Marlin 1894 Limited Cowboy Carbine Won

[High Desert Hunter]

Just when I think I'm finally going to save money for shooting accessories I really need, along comes a lever action I can't seem to live without. Oh well, didn't really need a new spotting scope (yes I do) or a fancy new radar chronograph. Hello Marlin Cowboy Carbine in 45 Colt. I was looking, semi seriously at a Winchester 92, and even at a few Italian copies, but this will scratch a longtime itch, now I just have to hope I have a bullet mould that will reliably cycle in it that is 250-280 grains.

Dave

[Walt]

Congratulations, Dave! I think you're going to love that gun. I have a few Marlin model 94 leverguns but the barrel lengths are all 18 1/2" or longer, my JM .45 Colt being the longest at 24". The only short barrel levergun I own is a 16" Winchester model 94 Trapper in .30-30. I would like to find a Trapper length gun in .45 Colt and I really like Marlins. My favorite gun shop in town went to auction sales only and the only other store in this area that sells pre-owned lever actions is 60 miles away. I'll keep checking there.

[Paladin]

I have wanted one also for many years. The one that always got away for me. Please post how it works out.

[High Desert Hunter]

Thank you Gents. I will for sure post a range report.

[Streetstar]

I would like to find a Trapper length gun in .45 Colt and I really like Marlins. My favorite gun shop in town went to auction sales only and the only other store in this area that sells pre-owned lever actions is 60 miles away. I'll keep checking there.

GunBroker - for those itches that have to be scratched

[High Desert Hunter]

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It's got some bumps and a bruise or 2, saves me from the agony of my first Dave Beeman moment. Seems to feed the 45-270SAA well, at least after a cleaning, it was filthy inside. Bore looks as good as any of my Marlin rifles, hope it shoots as well as they do.

[LeverGunner]

Very nice, congratulations. I have a 24" 357 Cowboy that I'm fond of.

[High Desert Hunter]

The 24" version is definitely on my radar.

[AJMD429]

.
If I could just have one levergun ( < gasp > ) I think it would be a 16" in either 45 Colt or 357 Mag. Marlin for sure (fewer small parts, easy to re-sight or even scope), but I do like the 24" octagonal ones (more at the range than elsewhere), and of course if you like a 16" and a 24" you'll really love a 20" cuz it is the best (or worst) of both....

44 Mag is of course very practical too, and all three have a good amount of 'coverage' if one hunts. None of them is lacking for 'protection' uses.

Now if one were 'allowed' TWO leverguns, one would be in 32-20 and the other just might be 500 S&W, honestly...

[High Desert Hunter]

Well AJMD, I now have a lot of bases covered, and 1894CL in 32-20, an 1894 Classic in 44 Magnum, an 1894 Cowboy in 45 Colt, and an 1895GS in 45-70. One lone Winchester 94 in 32 Special, my Great Grandfather's 1927 vintage.

[LeverGunner]

The 24" version is definitely on my radar.

In that case, here's a gratuitous picture of mine. I've since dropped the Skinner sight.

[High Desert Hunter]

That is a good looking rifle Levergunner! Did you go back to the semi-buckhorn barrel sight?

[High Desert Hunter]

Rifle is a keeper! Only ran about 35 rounds through it, but everything fed like butter. Happy the RCBS 45-270SAA fed very well!

Dave

[High Desert Hunter]

So I will say, who ever put this rifle up for consignment must have run every bit of ammo they had through it and went straight to the pawn shop. I cleaned until patches came out white the night I picked it up, and I did a cursory cleaning after shooting, but today after putting my lovely brides favorite in the smoker after church, I decided to give the bore the Kroil and JB's bore paste treatment, holy cow was there a lot of carbon! I have soaked the bore 3 times now, last one I'm waiting for was with the Shiloh solvent I use in my Sharps if I think I have a bit of leading after a long shooting session. Patches were coming out white again, Shiloh soaked patch came out jet black one the second pass. Will give it a good brushing, and next weekend, or if I can remember after work, I'm going to do a full strip down and clean all of the internals, will probably stone the trigger just a little, and the same with the lip on the loading gate opening. It's probably a good thing I didn't get this one sooner, I might not have any others. In my younger years, the 1:38 twist was a show stopper, I wanted to be able to run heavy bullets, now I want to be able to shoot with more precision than might, enough bullet weight to get any job needs doing completed here in New Mexico, since my grazing allotment has gotten a lot smaller with age. Just need to open the throats on my NM Flattop 45, since the 23K PSI loads are about all I load, it will make a good companion for the rifle, although so will the Mt Gun.

Dave

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