I have decided that I will pick up a marlin 1894 in a couple of days and I had a couple questions for you lever gun aficionados. I am planning on getting the .44mag for fun and maybe for deer/hogs, and I would like to know if the .44 has to much recoil for fun and fast repeat shots? I know one can load any form of shells they want, but I’m talking factory stuff. Would I be better served with the 1894c? Another question is sights. I like the look of the Williams FP but I don’t know if these will hang over the hammer as well as needing to drill and tap the rifle. Are there any other (Williams style) peep sights that do not require drilling and that don’t hang over the hammer? I’ve looked at the: Williams, XS/AO, W.W.G, and Lymans, are there any others out there you guys like that I have not seen?
marlin 1894 help
- Thread starter jeffrice6
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jeffrice6 said:
This might be interesting to you. It's a table showing recoil of different rounds in rifles. Note that the weight of the rifle makes a difference, so the listing doesn't have every possibility, but it will give you a good idea of what to compare the gun to.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm
Here's the handgun counterpart:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/handgun_recoil_table.htm
The .44 Magnum is a hard kicker in a revolver, but not in a rifle.
.357 does have less recoil, though. And you can get it in hunting versions like Buffalo Bore, with plenty of power.
Note that the 1894c also shoots .38 Specials, which are REAL pussycats in a long gun, and cheaper, too. But you will need to clean the chamber afterwards... I have a .357 revolver sitting in my safe right now that won't take .357's until I clean it.
I bought a 1894C 2 weeks ago. I'm very happy with it.
I have shot about 60 rounds last weekend. Here's what I observed:
a) 38 special is quiet in a rifle, cheap too
b) repeatedly cycle the lever ... hurts. I ware gloves for this now a day
c) 4gr of Uniq top with 158gr LRNFP is great. I load this in a 357 brass. very clean burning. Anything lower, you get soot on the casing.
d) buckhorn sight is interesting. I can't hit anything with it, yet
e) Did I mention that it is cheap to shoot?
f) fast handling, a joy to cary, and light
g) I should have get this thing a long long time ago....
Besides 22lr, I think 357/38Spl is the cheapest shooting gun you can have - if you reload.
I think I will stick to the buckhorn sight for awhile. At least 500 rounds to see if I used to it. If not, I probably put a AO ghost-ring sight on it.
I have shot about 60 rounds last weekend. Here's what I observed:
a) 38 special is quiet in a rifle, cheap too
b) repeatedly cycle the lever ... hurts. I ware gloves for this now a day
c) 4gr of Uniq top with 158gr LRNFP is great. I load this in a 357 brass. very clean burning. Anything lower, you get soot on the casing.
d) buckhorn sight is interesting. I can't hit anything with it, yet
e) Did I mention that it is cheap to shoot?
f) fast handling, a joy to cary, and light
g) I should have get this thing a long long time ago....
Besides 22lr, I think 357/38Spl is the cheapest shooting gun you can have - if you reload.
I think I will stick to the buckhorn sight for awhile. At least 500 rounds to see if I used to it. If not, I probably put a AO ghost-ring sight on it.
Follow up shots are fast... I've made a bowling pin dance at 50 and 100 yards with a Marlin 44...
Hit it, bounce it and try to hit it again before it stops moving... "chase it" across the range etc.
Buckhorns are faster than peep sights, and for the range that rifle is intended to shoot you don't really need peep sights.
Hit it, bounce it and try to hit it again before it stops moving... "chase it" across the range etc.
Buckhorns are faster than peep sights, and for the range that rifle is intended to shoot you don't really need peep sights.
Hey there,
I have a stainless Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag - I think it's my favorite long gun for reasons I can't quite articulate. It is pretty forgiving of bullet profile in 44 mag, less so in 44 special. It's very easy to shoot using 44 specials, but the 44 mags make my shoulder sore after a while. Not quite 12 gauge recoil, but it's quite a jolt, I can't imagine 44 mag in a handgun.
