Author Topic: New Marlin 44 mag (Read 2699 times)

Oldshooter · « **on:** June 03, 2009, 01:58:24 PM »

Found a Marlin 44 mag today and jumped on it! $534.00 Walked into a shop I go to occasionally and there it sat. Man said if i was 30 minutes later it would not have been there. He also said they only make 1000 a year. could that be true?

Yep I'm a happy camper!

Rangr44 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 03, 2009, 04:33:38 PM »

Great !
Is it the current Model 1894, and if so, which version ?

Or, did you glom a 336/44 ?

I wouldn't think that Marlin would make as few as 1,000 of any of their rifles, unless it was one of the Special Editions, like those made up for Davidsons or Lipseys.

Like all gun makers, however, any particular gun model is only produced once or twice a year, in a dedicated production run, before production is switched over to some other model.

.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #2 on:** June 03, 2009, 06:19:54 PM »

Heck, all I know is its an 1894 44 mag. What are the other versions? Never heard of a 336 in 44 mag. I do have a 336c in 35 Rem. Heck, if I keep this stuff up I'll need a safe just for marlins.

Now I dont really believe they only make 1000 of them a year but I have been looking for a while and other than gun auctions its the first one I've found in a shop.

Rangr44 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 04, 2009, 04:25:55 AM »

[Heck, if I keep this stuff up I'll need a safe just for marlins.]

Oh, YEAH - Tell me about it !

[What are the other versions?]

I can't begin to count them, there's been so many over the years.

Lemme see............ There's the regular 20" round bbl carbine, of course, then there was the 22" RB Sporter, and the octagonal bbl Cowboy, and the stainless carbine, and the 16" ported 1894P, and the, etc, etc, etc,.................

.

teddy12b · « **Reply #4 on:** June 04, 2009, 07:22:36 AM »

Congrats on a great rifle!

Oldshooter · « **Reply #5 on:** June 04, 2009, 07:53:03 AM »

OK so I load it up this am and go out back and shoot the little bugger! It jams with the first shot! AGGGHHHH! Lady at Marlin CS says it needs adjustment, I'm not willing to send it off just yet so i go to a buddy that does some gunsmith work and he says I'm babying it and proceeds to jack some rounds thru it. so maybe I was but it aint my first BBque. it does hang a little but will work with an agressive hand. He says it will work in. We shall see! Range update to follow.

teddy12b · « **Reply #6 on:** June 04, 2009, 09:00:23 AM »

I had a similar experience years ago with a 336W. Until you have a few hundred rounds through that marlin you're just going to have to really work the lever. At least that's what the gunsmith told me. As make sure you tighten the screws after each trip to the range so they don't work loose on you. I had that happen and it was another trip to the gun Dr.

deerhunter1981 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 04, 2009, 10:44:21 AM »

Well, they are rare to come by. At least here in Norway. I've just ordered one and I am pretty sure there are only two in stock in the whole country!

KyBeast · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2009, 12:24:46 AM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on June 04, 2009, 07:53:03 AM

OK so I load it up this am and go out back and shoot the little bugger! It jams with the first shot! AGGGHHHH!

My Marlin 1894 .44 Mag did the same thing, but, like your buddy said, after about 200 rds through it, it started to loosen up. It's not all the way there yet, but I do recall shooting a 45-70 Marlin that was stiff just the same.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #9 on:** June 10, 2009, 08:30:22 AM »

YEP ,mine is limbering up, Gotta be serious with the first few cycles but then it gets better. Now if I can get used to open sights again. sadly my eyes arent what they used to be and I'm spraying @100 yards, and the rear sight needed adjusting so im back and forth with that !

Hard to get the right "tap" to move it, but I'm getting there! I do love this little rifle, thinking about a ghost ring from XS, anybody have any experience with those?

KyBeast · « **Reply #10 on:** June 10, 2009, 04:41:44 PM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on June 10, 2009, 08:30:22 AM

I do love this little rifle, thinking about a ghost ring from XS, anybody have any experience with those?

Actually yes. My buddy introduced me to the Williams Aperture sight. They are a lot easier on the eye than the "Buckhorn" style on the Marlins. I totally recommend! However, Williams' peep sights can be pretty pricey (more than $75). Here's a sight that sells some nice looking sights that aren't obtrusive, pretty much resemble the XS sights.

http://www.skinnersights.com/

Oldshooter · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2009, 06:10:27 AM »

Thanks for the information, I had seen that site before and could not remember it. Just ordered the front blade and rear peep. I am hoping this works since I do not want to put a scope on this rifle!

