Glenn R. McMannly
Member
How are the new Ruger made Marlin pistol caliber lever guns?
Eyeing the .357 but only IF quality has improved.
Eyeing the .357 but only IF quality has improved.
Marlin Ruger 1894
- Thread starter Glenn R. McMannly
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"hickok45" just today put up a segment today on the 1894 Marlin (Ruger) Classic in .44 magnum. While not the .357 you were considering the comments and info may be helpful for you.
Don
Don
Doug M.
Member
What I have seen/read has been favorable. Just waiting for the specific .357 model to be made, which could be a couple more years.
OP
Glenn R. McMannly
Member
I see. That’s unfortunate. I was hoping for a .357.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
Over the last 40 years I have owned 3 of the JM Marlin 357 1894-C's. The first I bought new around 1983 for a then very good price of $159. I did poor modifications and messed the outside up pretty bad. It remained flawless in function. I sold it about 3 years later for $200, and everybody was happy.
The second two were both used, and I have no idea how long this common flaw tokes to develop! But after an unknown amount of wear, they no longer feed 38 specials of any type, but still feed 357's. J.B.Woods, in his book "Troubleshooting Your Rifles and Shotguns" say the easiest fix is a new elevator! Second easiest, is to take a section of hacksaw blade and remove ANY set from the teeth (Grinder or belt sander), then epoxy it over the groove the "Hand" wears in the bottom of the elevator.
Since Rugar hasn't made any yet we don't know if that flaw will continue in the future.
I have had several 1894's in 44Mag and 45 Colt and one 336 in 44 Mag. No matter how used and abused this problem neve arises. BTW Just like the 44 Mag will feed 44 Specials, the 45 Colt will feed 45 S&W Schofield too! Another FYI: 38 S&W, 38 Short Colt, 44 Russian and 45 Auto Rim won't feed in the Marlins. And requires disassembly to return to proper operating condition. The owner's manual said so, and I proved them correct! (Never tried 38 Long Colt.)
I have had around a dozen Model 92 (1 Tigre and the rest by Rossi) None have ever had the feeding issue of the 357 Marlin. The really short shells don't work in them either!
Ivan
The second two were both used, and I have no idea how long this common flaw tokes to develop! But after an unknown amount of wear, they no longer feed 38 specials of any type, but still feed 357's. J.B.Woods, in his book "Troubleshooting Your Rifles and Shotguns" say the easiest fix is a new elevator! Second easiest, is to take a section of hacksaw blade and remove ANY set from the teeth (Grinder or belt sander), then epoxy it over the groove the "Hand" wears in the bottom of the elevator.
Since Rugar hasn't made any yet we don't know if that flaw will continue in the future.
I have had several 1894's in 44Mag and 45 Colt and one 336 in 44 Mag. No matter how used and abused this problem neve arises. BTW Just like the 44 Mag will feed 44 Specials, the 45 Colt will feed 45 S&W Schofield too! Another FYI: 38 S&W, 38 Short Colt, 44 Russian and 45 Auto Rim won't feed in the Marlins. And requires disassembly to return to proper operating condition. The owner's manual said so, and I proved them correct! (Never tried 38 Long Colt.)
I have had around a dozen Model 92 (1 Tigre and the rest by Rossi) None have ever had the feeding issue of the 357 Marlin. The really short shells don't work in them either!
Ivan
Guys the .357 Magnum version of the 1894 has been released.
I already have a .44 Magnum 1894 (early 1970s), so I passed on that but I do own a new 1895 Guide Gun (45-70) and a 336 Classic (30-30). The rifles made in Mayodan, NC, where Ruger built an entirely new factory to produce Marlins, are as nice or better than my “JM” Marlins. For one thing, they have hammer forged barrels with normal rifling. Marlin introduced “microgroove” rifling in the 1950s to reduce production costs. It’s OK for jacketed bullets but can cause problems with lead projectiles.
I already have a .44 Magnum 1894 (early 1970s), so I passed on that but I do own a new 1895 Guide Gun (45-70) and a 336 Classic (30-30). The rifles made in Mayodan, NC, where Ruger built an entirely new factory to produce Marlins, are as nice or better than my “JM” Marlins. For one thing, they have hammer forged barrels with normal rifling. Marlin introduced “microgroove” rifling in the 1950s to reduce production costs. It’s OK for jacketed bullets but can cause problems with lead projectiles.
Fellas the 357 was released after Thanksgiving. I got mine last week.
Classic Series Model 1894
No issue feeding 158gr 38s, but the lighter 38 Special 125gr bullets I tried took some lever fiddling to work. The further you get away from the 357 OAL the more issues you can anticipate. Mine fed every weight 357 I tried.
The only other Marlin lever I own is a JM stamped Guide Gun, and the Ruger-made fit/finish/wood quality is slightly improved.
Classic Series Model 1894
No issue feeding 158gr 38s, but the lighter 38 Special 125gr bullets I tried took some lever fiddling to work. The further you get away from the 357 OAL the more issues you can anticipate. Mine fed every weight 357 I tried.
The only other Marlin lever I own is a JM stamped Guide Gun, and the Ruger-made fit/finish/wood quality is slightly improved.
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OP
Glenn R. McMannly
Member
Yikes.
