Marlin 1894 experience?

[TwoWheelFiend]

My LGS has a Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag for sale. I played with it the other day and it grew on me. It looked newer and I know I have read some slightly negative things about Marlins QC as of late. Anything I should look for or be concerned about? I got a price of $500 and it looks to be in almost perfect condition. What do you guys think?

Im plan on putting a ghost ring on it and use it for hunting in thicker stuff or when the weather is rough on scopes.

 

[ChopperKen]

I have a 1964 336 in 44 mag. Took 3 deer with it in
about 10 seconds on opening day. It's not for sale for
love or money!
I don't know about the new ones QC problems.
There are posts here that tell you how to find the build date
of the one you have found so you can make an informed
decision.

 

[greyling22]

if it has REP in an oval on the ejection port side of the barrel, back by the receiver, it's a new remington gun. they have fit and finish issues. issues include, but are not limited to, poor wood to metal or metal to metal fit, stripped or cross threaded screws, crooked sights, scratches in wood or metal, rough action.

if you find a good one, they're super, and get even better with a simple action job.

 

[TwoWheelFiend]

Ive owned a few 336's over the years and they were great guns. Thanks for the info greyling!

 

[BigMag]

I have one in 45lc, The low pressure 45lc rounds causes me to get a little gas in my face due to the cases not opening enough to seal the chamber, but you shouldn’t have that problem with the 44 mag
Other that they its hella accurate and lots of fun to shoot. If I had to get one over again I'd go for the 44 mag.
.

 

[LTR shooter]

Bought new 1894 in 44 Mag in 1987 and it was a great rifle. No function problems ever , excellent accuracy. A real pleasure to shoot.

Bought a new one again in 1999 and the lever jammed up in the fully open position as I tried to cycle a round. The guy at the shop thought it was my reloads and he stuffs the tube full of his 44 Mag factory ammo , same thing happens , lever locks up. He took the rifle back and gave me full credit towards another gun.

Should never have traded my original 1894!

 

[Brian Williams]

I have a 1894C in 357, love it, check to see if it is a new remarlin, then if it is check it carefully.

 

[MrDig]

I just bought a '70s vintage 1894, and have yet to get out and shoot it. I did put ghost rings on it, and did a trigger job as the famous flop was too much for my liking. once I do get to shoot it I plan on doing a full work over as it looks like it was a truck gun and is pretty beat up. I will probably parkerize the metal as opposed to bluing it, because I can park it at home but would need to send it out to have it hot blued.
If you can get a pre remington take over I would get it. if you can get a pre hammer block safety I would get it as well.
Fit and finish degraded a bit in Marlins later years and has gone completely to hell since 2007 when they became Remlin

 

[jaysouth]

1. That price is about a hundred dollars under what used ones are selling for at gun shows.

2. It is a very effective combo for deer and hog hunting. But the recoil from the light weight of the gun and potent cartridge keep me from plinking or rangefun.

3. If the gun is from the plants in NY or KY under the Freedom Group reign, inspect it very carefully. I have seen them with misaligned sights, improperly fitted wood and rough gritty actions. QC got so bad that they suspended production to get a handle on it. As someone above observed, if the "JM" inside a circle is stamped on the left side of the barrel, you have an older production gun and one that was properly made.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I have one in 45lc, The low pressure 45lc rounds causes me to get a little gas in my face due to the cases not opening enough to seal the chamber, but you shouldn’t have that problem with the 44 mag
Other that they its hella accurate and lots of fun to shoot. If I had to get one over again I'd go for the 44 mag.
.

That is an interesting insight. Thanks for the observation as I'll be keeping it in mind should the opportunity come up to get either at the same time. Oddly, my Marlin potential purchases seem to come in pairs at least if not small waves, not unlike the Savages that cross my bow.

 

[WVRJ]

I have a 1894CP in .357 that is a mid-90's vintage and it is a sweetheart.I put a Lyman 57 sight on it,and with the small aperture in the sight it shoots real good.Take the aperture out and the ghost ring is good for hunting.I shoot 180 gr Partitions in it and deer within 100 yards don't have a prayer.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Really good design which somehow Remington/Marlin has screwed up recently.

I would look a new REP marked gun very carefully before buying. I mean you should look at every used gun carefully, but buyer beware.

I love mine. It's fast, handy, powerful, everything a brush gun should be. Mine was made before the takeover.

 

[shootniron]

I have an 80's vintage 1894 that has been great. But, I hear the new Remiington/Marlin examples are not so good...I don't know.

 

[Nanook]

I have a Marlin 1894 CL in .357 that I wouldn't trade off for anything. I bought it in late 2002 so it was before whatever is going on lately.

I hope whatever is going on is straightened out before long. Marlin was top notch in the past, and I hate to see a great brand suffer.