I have Williams peep on my 79 A and it has always worked well but it is rather unsightly and expensive.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #12 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:51:44 AM »

Well the skinner sights are installed and its like a "new me" I can see and I can hit once again. rifle groups well at 100, probably better than I can shoot!

KyBeast · « **Reply #13 on:** June 19, 2009, 01:29:15 PM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on June 19, 2009, 10:51:44 AM

Well the skinner sights are installed and its like a "new me" I can see and I can hit once again. rifle groups well at 100, probably better than I can shoot!

Which one did you get? The full sight or the 'low profile' sight?

Oldshooter · « **Reply #14 on:** June 22, 2009, 07:05:25 AM »

The full sight on a little ramp, with windage and elevation adjustments. A two shot group was 11/4 center to center at 100 yards. Just did two since I used so much ammo to get to this point!

dougk · « **Reply #15 on:** July 14, 2009, 01:32:22 AM »

Interestingly I called my local Cabelas about them getting the 1894 in .357 and found they had several in stock. After working out the details I asked the outfitter who was helping me if they had any 1894 in .44 mag and they had one. I took that too. I did not realize they were so hard to come by....

Oldshooter · « **Reply #16 on:** July 14, 2009, 05:41:47 AM »

YEP They are scarce, at least around here! I like my little rifle, now to get to shoot it would be nice!

Rangr44 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 14, 2009, 07:58:28 AM »

When I bought my first new Marlin levergun in 1966, it too was hard to work - so I lubed it up, made sure it was empty, and drove my then relatively new wife crazy with repeated dry cycling every night while we watched TV.

It smoothed up, after a week or so of that - and I've done the same thing with every new Marlin I've bought since, to knock all the rough internal edges off.

I'm glad your peep worked out - I find them much better for levergunz.

.

Waldo Pepper · « **Reply #18 on:** July 19, 2009, 12:46:19 PM »

My 1894C has a Skinner full peep on it and it really made a difference, seems my old eyes can still function with the irons. I sure am glad because the 94's sure look funny with optics mounted in my opinion.

I have a CZ 452 Lux with a peep blade and love that setup also, I can connect holes at 25 yards with it some how.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #19 on:** August 03, 2009, 04:01:47 PM »

I just found a new 1894 Cowboy in 44 cal, at a local gun shop. A 20 inch octagon barrel, very nice. It came home with me.

Cheese

Oldshooter · « **Reply #20 on:** August 03, 2009, 04:06:51 PM »

Yea they have a way of just following you home. I used to have that problem with puppies and girls! now the only thing that follows me home is shooters and bullets!

good luck with that Cheese!!!

KyBeast · « **Reply #21 on:** August 21, 2009, 10:22:17 AM »

Ok, so I recommended that OldShooter buy the skinner peep sights...

I bought my own rear sight and just tried to sight in my '94 .44 Marlin. After a dozen rounds the rear sight is just too high to adjust. I'm wondering if the front sight that they offer is any higher? That would bring down the front of the rifle so that I can at least hit the paper plate at 50 yds!

Any suggestions?

Graybeard · « **Reply #22 on:** August 21, 2009, 10:31:53 AM »

Quote

Or, did you glom a 336/44 ?

Got one of those kinda rare birds. It was a gift from a very dear friend of mine. Faye and I were getting ready for a hunting trip to Texas and she was selling off some guns she got in a divorce from a very abusive former husband. I had been helping her set prices on those she wanted to sell and asked her to sell me the Marlin 336/44. She gave it to me instead.

Of course Faye claims it as hers since I set it up with a short stock for her for that hunt and she took her first two big game animals with it on that hunt. I think of it as "ours" since it was given to me and then I kinda gave it to Faye. Neither of us have shot it in several years.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #23 on:** August 21, 2009, 11:26:00 AM »

Quote from: KyBeast on August 21, 2009, 10:22:17 AM

Ok, so I recommended that OldShooter buy the skinner peep sights...

I bought my own rear sight and just tried to sight in my '94 .44 Marlin. After a dozen rounds the rear sight is just too high to adjust. I'm wondering if the front sight that they offer is any higher? That would bring down the front of the rifle so that I can at least hit the paper plate at 50 yds!

Any suggestions?

Call or email skinner, he will build any front sight you need!

popplecop · « **Reply #24 on:** August 22, 2009, 03:00:01 PM »

My 1894 44 Mag. was made in 72. It came with a saddle ring and Gold medallion inletted in the butt stock. Was Marlin's Centenial year. Now has a fiber optic front sight and a Williams Fool Proof peep. My marlin 1894 .357 mag. also wears a Williams Fool Proof. This makes for more accurate shooting for 70 yr. old eyes. Couldn't bear putting a scope on the little carbines.