Marlin 1894CL 25-20 ?

[PaperPatch]

Greetings all,
Does anyone here have experience with this rifle/cartridge combo?

I'm specifically interested in its accuracy potential, as well as its hunting applications; and would love to hear the experiences of others.

[2ndovc]

I've had a couple model 92s in 25-20s and still have a Martini in 25-20.

Great little target and small game round. I've kocked off a few squerrils, rabbits and a
bunch of woodchucks.

My Grandfather had a little 92 SRC in 25-20 that he shot so much there was litterly no bore left. Used it on everything and anything that needed to be removed from the barns or feilds.

jb

[Guncase]

I have never owned a Marlin 25-20, but I believe they are fine rifles. I remember a piece Brian Pearce wrote for Rifle magazine, and he had nothing but praise for them. I have an old Winchester '92 25-20, and it is one of my favorite rifles. It is all butchered up, but it shoots great and is very accurate. At least at 50 yards with the reciever sight. I have taken gophers, rabbits, cats, coons, and one deer with it. I limit my shots to around 50 yards and it has never let me down. I would not normally use it for a deer rifle, and probably won't do it again, but the little buck I shot was only 25 to 30 yards away and the rifle was in my hands. It was almost dark and he was laying down so I took a neck shot. At the shot he jumped and ran. I found him about 50 yards away looking very sick and another through the lungs finished him instantly. I was using factory Remington 86 grain loads at the time. Here is the gun and the buck.

[Hobie]

I think there's a lot of accuracy potential and the guns are pretty nice. My 1894CL is a .32-20...

[Old Savage]

Hobie - according to Paco, your rifle is actually a 32-21 Marlin.

[Hobie]

Hobie - according to Paco, your rifle is actually a 32-21 Marlin.

It shoots the .32-20 factory ammo just fine...

[Old Savage]

Marlin he says used their 32-21 reamer on these and they accommodate 32-20s fine but can benefit by not setting the shoulder all the way back I think he said - it is in his book. I will look it up again when I am back at the office. Happy New Year.

[Sixgun]

I've had one since they first came out, somewhere around 1990 or so. I got rid of the half magazine and installed a full length tube. The tube is from a Marlin Cowboy gun in 357 (ordered from factory). Only thing I had to do was to cut a dovetail under the muzzle. I also installed an original Lyman tang sight that is coded for a 1910 Winchester in .351. One screw holds it on.

I have logged 2400 rounds out of it and yes, its an excellent shooter. This is one of the few guns I have shot jacketed ammo out of. The Remington 86 gr. softpoint will stay at an inch and a half, easily @ 100 meters. My normal load consists of a Lyman 69 gr. gas checked bullet in front of 5.5 gr. of Unique.

I have not hunted with it much except a few crows out back. (they go right down! ) It has shot lots of steel, rocks, and other inanimate targets. I also used it for awhile for pistol caliber silhouette. Blows those rams over.----------Sixgun

,

[6pt-sika]

When the 1894CL's came out I was working in a gunshop on the weekends and I could have purchased all three calibers NIB for about $700 for all three . At the time I thought you couldn't give them away much less sell one ! But that was back in my high dollar bolt action days (Kimber 89BGR's and Pre 64 Model 70's).

Now 20 years later I have a Marlin 1894Cl in each caliber they've chambered them . Paid twice as much at least for each of my "used" rifles as I could have gotten new ones when they first came out !

My little 1894CL in 25-20 is a pretty good shooter . I pretty much only shoot cast bullets in it and have used it to take a few squirrels .

I also have an "original" Marlin 1894 of 1902 vintage that is 25-20 as well ! This one shoots alright with cast as well .

[arjunky]

I've got a 1894 CL DU 25-20 that will put 3 shots of Remington factory loads just over an inch @100 yards. Sold it once and bought it back about 3 years later from one of the nicest gun traders in the Dakota's. All he wanted was $225 that I sold it to him for, but I gave him $250. He passed about a year later. He will be missed. That gun isn't for sale anymore.

Byron