Marlin 1894 Club

Status
Not open for further replies.
I found an 1894 in .44 for, IIRC, $225 at a gunshow in the Akron area back in ~1988 (to go with my 629).

Great little rifle!

I added an aperture rear sight and for several years used it for woodchuck eradication around the farm.

For a quick sighting check I would use a 2" round fluoro-orange adhesive sticker on a tree 100yds away in the corner of the drainfield and lean against the corner of the house ... and I would hit it with every shot.
 
Hello all. Just bought my first 1894C. Being a resident of the People's Republik of California, I will be allowed to take my baby home on March 8th. While waiting, I ordered sights from Tim Skinner of Skinner Sights so it will be here when baby gets home!
 
357 Magnum just a Varmint Round?

Man, this is going to be a long one. I keep reading posts about how the .357 Magnum round is only good for varmints and small game. In my opinion, several people are getting caught up in the “Bigger is Better” bandwagon. The .357 was the first Magnum round. The original .357 Magnum loading drove a 158 grain SWC to well over 1,400 fps from a 8-3/8 inch handgun barrel. These loads were developed using bullet and powder technology available at that time. We have far better bullet/powder technology available today. For example, check out Buffalo Bore’s 158 gr. JHC load. It leaves a 4” S&W L frame at 1485 fps. The same load from a Marlin 1894C’s 18.5” barrel is clocked at 2153 fps with over 1600 ft/lbs of energy! Sounds like the energy out of a 30-30!

Some testimonials from earlier days: (Note: During this period in the 1930's, only handguns were available in this caliber)

1935
Major Douglas Wesson
• Antelope - 200 yards (2 shots)
• Elk - 130 yards (1 shot)
• Moose - 100 yards (1 shot)
• Grizzly Bear - 135 yards (1 shot)
The Antelope was hit the first time at 125 yards. It ran, stopped and was shot the second time at 200 yards. The second shot killed it.
The Bull Elk was killed with one shot through the lungs.
The Moose was shot in the chest near the base of the neck. It cut the 2nd rib, passed through both lungs, sheared the 8th rib on the off side and stopped just under the hide. No follow-up shot was required.
These animals were taken on a Fall hunt in Wyoming, near the West entrance of Yellowstone Park. The Grizzly was taken later in Canada.
The above game was taken using factory loads which were a 158 gr. bullet at 1515 fps from an 8 3/4" barreled S&W producing 812 ft. lbs of muzzle energy. (S&W later shortened the barrels to 8 3/8" as we have today)
To those who criticized, the Major replied that they "..had not the slightest conception of what we have accomplished in ballistics.." - a statement that still applies today.

1936
Elmer Keith
"When the new .357 cartridge and gun came out I gave it a very thorough tryout ... and found it had more actual knockdown killing power on all game that I shot with it than any other factory loaded, real revolver cartridge on the market.... (It) proved to have much more actual shock effect and killing power ...than any factory loaded revolver or auto pistol cartridge including the .44 Special and the .45 Colt..."
Sixgun Cartridges and Loads pages 29 & 30

1938
Walter Sykes
• Wildebeest - 100 yards - complete penetration, knockdown on the first shot.
His Guide, John Hunter (of "HUNTER" and "AFRICA AS I HAVE FOUND IT") wrote that the .357 was "the one and only hand-arm for African hunting"...

1938
Sasha Siemel - Professional Hunter in South America
• 6 Tigres - Amazon Jaguar's - using the S&W .357 Magnum
He wrote, "...It does all the work of a rifle and is light and easy to carry.."

WW II
General George Patton
He referred to his S&W .357 Magnum as his "killing machine"....

1980
Skeeter Skelton
"No automatic cartridge is as powerful as the .357 Magnum........Years ago I stated that if I could have only one gun, it would be a Model 27 S&W."
Skeeter Skelton on Handguns page 16

In an earlier post, someone asked if the .357 is good for boar. A 158 gr. 357 Magnum bullet at 2153 fps. is definitely good for boar. Don't trump the little guy just yet!
 
Last edited:
Has anyone chronographed the Remington factory .357, 180gr JHP out of the 1894C? What kind of muzzle velocity can I expect?
 
Great post Kalifornian, I saved it for future reference (i.e. the "Is .357 good enough for white tail deer?" thread).

Also stole the Patton quote for my signature. If it was good enough for Patton it is good enough for anyone. ;)
 
I like that Patton line, also.

Kali, you got that 1894C yet?
What do you think?

My 65 is in the "hospital" getting a new hammer spring.
(I bought it used; somebody futzed with the spring,
so I was getting light strikes.)

But at least the 1894C is upstairs in the guard location.
 
Hey Nematocyst,

My apologies for the delay in responding. I have been out of the country for a few because of work related commitments.

Yes, I finally got my 1894C. Installed Skinner sights and went out to sight her in today (been waiting for a long while for some range time). Skinner's sights are a marked improvement! Sight picture acquisition is instantaneous. It was really easy to adjust as well However, when I was cleaning her, I followed the manual's suggestion to keep the loading spring screw tight and so I tightened it and bang, the damn thing broke! Wonder if Marlin will consider that a defect and send me a spare screw.

Anyway, I like the rifle. And here in the PRK, it is the most "Politically Correct" assualt rifle one can have! And with 125 JHP, it is one bad ass home defense carbine.

Regards to all!
 
Can I join???

