1894 Questions

[Jon in TN]

I was down at the gun shop at lunch and they had taken a 44 mag 1894 in on trade. I've been thinking very seriously about getting one or a carbine Ruger 44 to woods hunt with, since I got my son a 44 mag Handi to woods hunt with next year. I'm also thinking about a 30/30 as well..

My questions are:

How well do they typically shoot @ 100 yards? Have any of you used both the Ruger and the Marlin and how do they compare in accuracy? Do they shoot better or worse than the 336 30/30's? Any other things I should consider???

I wish that I could just buy one of each!

Thanks,

Jon

[DEACONLLB]

I have that gun in 44 and 357 and I love the way they shoot but if I were going to look at a 100 yrd gun then I think I would go with the 30-30 as it has a little more power at 100 yrds. I use mine in the 25 to 50 yrd range as I hunt from a ground blind and most shots are well under 50 yrds.

Deaconllb

[yukondog]

I'v had both the ruger and the handi at 100 yrd. they would both hit about 1 1/2"-2" dont have a 44 in marlin but a rossi lever,for me rifle cart. have always been more accurat than pistol bullets but 1 1/2"-3" at 100 yrds. is not bad for a pistol cart. eather way thats deer dead.

[Jon in TN]

Thanks for the info guys..

I found a Ruger today and the guy made me a deal that I couldn't refuse, so the 1894 will have to wait..

[Halwg]

I'd like to know how the Ruger turns out.  They are not known for their accuracy, but for their inaccuracy.  Hopefully it will be OK for what you want it to do, but the 1894 would probably have been more accurate.

[buffgun]

I have 2 1894 .44 mag and would not hesitate to shoot a deer at 100 yds !  I shot one 2 years ago at about 60 yds and he only went a few yds before droping from a 240 grn jhp .44 mag 

[Sweetwater]

I, too, would have preferred the 1894. However, I have an elderly uncle who much prefers an autoloader over a lever gun and dearly loves his Ruger 44Carbine. It's light, handy, quick follow up shots and way good enough to shoot across his apple orchard in Eastern Maine.

Or are you talking about the Ruger Leveraction 44 carbine? I just assumed you were talking the automatic. In which case, I think the Ruger Leveraction would be another fun gun.

Regards,
Sweetwater