You want to beware the dreaded Marlin jam. Mine suffered from this right out of the box. Either load it up with dummy rounds or have a gunsmith load and unload it a few times the first time you load up. Sometimes the lever will "sieze" in the open position, leaving you with x number of rounds stuck in the tube. Bad news! Gun must be disassembled to get them out. This requires gunsmith attention to fix. There is often a sharp edge on the end of the lever internal to the action that tends to make a gouge in the internal part that rides against it. That gouge will eventually affect important clearances and result in the "marlin jam". If you disassemble the action for the initial cleaning, you might do well to soften the sharpness of this edge before reassembling.
I don't know if this is true of the 1894 in general, but mine was rough as a cobb on the inside. The action was heavy and gritty. I cycled it a few hundered times (700 I think) using dummy ammo and it now seems to work quite a bit more smoothly. It's still too heavy to comfortably cycle using the back of my knuckles, so I always grab it by the underside of the lever for cycling. Trigger pull is on the heavy side. I lubricated with CLP only at first, but I think the action likes a drop or two of something a little thicker for smoothness. Using hoppes gun oil right now, maybe a smidge of grease next time.
I'm not very good with the buckhorn sights. Maybe I will have to replace them - I'm considering a Williams Firesight. The barrel twist is slow, I don't know all the math, but theoretically it should be fine. I'd never want to try to down something farther than 100 yards, due to ballistics and accuracy. But it makes a heck of a home defense gun.
For all my piddly little complaints about it, I do love this gun. It's short and handy, I like the way it feels in my hands, it is solid and sturdy, comes naturally to my shoulder, and I love the way it looks. I'm pleased that it's stainless. The wood is nice. It's a shoulder bruiser, but I know it packs a punch on the recieving end. For all these reasons I have taken a very forgiving attitude towards all it's faults. Oh yea, it was my first centerfire rifle, wonder if that has anything to do with it?
I have a stainless Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag - I think it's my favorite long gun for reasons I can't quite articulate. It is pretty forgiving of bullet profile in 44 mag, less so in 44 special. It's very easy to shoot using 44 specials, but the 44 mags make my shoulder sore after a while. Not quite 12 gauge recoil, but it's quite a jolt, I can't imagine 44 mag in a handgun.
You want to beware the dreaded Marlin jam. Mine suffered from this right out of the box. Either load it up with dummy rounds or have a gunsmith load and unload it a few times the first time you load up. Sometimes the lever will "sieze" in the open position, leaving you with x number of rounds stuck in the tube. Bad news! Gun must be disassembled to get them out. This requires gunsmith attention to fix. There is often a sharp edge on the end of the lever internal to the action that tends to make a gouge in the internal part that rides against it. That gouge will eventually affect important clearances and result in the "marlin jam". If you disassemble the action for the initial cleaning, you might do well to soften the sharpness of this edge before reassembling.
I don't know if this is true of the 1894 in general, but mine was rough as a cobb on the inside. The action was heavy and gritty. I cycled it a few hundered times (700 I think) using dummy ammo and it now seems to work quite a bit more smoothly. It's still too heavy to comfortably cycle using the back of my knuckles, so I always grab it by the underside of the lever for cycling. Trigger pull is on the heavy side. I lubricated with CLP only at first, but I think the action likes a drop or two of something a little thicker for smoothness. Using hoppes gun oil right now, maybe a smidge of grease next time.
I'm not very good with the buckhorn sights. Maybe I will have to replace them - I'm considering a Williams Firesight. The barrel twist is slow, I don't know all the math, but theoretically it should be fine. I'd never want to try to down something farther than 100 yards, due to ballistics and accuracy. But it makes a heck of a home defense gun.
For all my piddly little complaints about it, I do love this gun. It's short and handy, I like the way it feels in my hands, it is solid and sturdy, comes naturally to my shoulder, and I love the way it looks. I'm pleased that it's stainless. The wood is nice. It's a shoulder bruiser, but I know it packs a punch on the recieving end. For all these reasons I have taken a very forgiving attitude towards all it's faults. Oh yea, it was my first centerfire rifle, wonder if that has anything to do with it?
Got a Marlin 1894 44mag over the summer. I find the recoil no worse than the 30/30. But if you want to go real lite, they also shoot 44 specials.
