

Also a few mention a preference for models w/o safeties. Can you elaborate on this for me? Again, bad design?

Looks like I have some homework to do LOL.

As for the Ruger Deerslayer, I have not seen one for sale in years!

Around 2009 - 2010 Remington shut down the Conn. plant of Marlin, and moved what it could to Ilion NY. However, the machinery was old, and the know-how (skilled workers) did not follow. Same design, but many, many QA problems followed, and Remington even shut down production (don't know if it has resumed). So that is why you look for a 2009 or earlier one, and with the JM proof on the barrel.

Some people don't like the cross bar safety, but I don't mind it.

 

[holo]

A big Thank You for all the great responses!! Lot's of good info.

So it seems folks have no love for new models and favor the older "JM" versions. I did not realize Remington was producing them now. Is this based on a new design? Poor quality?

Also a few mention a preference for models w/o safeties. Can you elaborate on this for me? Again, bad design?

Looks like I have some homework to do LOL.

As for the Ruger Deerslayer, I have not seen one for sale in years!

try the ruger forum they are in the classified often

 

[Cpo1944]

I have one and it`s probably circa 1970 . I don`t hunt , but I love it for plinking. Mine did not like regular size .44 bullets , they "key holed". Normal size is .429,so now I load .433 just for it, and it is dead on accurate.