new to me 1894 Marlin

[Streetstar]

After posting a thread debating the utility/practicality of .44's vs .45's, I Knuckled under and made arrangements to purchase a pre-safety 1894 carbine in .44 Mag. This is my first experience with a dealer from out of town (shipment to my FFL, etc etc) -- so i hope it turns out good. Since i am relatively new in the levergun hobby, i am building up my battery of "shooters" first and this one will hopefully fill the bill for a lot of weekend fun. Looks clean enough, but not so clean that i would be afraid to put it in a scabbard or on my truck's gun rack

$360 plus my local FFL fee. Seemed reasonable enough --- not necessarily a steal. but good enough not to worry about my purchase price any. Dealer was Collector's Firearms in Houston and they were excellent to deal with so far, but will know for sure when this thing lands in my hands

I should have a couple of boxes of cowboy action strength loads produced for it by the time it gets here thanks to some fool who left 100 rds of once fired .44 Mag and 50 rds of .44 Spl brass at my local range I prefer .45 Colt, due to having some pistols in that chambering, but it would take a long time to find a .45 carbine for 360 bucks


Now ........... the waiting game begins

whoops - tried to cut and paste the pics from the web page, but the pixel size was too big --- link to the little rifle is below
http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/admin ... emID=27986

[Blaine]

The 1894s are addicting....... I went from zero to three in under a year The darn things come right up to my shoulder and the sights are perfect for me......

[AJMD429]

The 1894s are addicting....... I went from zero to three in under a year The darn things come right up to my shoulder and the sights are perfect for me......

+1... er, I mean "+3"

[J Miller]

I just love rich folks who leave brass I can use at the range. I say a silent thank you for each piece I pick up. Two thank yous if its .45 Colt brass.

I'm getting fonder of the Marlin 1894. I should I've had 4 of them. Two were stinkers and two were keepers so I'm even. I'd like to find an inexpensive 1894 in .44 mag. Thanks to the rich folks I got lots of .44 Mag and special brass all cleaned up and ready.

Oh one thought, that cowboy level ammo you cooked up might be too light. Look for sooty brass and blow back. And make sure each bullet actually leaves the barrel.

Joe

[MikeS.]

I've got 1 of those in SS, it is a lot of fun to shoot.

[Streetstar]

I just love rich folks who leave brass I can use at the range. I say a silent thank you for each piece I pick up. Two thank yous if its .45 Colt brass.

I'm getting fonder of the Marlin 1894. I should I've had 4 of them. Two were stinkers and two were keepers so I'm even. I'd like to find an inexpensive 1894 in .44 mag. Thanks to the rich folks I got lots of .44 Mag and special brass all cleaned up and ready.

Oh one thought, that cowboy level ammo you cooked up might be too light. Look for sooty brass and blow back. And make sure each bullet actually leaves the barrel.

Joe

point taken on the "cowboy" loads --- , i haven't started yet, i have just been re-sizing cases. i'll double check my reloading manuals for carbine specific info. . Worst case scenario, i'll just have to buy a different type of powder i guess -- so not the end of the world


as far as range brass --- i love it--- i have a ton of once fired '06 brass now i am saving for my 1895 Win. foray from guys taking their deer rifle , or whatever to the range and blowin' up a couple of boxes. Some days are good and some are bad though --- i was there last night practicing .22 BR 50 and came with zilch for extra brass.

[nemhed]

Congratulations on the new purchase! I now own two of what I call the "medium" sized Marlins, one in 357 and one in 44. I'd like a second 357 for a truck gun. IMHO they are the handiest, most versatile rifles currently made.

[Pete44ru]

You'll love it ! I have owned an 1894P - the 16" barreled/ported .44Mag for almost 8 years, now, w/o any issues.

Some time ago, I "LeverScouted" (is that a new word ?) mine, with a forward-mounted pistol scope, in addition to the XS peep/front sights.

.

[JDL]

Looks like a nice little carbine! I have (had) a similar one and it is a hoot to shoot but, I lost it last November when my Grandson killed his first deer with it:



One 250 grain cast bullet@ 1528 fps into chest cavity.
JDL

[ceb]

My first centerfire levergun was a Marlin 1894 in .44mag. Bought it used at a pawn shop, $212.00 OTD. I love it, you will too. For mild loads in mine I use 8gr of Unique behind a 240gr RNFP, loads of fun. Same bullet with 10gr Unique I would hunt with.

[Pete44ru]

That's about the onlyest way I don't mind losing a gun.
My son did it to me, long 'bout '76, and now my Grandson's gone and done it too - must run in the family.

.

[Warhawk]

I stumbled into an 1894 yesterday. Opportunity came along on this pre-safety (1979 vintage) 1894 in .44 Magnum. After some serious horse trading, it's mine and I'm less an electric trolling motor, a cassette predator caller and some ammo in calibers I no longer own. It's in great shape and doesn't appear to have ever been in the woods.

I'm hoping this one shoots better than the other .44 Marlins I've had. If not I think I'll send it back for an octagon "cowboy" barrel and have a pre safety 1894 cowboy.

[Les Staley]

Guys, because of their slow twist, 1 in 38 inches IIRC, a lighter bullet running at higher velocities will shoot better in these rifles. I have had good grouping with 200 gr, and even 180 gr bullets and stiff loads of H110.. will kill anything you have a reason to shoot at.. HTH Les

[the telegraphist]

Gday mate,
My 1894 Marlin Cowboy Ltd shoots a 240g RNFP with 8.5g Unique or 8.4g Universal to a ragged hole over 50 metres from a rest. Thats a light cowboy load that delivers the goods on Cowboy silhouettes to 100yds/mtrs. Using a Williams peep. Off hand the groups aint so tight, but enough to take the steel down. Experiment and enjoy.

[1894]

Was my first lever gun ( not counting the Daisy BB gun )
3 1/2 decades later , it's still the one I reach for most often