I just picked up a used 1894, .44 mag from cabelas today. It was made in 1971 and is pre-safety. The metal is in good shape and the action is smooth. The wood can use some work, but then I kind of like the "used" look of these guns. Maybe I'll refinish the stock later, but since this is a hunting gun, I'm not too concerned. An acquaintance of mine has a used 1894 in 357, only a few years old, and I was going to buy that one, but when I found the .44 I decided to buy it instead. The price was $300, which I felt was reasonable, and better than the $400 the guy with the .357 wanted. I thought the .44 might be better for hogs (and deer), which is what I plan to use it for.

I can't wait to get it to the range. I have never shot a .44 rifle, although I have owned .44 revolvers. It'll be interesting to see how she kicks. Cabelas also had a "returned" XS peep sight in their bargain bin, and I think I am going tomorrow morning and pick that up as well. It should make a good hog and deer gun in the dense woods of east Texas.

Oh, this gun also has the saddle ring. What models of the 1894 were made in 1971? Would this be a "c" version, or what? How would I know what model it is?

Todd
 
Last edited:
Add me to the list

Just bought my 1894 44 Mag in Stainless, New from Dealer in Idaho. Everyone says that they are not being built in regular production and are getting hard to find. I bought mine to give me a single caliber combo with my Colt Anaconda. I love the way it shoots and it is easy to carry through the brush. Kinda suprised at the "rough" machining of the action tho. It Looks like something the Chinese built a few years ago.
 
Add me as a proud member of the 1894 club, I have two, and LOVE them. I own an 1894C in 357, and an 1894SS in 44. The 357 gets shot nearly every time I go to the range, which is every week, sometimes more. Both my 1894's are Scout-Scoped, the 44 has a Burris 2X7, the 357 wears a cheapo NcStar 2-7 that has held up well. Both are capable of 1-inch groups at 50 yards with ammo they like, sometimes better, depending mostly on me. I don't shoot lead bullets through them, they do so well with jacketed stuff that I refuse to mess with the results I'm getting.

To me, nothing handles better than a short-action Marlin, I love my 336's in 30-30 and 35 Remington, but those are for more specialized purposes. The best things about the 1894's are the perfect balance and carryability, the easy mounting of whatever sight system your eyes prefer, and the cheap ammo they digest. A box of 357 or 44 is about a third of what the rifle-caliber stuff costs, and I like to shoot a lot, so they choice is easy. Either caliber is good for a lot of chores from a handgun, but the ballistics from a rifle barrel put them in a whole different league. If I had to choose (Gawd Fuhbid) one rifle, the 1894 wins hands down as the ultimate Utility Rifle!

Papajohn
 
I"ve got an 1894c 357 that I bought off a gunsmith a few years back. It was his personal gun and he shot a lot of cowboy action, it is slick slick slick.
I just bought a 1894ss 44 mag today, and realized that I am very spoiled. it needs an action job badly. Is that the kind of thing I can do with a dremel and polishing compound? clip a few springs? or do I need to pay some guy to do it?
 
Not a member of the club yet so forgive the intrusion. I'm still looking for an 1894 in 357 that won't break the bank. I'm jealous guys, real damn jealous. Great thread!
 
Greyling22, you are gonna LOVE that stainless model! You're already spoiled by the slickest little carbine you have, but I personally believe nothing is slicker than the stainless guns. My 1894SS was stiff and rough as a cob when it was new, but some judicious work with a dremel and a lot of shooting have made it the slickest rifle I've ever owned, and I've had some doozies. The first thing I recommend is to re-shape the top and front of the hammer, the bolt overcocks it by quite a bit, and if you do it right, it makes a huge difference.

You might also want to go to the Marlin-Owners website, my home forum, the reference library there is unparalleled, and the people are great. http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/board,121.0.html

This is another good place to look around.............
http://www.marauder.homestead.com/files/TUNING_M_1894.htm

Have fun with it!

Papajohn
 
Guess I'd better break my 1894C (I think- haven't seen it in years!) 357 safe queen out and apply for membership!

Now looking for an 1894SS in 44mag...
 
Every time I shoot one of my 1894's, I am quite convinced it's the Bee's Knees, and there is no better gun to have. Then I shoot the other one, and I feel the same way! If I had to choose one over the other..........I'd just cry. I'm pretty sure I couldn't do it!

PJ
 
well, I've polished and trimmed here and there and my 1894ss is much improved, but not near as slick as my professionally done my 30k+ round 1894c. I've got a little more to do, but I"m guessing there is no substitute for working the action several thousand times. now, must....find...range... :)
 
Cycling the action will help, I spent about three nights in front of the TV, working the lever and snapping it to my should to blast imaginary coyotes. But shooting it is a lot more fun, and helps the parts mate better than just "cranking your lever". :neener:

Grayling, I don't know if you're a handloader, but if you're not, you'll decide to become one once you see how much fun that 44 is!

PJ
 
I have an 1894s bought in 92, shoots one minute of bad guy at 150 yds with 210 grain hand loads.. 1894.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Guy B. Meredith
  • Locked
Marlin handgun caliber rifles
Replies
12
Views
1K
Ben Shepherd
B
J
  • Locked
Difference between Marlin Model 1894C and Model 1894 Cowboy
Replies
10
Views
4K
jtheise4
J
VVelox
  • Locked
Marlin 1894 v. 1894C
Replies
16
Views
1K
mdauben
mdauben
J
  • Locked
marlin 1894 help
2
Replies
46
Views
3K
Pebcac
P
M
  • Locked
Need Some Marlin Decyphering
Replies
14
Views
669
ApacheCoTodd
ApacheCoTodd
Back
Top