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

[dpast32]

Well, I don't have a Marlin, but I do have a Winchester M1894 "Trapper" 16" bbl. Carbine in .44 Magnum. I would have preferred a Marlin, but just couldn't find a 16" bbl'd Trapper version of one, so finally eneded up with a Winchester. Each one has both it's good & bad points, but if you know your weapon's limitations, they do make excellent close cover & defensive carbines when fed the correct ammunition.

dpast32

 

[Duster340]

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.

Thanks for the clarification Pef. Much appreciated.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I have a 1894 Limited Cowboy, nice little rifle. Never have fired a .44 Magnum out of it yet just .44 Specials with the Lyman #429421 and Hornady 240gr XTP's with Power Pistol Powder. Works just fine and is a good shooter.

 

[amazingflapjack]

I had a 92' in 44 Mag-and as was said, I wasn't ready for the recoil, and I have owned lever guns in 45-70 Govt. The crescent butt plate was a big part of the problem. I sold it and got a 94' in 357 Mag-put a good red dot on it in the "scout" position, and it is easily my favorite centerfire rifle. It's a 16 inch, and anyone could shoot it well.

 

[Bat Guano]

Had one of the older models about fifteen years ago. Picked it up used thinking to do a little cowboy shooting with it. It didn't always feed, so I sent it back to Marlin and they fixed that issue. Couldn't get it to shoot very well even with a scope temporarily on; maybe more time and experimentation would have improved matters. I thought the recoil with magnums was a bit excessive as well. All in all I just lost interest in it.

Guess I'm not much of a lever gunner...

But I saw a couple of repro lightweight '86 Winchester takedowns for sale somewhere in cyberspace recently...

Come to think about it, if Remington makes a little 20 ga. rifle sighted 870, that would be a slick little item, too.

 

[Eaglestroker]

Have an 1894P I hope to get a white tail with this year. Has a skinner rear sight on it - only issue I've ever had with it is that the loading gate screw likes to loosen over a range session with magnum loads. Kick is the most of any of the pistol caliber rifles/carbines I have.




Picked up one of the Rugers' with tube mag this past February and really like it too. Be a better option for someone who wants a 44 mag but is more prone to recoil sensitivity.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

In 1984 I had 2, a newer 1894 and a older 336 (yes a 336 in 44 mag). the 1894 was back in the "Gold Trigger" and micro-groove days. The ammo of choice back then was S&W brand, 44 mag 240 grain jacketed HP. I must have shot 50- 20 round boxes of it. Both guns shot very well with that ammo. I never considered the recoil to be bad, as we played with 458 Win Mag and 375 H&H all the time. So it is all in what you are use to.

On the cross bolt safety; In SASS shooting you will learn that people will sneak up and put your safety on. To prevent this, there is a factory set screw on the left side of the fame, the butt stock needs removed for access, so you can disable the push button in the fire position. I have Cowboy models in 44-40 and 45 Colt. I believe this feature is on the 1895's Guide guns also. I have or had 1894 Marlins with Lyman tang and Williams receiver peep sights. They are helpful for longer shots and varmint hunting, but the standard mid-barrel sights were/are fine for Deer hunting out past 100 yards (when I was younger, past 200 yards). All the Marlin Lever Guns are drilled and tapped for scopes and receiver sights since the mid 70's and some Cowboy models are set up for tang sights (It is illegal to drill through the serial number on the tang, so most of the tang sight sets have a plate to deal with the longer spacing required.)

I sold off those two 44's by 1986, but have bought and sold around 15 since then, and I have 4 Marlins (3- 1894's and a 1895) currently. I believe before price insanity started a couple of years ago, that the pre-Remington Marlins were the best bang for the buck. With 9 to 14 shot magazines, They are lots of fire power without any "Assault Rifle Stigma" and will match up nicely will single or double action revolvers (I prefer cross draw holsters, so the rifle won't hit the revolver). Ivan

 

[gkitch]

A 44 Magnum lever-action carbine is an excellent rifle to have around your place in Wisconsin. As mentioned, you will have a good bit of firepower readily available and, since you handload, it will be realatively inexpensive to operate. Other than deer hunting, it would be ideal for most other kinds of varmits one may encounter and feel a need to dispatch.

The 44 magnum is, however, a big handgun caliber but a light rifle caliber. I have, indeed, hunted much with this caliber and your blood-trail will usually be a good bit less obvious than had you hit a deer with a high velocity soft point 308 or 270. Your follow-up shots will be quicker though.

As for handloads, I would load them where you could still shoot the same rounds through your revolvers (the Marlin can take heavier loads). Finding a good load that is powerful and works well in both should not be too difficult. A good 240 or 250 grain bullet would be the place to start. Crimp them well, as the rounds will be under spring pressure in the tube magazine and may collapse without a solid crimp.

 

[Cyrano]

I(I prefer cross draw holsters, so the rifle won't hit the revolver). Ivan

Yay, another vote for crossdraw holsters! I have carried a Ruger Security Six, 6" barrel, sighted in for 100 yards, in the desert for years, in an El Paso Saddlery Tom Threepersons cross draw holster.