[KodeFore]

Anyone here shoot the marlin lever action in 38/357, if so tell me what you think of it please. Thanks in advance

[sheffieldshootr]

Bought mine when they first came out over 25 years ago. No probs.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/sheffieldshootr/Marlin1894C-4.jpg

The Micro-Groove rifling prefers jacketed bullets. But, you can now get the Cowboy Action versions with Ballard type rifling and that should let you put good quality lead lubed bullets into one inch at 50 yards.

I have a nice old Lyman receiver sight on mine.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f169/sheffieldshootr/Marlin1894C-2.jpg

[kasTX]

I have two - an old, pre-safety model and one of the newer models with the safety, both in .357. I definitely prefer the older model. The safety doesn't bother me, but the wood is slimmer on the old one and the metal work is a bit better. Accuracy seems about the same between the two.

I took a deer with the older one last year at 40 yards and it did the job just fine. The bullet (158gr Hornady XTP at 2,000fps) went through one rib, through the lungs, then through two ribs and down range with enough energy to kick up a four foot column of dirt when it hit the ground.

They are a lot of fun to shoot too. :)

[hans1911]

I just picked one up Saturday. Unfired, made in 1980. Looks like ^^^^that one, but without the Lyman. I owned a Marlin in .44 mag a few years ago, and I loved that rifle. I sold it with the intention of getting a .357, and finally got around to doing so.



Sheffieldshootr, did you have to get a taller front sight with the Lyman, or is the stock sight tall enough?



hans1911

[sheffieldshootr]

The stock sight works fine.

[surfcityred]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/1desertdog/Marlin1894.jpg

I love my little Marlin. I spent a few bucks getting a cowboy action job and now it is smooth as silk. I can't believe the difference in the action. Also mounted the Burris scout scope and now it acquires really fast (old eyes have trouble with iron sights) for quick coyote opportunities. Marlin has excellent customer service too.

[GigaBuist]

Anyone here shoot the marlin lever action in 38/357, if so tell me what you think of it please

I love mine. Picked up an 1894C 3-4 years ago and that rifle is now what I'd consider my "go to" rifle for most any occasion. As we enter the winter months I'll likely load it back up and swap it into the home-defense role as I won't be running my 870 out on the trap range any time soon.

While it's fun to debate the merits of various platforms and cartridges the most capable rifle in your collection is going to be the one you take the the range the most. And boy, oh boy, is that 1894C fun out the on range. Loaded up with cheap .38SPL ammo they're fun. Loaded up with .357 magnum rounds they're still fun, but even more potent.

There's just something about lever guns. I brought my brother out the range last summer and took an AR-15, AK-47 clone, and that 1894C with us. He had the most fun with the lever gun.

My only issue with them is that I wish they were priced closer to the 30-30 models that Marlin makes, but I understand why that can't happen. They just don't sell enough of them to drive the price down.

[Wolfgang2000]

My wife and I have matching Marlin 357's. They are a lot of fun to shoot.

[Gun lover]

I was thinking of getting one in a few month's as a weekend plinker and extra Deer driving rifle.What is the accuracy with 38 SPCL's?

[pbhome71]

I have one and it is one of my favorite.

The first couple of times that I took it out, I was not familiar with the lever action, and I managed to pinch myself a couple of times.... :)

[ArchAngelCD]

I bought a 1983 Model 1894C last year and I'm glad I did. It's a lot of fun to shoot and it's accurate too.

What are you buying it for? If you are looking for a plinker you have the right Carbine. I like having a rifle chambered in the same caliber as my revolver too.

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I don't own one but a shooting buddy does and I've shot it several times. he loads his own and jacks 'em up. impressive. we joke about trading, my M45 for his lever (he has a Colt 1911 also as well as Ruger .357) but he won't give me enough boot! you can't go wrong with one, good shooter.

[mavracer]

they are great fun and stoked up hae no problem taking up to deer size game at moderate ranges. I have a 24" cowboy and love it have shot a beautiful 5 shot 100 yard group centered in side the black of a 4" bull.another niceity is if you shoot lead 38 special level loads you almost don't need hearing protection.

[davera]

I have one and just love it. Paired with my S&W 686, it's a principle element in my home defense armory. It's a joy to shoot. There's only been one problem where some range bought reloads jammed up pretty bad ... but that was likely due to OAL problems. Never had an issue with factory ammo.
Shooting .38 special is like shooting .22, shooting .357 is just enough kick to let you know you have something serious.

As Kim du Toit says ... if you have a .357 revolver and don't have one of these, Vulcan frowns.

http://www.theothersideofkim.com/index.php/ggps/5443/

[foghornl]

Don't have one now (My current Marlin is a Mdl 30AW in .30/30), but have had at different times, both the .357 & .44 versions.

