Author Topic: 44 magnum what should I choose (Read 3037 times)

moontroll · « **on:** July 09, 2005, 09:59:27 AM »

I want a lever 44 mag,and I want accuracy who is best Winchester or Marlin.Which is a better handeling rifle.It will be a 100 yard or less bush gun.I like the looks of the Winchesters,Trapper model,Timber scout,and maybe the long barrel Legacy.I kind of want the short barrel quick off hand type.The only marlin I saw was the 1894 who is the best.

TNrifleman · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2005, 11:08:10 AM »

I'm sure any of the rifles you mentioned will provide good service. You won't go wrong choosing the Marlin 1994.

leverfan · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2005, 04:54:42 PM »

I wouldn't leave the Rossi/EMF clones of the Winchester '92 off the list. Those are pretty nice rifles for the money, accurate, and available in 44 mag. I've got another one due to arrive from Steve's Gunz any day now, all slicked up for cowboy action, but it'll see hunting duty, too. Mine will sport a 24" octagon barrel and case colored receiver, along with some tweaking and a few modifications done by Steve (who is also the EMF warrantee work guy).

Bucolic Buffalo · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2005, 07:56:22 AM »

You are going to get a lot of opinions on this.

Winchester and Marlin make good rifles.

Your desicion depend on which twist rate in the barrel you want.

Winchester has a twist rate that will allow you to shoot bullets larger than 300 gr bullets with stability.

Marlin's twist rate won't let you shoot these heavier bullets with stability.

personally I like the Marlin. If i need a bigger bullet than 300 gr. myself I'm going to be using a different rifle anyway, but that's my personal preference.

Any of the rifles you mentioned are good rifles. The decision should be based on whether you decide if you want to use the really heavy bullets or not. I don't know about the winchesters (you may want to check this out) on the marlin you would have to have a gunsmith to make adjustments to the carrier to load the heavier bullets and will prevent you from loading .44 specials from the tube magazine. If you also want to use .44 specials this may be a consideration.

Uncle Ji · « **Reply #4 on:** July 12, 2005, 07:43:44 PM »

I've been poppin' piggys with my Marlin 1894 .44 mag for 30 years now, great little gun I highly recommend. VERY easy to take apart and easy to clean from the chamber end of barrel, remove one screw that's it. I also own a Winchester 94ae which is a very fine gun. As mentioned the '92 clones are also worth a look. I don't think you can make a wrong choice here. I use 240 grain jacketed soft points exclusively so the 1-38 twist not an issue. My biggest pig dropped at 125 yards with one shot. 44 mag big medicine for Wild Boar.

scout34 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2006, 06:23:08 AM »

You've probably made your decision and gotten your rifle a long time ago. If anyone else should read this post though, know that I got a Win94 Legacy in .44Mag with a 24" barrel and used it last fall to kill a good sized spike at about 30 yards with a 240gr sjhp. Graveyard dead in 10 steps, bullet exited after a quartering away downhill shot.

I think this gun is somewhat of an enigma, beautifully made and furnished while still very inexpensive. Some would say that it is too long to be a good brush gun but I would disagree. It's narrow profile makes it very easy to carry and the little extra bit of weight hanging off the muzzle makes this a very smooth to swing piece that settles down nicely. Very stable. :agree:

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2006, 11:27:41 AM »

Thw Winchester wins the handling test hands down IMO.
Accuracy seems to be debatable. Probably Marlin has the edge on average, although there are some very accurate Winchesters around.

Archblackmage · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2006, 11:31:17 AM »

If you scope it the marlin has side ejection where some win's have top, if you use a scout mount set up it doesn't matter. also i believe the marlin has laminated and stainless levers now.

scout34 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 05, 2006, 08:26:01 PM »

Right after I posted here I found out about Winchester's recent dificulties. I honestly don't know if my gun was made in Japan or not. I'd prefer made in America, but there are no easy answers, and this subject is covered in another thread.

I guess the point is that soon the Marlin will be the only choice for those wishing to buy American, and though Marlin makes an excellent product competition will only make it better. Celebrate diversity.

scout34 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 05, 2006, 08:35:57 PM »

Forgot about the Henry Big Boy. Anybody ever use one?

tapehoser · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2006, 08:19:58 AM »

I own a Winchester Model 94AE in .44 Mag and have never had a LICK of trouble with it. It will take ANY manufacturer ammo I can throw at it and give me 6" groups all day at 100 yards. With iron sights. I'm sure changing shooters might improve those groups, but that's all I can do, personally.

Anyhoo, I also own a Marlin 1895 in 45-70. One thing I CAN say is that the Marlins see more sturdily built. Tighter. That make sense? They are also VERY easy to take apart and clean, etc.

Both are great guns and you will not go wrong with either.

Can't say a lick about Henry's. Never shot one.

[edit] I should also mention that my new Marlin is enroute to the manufacturer because it didn't function properly out of the box. So making a fair assessment of its shooting ability is not fair at this moment. And from what I've seen, it is a fluke. They are typically HIGH quality.

Game_Stalker · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2006, 09:38:02 PM »

For those who own the Win 94 Trapper (which I believe is the version with the 16" barrel) I pose one question. How hard does this bad boy kick? I found one at wally world for $365 and put it on lay-away, just in case. I've been wanting to pick up a lever action 44, and with the win 94's going the way of the dodo, thought this would make a good investment, at the very least.

tapehoser · « **Reply #12 on:** March 10, 2006, 04:08:49 AM »

Mine in .44 Mag does not kick at all. I could shoot it from a rest, without a recoil pad, barely holding on, and shoot it AAAALLLLL day long.

