S&W 1854 - Experiences?

[earlthegoat2]

I don’t know how these other manufacturers copying Marlins can’t seem to also copy the lighter weight of the Marlins.

Im also in the camp of S&W coming out the gate with the rifle in the correct chambering. I’m sure 357 is great fun but so is 44 Mag and it also authoritatively kills game.

 

[jmorris]

I don’t see the resemblance to the volcanic carbine and to be honest, I rather have one of them than the tactic cool version above.



That said, it’s not the first time they have copied others work and many have copied theirs too....at least the ideas they had that were good ones...

 

[Pat Riot]

My experience with a R92 16" .357 has been nothing but pleasant after some light modification - clipping a few inches off of the tube spring and Loc-Titeing screws that reportedly have a tendency to come loose. Flawless with both .357 and .38 so far. Maybe I've been lucky with the run. As I've read, YMMV with QC for Rossi.

That’s one of my problems with buying a Rossi. Many need work to get them “right”. Mine sure did. Lots of folks I shot with in CAS loved them. I was not one of them.

I decided a few years back that I will never again buy a gun that needs fixing right out of the gate.
I feel the same about all gu s, not just lever guns. After my bout with my Rossi and a Remington R51 and an S&W 60 Pro I have had enough of halfa**ed guns.
Also, I wouldn’t buy one of these new “1854s”. At least not in the first year or two.

I pledge to no longer be a gunmaker’s Beta Tester.

 

[Pat Riot]

Im also in the camp of S&W coming out the gate with the rifle in the correct chambering. I’m sure 357 is great fun but so is 44 Mag and it also authoritatively kills game.

I think it was smart. They’ll sell a whole lot more .357 rifles than .44 Magnum.

 

[Gbro]

I've had a Marlin .44 for years, so wasn't in the market, but did get to handle one of the 1854s in a LGS. Smooth action, good trigger, overall seemed like a decent rifle. But I wonder if there might have been more interest and sales if it had been introduced in .357, instead of .44 Magnum. Overall, just didn't grab me. I bought a Henry..

I believe this is the second post in this thread to comment on how good the trigger is during a Local Gun Shop visit.
I have never visited a gun store that would allow a customer to dry fire a NIB gun.
What gives?

 

[Rock185]

Any firearm with an exposed hammer I try in a shop, I put my thumb in front of the hammer. This way, I can try the trigger without beating up a NIB gun..

 

[chicharrones]

I believe this is the second post in this thread to comment on how good the trigger is during a Local Gun Shop visit.
I have never visited a gun store that would allow a customer to dry fire a NIB gun.
What gives?

It depends on the gun shop.

My experience with larger chain stores or larger gun shops is that dry fire is never allowed.

When I've been to really small gun shops, I've asked permission to dry fire in a safe direction and haven't been turned down yet. However, I will say that in each case that I was seen as a serious buyer and I did in fact purchase those particular guns right after my checkout and dry fire.

 

[CraigC]

I believe this is the second post in this thread to comment on how good the trigger is during a Local Gun Shop visit.
I have never visited a gun store that would allow a customer to dry fire a NIB gun.
What gives?

You can assess the trigger on a gun with an exposed hammer without dry firing.

 

[dranrab]

Well, this is disappointing news. While I have no problem with S&W copying a known design that's in the public domain, I have real issues with the marketing department making up a fake story about it. I have several lever action rifles already, including a Marlin 336; I was genuinely looking forward to the return of the Volcanic. Ah, well.

Can you show me where it has been falsely marketed?

 

[3Crows]

Can you show me where it has been falsely marketed?

I think it is the "1854" part that sticks in folks craw. The rifle itself looks like a fine piece of work.

 

[CraigC]

IMHO, the folks that get hung up on things like that were never going to buy one anyway.

 

[jmorris]

Can you show me where it has been falsely marketed?

Not sure its like selling "calamari" and giving customers pig anus but "the classic American lever gun" that they have "reborn" is the Marlin, they made no mention of, not the 1854 they started off talking about and named their product.



To quote someone that almost half the Country would vote for, for POTUS, "What difference does it make?" None to some, others don't like to let people think they are ignorant by "falling for" deceptive marketing.

Would be like a Ruger add that said, "In 1949 Ruger introduced its first pistol the Standard, it's our pleasure to introduce the reborn Ruger Standard Centerfire." and it be a copy of the 1911.

Oh, wait, never mind...

 

[chicharrones]

I think it is the "1854" part that sticks in folks craw. The rifle itself looks like a fine piece of work.

The rifle does look like a well made firearm.

It's unfortunate that S&W had to pick marketing lingo that seems disingenuous. But, they were probably in between a rock and hard place no matter what they proclaimed about the gun.

 

[chicharrones]

IMHO, the folks that get hung up on things like that were never going to buy one anyway.

The fact that the entire mag tube comes out of the gun would take me some thinking into if I would want that over a traditional tube mag.

 

[CraigC]

The fact that the entire mag tube comes out of the gun would take me some thinking into if I would want that over a traditional tube mag.

I don't care for it either. I've had two like that, a Puma .454 and a Henry .357. I tolerate the Puma because there are no other options. The Henry went down the road for that and other reasons.

 

[jmr40]

I don’t know how these other manufacturers copying Marlins can’t seem to also copy the lighter weight of the Marlins.

I suppose that is relative.

A Winchester 94 is typically about 1/2 lb lighter than a Marlin 336. Every bolt rifle I own in 223, 308, 6.5CM and 30-06 with a scope on it weighs the same or less than my Marlin 336's with no optics on them. I sure wouldn't want a lever gun any heavier than the Marlin and would like to see them go on a diet.

Over the years Marlin has altered their stock designs. Some years they are thick, chunky and heavy including most of them made since the mid 1980's. Other years they put a trim lightweight stock and for end on them that significantly reduces weight. The guns made in the 1970's and early 80's were perfect. I've seen some from the 1950's that used trim wood as well.

I've handled one of the 1854's in a gun shop. It was OK, but I won't pay what they are asking for it.

 

[ThomasT]

I haven't seen one in person but it looks like a well built gun. I doubt I would ever buy one. I have a Marlin 44 mag made in 2002 and thats good enough for me. But I am all for a new lever action rifle. I like those best of all. And a Marlin 357 is my favorite gun. Those who say this rifle in 357 may sell better are probably right. Especially if they can keep the weight down.

I hope these sell well for S&W and they offer more models. And if S&W and others keep copying the Marlin actions thats just a way of saying they are copying the best. One thing I do wish everyone would copy are the slim stocks found on Winchester 94s. I really don't like chunky forends on rifles. Or checkering on lever actions.

 

[chicharrones]

I don't care for it either. I've had two like that, a Puma .454 and a Henry .357. I tolerate the Puma because there are no other options. The Henry went down the road for that and other reasons.

The unconventional aspect to me is that the 1854 doesn't have an inner mag tube that rides in an outer mag tube like the Henry or a rimfire gun.

The upside is the weight of the gun is kept down and rapid unloads are possible.

https://youtu.be/H34oQTjc6iI the 7:28 mark in this video shows it better for folks that haven't seen it done this way before.

 

[CraigC]

The unconventional aspect to me is that the 1854 doesn't have an inner mag tube that rides in an outer mag tube like the Henry or a rimfire gun.

The upside is the weight of the gun is kept down and rapid unloads are possible.

https://youtu.be/H34oQTjc6iI the 7:28 mark in this video shows it better for folks that haven't seen done this way before.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Never understood the whining about unloading a levergun anyway. But then I've never lived in a state where it was necessary. If I need to, I unload the chamber and leave it at that.