New Marlin 1894 44 Magnum Arrived!

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I just sent an email to remington a couple of weeks ago asking about 357 rifles. They wrote back that they had no plans to make them at this time. But if and when they do I will pick up one to go with the one I own already.:(
 
Olympus said:
I just had to roll the dice and try out one of these new production Marlin (aka Remlin, aka Marlington) 1894 level actions in 44 Magnum. As I said before, this was the first rifle I ever carried with me in the deer woods. It was the older version and that was some time ago. I was too young to remember but just a few vague memories of the gun before my dad sold it or traded it for something else. I never had the chance to shoot a deer with it. So I decided I'd get a new production model to shoot and carry with me for deer season this year. I know there were some quality issues when Remington first took over production, but from what I'd read online those models were specific to the first few years after the buy-out and they have since re-tooled and started making better guns. So I took a gamble and ordered one. It arrived today.

When I opened the box, I was immediately struck by how handy the gun felt. Aside from a Henry Goldenboy I have to plink with, I've never really spent much time with a lever action gun. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the wood grain the stock was simply FABULOUS! The kick was that the wood was SO dry. It was chalky looking and rough feeling, but the grain figure was phenomenal! The metal to wood fit is very nice and evenly fit. The fit and finish on the barrel and receiver are also nicely done. The action was surprisingly not as stiff as I've read most people have experienced. While not the slick as butter feeling that my Henry action has, the Marlin action is still relatively smooth. No rough spots or hitches in the giddy-up so to speak. A quick wipe down and applying some of my own gun oil, it smoothed up fairly nicely. I'm thinking that with some use it should prove to be a very nice action. I measured the trigger pull right out the box at exactly 5lbs. Not too bad considering what I'd read from others on their guns like this. For a lever action gun with no scope, I would call that sufficient. And again, it might well lighten up some with use.

As for the stock, I have decided to use some 0000 steel wool and lightly rub the stock, paying attention to stay well away from the steel. I have already applied one coat of Minwax Antique Oil Finish and the grain is really starting to pop and the surface is starting to smooth up. I will keep rubbing the wood with the steel wool and applying one coat of the Antique Oil Finish per day until I get the desired satin finish to the stock. But I would be lying if I said I was not immediately impressed with this gun. I'm looking forward to getting the components together to start reloading. I bought some Hornady 200gr XTP bullets that I'll use for hunting and I'll get some lead or plated bullets for pllinking.


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I'm a bit envious of the wood on yours as well as the fact you got a 5 lb. trigger out of the box. Mine practically needed a pair of vice grips to pull.
 
Jason_W said:
I'm a bit envious of the wood on yours as well as the fact you got a 5 lb. trigger out of the box. Mine practically needed a pair of vice grips to pull.
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For the first time in a long time, I've been able to get a gun that is an exception to the norm. I feel very fortunate with this gun. I'm hoping it shoots as good as it looks.
 
Olympus said:
For the first time in a long time, I've been able to get a gun that is an exception to the norm. I feel very fortunate with this gun. I'm hoping it shoots as good as it looks.
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Mine isn't bad overall. Like yours, it's oversprung, but that's just the way new Marlins are. Just have to run it hard until it wears in a bit.

The trigger was the disappointment, but it was an excuse to install a wild west guns trigger, and that thing is butter smooth. And no trigger rattle!
 
That's a good looking rifle. I hope it shoots as good as it looks.
I bet you can make lots of venison with that.
...I can only assume that you have a revolver in .44mag to compliment that fine rifle?
 
I've not been a huge fan of the newer Marlins, but that is one nice looking rifle. I may have to go looking for my lever in 45 Colt :)

-Jeff
 
peacebutready said:
Good luck with it.

Anyone have a general idea how much one of those JM 1894CS goes for in excellent shape?
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Not inexpensive but considering that bluing and wood are essentially 100% (it was a safe queen for almost 20 years), this was a good deal at less than $1K including shipping, insurance and FFL transfer fee.
 
Well, over the weekend my father in law brought me a handful of 44 ammo until I get all my components to start reloading this gun. In the mix were two 44 mag shot shells that I didn't really think anything about. Well turns out tonight they came in handy. My wife saw a raccoon in my shop, climbing on my expensive zero turn mower, and was fast enough to shut the overhead door and trap the little bugger inside. Aside from a 22LR that I wasn't so sure wouldn't overpenetrate and go through my walls, I didn't think I had anything else suitable for close range dispatching of a raccoon inside a nicely finished shop with lots of my "toys" around. Then I remembered the two 44 shot shells that my father in law brought me, which was actually yesterday. I loaded them up in my Marlin (they would NOT feed from the tube) and took quick work of the raccoon while it had climbed on top of my rolling tool chest....but not before the little bastid look a liquidy crap all down the side of my tool chest and on top of the tools I had in the open top compartment of the chest!

Now I have a stinky, bloody mess to clean up tomorrow, but at least that's one less apple thief in my apple trees this year!
 
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