Marlin 1894C...

[Kentucky Rifle]

It's been a lot of fun looking for the round my new Marlin likes the best. It seems to like anything. (And, I'm falling in love with the rifle.) Yesterday, I purchased some 170gr Gold Dot "GDSP". Jacketed bullets with a big flat nose. (I can hardly wait to try these out.) Reading the manual again, it states the only ammunition limitations are "shot filled" bullets (I understand. Might mess up that nice barrel.), and wad cutters. I wonder about that. Can a few of you please give me an opinion for the wad cutter limitation? The manual doesn't give a reason.
There's one other great thing about this rifle. I don't have to wear my glasses to see the front sight clearly! 18.5 inches away and it's just perfect. The Militec-1 lube made it MUCH smoother operating. (And I've only lubed with Militec one time.) A couple more times and it'll be smooth as glass.

Thanks,
KR

 

[Snowdog]

Got the same rifle and love it.

I hope you mean 270gr JSP, a 170gr would be a zippy round indeed.

I've tried oodels of different makes and have settled on Hornady 240gr XTPs... accurate with respectable velocities.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

Snowdog...

.357 Magnum, 170gr."GDSP". Did you get the caliber wrong? 1894C 18.5 inch barrel. Love it!

KR

 

[B27]

KR-
Wadcutters will not only not feed well but may jam up the rifle so bad you will have to partially disassemble the rifle to clear the jam.
Might ruin your whole day.

 

[Sir Galahad]

Say, Kentucky, how does that Marlin work with .38s? Have you tried that yet?

I am also intrigued by those 170gr. Gold Dot soft points.I've not seen those around here. Where did you get them?

 

[ChristopherG]

Recently got one of these myself, after thinking for months about it, and it really is a terrifically fun gun to shoot. I've actually only had it out a couple of times, both times were with a red-dot on it. That's a pretty good technology for the caliber/range/etc of this gun, but I couldn't nuzzle it up to my face the way I wanted; so I got a Lyman peep sight that slipped right on and fits like a dream; gives a great picture with the two different aperature sizes or even with no aperature (ala 'ghost ring'; though I think the larger 'hunting' ap. will serve better for most uses). Now I can swing it right up to my face and let'er rip.

I've looked at the bullets you mention, KR, and they struck me as a great idea for the 1894c, too. Good weight, Golddot bonding, and that big fat flat face. Did you get them in loaded rounds, or to handload? In either case, do you know what velocity you might expect to see from them?

CG

 

[Mannlicher]

1894C is in .38/.357, so the 170 grain is right. I have an 1894S, in .44mag, and use the 270 grain Speer GDSP. 6 Whitetails with that combo.

I think a .357 Marlin is in my future. I have a Rossi Model 92 in .357, but I like the Marlin design better than the Winchester.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Nice.

Please let us know how those Gold Dots work. I was looking at them myself, for use in my Rossi 1892 .357.

 

[Bruce H]

Son brought home a 1894EG .41mag. yesterday. Looks great but haven't had time to shoot yet.

 

[Snowdog]

Did you get the caliber wrong?

Yep, I was thinking of the .44mag as you probably figured out. I didn't know that Speer offered a 170gr .357mag. I've been neglecting to buy any new gun rags... seems I'm now getting behind the times.

 

[Deadman]

how does that Marlin work with .38s?

Although I have a 1894CP (16inch barrel), the Win. SuperX 125jhp and 158swc .38 loads I've used, worked just fine.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

Guys...

I haven't tried any .38 Specials in the rifle. Although I've hurt both shoulders in different motorcycle crashes, .357 mags have little recoil in the 1894.

Sir Galahad: I got the 170gr GDSP at Kiesler's. They have a website so, if you want some you can get them.

Chris: I just pointed to the box on the shelf. I don't reload. (Yet.) I have one of those red-dot gizmos, but it's been in my holster drawer since I bought it over a year ago. It might look good on a SS Marlin, but mine is blue. I don't want to do anything with the sights. It's been a delight to find a rifle that I can see the front sight on WITHOUT my glasses.

B27: Thanks for the info re: the wad cutters. The nose on the 170gr is so big and flat, I'll wonder about jams until I try them. If I have to partially field strip, it's no problem. The 1894 is a breeze to take apart.

KR