Recommendations for Marlin 1894S .44 mag

Put a receiver sight(readeep) sight on it. Several variations available, makes it easier to carry than a scope and at 44 mag ranges just as serviceable.

What kind of ballistics do these have?

I know what they are out of the revolver? Do you get any extra velocity with the rifle? Say a 240 grain with an average charge.

+1 on the peep sight. The 1894 Marlin is drilled for the Williams click adjustable aperture sights and they're about as good as anyone normally needs. The apertures change out and you can go from a small pinhole for target work to a large aperture for fast or low-light shooting. Plus they are small, light, less expensive than a scope, and don't interfere with wrapping your hand around the gun to carry it.

If you do go with the peep/aperture sight, consider replacing the front sight with a fiber optic Williams Fire-Sight. Instead of a gold or black bead out front, you'll have a tiny red fire ball. Really catches your attention. That's they way my 1894s are set up.

Without a scope, a lever action is a fast, handy, nice carrying gun. With a scope, they're as slow and cumbersome as a scope-sighted bolt gun.
Bob

Ballistics: You should pick up anywhere from 200fps to nearly 400fps muzzle velocity with the carbine. This depends on the powder used in the load. The slower powders, like H110, benefit greatly from the longer barrel. Faster powders, like 2400, not as much. This is from a Speer reloading manual that gives ballistics for .44 mag. in both a rifle and a revolver.

I'd be thinking lower than 7X and as compact as I could afford. Unfortunately, compact scopes don't come cheap. Bushnell makes an Elite 2400 1.5X-4X-24mm with a 30mm tube that'd do nicely though. 15 ounces with 81.4' FOV on 1.5X, 26.2' on 4X. About the right size, but not cheap at $503.49.
Put on the Williams peep sights.

+1 for the peep sights. I'm jealous! In the market for another good cowboy shooter myself.

Skinner Sights are kind of the gold standard for Marlins these days.

http://skinnersights.com/

If you want to try A scope. The Bushnell Banner 1.5x4.5 is A good low power scope that can be bought from Optics planet for about $66. Many good reports on it.

I would go as big as a 2x7 power scope or smaller . Not really needed but it is nice to see branches that you might miss with just a peep or dot. You could shoot a bit farther to. Maybe 150 yards with some of the hotter rounds out.

You will get better ballistics with a rifle barrel, 200-400 fps more.

You can improve on the open sights with a receiver peep sight. I think Marin 1894s are still drilled and tapped for peep sights, but I wouldn't swear to it.

If you decide to go to a scope a small, light 2.5x or 1.5x5 would be all you'd need. Even with Leverevolution bullets, the 44 mag is no more than a 125-150 proposition. Putting a big scope on a small, handy rifle like an 1894 is just silly.

Try a red dot scope or prizmatic scope.

Getting on target quick with a short range rifle is tops.

I just put a Williams peep sight on mine, it has the target knobs as I plan on doing the cowboy shoot with it the steel checkens, pigs etc. My 1894 is 29 years old BTW. Target was shot at 100 yds off a rest.

Are you looking to do something like that?

Put a Skinner peep sight on mine, and replaced the front / filed it down... works well.

He's a great guy to work with as well.