Marlin 1894.... 44mag or 357mag?

[Balrog]

I am gonna get one of the new Marlin 1894s... already decided I want the classic blue/wood version but can't decide if I want 44 mag or 357 mag. I already have other guns in both calibers, so I have both cartridges in supply already. Uses would be plinking mostly, but live on a farm, so it would probably also spend time in the truck and UTV, and would be occasionally used shoot unwanted critters that show up (no bears here, so don't need to get a bear discussion started, they always seem to end badly).

I am thinking 357 would probably be the better choice. More fun to plink, since less recoil, and should still be more than enough power for my needs. But what do others think?

 

[troy fairweather]

I'd go 357, unless hunting with but for your needs 357 will do.

 

[3Crows]

I am having serious deja vu. I think we just had this thread. No matter, it was fun so I guess let's do it again. I would be wanting on a .44 Magnum. No weenie .357 for me .

 

[2ndtimer]

.357 Mag for me. Cheaper to load, softer to shoot, should handle any “under bear” critter you might want to shoot.

 

[ECVMatt]

I have both and would chose the .357 based on your needs. The .357 works great on varmints and is better for plinking.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have a 1980’s vintage 357 Mag Marlin 1894. I like it alot and it is a good companion for my 357 Mag revolvers.

At the time, I did not have a 44 Mag revolver so the 357 Mag made more sense.

I have a 44 Mag revolver now so I’d probably get the 44 Mag rifle today.

You cannot go wrong with either.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

.357

 

[Slamfire]

No weenie for me. I purchased this in 1982 from a KMart.

Marlin barrels from the 1980's were horrible and I sent the thing back because it had tight spots. Marlin replaced that barrel but still it would not shoot cast bullets worth a hoot. Marlin came out with "Ballard barrels" and I sent this in around 1999 for a Ballard barrel. Barrel were much better but the twist rate was still too slow at 1:38 inch. The rifle shoots 240 grain bullets and not much heavier. My groups were around four inches at 100 yards.

The original buttplate was hard plastic and hurt when shooting. I installed a rubber buttplate and that made shooting much better. I installed a Williams rear sight. The rifle came drilled and tapped for rear irons, I understand the Ruger Marlins are not drilled and tapped for irons. A 44 Magnum out of a rifle (a 240 grain bullet 1750 fps muzzle velocity) hits hard at 100 yards. Has all the trajectory of a brick, so these are 100 yard, 125 yard rifles. A 357 won't be better, it will kick less, and hit less hard.

I would not buy an older Marlin 44 Mag as the twist rate is too slow. I read the Ruger Marlins have a 1:20 twist, which is much better.

 

[Mike C2]

..357 gets my vote as well. I have a Rossi 92 44 mag and it’s a hoot. But I would shoot a .357 a lot more than the 44 and it would do everything I need it to.

 

[Balrog]

..357 gets my vote as well. I have a Rossi 92 44 mag and it’s a hoot. But I would shoot a .357 a lot more than the 44 and it would do everything I need it to.

Yea I think I will go with 357. I am really past the point of recoil being fun.

 

[Pat Riot]

I would go with .357. I am pretty sure they are also set up for .38 Special.

 

[3Crows]

To be clear, I was just teasing about the weenie comment. I would love a .357 .

 

[Ranger99]

Depends on what you want to do with it.
I've had Marlin 357's and 44's both, and
killed animals with both.
My end use is hunting, mostly wt deer and swine, so if I were starting fresh I'd buy
a 44 if limited to only one purchase.
If I were mainly a "plinker" I'd buy a
Henry 22 and call it done.

Good Luck

 

[Frulk]

Balrog… just because you SAY there are no bears in your area doesn’t mean a circus truck hauling them can’t pull a Phantom 309 and overturn on a blacktop bordering you farm while avoiding a schoolbus. Grizzly sows get upset when you spook them in the wild. Image what they’re like with two cubs after that. It CAN happen!

Now….all seriousness aside….I’d go with the .357 if you REALLY think that could never happen around your hacienda. However keep this in mind, the odds will never be ZERO.

 

[tubeshooter]

Balrog… just because you SAY there are no bears in your area doesn’t mean a circus truck hauling them can’t pull a Phantom 309 and overturn on a blacktop bordering you farm while avoiding a schoolbus. Grizzly sows get upset when you spook them in the wild. Image what they’re like with two cubs after that. It CAN happen!

Now….all seriousness aside….I’d go with the .357 if you REALLY think that could never happen around your hacienda. However keep this in mind, the odds will never be ZERO.

I believe the Henry .22 suggestion from above fairly well covers this...

 

[Barmcd]

Yes!

 

[chicharrones]

Another vote for a 1894 in .357.

 

[dieselchief]

i am hoping for a 44 40 someday soon. happy with the 357.

 

[fotog54]

I have the Rossi 92 in 357 (20 inch) and it is fun to shoot. Factory .357 (PMC) I chronographed at 1780fps. 158grn JSP. The 357 should meet your needs.

 

[Varminterror]

My Marlin 1894’s are 44 mags. I’ve had 357’s and 45’s, but the 44mags stick.

 

[CraigC]

I would normally opt for the .44 as I'm going to hunt with it, whatever it is. The .357 may be a better fit for your needs.

That said, the 1-20" twist would be preferable but even with the 1-38" twist, the .44 should do fine with bullets up to 300gr. My 1894S shoots sub-MOA with the 270gr Gold Dot and not much worse with 300's. The .44 is a 100yd cartridge, out of a revolver. Out of a rifle, 150yds is easy.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I bought the .44 a few months ago but could see myself getting a .357 version sooner or later. I have revolvers in both calibers so either is a good fit.

 

[cfullgraf]

I installed a Williams rear sight. The rifle came drilled and tapped for rear irons, I understand the Ruger Marlins are not drilled and tapped for irons.

That is too bad that Ruger is not drilling the Marlin receiver for iron sights.

I did not like the buckhorn sights that came on my Marlin built 1894. I tried a scope at first, Marlin also drilled and taped the reciver for a scope. I really did not care for the scope and replaced it with a Williams peep sight.

My Marlin 39A also sports a Williams peep sight.

 

[3Crows]

That is too bad that Ruger is not drilling the Marlin receiver for iron sights.

I do not remember the year exactly but it goes back to JM, Marlins have not been drilled on the left receiver side for decades. I guess it would be nice if they did.

 

[Dr T]

I have a pre-Ballard 44 Mag and I think that Slamfire has it nailed on the accuracy. It does OK at shorter ranges which is fine for my purposes. As a ranch gun in my part of Texas, the 44 is of marginal utility because of the terrain, brush density, and distances involved. Either the snake is going to be right under your feet (think 22 rimfire) or the varmint will be in the barn (22 rimfire) or headed for the hills. So for me, it is a plinker.

If in your part of the world, the 357 works better as a basic truck gun, then by all means get that. It all depends on what you encounter most frequently. But I almost always have a 22 sidearm available for a reason. For example, one of my cousins was having a problem with raccoons getting in to the food that she keeps on the ranch for her Great Pyrenees dogs that live with and guard her goats. She set up a big live trap a couple of months ago and caught 8 in one night. When she checked the trap, all she had with her was a 38 Special J-Frame with 158 gr bullets. Her hand was pretty bruised by the time she finished with them. An 1894 would have been much easier on her (but a 22 would have worked better).