Which would you get and why??

[KenSel]

I'm looking at the Marlin 1894  in 44 & 357 Mag.  I'll be using this gun for deer hunting and a lot of FUN shooting.  Which one seems to be more accurate, reliable, dependable, and better overall? 

[Jerry Lester]

357 magnum hands down...

[superdown]

I've had a few pistol caliber carbines and would definitely recommend the 357 as well it's going to handle everything from rabbit to black bear with ease especially now their are lots of high performance type loads from buffalo bore and cor-bon that will be suitable for big game. justin

[Lloyd Smale]

in no fan of the 357 in relovers. I think there nothing but a noisy 38 special but in a rifle the 357 is a much better round and is capable of taking deer sized game with no problem. But that been said if your main interst is hunting id take a 44 hands down. Especially if your a handloader. YOu can load ammo that recoils no more then a 357 for plinking and have the option of loading much bigger bullets at much higher power levels for hunting. A properly loaded 44 mag with 300 grain cast is capable of taking any game animal in the world. Recoil with the 44 in a carbine is mild at any level. To me its just a much more versitile gun. In the hunting field i see no advantage to the 357 over the 44 at all.

[Swampman]

The price of ammo is the biggest advantage.  While the .44 Mag is better for hunting, the .357 is a blast for all day shooting.  Unless you reload, the recoil of the .44 Mag 1894 is on par with the .45-70 1895GS IMO.

I have and prefer the 1895GS.  I sold my 1894.

[Lloyd Smale]

maybe if your comparing factory 44s in a 94 to the mildest factory 4570 ammo you can find but neither of them loaded with factory ammo has enough recoil to consern even my girlfreind or my young nephews. If 44 mag ammo out of a lever gun has to much recoil for someone there going to be hard pressed to find a hunting rifle for deer. Now put 300s in the 44 and I have to admitt they do have a little recoil but nothing compared to stout 4570 loads out of a guide gun.

[handirifle]

The price of ammo is the biggest advantage.  While the .44 Mag is better for hunting, the .357 is a blast for all day shooting.  Unless you reload, the recoil of the .44 Mag 1894 is on par with the .45-70 1895GS IMO.

I have and prefer the 1895GS.  I sold my 1894.

I traded my 94 Trapper in 44 mag for an 1895GS in 45-70, using factory ammo, no comparison, the GS has a lot more recoil, neither is painful.

I say get the 44 and a good recoil pad if that's an issue, but you have a much wider range of potential with the 44 than the 357.  Neither one is much more than a 100yd deer rifle, maybe 150.

[Swampman]

Hummm, I don't really notice the recoil from my 1895GS.  I guess recoil is subjective.

[KenSel]

I was just wondering which rifle was the most reliable because I've heard a few complaints about the 44.  Recoil isn't an issue.  The 44 in a rifle is tame as a pussycat, if it were a bigbore belted magnum then I may be a little concerned.   From what I've seen I think the 1894C in 357 may be the better rifle.  I deer hunted for many years with a 22 hornet (legal in WV) and it would drop them on the spot with a neck shot so I'm confident with the 357.