Author Topic: Marlin 357 or 44 mag (Read 3450 times)

ChrisB0307 · « **on:** November 29, 2010, 10:31:37 AM »

Ok, this subject may be in another post that I just couldn't find with my searches. I am about to get a new rifle, it's going to be a Marlin lever action in 357 or 44 mag. I can't really decide which one I want more. I want the best shooter of the two. The main use of the gun will be for hunting deer and hog at no more than 70 yards. I was leaning towards the 357 because of less recoil for just fun plinking and if needed a smaller shooter can use it. I really like the bigger heavy rounds of the 44 though.
One thing I'm not sure of that you may be able to answer. Which is the more accurate cal or are they about the same?

cwlongshot · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2010, 10:50:58 AM »

Neither is more accurate all things equal. I like the extra power the 44 offers, but the 357 will do the job too.

In the past the 357 have been know to have feeding problems, the 44 being larger diameter is better....

If I where making the choice I would buy the 45 COLT!

I currently have two 357's and three 45 Colts. I had two 44s and a 41mag too, all work and worked great!

CW

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2010, 10:54:10 AM »

I'd get the .44 for the power. I had one and the recoil is not bad.

teddy12b · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2010, 10:59:29 AM »

Quote from: cwlongshot on November 29, 2010, 10:50:58 AM

In the past the 357 have been know to have feeding problems, the 44 being larger diameter is better....

I thought it was the other way around, with people having feeding problems with the 44mag. I did a lot of reading on that before buying my 92 in 44mag and that was a factor in the purchase.

The only advantage I can see to the 357 mag is being able to shoot 38 specials. If you're not going to do that, why not just get the 44mag. Bigger holes, more energy, and hopefully a quicker and more human kill.

Lurker · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2010, 02:49:43 PM »

I have two .357's, three .44's and three .45 Colt, 1894 Marlins.

They all feed, and shoot very well... However, semi Wad Cutter bullets can cause any lever gun to have an occasional problem.

Jacketed bullets feed very smoothly, in any of these firearms.

The .357 has a flatter trajectory...

Bill

Flynmoose · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2010, 04:52:52 PM »

I couldn't make up my mind so bought two 1894s, one in 357 and the other in 44 Mag.
The 44 is in the hospital for feeding problems, expect it back this week, hopefully. The
1894c feeds 38 specials and 357 mags equally well. They are both accurate enough for
what I do with them, ring assorted gongs. I would not want to stand in front of either
one after seeing the dents they both make it the gongs. I do keep thinking about going
to southern Oregon in search of feral hogs. I think I would take the 44 if the feeding
problem gets straightened out. I rambled a bit but my vote would be buy both, they are
great fun!
FM

yukondog · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2010, 02:44:21 AM »

I have both and have had zero problems with either one of them, when hog hunting going with biger/heaver bullet is always better. I hog hunt in NW FL. and thats the gun I grab.

b44mag · « **Reply #7 on:** December 01, 2010, 03:14:34 AM »

its got to b44mag

but really i think i would go for the 44 just a better deer round and if you get the longer than 70 yrd shot
you have the power to take it just my 2 cents worth
b44mag

Ranger J · « **Reply #8 on:** December 01, 2010, 04:57:09 AM »

I have both and have had zero problems with the 357 but the 44 came out of the box with the Marlin Jam problem That's now fixed and it works fine. While at the smith I had a limbsaver pad put on it. The 44 has an over-sized bore and is rather picky about what it shoots however XTPs work fine. While I really enjoy the 357 I rarely get to shoot it as it has become my wife's gun??? (Keep them away from your wife and daughters or you might suffer the same fate)

If I were to go shooting hogs I think I would go for the 44 because of the bigger hole it makes.

RJ

ChrisB0307 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 01, 2010, 03:17:57 PM »

Thanks for all the replies. I would love to have both and I'm sure I will have both at some point. Right now I can only afford one and it sounds like the 44 would be the best bet. I was kind of leaning that way I just need the extra shove. haha

Jacko · « **Reply #10 on:** December 01, 2010, 11:37:44 PM »

You'll be very happy with a Marlin .44. I have a 1894 in .44 and a Rossi in .357. The Rossi .357 is my go too Rifle for a number of reasons but if push came to shove and I had to choose between them. I would keep the .44 Marlin. It may not handle as well as the Rossi but it handles well enough, I can load it down to .357 ballistics if need be or stoke it up enough to get my attention when I pull the trigger. The .357 is a good killer and has never let me down but as I really need to pick my shot's, particularly on Bigger Pigs it is not as reliable a killer in as wide a variety of possible hunting situations like rear end raking shots for instance at fast departing Pigs. The .44 with hardcast bullets handles this with aplomb.

regards Jacko

cwlongshot · « **Reply #11 on:** December 02, 2010, 12:15:23 AM »

I think you would have been fine with either one, but as I and others have said the 44 gives a bit more margin for error!

