Gonna test a Marlin 1894

[NorthBorder]

Well, tomorrow I'm gonna meet a person at the range who has 2 Marlin 1894 44 mags for sale. One he said was made about 2011 and the other just a few years ago. He wants to sell the 2011 model first, but from what I have read this is probably the worst year Marlin was putting out these firearms. So, if the gun looks well made, action working as it should, and shoots like it should is there anything else to be concerned with? Or, being that model year should I just avoid it?
Thanks in advance

 

[JPIMBO]

Sometimes the sights , front sight are not on straight.

 

[greyling22]

the "bad" marlin's weren't bad metallurgically, it was a fit and finish/quality control debacle though. If you get to look one over, and it looks and functions well, you should be fine.

Check out how it shoots and cycles, the wood to metal fit, it the barrel and sights were indexed right, if the screws were cross-threaded etc.

keep in mind that a new octagon cowboy model is only $700 at academy https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/ma...gnum-lever-action-rifle#repChildCatid=4847593

for what it's worth, my uncle just bought a used one off a guy locally for $400.

 

[GBExpat]

Best of Luck, NorthBorder, I hope that all works out well!

I have a pair of 1983-MFR 1894S Marlins and I am a real fan of the little rifles.

 

[Old Stumpy]

Yes, canted sights and on late JM Marlins a rear sight that is almost loose in the dovetail.
Hard to tell though until you go to drift it, then you notice that it should be tighter.
Funny thing though.
The 1894s made in the last year or two that I own have rear sights that are very tight and hard to drift.

 

[Old Stumpy]

keep in mind that a new octagon cowboy model is only $700 at academy https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/ma...gnum-lever-action-rifle#repChildCatid=4847593

These are very nice. I own one in .45 Colt. I never thought that I would buy another Marlin when I bought it, but everything about it was so much better.
Screw heads all perfect. Nice wood. Excellent fit and finish. Sights straight. Marbles Sights.
Tapered octagon barrel.
Mechanically excellent. Obviously made with new CNC tooling.
Loads and ejects great.
The only thing was a somewhat heavy trigger pull.
A year later I like it just as much.
But you should examine one in person before buying just the same.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Academy shows out of stock.
Good luck finding one.
Maybe, come December...

I had one mfg’d in 2018. (M1894 .44mag) Fit and finish were really good.
However, the bore was the “fuzziest” with toolmarks I’d ever seen. Accuracy was poor except for some 200gr .44S&W Cowboy level loads I loaded with .432” cast/plated bullets I cast. At 50yds they shot acceptably, but nothing to write home about. .430” Jacketed XTP’s shot soccer ball sized group’s at 100yds. .429” JSP’s even worse. I found it a new home.
Oddly, it fed everything that I fed it including Keith style SWC as long as they were under max oal. I really wanted to like it. I worked over the trigger, lapped the bore, did every tuning trick.
No joy! Too bad Ranger Point Precision no longer does rebarreling...

 

[Old Stumpy]

However, the bore was the “fuzziest” with toolmarks I’d ever seen. Accuracy was poor except for some 200gr .44S&W Cowboy level loads I loaded with .432” cast/plated bullets I cast. At 50yds they shot acceptably, but nothing to write home about. .430” Jacketed XTP’s shot soccer ball sized group’s at 100yds. .429” JSP’s even worse. I found it a new home.

The .44 magnum 1894 I bought may have been made in 2018 or 2019. Not sure.
Quality seemed excellent and the bore appeared to be quite good.
However, the groove diameter was .432", which is the typical SAAMI oversized .44 magnum rifle standard.
A previous JM Marlin that I owned shot quite well at 100 yards with Alliant 2400 magnum handloads and Speer Gold Dots weighing 280 grains or so. This current 1894 shot about 4" groups with the open sights from the bench at 50 yards using magnum handloads with .430" 240 grain Hornaday XTPs.
I sold mine off as well.
On the other hand, my 1894 Cowboy in .45 Colt has a .452" bore. American Eagle 225 grain JSP factory shoots about 2" groups at 50 yards from the bench using the open sights and old eyes.