got my 1894c.. sweet

[ccoker]

I wanted a compact and light gun that could serve multiple roles..
I wanted a plinker that had more oomph than a 22 (we have several nice bolt actions with scopes)
but I also wanted something that could hunt deer and small to med pigs.. (mainly deer)
something my son (9) could shoot, though he has a 22 and a NEF 223 scoped
something the 2 little ones could shoot someday as well

I had never really given much thought to a lever action, I have always shot nice bolt actions
but, it fit the bill, not too much money, 38s or 357 magnums, cheap and pretty quiet or mean if needed...

I removed the sights and installed a scout xs mount and a 30mm millet red dot

man.. it's a  FUN gun
I haven't put it on paper but I have shot it at a buddy's place at 20-75 yards with various loads at dirt clods, etc...

and, I drilled an axis doe this evening at about 75 yards, quartering towards me, standing shot, just put the dot in the front shoulder area and squeezed the trigger.. ran about 50 yards.. by the time I got to her.. no movement
perfect drilled just front of the right shoulder, bullet didn't pass through but I could care less
dead deer
158g american eagle SP did the job splendidly

I am setting up a warne side accessory mount on the rail just in front of the sight for a tac light to let my son use on an upcoming night time pig hunt and will load up with some hardcasts.. probablly 200g doubletaps


what a sweet little gun

[Swampman]

I really like them.  Marlin makes good stuff!

[Thunder Stick]

Congratulations on the new addition, ccoker. +1 on the "FUN GUN" aspect.  I appreciate how light wheight the 1894C is after packing it all day. Mine really likes Remington 38 Special +P 125 grain SJHP from WallyWorld. Three shots touch each other at 25 yards if I do my part. 

Got pix?

TS

[Jerry Lester]

Fun's an understatement!

Mine is so sweet in my hands that I still get all warm, and fuzzy inside every time I pick it up.

Seriously, if for some horrible reson I could only have one gun, it'd "definately" be my 357 Marlin.

[ccoker]

you know, I mentioned that to a friend
I have a good collection of nice stuff
a 1959 Sako forester 243 that does 1/2" groups at 200 yards, benelli 12ga, smith 657 41mag and some other stuff..
but, the sheer versatility and practicality of the little marlin is impressive

and, it's really just FUN to shoot
and I DO like to shoot !

[Swampman]

"a 1959 Sako forester 243"

I had one of those when I was 21 or so.  I miss it dearly.

[blackplague14]

I just got an 1894c two days ago.  It is my first lever action that I've owned.  I always hunted with a bolt gun, until 7 years ago.  I was blinded in my right eye in a work accident, so I started shooting semiautos, since I was forced to learn to shoot left handed.

I realize that lots of you don't like the new safety, but since I'm not used to the old style it doesn't bother me. My kids will also be shooting this rifle, and I actually like the added feature of having the safety engaged while unloading live rounds from the tube.  Do they make a left handed safety for this rifle?  Right now, I am reaching across the top of the tang with my thumb, to pust into the Fire position.  With a left-handed version, I could just push from left to right with my index finger, without changing my hand position.

Jon

[Warhawk]

I've got a pre-safety 1894c myself. Dandy little rifle, I have a Weaver V3 1-3x variable mounted on mine. It shoots the American Eagle 158 JSP into nice groups too.

I like it so well that I just bought an 1894 Cowboy Limited (20" octagon) in .357. I'm going to set this one up with the same iron sets as my 1895 LTD III (18.5" 45/70) and use it for a trainer for the big 45/70.

I can't want until it gets here!

[Swampman]

I see the safety as a non-issue.  I put it in the fire position and forget about it.

[Will_C]

Must be the season to get 1894c's...I picked mine up a month. I am learning to shoot a revolver, and as I am loading 100's of .357 rounds, it only seemed natural to get a lever gun to go along to the range. I have not spent much time shooting it, but I think the results so far are promising. I have a couple of questions for you veterans:

1) The trigger has about an eight pound pull, actually heavier but my trigger gauge tops out at 8lbs. Can I expect it to loosen up? Any recommendations for a replacement?

2) The rifle shoots 2" to the left at 25 yards. I don't like drifting iron sights (seems like an imperfect science to me). What kind of peep sights do you recommend?

