.44 Mag Velocity Increase using Levergun instead of Revolver

[dubious]

I'm interested in getting an 1894 Marlin in .44 Mag to go along with my 5 1/2in barrel ruger redhawk. Does anyone have any idea what kind of FPS increase I can expect for various ammos out of the Marlin 1894?

 

[tank mechanic]

I apologize because I don't have the info that you want. I just wanted to say that my Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag is my favorite gun. It is my favorite gun to shoot and I highly recommend them anyone who will listen.

 

[Slamfire]

This is the closest to an “apples to apples” comparison that I have. The rounds were not fired on the same day, the temperatures are different, number of rounds are different, the bullet might be a bit different. Overall you will get between 400 and 500 fps improvement over a 5” barrel with a 20” barrel.


M629 Smith and Wesson 5” barrel

250 LSWC 22.0 grs 2400 Midway cases, Fed primers
1-Oct-95 T = 75 °F
Ave Vel = 1336
Std Dev = 39
ES 108
Low 1286
High 1394
N = 6

240 LSWC 18.0 grs AA#9 CCI 500
21-Oct- T = 75 °F
Ave Vel = 1169
Std Dev = 32
ES= 116.2
Low= 1094
High= 1210
N= 25

240JHP R-P 24.0 grs H110 Midway cases WLP
9-Oct-05 T = 66 °F
Ave Vel = 1228
Std Dev = 21.47
ES 70.16
Low 1268
High 1197
N= 22


M1894 Marlin 20” Ballard Barrel

250 LSWC 22.0 grs 2400 Mixed cases Fed 150
21-Dec-01 T = 54 °F
Ave Vel = 1785
Std Dev = 20
ES 79
Low 1729
High 1808
N= 16

240 LSWC 18.0 grs AA#9 CCI 500
21-Dec-01 T = 54 °F

Ave Vel = 1509
Std Dev = 30
ES 103
Low 1434
High 1537
N= 10


240 Nosler JHP 24.0 grs H110 WLP Midway cases
23-Mar-05 T = 65° F
Ave Vel = 1710
Std Dev = 3
ES 9
Low 1705
High 1714
N = 5

 

[Float Pilot]

I load 305 grain Keith style hardcast slugs with a heavy load of H-110.

Out of my old 6.5 inch M-29 S&W I get 1220 fps across my two chronographs.

Out of my Rossi 92 trapper Carbine I get 1695 fps as an average.

About the same power as the old original blackpowder loads for the 45-90 wnchester express loads a 110 years ago....

 

[mustanger98]

My closest info, between the Hornady manual and an aquaintance at the gun shops/range, is that if you load up a .44mag round for a revolver and then shoot it in a levergun, it'll gain 300fps. That said, we've just read a post where the shooter chronoed closer to a 400fps difference between the two barrel lengths. I'd say some of it depends on the guns/loads involved as well as conditions.

FWIW, if a modern .44mag handload is pushing the same kind of performance as the old blackpowder .45-90 loads, I wouldn't hesitate to take out a deer with it.

 

[Slamfire]

My M629 has awfully tight chamber mouths, so I don't know if the velocities I got with it are respresentative.

But that's what I got.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Buy the Marlin. Buy the Marlin. Buy the Marlin. Heck, the velocity difference between them (@ +450 fps) alone is reason enough to decide! That's not even CONSIDERING the lower recoil, longer sight radius, better accuracy & slicker handling. Have I mentioned "buy the Marlin"?

 

[Float Pilot]

Unless of course you manage to run into an old Browning B-92 in 44 mag.. The 92 action is slicker feeding than the marlin in my opinion..
There are some hang-ups with the shorter actioned lever guns when it comes to over-all cartridge length... I have to seat the bullets slightly deeper with the 305 grain keiths in order for them to cycle reliably in a 1892 size action.

One of my daughters used a 44 mag lever gun as a carbine to take along while bery picking... 10 rounds of rapid aimed 44 magnum 300 grain bullets will make a bear think twice about just how bad he wants to mess with you...

 

[salty]

I get just over 1700 fps out of my Ruger carbine with 240's.

 

[dmazur]

The Speer manual shows 1788 fps with a Marlin 1894 240 gr JSP's. The same manual shows around 1450 fps for a similar load in a Ruger Redhawk revolver, so this seems to support "300 fps more"...