I use mine at the range all the time. I wanted a fast shooting, street-fighter type gun so I changed out the sights to a XS “Ghost Ring” set (# ML-0012-5) for 336, 1894 or 30AS. The Marlin’s receiver top is already drilled and tapped.
Now it’s a fast shouldering, fast sighting, fast firing street fighter.
As for the Williams peep, I got one on my 336 30/30 it slightly overhangs but doesn’t interfere with the hammer.
I use mine at the range all the time. I wanted a fast shooting, street-fighter type gun so I changed out the sights to a XS “Ghost Ring” set (# ML-0012-5) for 336, 1894 or 30AS. The Marlin’s receiver top is already drilled and tapped.
Now it’s a fast shouldering, fast sighting, fast firing street fighter.
As for the Williams peep, I got one on my 336 30/30 it slightly overhangs but doesn’t interfere with the hammer.
wanderinwalker
Member
jeffrice6,
I can offer no other help than the fact that felt recoil is subjective. I used to have a Ruger 96/44 that, to me, kicked worse than an M-1 Garand. It bit the top edge of my collarbone hard every time I squeezed the trigger. Really don't miss it, though it was light, accurate, handy and had a punch.
I too have been looking at the Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum. For some reason I have visions of a forward mounted red dot or similar with a ghost ring backup. Seems to me as though it would make a fun "Redneck Assault Rifle," especially with 11 rounds of .44 Magnum on tap. It could feed from the same bucket as my Smith and Wesson!
As to the twist rate, everything I've read seems to indicate it is fine unless you're trying to toss the 300+ heavy weights.
I can offer no other help than the fact that felt recoil is subjective. I used to have a Ruger 96/44 that, to me, kicked worse than an M-1 Garand. It bit the top edge of my collarbone hard every time I squeezed the trigger. Really don't miss it, though it was light, accurate, handy and had a punch.
I too have been looking at the Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum. For some reason I have visions of a forward mounted red dot or similar with a ghost ring backup. Seems to me as though it would make a fun "Redneck Assault Rifle," especially with 11 rounds of .44 Magnum on tap. It could feed from the same bucket as my Smith and Wesson!
As to the twist rate, everything I've read seems to indicate it is fine unless you're trying to toss the 300+ heavy weights.
Preacherman
Member
I have a Marlin 1894, and the recoil isn't a problem for me. However, I have loaned the rifle to some folks who did complain - so I simply fitted a decent recoil pad, to replace the hard Marlin plastic buttplate that came from the factory. End of problem.
eastwood44mag
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2005
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- 1,027
I have the same as you're looking for. With .44 spl, it kicks less than an AK. I find .44 mags to be painful on the shoulder, personally. I think most of that is due to the crappy pad from Marlin, but to each his own. Very nice as a hunting gun--light, quick, and zippy. I wouldn't sell mine--unless I could get a nicer one.
crackerjack
Member
44 Mag recoil
I have a Marlin in 44 mag really like it and it is quite accurate with Lyman peep and williams firesight. Recoil with warm loads is managable, but if shooting alot from bench becomes uncomfortable. I have a soft shoulder and don't find heavier recoil to be be a pleasant part of shooting. I replaced the original marlin pad with a Kickeez , tamed it and it is now one of my favorite shooters .
Hope it helps
I have a Marlin in 44 mag really like it and it is quite accurate with Lyman peep and williams firesight. Recoil with warm loads is managable, but if shooting alot from bench becomes uncomfortable. I have a soft shoulder and don't find heavier recoil to be be a pleasant part of shooting. I replaced the original marlin pad with a Kickeez , tamed it and it is now one of my favorite shooters .
Hope it helps
rockstar.esq
Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2004
- Messages
- 1,475
As I was reading the previous posts I was surprised to hear so many complaints of recoil. I have never shot a lever gun in .44mag but I have shot a 30-30 in a winchester rifle. Given the relative size of the cartridge (30-30) I found the recoil to be more than expected but perfectly managable. However I have shot a Ruger 77 in .270 win that was stocked in that godawful Zytel material and it feels like it's trying to dismember me! I've shot a bolt action 50BMG more than once and didn't get this kind of pain. All I can figure is that the old school straight stock design and hard butt plate all add up to more pain for your shooting dollar. I have a PAST shoulder pad that I used to sight in my 12G slug gun and I would heartily recommend them. It makes your length of pull longer but it's about as thick as a winter coat so I'm all set when hunting season comes around.
