The Marlin 1894 Club

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336A

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Well since it has been 392 days since anyone has poted on the last 1894 club thread it can't be revived. So I'm taking it upon myself to open up a new one, hopefully we can keep this one going. So lets go 1894 fans get a hot cup of joe pull up a seat and lets talk. I've come to the conclusion as much as it pains me that my trusted 336A is going to stay in the safe for awhile. This way I can get better aquainted with my 1894.

I prefer to stilll hunt and track during the hunting season and IMHO the lighter 1894 is better suited to this type of hunting. I was able to coax this nice 4pt into my truck on opening day here back in October. He knew he was in trouble when he finaly realized I was there. The shot was only 29 yards, I used a handloaded 240gr Hornady XTP-HP over a healthy dose of H110.

DSC00011.jpg
 
Here's my '02 1894SS, XS ghost rings with Williams peep aperture...
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Best brush gun I've ever owned.
 
What ammo are you fellas feeding 1894's? I'll be in GA by this time next year and my 1894ss will be my main pig buster:D
 
That is a nice 1895 surjimmy. I'd like to keep this just for the 1894 rifles as they don't get talked about as often as the other models. The 1895 series is really the same action as a 336 while the 1894 series is different enough to get it's own thread. The 1894 uses a smaller reciever which is more compatable with pistol cartridges and is based off of the original 1894 action.
 
Ok, I'll jump in. I have an 1894 in 38/ 357 I love to take plinking. I am not a hunter. I chose 357 so i can shoot it at range that only allows shooting non magnum pistol cal rounds. This gun is my rebellion against technolgy. no batteries, no rails. Point crank shoot. I like it. Nice to know if I ever take up hunting with the right 357 loads I think it would be credible.
 
I'll be taking mine out this afternoon if all goes according to plan. I'll be putting Hornady LEVERevolution 140 gr. FTX through her.

Marlin1894C357Mag004.gif
 
I like my 1894c .38/.357. It's great to have a carbine in my favorite pistol caliber.
Here's hoping that Illinois will follow Indiana and allow rifles in pistol calibers for deer hunting.
 
I finally traded a friend out of his 1894 Cowboy Carbine LTD in 32-20 when he scored an older take down Marlin 1894 in the same caliber. I didn't even know they existed until he picked it up and I wanted one ever since.

arlin1894cbcarbineltd3220a.jpg


Haven't shot it since I've owned it but over at his place you really couldn't put it down if'n we had ammo for it. Even without ammo there is something about it that makes you want it out where you can oogle and handle it.

Brass is scarce so I had to buy a box to get started and it is spendy. I also pulled the trigger on the RCBS Cowboy dies and a Lyman mold for it.

ymancastblackhillscartridges.jpg


My main use for it will be Levergun silhouette matches though I see myself walking around with it while I'm out scouting just in case a Grouse needs to be invited to dinner.

My first 1894 was in 38/357. I traded that off once I got one in 44. Bigger holes, bigger smiles.

44magtargets2005resized.jpg

44 Mag, open sights at 50 yards. 240 Montana Gold or Hornady bullet over a healthy dose of 2400.

Then I came into an 1894 Cowboy in 45 Colt and became enamored with octagonal barrels. I'd like to find one with the 24" barrel too. I've been using the 45 Colt 1894 mainly for hunting and pistol caliber levergun silhouette matches. It is accurate with pretty much everything I feed it - .454" round ball loads, 255 grain RNFP and HP's, over-length 275 grain Keith-style SWC and a 315gr WFP cast bullet

ee300g2400load50yards.jpg




Here is a little video from a silhouette match last summer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da3TBtCY3G4
 
Here's my standard 1894 44RM from a favourite glassing spot before I start whomping the Manzanita brush. I had a Williams 5D on it forever but found a 2.5x20mm Weaver worked better for me dawn/dusk. For hunting I push a 240g XTP with 2400, for wood bumming and range plinking I use 240g or 200g RNFP cast pushed with Unique in the 1400 fps range.

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Prolly my favourite rifle and that's saying something I hope my 1895G doesn't hear.
 
I acquired my 1894 (used) at a gunshow in Ohio in ~1988 for $250 and, a few years later, added a Williams 5D since presbyopia was just beginning to creep up on me.

All I have ever used in it is the cheap American Eagle, or equivalent, ammo and it is very accurate. I used it to great effect in cleaning out the woodchuck population here on the farm.

I am thinking about pulling it out of the gunsafe for the first time in a long while and working over the 'yotes that have started appearing in this area.
 
That thing is gorgeous JustsayMo. Have any of you 1894 owners taken anything larger than deer? I've tried to get a black bear with mine but the bears just never wanted to oblige me.
 
I shot a few Caribou with mine when I was still in Alaska. That's no great feat, as the natives take all kinds of game with .22's.
 
So what were the reasons that you fellas bought your 1894's? I bought mine as a general all around do it all rifle. I wanted something that was economical to shoot (this was back in 2005 mind you) stainless for hunting in inclement weather, camping, and something that could be used for HD.

The more that I use my 1894SS the more I'm liking it. It is a slim fast handling, and robust little rifle. It holds 10 rounds and can be loaded with some real a$$ kickers or .44 SPL level loads for HD duty. I don't care that it has limited range because IMHO the real challange is getting close to your game. The more I think about it if I had to do the unthinkable and sell off all but one of my rifles this is the one I think I'd keep.
 
OK, I'm in.

I don't own an 1894C any longer. Sold it a while back when I decided I needed to lighten my load. Now have only a 336 and 39. They meet my needs right now. (39 gets the small game; 336 can be loaded for the large small to the large medium.)

But even so, I'm delighted to see this fine rifle get
an active club thread of its own. Totally down.
And look at the quality people you've attracted.

May even be convinced to add one back to the tool kit.

BTW, 336A, nice shooting with that 4pt.
Proves once more that one doesn't need
a .375 mag for whitetail. Go figure.

Carry on.

Nem
 
<laughs>

Yeah, I know.

It was necessary to pay the rent.
And it just didn't feel like I needed
an extra tool in the kit just then.
One more thing to carry in my
quasi-nomadic existence.
(See location.)

But then, I trust the 336.

You know, the one you chose as your user name. ;)
 
So what were the reasons that you fellas bought your 1894's?
Click to expand...

In no specific order;
1-Economical to buy AND shoot.
2-Accurate
3-Hunting capability
4-Ease of care and cleaning
5-Fun
6-Levergun competitions - there are a few guys who even use them in the rifle caliber competitions and do well.
7-have revolvers in the same caliber.
8-Security
9-Connection to the past.
10- Versatility, ability to shoot/cycle a wide variety of ammo
 
Totally understand Nem. We have to do what we have to do sometimes.
 
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