When did Marlin 1894 .44 Mag go to 1:38" twist?

[66GTO]

As the topic says. What was the twist rate for the rifling before 1:38? Anyone know the cutoff date or serial # for the changeover? Will any pre-safety 1894 have the faster twist rate?

I have found an 1894 .44 Mag, Serial #23006742. Is this before the 1:38 changeover?

Is there a reference web site where you can date a Marlin based on the serial number?

Sorry for so many questions in one post

[Grizz]

Don't know when. I believe they produced some ballard rifled barrels before switching to the microgroove barrels. That would be the earliest production runs. I believe all the microgroove barrels are 1:38. I think the old ballard barrels were faster, but not certain.

Someone will correct this if it's innacurate. Marlinman93?

I hate that slow twist barrel. I'd love to shoot 405g bullets in the 1894, but that can't happen. My barrel won't stabilize 320g bullets. I think the newer ballard rifled barrels are 1:20, but the stainless 1894 still has the slow twist.

[Malamute]

I've had several new version(as opposed to the original version that was dropped way back) 1894 Marlin 44's since they came out in the 1970's. All the ones I've heard of were 38" twist barrels until very recently. The 38" twist has been pretty standard for 44 mag rifles. 240 gr bullets were the heaviest bullet that was available until fairly recently. The only Marlins I've heard of having barrels with anything other than microgroove rifling was the very early 1895 45-70's when they first came out in the mid '70's. I've never heard of a 44 mag with different rifling than microgroove.

[66GTO]

I think the newer ballard rifled barrels are 1:20, but the stainless 1894 still has the slow twist.

"Newer", as in current production? The Marlin website still only lists 1:38 twist for both the 1894 and 1894SS.

[Hobie]

I do believe they started with 1-38" twist barrels. Dittos for the .444 Marlin. However, the new .444 Marlins have 1-20" twist hence the confusion. OTHER makers may or may not use barrels for the .44 Mag with such a slow twist.

[66GTO]

Thanks Hobie, that simplifies my decision.

I know the Puma uses a faster twist, but I am in need of Marlin so that I can mount a scope. I say this with much regret, but after detached retinas in each eye I am all over the target with iron sights, therefore the quest for a scoped 1894.

[Grizz]

Thanks guys,

It's a good thing I don't have to depend on my memory for anything.

As to the 1:20 .44 Marlin, did I just make that up too? I was thinking that one of the cowboy models had a faster barrel.

As to the 1:38 twist being 'normal' for .44 mag, I don't think so. I think I remember that the .44 mag began life as a revolver round, and I don't believe I remember that I've ever heard of a 1:38 revolver barrel.

Also, the .41 mag and the .45 Colt both have much faster twist rates and were never, to my limited memory and knowledge, saddled with such a stupidly slow twist rate as the Marlin 1894. Seems like you have to go back to flintlocks to find those kind of twist rates. OK, that's a tiny exageration, but you get the idea.

As far as modern arms go, and modern rifles chambered in pistol calibers, the Marlin line is the only one that is stuck with such a nasty barrel.

Grizz, IIRC

[Hobie]

It is common, even in muzzleloading pistols, to have a faster twist in a pistol barrel than in a rifle barrel... I think the Great Plains pistol would be a good example IIRC it had/has a 1-20" twist and the rifles had the 1-66" twist.

As to scoping a gun, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Better that than give up shooting! A lighter recoiling 240 gr. might be a little easier on your retinas anyway. Also, the 240s, a properly designed one, can do what needs doing by the .44 Mag. Yes I shoot 300s in my .44 Mag rifle but I don't need to.

[Grizz]

It is common, even in muzzleloading pistols, to have a faster twist in a pistol barrel than in a rifle barrel... I think the Great Plains pistol would be a good example IIRC it had/has a 1-20" twist and the rifles had the 1-66" twist.

True Dat,

But that doesn't address the fact that the two pistol calibers either side of the .44 mag never got barrels that slow.

What were the traditional rates for the 44/40 ?

[adirondakjack]

If a Marlin you fancy and 1:20 is a must, get ya one in .45 Colt . It's 20:1 aqnd not microgroove. We're long over the notion that the .45 Colt can't be everything the .44 manglem is, and maybe a bit more (with heavy bullets), and ya can do whatever ya need with lower pressures.

[Old Time Hunter]

Just buy a Winchester Trapper in .44 Mag...get the best of both worlds.

[JimT]

The .44-40 came out with a 1 - 38" twist. It had that up through the Model 92. Even the El Tigre Spanish-made version had that twist. Marlin used it also. It was the standard rate of twist for years. Only with the advent of heavy-for-caliber bullets did it become an issue.

[Grizz]

Thank you Jim...

Was that twist out of step with other similar bore barrels. OR with similar weight projectiles, during that period?

thanks again for the info

[JimT]

I really don't know Grizz ... a lot of the old guns had fairly slow twists by modern standards it seems to me. The 1 - 38 twist works just fine in the 44-40 with the standard bullet (210 gr.) at blackpowder velocities.

I am no expert at the subject, but I think part of the problem was the faster twists tended to foul more easily with black powder... though I may be mistaken.

And, while people in those days sometimes shot at really long ranges, most of the times when they were hunting they tended to try and get close. So stabilizing at longer distance was not a requirement like it is now.

My old 44-40 would "keyhole" at 400 yards. But you could still hit a deer silhouette easily. I never took any game shots that far .. and wouldn't even consider it .. but shooting at old doors etc. showed the gun to be capable, even if the bullets were beginning to yaw at that distance.

[Malamute]

"Also, the .41 mag and the .45 Colt both have much faster twist rates and were never, to my limited memory and knowledge, saddled with such a stupidly slow twist rate as the Marlin 1894. Seems like you have to go back to flintlocks to find those kind of twist rates. OK, that's a tiny exageration, but you get the idea.

As far as modern arms go, and modern rifles chambered in pistol calibers, the Marlin line is the only one that is stuck with such a nasty barrel."


All the reference material that I have shows the Remington 788, Browning 92, Ruger carbine, and Winchester 94 (likely the older ones, if they are faster today) all had 1-38 twist rate. They seemed to work alright for 240 gr bullets for a long time.

[Grizz]

All the reference material that I have shows the Remington 788, Browning 92, Ruger carbine, and Winchester 94 (likely the older ones, if they are faster today) all had 1-38 twist rate. They seemed to work alright for 240 gr bullets for a long time.

Yup, the Marlins work great with 240g bullets. But not so great with 405s, say. I'd have to rebarrel my B-92 to get the 1:18 I'd prefer to have. Why would anyone want to shoot 405s from a carbine? 'Cause I shoot 'em from my hand gun.

Anyway I learn a lot about it today, thanks for all the feedback.

Grizz