Interesting that the Speer manual used the two guns you are comparing.

 

[wanderinwalker]

I have chrony'ed my .44 Magnum reloads from both a 6" 629 and a 20" Marlin 1894. Alas, I didn't write down the numbers, and must work from memory. But 400-450-fps gain sounds more like it.

IIRC, a 240gr Hornady XTP, in Winchester cases, with 22.6 gr of 296 and a WLP primer is good for a touch under 1300-fps average in the pistol and more like a 1700-fps average from the rifle. My goal was a little over 1200 in the pistol, and whatever increase the rifle would give me was a bonus.

As an interesting note, a light .44 Special load that does 900 fps from the pistol will do about 1100 fps from the rifle.

Oh, what the heck, get the Marlin. They're fun. Mine is probably my #2 most used rifle, after my 10/22. Or maybe the match rifle gets used more...

 

[tkendrick]

Years ago an old timer I used to shoot with told me to ballpark about 30fps for each additional inch of barrel in a .44.

He's been gone for a long time, and I have no idea where he got that info, but I noticed Slamfires data is pretty close to that.

 

[jhansman]

If you haven't settled on a model yet, I'd recommend the 1894 Cowboy in .44mag (as opposed to their Model 1894). Nothing quite like lookin' down that octagon barrel. My GP100 loves my Marlin Cowboy, and so do I!

 

[ECVMatt]

I am like TM and the others...

I love my 1894. I like the regular version. I would really recomend them and they are tons of fun.

Go for it,

you won't be disappointed.

Matt

 

[roscoe]

FYI the Marlin .44 does not have the twist to handle the heavier slugs. At least, that is the word from Buffalo Bore.

 

[B.D. Turner]

My 1894 Marlin gets way more use than any of my other rifles. From plinking to whitetail to coyotes and everything else it does a fine job.

 

[tkendrick]

If think you might ever want to shoot cast bullets...make sure wich ever Marlin you buy does NOT have micro-groove rifling.

 

[bullockcm]

I don't have the data here with me at work but when I get home I will post the couple of loads I have chronod from my 5 1/2" blackhawk & my 1894SS, I think there is only 2 I have shot from both guns. Anyway, 300 - 400 fps increase is pretty close to what I saw.

 

[mustanger98]

If think you might ever want to shoot cast bullets...make sure wich ever Marlin you buy does NOT have micro-groove rifling.

1- IIRC, the 1894 Cowboy does NOT use microgroove rifling. This model has Ballard rifling.

2- If you have a microgroove barrel and wish to shoot cast lead bullets, my understanding is gas checks are your friend.

Regarding point #2, the 1894 .357 microgroove gun I have experience with will shoot an un- gas checked 158gr LFP quite well. Mileage may vary between .357 and .44mag.

 

[Teppo Oni]

id use lighter bullets in a rifle
180gr bullet can get over 2000 fps with a 20 in barrel

 

[Al Thompson]

zombie!

 

[nelsonal]

Ballistics by the inch is a great place to estimate it with various loads.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/results.html

I'd guesstimate 300-400 fps.

 

[CraigC]

Figure on 300-400fps for most loads in any of the cartridges used in both rifles and revolvers. Even those utilizing faster burning powders like Unique.

 

[MCMXI]

FYI the Marlin .44 does not have the twist to handle the heavier slugs. At least, that is the word from Buffalo Bore.

This internet myth is the sole reason that I haven't bought a '94 in .44 Mag over the last couple of years. After doing my own research and personal experience, I don't believe it anymore. I have a '94 chambered in .45 Colt and it has the same slow twist as the .44 Mag but it handles 300gr lead bullets just fine. In fact, if you run the numbers, the twist works well for heavy bullets loaded hot (H110) or lighter bullets loaded light (Trail Boss). You can have your cake and eat it too.

The only mystery is my '94 chambered in .357 Mag. It has a 1:16 twist so I'm hoping that it handles 180gr lead bullets. 1:16 is a bit on the fast side ... I'd rather it had a 1:20 twist.

 

[MCMXI]

Figure on 300-400fps for most loads in any of the cartridges used in both rifles and revolvers. Even those utilizing faster burning powders like Unique.

This is about right based on my .45 Colt data. I'm getting 400-500 fps more out of my '94 (20" barrel) compared to 4" or 5-1/2" revolvers. This is with HOT loads. The difference is less with light CAS type loads.