Marlin 1894, where are they??

[KenSel]

I've been looking for an 1894C in 357 Mag to buy for my upcoming move to Indiana, but It seems that everyone in IN has already bought them up.  I considered getting one in 44 Mag but I've heard a lot of bad reviews about feeding problems and accuracy so I'm a little skeptical.  The local Big 5 has one in 357, 44, and 45 cal but they don't appear to be of very high quality.  Some of them have the hood over the front sight and some don't,  they all have wierd looking wood that doesn't have the checkering in it, and I noticed that one of them had a rear sight that was way off center.  These are all cosmetic and are easy fixes with a little extra time and money but I'm worried that there may be more wrong with them.  The have the levers ziptied down so I'm unable to work the action and get a good look at the barrel.  If I did get one and it were a dud, I wonder if would Marlin fix it for me? 

Ken

[big medicine]

The 44 mag will shoot with the best of them. to answer some of your questions. Not all of them have hoods on the front sights. The ramp type sight on the 44 mag will have a hood, but the dovetailed carbine/cowboy front sight does not have a hood, no way to put one on that type of sight.

The cowboy rifles do not have checkering, but the 1894 (44 mag) and the 1894C (357 mag) do have checkering.



cowboy model, no checkering and no hooded sight.


1894 44 mag. checkered stock and hooded front sight.


1894C 357 mag, checkered stock and hooded front sight. Now on some of the older ones like I have they have the same style front sight as the cowboy model and the stocks are not checkered.

But if you ever had a problem with one, I have no doubt that Marlin would make it right with you.

[mattmillerrx]

I think the 1894's are great--picked one up a few months back in 44 mag.  I also wanted the .357 but did not find one.  Dad has one and it shoots great.  Mine was made in 1976 and as for the jamming, it jammed the first time i ever cranked the lever.  Now this was my fault, the loading gate was loose and hung the bullet half in the mag tube.  After tearing the gun down and resolving this issue, it has not jammed since.  I have but 4 different brands and weights of ammo through the gun with out a jam since.  It dose group well and out groups the .357 of my dads.  He scoped his due to bad eyes and I liked it so well i scoped mine but have not shot with the scope yet.  That will happen this weekend.  One thing to keep in mind is there is quit a bit of difference in the kick.  I got the gun so my wife would have something she could shoot more comfortable but mostly cause I wanted one.  After shooting the .44 mag the .357 is like shooting a .22 well almost.  But the .44 is not all bad either.

[Ranger J]

My .44 came out of the box with the Marlin Jam.  A trip to my gunsmith fixed that.  It is picky about what it will shoot accurately.  It really likes heavy loaded (H110) 180 gr Hornady xtps and will shoot a ragged hole at 50 yards.  I haven't got a chance to try other weight heavy loaded Hornadys but hope it like them too.  My .357 cycles great and is very smooth.  It too likes heavy loads but is not particular as long as they are jacketed.  It does not like cast bullets, at least so far.

RJ