Good luck with it!

Be sure to post up with pics after you get it and go to the range!!

CW

HGunner · « **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2010, 05:30:54 PM »

I have both and they both feed well. I have tried a few different factory loads in each and my 357 is a little more accurate. Both show fine deer accuracy to 100 yards when shooting with Skinner peeps. The 357 1894C is lighter, shorter and more handy. Shooting the 357 at the range is a pleasure. The 357 worked very well on the one whitetail I shot with it - I wouldn't hesitate to use it for an occasional pig hunt. If you are a regular pig hunter or a trophy boar hunter then you might be happier with extra power of the 44.

SwampYankee · « **Reply #13 on:** December 05, 2010, 01:47:59 AM »

I use the 44 Marlin alot the last few years with 5 or so deer and 3 coyotes to its credit. I also load it with 200 grain bullets for summer use and its a mild mannered gun, and up it to 240 gr soft points for hunting and it works well for my woods deer hunting.
I hear the 357 is more acurate and it may of been just useful but for a first I would take the 44 mag.

jlwilliams · « **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2010, 02:15:10 AM »

Good choise going 44. 357 is a great round too, but in a carbne you can really take advantage of the added weight of the 44 bullet. The recoil isn't bad either. 44 mag is a bruiser in a hand gun, but once you have in a shoulder arm it's really not bad. You can shoot 44 specials for plinking, just the same as you can shoot 38 through a 357.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #15 on:** December 06, 2010, 01:00:09 AM »

anyone on here that knows me knows im a big fan of the 44mag. Its rarely a bad choise. that been said the 357 out of a RIFLE is also a great whitetail and even pig gun with the RIGHT load. Ive owned a few of each and have allways had better luck with accuracy out of marlins in 357 compared to 44 mags. Marlin has a tough time getting the twist right in 44s. For the most part they work well with jacketed bullets but they are a finiky platform for shooting cast bullets and cast bullets are all i shoot. If i was going to recomend to a freind a cast bullet shooting 44 rifle id steer him in the direction of a win. trapper.

pastorp · « **Reply #16 on:** December 11, 2010, 07:20:59 AM »

Lloyd my experience mirrors yours.

the 1894 marlins can be finicky feeders too and it can happen in either caliber. The good news is they can be fixed to feed well if you happen to get a bad one.

As far as calibers, come on guys wesson killed all the north American big game with the 357 in a registered magnum handgun when the round first came out. And that included the big bears.

Accuracy problems with the marlin 44 mags seem to stem from not matching the bullet to the barrels overbore diameter and slow twist.

Regards,

spartacus1239 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 14, 2010, 02:08:31 AM »

I want the 1894 CSS. I have a lot of .38 Spcl and .357 Mag brass laying around.

ChrisB0307 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 19, 2010, 03:46:29 PM »

Well, I ended up getting a Marlin 336 (30-30) because I just couldn't afford the 44 mag.
I picked it up yesterday and put 20 rounds through it already. I did ok with the open sights getting about 2 inch 3 shot groups at 75 yards. I put a scope on it and now I can cover 3 shots with a quarter at the same distance. This was all done in my yard from a standing or squating postion.

This isn't the gun I REALLY wanted, but it's very close and I'm happy with the accuracy. One of these days I will have the 44 mag, but I have to wait till I find one for a decent price. Everything I found was over $500 and I think that's way to high. Actually, now that I have the 30 30 I may just go for a 357, but knowing me, I will end up with all 3 before to long.

mattbowen · « **Reply #19 on:** January 14, 2011, 05:22:14 AM »

Chris;

I like the 92 configuration so I went with the Rossi M92 and I got the .357 in stainless (24" oct. barrel) from bud's gun shop for $470 shipped, and just picked up my 45LC (same configuration from EMF) last night and love the feel of both of them. I shoot both with open sights and am well satisfied with the accuracy of the .357 but I can't say anything about the 45 since it after dark when I got home.