Marlin .44?

[Panzerschwein]

How are the current crop of Marlin 1894 rifles chambered in the .44 magnum cartridge?

They look cool. I've been wanting a .44 magnum lever gun for some time. Nice capacity (10 shots) so useful for deer, hogs, or fighting. I'd be using it for boars and as a general purpose camp gun. I like how it has a loading gate (unlike a Henry) and I believe the action is stronger than some of the Italian guns, and it hits a sweet spot in price.

But how are they? Looking at a new one. I hear the Marlins may not be so good now. Anybody know how the 1894 rifles are doing? I'd like one to be a handy woods gun and hunting camp carbine companion, but not if it jams up all the time or breaks.

Cooldill

 

[Tommygunn]

I think the newer ones are getting better. Expect a .44 mag carbine to kick. I have the Browning B-92 in .44mag, and it kicks almost like a .30-30.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Thanks. It ticks off the boxes for me but I just don't want to get one if the quality is no longer there.

 

[VoodooMountain]

I bought one a few months ago. It has tooling marks all over the action, wood fit is decent, and the action has started to slick up with some working of the action.

The opening in the chamber is so sharp I cut myself on it twice and didn't even notice. Seriously, it's nearly as sharp as a razor blade.

I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet so I can't report anything about accuracy or reliability.

 

[Valkman]

I bought a 1894 in .44 Mag about a year and a half ago and it's a great gun. Had a "happy trigger" and big loop installed and had the 'smith stone the insides and it shoots and cycles really well. I heard a lot of crap about "Remlins" but mine is a good one. I started reloading .44 Specials for it and they are a joy to shoot.

 

[Cokeman]

I like my 30-30 336Y

 

[Dog Soldier]

I have a Browning Mdl. 92 .44 Mag. These are wonderful little carbines. I suppose after Browning and Winchester got married Browning dropped their Mdl. 92.

 

[stringnut]

My brother has a pre Remlin 44 and it shoots and functions well. His post Remlin 45 70 is a different story. The fit and finish was reasonable and it functioned OK. The problem was that the barrel was crooked in the receiver. So much so that with a scope the bullet would hit the dirt in front of a target at 50 yards. Several ring and base combinations were tried. Went back to Marlin and to wild west guns. Both said that it was not an issue. Marlin did say they would pay to have a custom scope base made so that it could be sighted in. Brother sold and bought an older one.

 

[Jason_W]

I'm also in the club of have one, haven't had a chance to fire it yet (trying to find room in the budget for the $135/year range membership and the required NRA membership to join).

Anyway, I have cycled and fired snap caps multiple times. No issues there. Like every new lever gun I've been able to afford, the workings are a bit stiff

The trigger out of the box was atrocious. Getting it to break strained my hand after a few pulls. I installed the WWF happy trigger and it's way better.

No idea about accuracy yet and up to a point, I don't care. I don't expect a levergun to print cloverleafs at 100 yards. If I can consistently put all shots into a deer or bad guy sized target out to 100 yards from a standing position, I'll be happy.

Overall, I'm regretting not going with the Henry big boy steel. Having handles one in a shop, it's definitely the slicker gun off the shelf.

The loading method of the Henry put me off initially, but now I'm wondering if I should have made that compromise.