Being able to feed the less expensive .38s was a big draw for me. That’s a shame. Maybe your rifle has an issue?
No my rifle doesn't have an issue...
The product manual and website states "Reliably feeds a wide range of .357 Magnum and .38 Special factory ammunition."
The rifle is designed around the OAL of 357 Magnum ammunition. The lighter shorter rounds have more deviation from the carrier and feeding geometry, thus the issues. It's been like this since the advent of the lever action. Even my old Marlin manual states an OAL range of 45-70 ammunition for flawless function.
Unsure what 38 Special you might want to use, but as I stated it flawlessly fed every 158gr profile (semi-wadcutter, JSP, and JHP) 38 I had, and I tried it with 357s from 110-180gr in which it performed 100%.
The product manual and website states "Reliably feeds a wide range of .357 Magnum and .38 Special factory ammunition."
The rifle is designed around the OAL of 357 Magnum ammunition. The lighter shorter rounds have more deviation from the carrier and feeding geometry, thus the issues. It's been like this since the advent of the lever action. Even my old Marlin manual states an OAL range of 45-70 ammunition for flawless function.
Unsure what 38 Special you might want to use, but as I stated it flawlessly fed every 158gr profile (semi-wadcutter, JSP, and JHP) 38 I had, and I tried it with 357s from 110-180gr in which it performed 100%.
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Borderboss
Member
I've never had one hiccup with my 1990s-version JM 1894 Cowboy shooting .38 Specials. I used it for Cowboy Action Shooting and have thousands of 158gr round nose and flat nose rounds through it with absolutely zero feed problems.
Is Ruger casting their Marlin frames and small parts or are they forged?
OP
Glenn R. McMannly
Member
Very nice. Thank you.
I have tried to order one but they are out of stock everywhere. I imagine it will remain so for a very long time since these are supposedly under limited construction at the moment.
A light, handy .357 carbine would pair nicely with a Blackhawk in the same caliber.
CH4 - Ruger is using forgings on all Marlin lever rifles.
Glenn McMannly - I have found them in-stock at a lot of dealers and the usual auction sites. However, I wouldn't pay the ridiculous prices they are marked up to. Some of these dealers are listing well over an already rich MSRP. Using the recently released Marlin 44 Magnum as a guide, the "new" tax ought to drop off in three months or so to the low to mid $900 range.
Glenn McMannly - I have found them in-stock at a lot of dealers and the usual auction sites. However, I wouldn't pay the ridiculous prices they are marked up to. Some of these dealers are listing well over an already rich MSRP. Using the recently released Marlin 44 Magnum as a guide, the "new" tax ought to drop off in three months or so to the low to mid $900 range.
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I'm a huge Marlin lever gun fan and all of the ones I own are vintage models. Remington pretty much destroyed the Marlin Firearms Company however everything I have seen, heard about and read points to Marlin being resurrected in a proper manner. It seems Ruger has done a very good job with the line and the QC seems right up there! While they slightly differ in looks, I will take my hat off to Ruger and give them two thumbs up! The new version looks great in its own way too.
If someone buys a new Ruger / Marlin I think they would be quite happy and have good reason to be proud of it. In the past I was never a Ruger fan but have grown to realize that Ruger is a very reliable, stand-up company and while many other manufacturers have let their QC fall by the wayside, Ruger has stepped theirs up. The main gripe I have against Ruger now is the triggers on their "target grade" pistols are still horrible.
NOW...... we can only HOPE they resurrect the Marlin 39A in the manner it deserves. IMHO, the 39A was the finest 22 lever gun ever produced! Maybe the Winchester 9422 XTR is purdier however for a grown man, it is a bit too small and short. The full sized 39A is just the ticket for that sort of rifle IMO.
If someone buys a new Ruger / Marlin I think they would be quite happy and have good reason to be proud of it. In the past I was never a Ruger fan but have grown to realize that Ruger is a very reliable, stand-up company and while many other manufacturers have let their QC fall by the wayside, Ruger has stepped theirs up. The main gripe I have against Ruger now is the triggers on their "target grade" pistols are still horrible.
NOW...... we can only HOPE they resurrect the Marlin 39A in the manner it deserves. IMHO, the 39A was the finest 22 lever gun ever produced! Maybe the Winchester 9422 XTR is purdier however for a grown man, it is a bit too small and short. The full sized 39A is just the ticket for that sort of rifle IMO.
+1 to all that and I've been told we can expect a run of 41 Magnum levers in the near future.
The prices of JM 41s has been beyond absurd for years. Even at 3k plus they do find buyers more regularly than one would imagine.
The prices of JM 41s has been beyond absurd for years. Even at 3k plus they do find buyers more regularly than one would imagine.
In stock at Grab A Gun for $1299.99. .
Yendor357
Member
I’ve seen and handled a new 1894 in 44 Magnum. The one I saw looked NICE.
I bought my 1984 in .357 in the mid-late 80s for $175 new. No push button safety. I have a hard time turning loose of $1250+ for one with checkering and a safety. My little 357 rifle has killed a lot of deer.
I bought my 1984 in .357 in the mid-late 80s for $175 new. No push button safety. I have a hard time turning loose of $1250+ for one with checkering and a safety. My little 357 rifle has killed a lot of deer.
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