cslinger
Member
So I recently purchased, sheerly on a whim an HK P2000 pistol. Long story short the gun, although excellent in most regards, just didn't work for me. I also really have no need for another firearm of this type. I do, however, have a space in the collection of a longarm companion to my .357 revolvers and have been looking for a Marlin 1894C in .357 for quite some time. These guns are actually kind of tough to track down all things considered, especially if you want to buy locally.
So I came across one NIB and I traded the HK on the spot for the gun, a boatload of ammo and a few speed loaders. All in all I am happy with the trade value I received.
So on to the the review.
I was personally not happy with the HK and bummed it did not work for me. Once again there was nothing technically wrong with the P2000 it just didn't do it for ME personally. As for the Marlin 1894C I am just tickled pink. There I said it John.
All scores are out of 10 rounds.
Build Quality - 8 Rounds
The wood is nice, the gun is tight, the bluing is well done and bright. About the only thing I really have to mark down is the computerized/machine checkering. It is not perfect (although it looks great) it just isn't old world craftsmanship and there is one or two small imperfections. Also the rear sight is plastic, which IMHO is just wrong. Do YOU HEAR ME GASTON, but I digress. Over all a solid 8. Real checkerinng would increase the cost substantially but a real rear sight would only a few bucks.
Reliability - 10 Rounds
What can I say the gun works. It just chugged through whatever I put into it and best part is that .38 specials fed smoothly without any kind of hitch what-so-ever.
Trigger - 7 Rounds
I really cannot comment on the trigger per say. I was having so much fun I never really noticed if it was good or bad. Based on that it certainly couldn't have been bad. It was surely no match grade, telepathic pull but certainly seemed very good for a levergun.
Accuracy - 8 Rounds
I was only shooting at an indoor range and although I wasn't shooting for perfect groups my first three shots made a perfect clover leaf. Subsequent shooting was just, work lever, squeeze trigger, work lever at a very fast pace. The gun came so naturally on target and ran so smoothly it was just too easy to plink away with abandon. blowing a fist sized hole in the target with 50 rounds was nothing.
Ergonomics - 9 Rounds
Man this is a handy little carbine. Light weight, shoulders fast, sights come right on target, lever is positioned well etc. About the only problem is the cross bolt safety, which is a useless and lawyer driven device. Half cock is perfectly fine and much easier to operate. All in all though, this is one dandy handling little rifle.
Concealability - 2 Rounds
Duh, its a rifle. Do the math.
Value - 9 Rounds
Marlin makes a damn good gun for the dollar. Walnut, steel, good build quality, heritage etc. It is just a good no nonsense gun that shows every indication of being a robust, hard worker. Prices for all the Marlins are very good IMO.
Gun Snobbery - 1 Round
Well I guess you could tell your friends you own an HBAR, course you could never tell them that meant HillBilly Assault Rifle. Lets face facts lever guns are old school, no nonsense, rather boring rifles. Yes you have some heritage but unless it is a replica or original then you really don't have much to tell your friends about. A 45/70 raises this a bit as do the cowboy versions but your basic short carbine in .357 really isn't much to brag about. Hey I calls em' likes I sees em'.
Recoil - 10 (1 being heaviest most uncomfortable)
This thing is a pop gun even with heavy .357. The whole family could shoot this all day long.
Overall - 9 Rounds
If you are looking for a very very versatile gun that will do just about anything you ask of it, look good doing it and provide you with a little history all while being about as PC as they come then you came to the right place. Whether you want to plink, hunt, use for home defense, compete or just plain admire the history of the lever gun, this gun has something for everybody. I personally feel this is one of those "If you could only own one gun" kind of guns. I think it offers a lot for a great many types of people.
Closing thoughts, John Wayne would be proud and it doesn't get much more American then a good ole' lever gun. I think even John Moses would give you the thumbs up here.
A couple of Marlins, .357 and .22
So I came across one NIB and I traded the HK on the spot for the gun, a boatload of ammo and a few speed loaders. All in all I am happy with the trade value I received.
So on to the the review.
I was personally not happy with the HK and bummed it did not work for me. Once again there was nothing technically wrong with the P2000 it just didn't do it for ME personally. As for the Marlin 1894C I am just tickled pink. There I said it John.
All scores are out of 10 rounds.
Build Quality - 8 Rounds
The wood is nice, the gun is tight, the bluing is well done and bright. About the only thing I really have to mark down is the computerized/machine checkering. It is not perfect (although it looks great) it just isn't old world craftsmanship and there is one or two small imperfections. Also the rear sight is plastic, which IMHO is just wrong. Do YOU HEAR ME GASTON, but I digress. Over all a solid 8. Real checkerinng would increase the cost substantially but a real rear sight would only a few bucks.
Reliability - 10 Rounds
What can I say the gun works. It just chugged through whatever I put into it and best part is that .38 specials fed smoothly without any kind of hitch what-so-ever.
Trigger - 7 Rounds
I really cannot comment on the trigger per say. I was having so much fun I never really noticed if it was good or bad. Based on that it certainly couldn't have been bad. It was surely no match grade, telepathic pull but certainly seemed very good for a levergun.
Accuracy - 8 Rounds
I was only shooting at an indoor range and although I wasn't shooting for perfect groups my first three shots made a perfect clover leaf. Subsequent shooting was just, work lever, squeeze trigger, work lever at a very fast pace. The gun came so naturally on target and ran so smoothly it was just too easy to plink away with abandon. blowing a fist sized hole in the target with 50 rounds was nothing.
Ergonomics - 9 Rounds
Man this is a handy little carbine. Light weight, shoulders fast, sights come right on target, lever is positioned well etc. About the only problem is the cross bolt safety, which is a useless and lawyer driven device. Half cock is perfectly fine and much easier to operate. All in all though, this is one dandy handling little rifle.
Concealability - 2 Rounds
Duh, its a rifle. Do the math.
Value - 9 Rounds
Marlin makes a damn good gun for the dollar. Walnut, steel, good build quality, heritage etc. It is just a good no nonsense gun that shows every indication of being a robust, hard worker. Prices for all the Marlins are very good IMO.
Gun Snobbery - 1 Round
Well I guess you could tell your friends you own an HBAR, course you could never tell them that meant HillBilly Assault Rifle. Lets face facts lever guns are old school, no nonsense, rather boring rifles. Yes you have some heritage but unless it is a replica or original then you really don't have much to tell your friends about. A 45/70 raises this a bit as do the cowboy versions but your basic short carbine in .357 really isn't much to brag about. Hey I calls em' likes I sees em'.
Recoil - 10 (1 being heaviest most uncomfortable)
This thing is a pop gun even with heavy .357. The whole family could shoot this all day long.
Overall - 9 Rounds
If you are looking for a very very versatile gun that will do just about anything you ask of it, look good doing it and provide you with a little history all while being about as PC as they come then you came to the right place. Whether you want to plink, hunt, use for home defense, compete or just plain admire the history of the lever gun, this gun has something for everybody. I personally feel this is one of those "If you could only own one gun" kind of guns. I think it offers a lot for a great many types of people.
Closing thoughts, John Wayne would be proud and it doesn't get much more American then a good ole' lever gun. I think even John Moses would give you the thumbs up here.
A couple of Marlins, .357 and .22