Thanks,
Will

[Jerry Lester]

Must be the season to get 1894c's...I picked mine up a month. I am learning to shoot a revolver, and as I am loading 100's of .357 rounds, it only seemed natural to get a lever gun to go along to the range. I have not spent much time shooting it, but I think the results so far are promising. I have a couple of questions for you veterans:

1) The trigger has about an eight pound pull, actually heavier but my trigger gauge tops out at 8lbs. Can I expect it to loosen up? Any recommendations for a replacement?

2) The rifle shoots 2" to the left at 25 yards. I don't like drifting iron sights (seems like an imperfect science to me). What kind of peep sights do you recommend?

Thanks,
Will

The trigger will smooth out some with use, but it'll still be way heavier than ideal for sure. I've been planning on getting a Wild West trigger for mine, but I've almost gotten used to the horrible trigger by now .

As far as a drift rear sight, in my opinion, it's about as tough, and solid as you can get, and therefore is utterly reliable once sighted in. I just take a fine pointed lead pencil, and make a small mark in line with the point of the rear sight on the barrel. Then I take a brass punch(fired cases will work fine too), and lightly tap the rear sight in the direction you want your point of impact to go. 2" at 25 yards will require about .025" of adjustment or so. Just tap it a few thousandths, shoot a couple rounds(preferably at least 50 yards), and adjust a little more if needed. You can easily keep up with the sight movement by looking at the reference mark you made on the barrel.

[Will_C]

Gosh, Jerry, I feel honored to get a reply from you! I call you Mr. 357 after reading your posts! I should probably blame you for causing me spend the $$ on this rifle. I have seen the Wild West triggers advertised, and I'm considering one. I'm sort of a trigger freak, all of my bolt rifles are adjusted to 2.5-3.0 lbs.
I'll give the factory irons a decent try. To be honest, the handgun (S+W 686) and the Marlin are my only open sighted guns. I have used a peep on a muzzleloader, and that was why I was considering one on the 1894.
Thanks for the reply,
Will

[Jerry Lester]

I know what you mean about good triggers. All my revolvers have trigger pulls of around 2 lbs crisp, and my rifles average 1.5 lbs-2.5 lbs, "very crisp".

I don't "squeeze" a trigger anyway, I "pull" it. I've never been a "let it surprize me" kind of shooter, as every time it surprized me, the crosshairs, or sights were somewhere other than where I wanted them. I "pull" the trigger when everything is right. Actually, when it comes to shooting open sights I'm probably as unorthodox as it gets . I knda get into some kind of trance as I'm lining up a shot, and reflexes pretty much make my shot for me when it feels right.

Because of all that, the heavier trigger doesn't help for sure, but it doesn't hinder me too bad either on this particular rifle.

[Star1pup]

My local smith has a new service where they work up the best load for your rifle.  Since I am an outdoor writer I've offered to do a story if he works up the best load for my Marlin .357.  It should be interesting.  I'll pass it on when he gets done.

[Swampman]

I can't decide wheather my next rifle will be the 1894C, a 336 in .35 Remington, or a 39A.  I'm leaning toward the 1894C.

[slabsides]

As for the heavy trigger pulls on some Marlin lever guns: I've found that a variation on the Po' Boy trigger job is very helpful.
Much of the weight of pull seems to be caused by excessive engagement of the sear. Years of shooting always improves trigger
pulls: try any older lever gun's pull and you'll usually be amazed at how much sweeter it is than the newer ones. A Po' Boy trigger
job, in case you don't know, consists in part of 'work-wearing' the trigger sear by repeatedly releasing it under excess pressure. This
excess is supplied by levering up or pressing forward on the hammer with a non-marring tool, while pulling the trigger. This smooths and rounds over (I suppose) the trigger-sear contact, resulting in a lighter, smoother trigger pull. Works for me. I've used this trick on dozens of single actions, and a double handful of lever guns. The only thing is to go easy on how much extra pressure you use. You can overdo it. Gunsmiths love this trick, and hate guys like me who reveal it in open forums. Good luck!

[ccoker]

yep. I came across that trick and did it to mine..

I even did it in a store once on a new ruger I was looking at
did it just a few minutes when I was checking out the gun..
it improved it...

I also saturated the internals of mine with lube and worked the action several hundred times...

then saturated it again and washed it all out to clean  and relubed to spec

[old geezer]

I can't decide wheather my next rifle will be the 1894C, a 336 in .35 Remington, or a 39A.  I'm leaning toward the 1894C.

The 357 will do about 90% of what both of the others will do combined.  You won't be sorry with the 357.  I love mine so much the 336 has been officially retired.