Hi again -
About recoil in the Marlin 1894,
Didn't mean to imply that the recoil in this gun from 44 magnums was equal to 12 gauge, but rather that it's a bit less than 12 gauge. I shoot skeet with a Mossberg 590 that does a fine job of tenderizing my shoulder after a couple of rounds. I've also used a semi-auto 20 gauge for skeet, and I'm convinced the percieved recoil of the 1894 is closer to the 12 than to the 20, though it is between the two.
Preacherman, no, it's not a "problem" for me either... I wouldn't classify it as "painful" but rather that it is "prominent" and after about 20 shots I will definitely experience some "discomfort" - not a problem, just part of the price of enjoying the sport. To me, pain is something a doctor gives you anesthetic for (like novacaine at the dentist) whereas discomfort is something you notice and maybe take an asprin for... no biggie. This definitely falls in the discomfort zone, not the pain zone. I do enjoy shooting the 44 specials, I still get practice handling the gun, recoil is light, even if the sights need to be aimed a bit higher and the target moved a bit closer.
I keep my Marlin handy with an elastic butt-cuff of 180-grain Remington hp's in case needed for social work. I would grab it in an emergency, no questions asked.
About recoil in the Marlin 1894,
Didn't mean to imply that the recoil in this gun from 44 magnums was equal to 12 gauge, but rather that it's a bit less than 12 gauge. I shoot skeet with a Mossberg 590 that does a fine job of tenderizing my shoulder after a couple of rounds. I've also used a semi-auto 20 gauge for skeet, and I'm convinced the percieved recoil of the 1894 is closer to the 12 than to the 20, though it is between the two.
Preacherman, no, it's not a "problem" for me either... I wouldn't classify it as "painful" but rather that it is "prominent" and after about 20 shots I will definitely experience some "discomfort" - not a problem, just part of the price of enjoying the sport. To me, pain is something a doctor gives you anesthetic for (like novacaine at the dentist) whereas discomfort is something you notice and maybe take an asprin for... no biggie. This definitely falls in the discomfort zone, not the pain zone. I do enjoy shooting the 44 specials, I still get practice handling the gun, recoil is light, even if the sights need to be aimed a bit higher and the target moved a bit closer.
I keep my Marlin handy with an elastic butt-cuff of 180-grain Remington hp's in case needed for social work. I would grab it in an emergency, no questions asked.
The recoil with .44 Magnum (according to the numbers) is very similar to .30-30 out of a rifle of the same weight. .30-30 is manageable. With .44 Special, it ought to be a pussycat.
I have that one and a Marlin 336. I don't own anything in .44 Magnum, but I might consider the rifle if I had a revolver in the caliber. With factory loads, .357 is slightly less expensive to shoot than .44.
I had the William 5D and FP sights, and they hung over one side of the receiver but not the ejection side nor the hammer.
I have to fight myself from buying more leverguns. Watch you don't pick up an addictions.
jmm
I have that one and a Marlin 336. I don't own anything in .44 Magnum, but I might consider the rifle if I had a revolver in the caliber. With factory loads, .357 is slightly less expensive to shoot than .44.
I had the William 5D and FP sights, and they hung over one side of the receiver but not the ejection side nor the hammer.
I have to fight myself from buying more leverguns. Watch you don't pick up an addictions.
jmm
Thanks everone, went ahead and got the .44. Went down to Big 5 and picked it up for $319, best price in my parts. Although its a trade off, the big 5 rifles are not walnut its there "hard wood" what ever that is. But hey, bought the rifle to shoot right. Now i just have to find sights
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
My 1894C is my favorite long arm. It is easy to shoot and very accuarate. I have put a Marble's tang sight on mine.
Just found something over in Firearms1, I’d love to have engraved on the receiver......
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"Resistance to sudden violence, for the preservation not only of my person, my limbs, and life, but of my property, is an indisputable right of nature which I have never surrendered to the public by the compact of society, and which perhaps, I could not surrender if I would."
--- John Adams,
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