Will A .357 Magnum Marlin 1894 Levergun Shoot .38 Specials Reliably?

[tango2echo]

Mine needed the feed ramp polished to do it, but now it will feed anything you put in it.

T2E

 

[P. Plainsman]

I'm thinking about buying a .357 Magnum Marlin 1894 levergun, and I'd like to know if they will also shoot FMJ .38 Specials reliably. Thanks.

Mine would not. After a while it wouldn't cycle .357 cartridges reliably either, despite gunsmithing attention. So I sold it.

(Pardon me while I grieve briefly -- they are such cool little carbines! But mine, bought new in 2004, just flat would not work reliably.)

 

[ArmedBear]

My 1894C, unmodified in any way, has fed everything I've fed it, including .38 LSWC's.

I haven't tried wadcutters, but I probably never will, since I have no reason to.

Why shoot .38's? A small indoor club range here requires downloaded lead ammo and supplies .38's, not .357s. Also, it's nice if the rifle will shoot what you have with you. Mine is a tackdriver with factory .38's like WWB.

Otherwise, it's true, .357 works great and doesn't kick much at all.

 

[Brian Williams]

Wait a minute! this one is going to have to come out of the grave until someone tells me if a .38 spec will cause damage in a Marlin 1894c!!!! if im going to get on and fire .38 spec's out of there is no way ill do that with the question of cutting up my chamber un answered. What could cause that? im not quite sure thats possible because it dosnt make much sense to me that it could cut into barrel steel but i dont know. Does this mean if one shoots one for a couple years, there will be a nice hole that runs cear down into the chamber from the outside? Is the .38spec some kind of oxyacetylene torch?

No 38 special is not an acetelyne torch and will not burn a hole in your barrel
It does leave a ring of crud at the mouth of the case and can cause problem chambering 357 mags and potentially it could cause some over pressure due to the ring of crud causing the mouth of the 357s to hold the bullet longer than normal. The ring of crud could hold some moisture and cause some pitting of the chamber wall but it will not burn a hole thru the barrel, It is typical of the Special/Magnum chamberings. Shoot all of the 38 Special you want but clean the chamber before you shoot 357s.

 

[7-08WIN70]

Thank you Brian Williams, im going to another gunshop today and again, if i see one its coming with me. you just decided for me if it was going to be a box or 2 of .357 or .38spec instead of .38 spec being out of the question.

 

[rocinante]

I shoot these reloads that are 38 specials set a little longer to feed better in 357 rifles. So far they work real good.

http://ammodirect.com/default.aspx?tabid=45&subcategory=38SPLR

 

[streakr]

If you load your own 38s be sure they are at least 1.44" long. Both of my Marlin 94s and and 1873 Uberti feed perfectly as long as the OAL is correct.

streakr

 

[7-08WIN70]

they sure did have a nice marlin 1894c there and at that point of looking down the sights...i decided that this one is mine and im not giving it back. the only way to do that is do this "buying" thing so thats what i did and im happy with it. now does anyone know where i can find a vertical foregrip and a surefire light for a decent price?????

 

[7-08WIN70]

its just not tactical enough.

future upgrades will include:
1.) DPMS Buttstock Assembly 6-Position Collapsible
2.)Command Arms M-44S Handguard 4-Rail
3.)surefire light assembly
4.)hologram sight
5.)3 point tactical sling
6.)Hogue OverMolded Grip
7.)Falcon Industries Full Profile Picatinny Rail Cover 5-1/4" Polymer Black
8.) Ceramic Handguard Heat Sinks

 

[Brian Williams]

tis more tactical than any AR or AK.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

future upgrades will include:
1.) DPMS Buttstock Assembly 6-Position Collapsible
2.)Command Arms M-44S Handguard 4-Rail
3.)surefire light assembly
4.)hologram sight
5.)3 point tactical sling
6.)Hogue OverMolded Grip
7.)Falcon Industries Full Profile Picatinny Rail Cover 5-1/4" Polymer Black
8.) Ceramic Handguard Heat Sinks

the horror!

 

[7-08WIN70]

oh! and the wide lever loop for some "the rifleman" reinactments. i could be the rifleman 2.0 with some practice.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Yep mine does, it has even fed and ejected 3 empty cases in a row.

That's impressive, actually - nice.