The .44 has a tiny bit more 'kick' than you would expect from a pistol-cal carbine, but very manageable...less than my .30/30 IMHO.

A real "Hoot!" for a fun afternoon of blazin' away at stuff.

[Rock_Steady]

I have mine and love it, but I have had some problems. I have ballard rifling but it won't shoot hot loaded lead even with gas checks, All over the paper at 50. I switched to Ranier plated in my faster Lil' gun rounds and it got better. I bought mine used so I have no idea what could have happened to it, but it looks as though someone bubba'ed my front sight so that it is canted as well....so I set up with the XS scout mount instead, and get good accuracy - enough that I'd use it as a 100 yd deer gun.

I'm thinking that I may have to find a good gunsmith to cut it down, give me a new front sight post and make my gun fun with open sights again. Good luck finding a good gunsmith in my neck of the woods.

[hqmhqm]

I had one which was very nice and well balanced, and was nice to shoot with the Skinner aperture sights.

I had trouble though, with some of the screws loosening after shooting. Some loctite helped, but it seemed like a problem that was inherent with the design.

I also had trouble with it jamming if I didn't hold the gun horizontal when cycling it. Maybe the tolerances were just off a little on the one I had. I have a winchester .44 which doesn't have this issue.

[glockman19]

I have a Marlin 1894SS in .44mag and would love to find one in .357 Stainless.

[Brian Williams]

Yep, about the only centerfire rifle that goes to the range.

[DPris]

Mine's a 16-incher & an extremely handy little critter.
Ghostring rear aperture, white-line front blade.
Carries all day, stows easy, effective caliber with the right loads, little recoil.
Denis

[Ratshooter]

I've said it here before. It is my favorite rifle. My only regret is the time i wasted trying to find a used one. I should have bought one several years earlier and been enjoying it.

I have the newer version that has the checkered stock. I don't like the checkering a well a a smooth stock. Mine is not tapped on the side for a peep sight. I have the tap but just haven't gotten around to tapping it.

Reload for your gun. It opens up a whole new world of performance and i don't mean extra hot loads either. Some of its best use comes from light loads for small game.

[silverlance]

I have the 44mag and 357mag versions.

both calibers seem like puny little poppers when you shoot them. i'm sure in a handgun it is quite different.

[zxcvbob]

I have one (recent model 1894C with deep cut rifling) and I really like it. I don't have much to compare it with because it was my first rifle. Mine cycles better with .38's than it does .357's, which I think is unusual, so I load .38 +P+'s just for it. (12 grains of 2400 with 158 grain RNFP bullet, and a warning label on the box and red nail polish on the primer so I don't get them mixed up with regular .38's)

I put a little Leupold 2-7x scope on it, but I'm having problems with the scope and will probably take it off and try a peep sight.

[joe4702]

I have the discontinued 16.5" ported model, both in .357 & .44. I just put a red dot on the .357. It's my current favorite long gun. Lots of fun. It shows a definite preference for plated or jacketed bullets.

[ZigZagZeke]

I'm glad I found this thread. I'm having a Remington rolling block #1 rifle rebuilt and chambered for .357 Mag. I've never shot a rifle in that caliber, but that's as close as we could come to the original cartridge in modern ammo. Glad to see everyone thinks it's fun to shoot.

[orygunmike]

I just bought mine a few days ago and tried it out today.....I'm very happy with this gun!

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=318177
:)

[KodeFore]

Thank you all for the information. Just bought one today (379 Big 5).
When I went in to check it out they had a PUMA for 5$ less, I looked at it, it felt more like a bb gun than a real gun and had a cheap feel to it.
When I picked up the Marlin there was no question thats the one I wanted.
They also had the 336 and another one in 44mag for the same price. I chose 38/357 after I got permission to shoot this at a local handgun range.
For hunting I am sure the larger bores are better but getting to a rifle range is a hassle for me.( I have a few milsurps sitting on the rack I have yet to fire to remind me of this )
I also reload 38 for a ruger GP100 so this seems like a good fit for me. I love the feel to this gun, it will be my first lever action & I am looking forward to it.
Looks like a happy Thanksgiving for me & hope the same for all of you

[KodeFore]

My only issue with them is that I wish they were priced closer to the 30-30 models that Marlin makes, but I understand why that can't happen. They just don't sell enough of them to drive the price down.

Here they sell for exactly the same. I like the looks of the 30 30 but I just know I will never have time to actually shoot it.... ( only way I can afford this is the check for that vacation I never took last year..... )

[Lupinus]

don't own one but I have shot them.

They are great little brush guns and just plain fun plinkers. My choice though would be on what I'm doing with it. The .357 is plenty capable for hunting but if it was going to be a mostly hunting gun I might step up to the .44 version. For mostly plinking and occasional trips hunting the .357 will do mighty fine.