Range report 357x44 Bain & Davis Marlin 1894...........

[Steve E]

Enjoyable day at KoKo Head shooting complex under the bright Hawaiian sun. Rung out my 94 Marlin a little bit more.
Marlin 1894 (44 Mag rebarrelled)in 357x44 Bain & Davis, 18 inch barrel(New 357 Mag. Micro Groove barrel rechambered) and 4x scope for accuracy shooting
Texas headstamp Nickel plated 44 mag brass reformed
Winchester LP primer
Chronograph 10 ft. from muzzle
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED LOAD DATA.

Pwdr........Pwdr.............Bullet............Avg Vel....Group
              Wgt.
Win. 296...14 Gr.......170 Gold Dot  FP....1382.....1.2
.....".........15....................."..................1478.....1.4
.....".........16....................."................. 1557.....1.2
.....".........17....................."..................1632.....1.7

Lil Gun.....14 gr.........180 gr. XTP HP......1524......0.75
.....".........15...................."...................1625.......1.0
.....".........16...................."...................1715.......0.5
.....".........14.............170 gr GD FP........1568.......1.1
.....".........15...................."...................1650.......1.1
.....".........16...................."...................1754.......1.3

Win. 296...14gr..........180 gr. XTP HP........?........0.75
.....".........15..................."....................1460.......1.0
.....".........16..................."....................1537.....0.65

Win. 296...23gr...........125 gr. JHP..........2249.....0.75


It seems to like the 180 gr. XTP HP
Should the 180 XTP HP expand reliably at 1500 to 1700 fps, looks like that might be my bullet for the White Tails back home, most of the time shots are 20 to 125 yds where I hunt.
Looks like Brockmans did a fine job on this one.
I justified the building of this rifle with the wife as a deer rifle for my son for when he gets old enough to hunt with me but he may have a problem getting it away from me.
Just may have to build him something else. Now let me see......

Steve E.......

[CharlieinKansas]

Steve,

     I am looking to buy a 44mag. (already have Marlin 1895GG love it) in a "92", "94" or 1894 just because I like the "44". How did you like the "94" while shooting the 44mag.? Did it print good groups? How different is the smoothness in the action between the "94" and the "95"?

     What are the differences in velocity between the straight .357 and your new "44-357"?

                                         Thanks, Charlie

[Steve E]

Charlie

        My 1894 in 44 mag wasn't as accurate as I would have liked, it had the Micro Groove rifling. Recoil in the 1894 was not a problem in 44 mag unless you are shooting the 300 grainers and then you will notice it more.I had a 92 and it seemed a tighter action but that might have just been my rifle. I haven't handled an 1895 yet, none on the shelf here in Hawaii, yes we are deprived here or is it depraved, just don't ask my wife. From the pictures that I have seen of the 1895 it looks like it may be the same action as the 336 but as I said I haven't had one in hand.

...........357 Magnum.......................357x44 Bain & Davis.........................

...158 Gr....1100---1300.FPS............158gr....1900---2100..FPS.................



...........357 Maximum............................................................................

.....160gr.......1700-------1900fps............................................................

I also have a 357 Maxi in a 14 in. Bull Barrel for my Encore. I think the Ballard rifling might be more accurate with a braoder range of bullets than the Micro Groove rifling especially with lead bullets.

                                             Steve E.........

[Uncle Ji]

Aloha Steve,
  I'm on Maui but was raised in Kailua, and spent many a weekend while growing up at the Kokohead range with my Dad, or High School buddies.  I have been shooting a Marlin 1894 .44 mag for almost 30 years a gift from Dad when I was 16, my Wild Boar rifle of choice all these years.  That's a great round you chose for a conversion.  May I ask who preformed the work?  Was it someone local?  Another great conversion I have heard, and seen pics of is a rebarrel of a Marlin 44 mag to 50EA (Dessert Eagle) the 50EA having the same rim, and OAL of the 44 mag so not that involved, and factory ammo available in a pinch.  I figure a Marlin with 16" Trapper barrel in 50AE would make the ultimate Hawaiian pig gun.   Slim pickin's as far as the gun market here in the islands but it helps to find a decent FFL dealer.  Finally found one here on Maui, and giving him alot of business via Gunbroker.com.

A hui hou, Ji

[Steve E]

I used Brockmans Rifles in Gooding Idaho, cost was $150.00 and the 3 month job took about 1 year and 7 months. The cheapest I have found over here for a Dealer transfer $25.00 from Al M. in Kailua. A few years ago (3rd time stationed here) I had a guy on Kauai or Maui do my smithing, I think his name was Jim  . He was also a Police Officer and when he retired he closed shop and moved to the mainland, he was good and reasonable on prices. I wouldn't mind poping a pig with mine and a 180 gr XTP HP. That 50 AE conversion sounds good, hadn't thought of that one. Only bad thing about Kokohead is the wind, sometimes it's not even worth pulling out a 22 down there. Went to Kauai a couple of years ago, did the tourist thing, lot cheaper to do it from her than the mainland. Thinking about a tang sight for it now.

                                             Steve E..........

[Uncle Ji]

Aloha Steve,
  Was that $150 including the barrel?  I lived in McCall, Idaho back in early 80's, moved there as a newlywed, but moved back after a year, they had this strange looking white stuff come falling from the sky, and everything got real cold, think it was called schmo or something.  Yup that Kokohead range can get mighty windy, we used to tie a piece of surveyor's tape to the target frame to see wind direction on target.  Are you in the Marines?  I know Al Mo. very well, a hell of a nice guy, several of my guns were thru him.  There's a guy on Moloka'i Mel Chun who's a decent gunsmith though slow as molassas in Idaho, and as a human being a real anal orifice, he usually has a table at the Honolulu gun show, zero personality.  My FFL charges me $15 so I better count my blessings, a real nice fellow too very into the local SASS/CAS scene.  There is a smith here on Maui "Haake's Barrels" that I forgot about, maybe i'll check with him on a 50AE conversion.  I picked up a new Winchester 94 Ranger Compact 357 mag several months ago, and it's such a blast to shoot especially burning up 38 Special out in the boonies here.  The Buffalo Bore ammo in .357 mag is amazing stuff i'd like to try, check it out: http://www.gunblast.com/Winchester-Ranger357.htm http://www.gunblast.com/MilesFortis-AKChurch_BBDeerKiller.htm http://www.gunblast.com/MilesFortis-AKChurch_BuffaloBore.htm http://www.gunblast.com/MilesFortis-AKChurch_BuffaloBore125-357.htm  Bird season starts next month, give the Radar Tracking Station at Mokuleia a try for Erkel's Francolin, pretty country to walk up there.  

A hui hou, Ji