[walking arsenal]

I just picked up a marlin 1894cp in .357 mag to use as a under 100yrds deer gun and also as a home defense gun.
what loads would anyone recomend i use for deer and unwanted social situations?
i have .38 special +p 125 grn corbons in it for reaching out now. also any small gome load recomendations i would also be interested in.

[Deadman]

Two legged - try .357 125grn HP's/ .38+p 125grn HP's/ .38+p 158grn LSWCHP.

Deer - .357 158grn/180grn SP's

Small game - .38 RN/LSWC ?


Versatility is a great thing isn't it :)

[Snowdog]

I would love to see what kind of performance the 158gr SWCHP+P offers from a carbine length barrel... but I wouldn't care to find out first hand the effects lead fouling might have on the micro-groove barrel.

I'm sure hardcast is peachy, but what of softer lead (though the 158gr SWCHP+P probably wouldn't generate the velocities for significant fouling anyway).

I think the loads you already have on hand would be pretty hard to beat.

[Kentucky Rifle]

My Marlin 1894C likes 170gr Gold Dot jacketed soft points. Big flat nose, copper jacket, chamber's easily. Nice.

KR

[walking arsenal]

two more to add to the list

1. microgroove?

2. whats the difference between the 1894cp and 1894c?

[BryanP]

I would love to see what kind of performance the 158gr SWCHP+P offers from a carbine length barrel... but I wouldn't care to find out first hand the effects lead fouling might have on the micro-groove barrel.

The 1894C's in .357 magnum don't have micro-groove rifling.

Marlin 1894C (http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/1894_centerfireRifles/1894C.htm)

[BryanP]

2. whats the difference between the 1894cp and 1894c?

I believe the "p" stands for "porting" in this case. There are ported versions of the 1894C.

[Snowdog]

The 1894C's in .357 magnum don't have micro-groove rifling.

Ah, well that takes care of that concern.

[Kentucky Rifle]

The "CP's" are indeed ported. But they also have a 16 inch barrel. The 1894C is UNported and has an 18 inch barrel. (That's what I purchased.)
If you still want the "CP" version, they can be found. The gun shop that is just 5 minutes away has a new one on the wall. This is a neat gun shop called "Shooter's Supply" and is located in Lyndon. (For the Louisville guys.) When this gun shop first opened, it was tiny. The rifle/shotgun rack ran right down the middle of the shop. It had four showcases. The shop became more successful and got a little larger. The latest expansion is great! Long guns line three walls from top to bottom and they stock hundreds of handguns. The last time I was there, they had three .50 Barretts in stock. (Did I spell that right?) Anyway, it's been nice to see a local gun shop grow so well.

KR