1894C .357 and Ruger SP101 for personal defense

[GatCat]

Yep, Marlins require a close watch of O.A. length. There are ways of modifying the Lifter to accommodate longer O.A.L.
Mark

[mountie855]

Thanks...I will do more research on OAL to be sure I stay within limits!

[fat tony]

I've wanted a Marlin 1894 C since last fall, I finally got one shipped out to me from an outfit in W. Canada, some yardape along the way busted the stock at the wrist so back it went.  By then it was just shy of CHRISTmas so you know there weren't any left in the entire country new. I then ordered one from a local dealer and instead got a Marlin 1894CB, which I decided I could live with I decided the tapered octagonal barrel was pretty swell after a while, and it has an extra round in the magazine for 11 if you put one in the chamber. The only thing is the range does not open for a few weeks now, can't wait. I guess I'll be limited to S&B FMJ as that's the only flat point ammo I can find around these here parts. It certainly with the octagonal barrel does not look dangerous like a 'black rifle'. I noticed the magazine follower was made of red plastic. I don't know what kind of .357 pistol I will get, but maybe I can get my hands on a S&W 586 or 686 somehwere along the line, they seem to be relatively plentiful in the local market. It's interesting about the Leverlution ammo.  Best regards Tony.

[NickSS]

I read all the above with interest but I will put my two cents worth in as well.  First I own both a Marlin 357 carbine and a 357 mag SP101 and like them both.  I bought them to provide me with what I considered the ideal camp guns.  The ruger works well as a concealed carry gun as well as something to put in the glove box.  Its stainless steel construction makes it good for a lot of carry and fewer worries.  Mine has a three inch barrel and works well  out to 50 yards for anything I want a hand gun for.  As for the trigger pull I bought a wolf spring kit and put in a lighter trigger spring and mainspring.  Now it shoots just fine and the trigger is not bad at all.  The Marlin makes for a fine plinker with 38 spl loads and I have several good hand loads for it in 357 mag. Mostly I fire the same ammo in both.  I have a six cavity mold in a 158 gr round nose flat point bullet that I mostly use with either 4.5 gr in a 38 or 7 gr in a 357 mag of Unique powder.  If I was to deer hunt with it I would load a 180 gr soft point with a max load of Win 296 but although the ruger would handle it I would not want to fire it in that gun due to recoil.

[bcp]

By the way, Ruger has stopped making them.

Ruger still shows 9 versions of the SP101.  The 3  1/16 barrel 357 weighs only 27 oz.

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdResults?function=famid&famid=9&variation=Satin%20Stainless&bct=Yes&type=Revolver


Bruce

[454Puma]

mannyrock
   Funny I just went to Rugers site and the still are cataloged? They are still being made-why the heck would Ruger stop making one the best carry revolvers around? I have an SP101 357 mag 2 1/4" Very easy to conceal and will handle any load you want to stuff in it. Also have an '94 CBL . They make a great combo for a SHTF day. As for folks yapping about not using a levergun for SD why not your the same guy's that think a AR is the best thing going for SD! Now we're talking about a Katrina type situation or worse. That means the law is out the door so who gives a crap about the 21' rule and lawyers it's called winning the fight to stay alive period!!

[SharonAnne]

308, at 265# you are a big man. would you consider a 7 shot for concealed carry? S&W made a lovely 7 shot .357 in scandium with a 3.5" barrel, fiber optic front sight and adjustable rear. Out of production but you might find one at a gun show.

And, when it comes to TEOTWAWKI, I will carry my trusty AR15 and a pistol I call "Feminine Protection", my Para Ordnance P14-45.

[six_gunz]

And, when it comes to TEOTWAWKI, I will carry my trusty AR15

Yep, me too for a SHTF situation.

[bilmac]

I have shot a lot of lead bullets through a 94c and never had a leading problem, I think the rifling is a modified microgroove. You just have to watch out with SWC bullets. Sometimes they don't feed well.

For a real SHTF situation I would want to be using 125gr Federals or a handloaded equivalant. The carbine would probably work with most any good feeding 357, but for the handgun the 125gr Federal is THE BEST. A study of law enforcement shootings several years ago, the Fackler Report, analized thousands of police shootings and found the 125 Federal to be the most effective handgun round at that time. It was 97% effective at stopping fights with one round to the torso. Way better than the much touted 44s and 45s even 44 mags. You just can't argue with 97%. I have shot the 125s in my carbine and they work fine with no feeding problem and plenty good enough accuracy. 158s would probably be better if your thought for the carbine is to take a deer (or dog) for food but a 30-30 would be better yet for that.

There is something to be said for keeping ammo logistics simple though. Like running out of 30-30 bullets when you still have gobs of 38s, or having the carbine sighted for 158s and running out. I think just one ammo fits all may be better, but 125gr would be my compromise.

[Cayoot]

  Hey .308,

   Calm down.  Ruger made thousands and thousands and thousands of SP-101s. They aren't at all rare.  They aren't at all collectible. They aren't at all hard to find.  The reason they quit making them was that they didn't sell well.  Again, really bulky, and terrible terrible triggers.
Mannyrock

I don't understand that "really bulky" comment at all.  My SP-101 fits in my open bottom J frame holsters perfectly.  Also, since I had mine moon clipped, I found that the moon clips for the SP-101 is the same as for the J-frame.  In fact, it seems to be almost the same size as my J frames (except that my SP sports a 3 1/16" barrel, cuz I like the increased sight radius).

Yes, it is a bit heavier than a J frame, however, I don't know of any other J frame sized gun that can stand up to a steady diet of full power .357s (the SP can).

The trigger does suck!  Fortunately, they are easy to clean up, mine is wonderful!

I really like my J frames, however, my SP is not a replaceble part of my arsenal!

[kmystry]

My two cents...
I've got an 1894C in .357 and a S&W model 36 J-frame CCW gun with a 3" barrel. I LOVE to shoot +P .38 Specials in both guns.  I find that at the distances I'm likely to have to deal with for SHTF situations, that this is sufficient. I'm not a hunter but I have these firearms for home defense, so, .357 is a luxury to me...I can do plenty of damage with a +P .38 out of either gun. I like to handload this cartridge as well.  I think .357 is just too much nasty recoil for my taste in a handgun so it's overkill to own something like an SP101 because I can control +p .38's better.

[bilmac]

You've got it right Kmystry. The most important factor is the ability to hit, confidence has a lot to do with that. Lots of folks just have to shoot too much gun, but won't admit it. I shot +P+ 38s for years in law enforcement, literally thousands of rounds, before I felt confident enough to switch to 357.

[SHOOTALL]

when did they stop making sp-101's in 357 ?
9mm are hard to find , saw a 38 spl. at gander mt. a few weeks ago . 22 lr are findable still .

[dpe.ahoy]

357's in a combo like that make alot of sense.  Only difference for me is I have the GP100, but then I also have the 44 mag combo, 45 colt combo and 454 to boot.  Even in Big Sky Country, if you couldn't feed or defend yourself with a 357, you won't make it anyway.  DP.