marlin 1894 help

[106rr]

I have a 357 mag Model 94 Marlin with the Williams Foolproof rear sight. It is great. Get the Foolproof because the rifle shoots to different POI with the wide variety of ammo available for it. The click adjustments make re zeroing a snap. Mine shoots best with 357 mag S&B 158 gr jsp or the Miwal 160 gr +P+ hunting load. The recoil is mild with magnum loads and nonexistent with 38 specials. You can figure the ballistics by adding about 300 fps to the factory pistol muzzle velocity.
This carbine is a joy to shoot -- believe me you'll love it and shoot it often. The 38/357 ammo is much cheaper to fire than the 44 mag. You can prctice on an indoor range. The power level is decisive for HD situations.
158 gr goes out the muzzle at about 1800 fps.

 

[brickboy240]

I have both; a Marlin 20" 1894S in 44mag/spl and a 18" carbine in 357. Both are very easy on the shoulder. The 357 has almost no recoil, shooting mild 357 loads and 38spls. The 44 Mag version has a little less recoil than a Mod. 336 30-30 with stout 44 mag loads and is a total pussycat with 44spl cowboy loads. Both are very accurate and totally reliable guns. You probably won't need hearing proetction shooting 44spl or 38spl loads in these rifles - they're not very loud at all. Perfect for weening a youngster off the 22lr, without scaring them with the noise and recoil of a 30-30.

The 44 mag is probably better for deer/hog hunting. I have never shot big game with the 357, but its great for skunks, raccoons and small stuff.

Get whichever appeals to you the most - both are great rifles and I'd never part with either one of them!

- Brickboy240

 

[Bill St. Clair]

Here are my Marlins.



On top is an 1894P in .44 magnum. Its big brother is a 444P. I make full-house .44 loads with H4227 pusing a 240 grain XTP or Hornady's 265 grain rifle bullet. These sting the hand a little, but aren't bad. For fun, I push a 200 grain lead bullet with TrailBoss. About 1000 fps, no recoil, not very loud, about 10 cents apiece.

The .44 has a One Hole Sight, the .444 a Wild West Guns Ghost Ring.

Marlin doesn't sell ported rifles any more. I like them, but they're very loud for your range neighbors.

 

[jeffrice6]

Im looking for a little extra length in the stock, has anyone used an aftermarket butt pad and what brand did you like? I saw pachmayr had a pre-fit decelerator, I like the idea of just putting one on, but Midway reviews say that they really don't fit. Are there any other pre-fit butt pads?

 

[Bullet]

I put a set of William’s fire sights on mine (the ones with the fiber optic front sight). Sure can see the front sight better. The rear sight I mounted in the forward holes in the receiver (now it’s not in the way of the hammer at all). If you going to use your Marlin for hunting the Wild West sights would probably be better.

 

[Hollowdweller]

My wife likes hers but it has a tendency to jam with anything other than the jacketed hollow points.

 

[Legionnaire]

Really depends on the load. Can't speak for all that are available, but from personal experience, the Magtech 240gr semi-jacketed soft points loaded to 1180 fps (741 ft/lb)* are quite comfortable through my 1894S. In contrast, Georgia Arms "Deer Stoppers," 200gr jacketed hollow points loaded to 1650 fps (1209 ft/lb)* really pack a punch that is uncomfortable in short order!

* Factory specs.

 

[jeffrice6]

Are there any pre-fit butt pads besides the Decelerator?

 

[jeffrice6]

Are there any pre-fit butt pads besides the Decelerator?

 

[CZguy]

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?

The Williams sights attach using the top rear screws for scope mounting, but tend to hang over the hammer a little bit. The Lyman sight mounts perfecty, but requires drilling and taping. The AO express sight is easy to install and superfast to use, but not as accurate as the others.........................Life is a series of trade offs.

 

[CZguy]

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.

This may be a first. I normally agree with everything you say, but I can't this time. Peep sights are much faster than Buckhorns, that's why you don't see buckhorns on M1s---M-16s

 

[Preacherman]

jeffrice6, the Limbsaver pad (which is the same as Remington's R3 pad, and the latest available technology, AFAIK) can be bought pre-fit for some Marlins, and I daresay that the 1894 stock can be compared to at least one of them - you'll have to check that with Marlin. See here for the list of firearms for which pre-fit pads are available. Of course, you can also order a grind-to-fit pad and have your gunsmith fit it to your rifle.

Another alternative is the Kick-Eez unit, which will require fitting, but is very good. I've used these on shotguns, and prefer them to the Pachmayr Decelerator.

 

[Mannlicher]

About the only load I put through my Marlin 1894S is the Speer 270 grain GDSP over a lot of H110. Its a stout load, with 1500 fps and good accuracy, less than 2 inches at 100 yards. I don't find the recoil bad at all.

 

[jeffrice6]

thanks

 

[Xander27z]

is (felt) recoil bigger from a 16 1/2 inch barrel compared to a 20 in barrel? or the difference is to insignificant between the two?

 

[Xander27z]

a few more questions:

is it ok to keep this rifle loaded? any damage to the magazine spring?

i cycled (loaded/unloaded) the same rounds 2 times already through the rifle to check reliability/working condition, and my question is how many time can i safely do this? is there any damage to the rounds/ammo that i should be worried about besides the small surface scratches on the shells?

 

[CZguy]

is it ok to keep this rifle loaded? any damage to the magazine spring?

i cycled (loaded/unloaded) the same rounds 2 times already through the rifle to check reliability/working condition, and my question is how many time can i safely do this? is there any damage to the rounds/ammo that i should be worried about besides the small surface scratches on the shells?

It's much safer to cycle a snap cap, rather than live ammo.

Springs don't wear out from being compressed. They wear out from being cycled. In other words, it won't hurt the magazine spring to keep it loaded.

If you ever have feeding problems, simply replace the spring.

 

[mpthole]

This is a good, timely topic for me. Glad I found this thread! I'm debating between a Marlin 336 in 30-30 or a Marlin in .44 mag... decisions, decisions. The gun would be used for fun and for deer. The area I hunt is very wooded and most shots are 50 yards or less. 100 yard shots are possible but not likely. I already have a S&W 629 Classic in .44 mag, so I wouldn't have to stock another caliber... plus, I just got the .44 mag dies & conversion kit for my DL650. Sounds like I'm talking myself into a Marlin in .44 mag!

 

[CZguy]

You can't go wrong if you buy both.

And don't forget to get a 336 in .35 Remington.

 

[jeffrice6]

The great thing about marlins is that you can replace the crossbolt safty with a small plug that returns the rifle to its original condition. on one side it looks like a factory screw and on the other side it fits flush, looks great.

 

[CZguy]

The great thing about marlins is that you can replace the crossbolt safty with a small plug that returns the rifle to its original condition. on one side it looks like a factory screw and on the other side it fits flush, looks great.

Here's the link.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/crossbolt_safety.htm

well made, fairly priced, outstanding product.

 

[Pebcac]

Howie38: Thanks for the new signature!

On topic comment: I'm looking into getting a Marlin 1894C myself. I'm planning on adding a .357 revolver to the stable soon, and a nice matching lever action will be a welcome addition!