Bullseye · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2006, 06:46:02 AM »

I have a trapper. It does not have much kick at all.

longwalker · « **Reply #14 on:** March 10, 2006, 03:32:04 PM »

I know I guy that hunts the sloughs creel bottoms in Eastern South Dakota with a Ruger lever Gun he loved it. I think it has a 4 shot rotary clip.

He's a scope guy but I don't know why you could be happy with iron sights.

longwalker

Game_Stalker · « **Reply #15 on:** March 10, 2006, 10:02:40 PM »

Thanks for the info. I found the Win 94 new at wally world for $365 and practically threw it in lay-away. What are your thoughts on this price? I was expecting more, so I jumped on it, but since it's just in layaway, I could return it without trouble.

Feldhege · « **Reply #16 on:** March 13, 2006, 03:06:19 AM »

If I could find one for that price, I would have one too. I think it seems more then reasonable. Guess I will keep looking.

Robb

steveb3006 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 23, 2006, 04:07:16 PM »

I wouldnt count out the Rossi 92's either. Whether it be one imported through EMF or LSI. My 44 Mag Rossi 92 Rock-N-Rolls and is one slick carbine.Good STRONG rifles they are!

James B · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2006, 03:05:11 PM »

As far as kick goes, the 44 mag is a Jeckle and Hyde. With heavy loads and heavy bullets, recoil is substancial. With average lighter loads, it a pussy cat.

lovedogs · « **Reply #19 on:** April 06, 2006, 12:28:41 PM »

Hey Tapehoser... This will probably get a raise out of you but, do you call a six-inch group good? I've got pistols that'll do better than that! What kind of sights are your irons? Maybe a buckhorn would allow that much scatter. I don't mean to upset anyone, I'm just curious.

handirifle · « **Reply #20 on:** April 06, 2006, 01:14:27 PM »

I just got mine a couple months ago. Trapper 44 mag AE pre tang safety or cross bolt. Am waiting on the parts to convert it back to halfcock.

Have only shot Win whitebox factory 240gr JSP and not much recoil mut quit a bit of muzzle flip, from a makeshift rest.

I have a 2.5X scope on it and plan on it being my 150yd deer rifle as well. I have the 375 BB for larger critters.

Very easy to carry and handles like a dream.

Dee · « **Reply #21 on:** April 06, 2006, 05:44:05 PM »

Well, he's already bought anyway but, I have a Navy Arms Model 92 in 357mag. It has a 24" octogon barrel and walnut stocks. Hated the finish on the wood so bathed it in laquer thinner to get it off. Hand rubbed 4 coats of true oil and man! Nice wood! Looks like my 1957 Winchester did when it was new. I didn't want a 44 (already have a Marlin 1895 Cowboy in 4570) but, like the other guys say. The 92's are strong and sweet. I also agree the longer barrel is not a problem in brush (and its thick in north central Texas) hunting big hogs plus the extra weight does make it swing smooth.

moontroll · « **Reply #22 on:** April 08, 2006, 08:30:03 PM »

Well,I ordered a Marlin 1894SS 44 mag almost 4 months ago and nobody knows when they will be available,I,m starting to get impatient.Another week or two I think I'll try the Winchester Trapper,Looks like Marlin is going to loose a sale,And I'v been hearing that the new Marlins are having fit and finish problems(where the wood meets the metal).

handirifle · « **Reply #23 on:** April 11, 2006, 03:58:31 PM »

Quote from: moontroll

Another week or two I think I'll try the Winchester Trapper.

You ARE aware they closed the plant that made the 94, aren't you? That was one main reason I bought mine. I had wanted one but couldn't commit but that put me over the fence quick.

Nanuk · « **Reply #24 on:** April 25, 2006, 12:30:44 PM »

I have a Henry Big Boy 44 mag. I originally bought it for CAS. My CAS load was a 240 LFP over 6 grns of tite group. I have not shot full power 44 mags through it, I was concerned about the brass fame.

Feldhege · « **Reply #25 on:** April 26, 2006, 02:51:26 AM »

I just went to Wal-mart yesterday and ordered me a Marlin 1894 SS in 44 mag. :-D :-D

I can't wait for it to come in. No one around here had one in stock and Walmart had the best price. Picked up a couple of boxes of ammo while I was there. They said it would be 10 to 14 days. Long time to wait but it did save me almost $100 from my next cheapest source.

In the meantime, I need to keep practicing with my DW 44.

Robb

Game_Stalker · « **Reply #26 on:** April 28, 2006, 07:05:18 AM »

Quote from: handirifle

You ARE aware they closed the plant that made the 94, aren't you? That was one main reason I bought mine. I had wanted one but couldn't commit but that put me over the fence quick.

That was what made my mind up for me. I love that little rifle and am REALLY lookin forward to doing some hog and deer hunting with it.

Old Time Hunter · « **Reply #27 on:** May 01, 2006, 03:28:14 AM »

My .44Mag Trapper has taken 13 deer, 1 Black Bear, and 1 bull Elk up the Bitter Root. It is my never leave my side, everyday walk around, handi-dandy do it all if I have to, gun. 240 JSP Remington "rifle" loads or 250gr Gold Partition Winchester seem to work the best after 75 yards. Have a 20" barrel '94 BlackShadow, that 4" of barrel makes heck of a difference! The Trapper can consistantly group 1 1/2" at 75 yards, but starts to scatter at 100yds, with the BlackShadow it is tight even at 125yds. That all being said, still carry my Trapper everywhere.