canoeguy
US Veteran
While at Rural King several weeks ago, I saw a new Marlin 1894 lever rifle in .357 caliber, priced right around $900. Since they have an enabling layaway policy, I put a few bucks down on it, then picked it up a few weeks later. Quality seems on par with an earlier .357 Marlin 1894 I bought around 2009, "JM" marked, manufactured in North Haven, Connecticut, before Remington took over and quality suffered. This one is made in the Ruger plant in Mayodan, North Carolina. Sports some pretty walnut wood:
I've put about 150 rounds through it, jacketed .357 158 grain handloads, .357 158 grain hardcast, and some .38 Special Cowboy loads, 158 grain lead at 700 FPS, all seemed to feed and function fine, rifle seems to favor the 158 grain .357 hardcast at 1000 FPS, for accuracy. Only negatives I can reveal is that the front sight comes painted white, which loses the target at longer ranges. This limits my use of the rifle to about 80 yards for assured hits on smaller targets. Many will scope this rifle and be able to shoot it at longer ranges, but I will stick to the iron sights until I age out of them, then scope it.
I will use this rifle as a utility gun, carrying it on my ATV in a scabbard. I think it will serve well in that role, along with my Ruger Blackhawk in .357.....
I've put about 150 rounds through it, jacketed .357 158 grain handloads, .357 158 grain hardcast, and some .38 Special Cowboy loads, 158 grain lead at 700 FPS, all seemed to feed and function fine, rifle seems to favor the 158 grain .357 hardcast at 1000 FPS, for accuracy. Only negatives I can reveal is that the front sight comes painted white, which loses the target at longer ranges. This limits my use of the rifle to about 80 yards for assured hits on smaller targets. Many will scope this rifle and be able to shoot it at longer ranges, but I will stick to the iron sights until I age out of them, then scope it.
I will use this rifle as a utility gun, carrying it on my ATV in a scabbard. I think it will serve well in that role, along with my Ruger Blackhawk in .357.....
