Problems Marlin in 44 mag?

[DirtyDan]

I think the 1894C in 357 would be a better choice for starting a youngster. Hand loaded 180 gr WFN projectiles will do the trick.

[Feldhege]

I got done trying mine out for the first time last night. It is an New 1894SS in 44 mag. It worked GREAT. I tried 300 gr xtp and Federal castcore ammo. I tried 240 JSP and Specials. It fed and fired everything. The XTP hits lower then the 240 JSP but I was able to reach out 100 Yards and hit a 8" shoot-n-c. The 300 Cast core was almost dead on with the 240 JSP I was firing. As of right now, I am one happy marlin owner.

Robb

[papajohn428]

(Sob)  I love a happy ending!   :oops:

 
PJ

[pathfinder]

I'm late but I'll add my experience for those who come along later.  

My Marlin 1894 http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1066975 loves 240g JHP & JSP.  I have NOT tried lead (yet) or anything heavier.  I did try a few 200g JHP that I pushed up to almost 2000 fps but they were not as accurate.

I started out with an 1894 in 357 but didn't have it long before a happened onto this 1894 in 44 mag.  Once I got it, the 357 (fun) did a lot of safe duty.  It is now my main deer rifle.  

An experience a friend of mine had this year with HP has changed my mind about using HP bullets instead of SP or Hard Cast Lead.  He shot a 140# deer, both lungs, no exit wound.  240g XTP pushed ~ 1250 fps out of a pistol.  The bullet was later found perfectly expanded and most of the weight retained just under the skin on the opposite side.  The problem was it didn't bleed an the the deer ran off.  Luckily it was recovered but in thick cover it is very difficult to locate a deer that isn't bleeding and/or is going to be on its feet for a while.

The reason I switched to 44 magnum for deer was the amazing performance on deer.  Proir to that the deer I saw hit with 44 mag were all down quick with LOTS of blood to follow.  Didn't matter what kind of bullet.  

Since you are hunting Bear I would lean more toward a hard cast or SP bullet (whatever shoots best in your gun) that would most likely pass through.  Thicker hides and tougher bones.  Every Bear I have ever seen shot (except those that were treed) with bow or firearm took off running... FAST.  All were leathal shots but these are tough critters.  If they don't leave a lot of blood it is very difficult to find them if you hunt in thick woods.  My Bro-in-law trailed one for nearly a mile after a good lung shot.    It also expired on a cliff that we couldn't get him up and had to lower him and pack him an extra couple of miles.  Another he shot treed himself before expiring and even with additional shots we still couldn't get him until the next day (bear-cicle) and that was a pain in the hind quarters getting him out of the tree...  I haven't seen what a bigger 44 cal hole will do yet.

[daddywpb]

My 1894 44 Mag Guide Gun will shoot into one ragged hole at 50 yards with Speer 270 grain Gold Dots all day. It is probably one of the most accurate rifles I have ever had. Love it because it makes me look good.

[scrounger]

I think you'll find more accuracy in the .44 than the youngster can get out of it. I also think you'll find that 240 to 270 grain bullets will be more than adequate for deer and black bear. At the ranges you will likely be shooting them, well under 200 yards, I'd guess. And range has a bearing on stabilizing the heavier bullets too. A bullet becomes unstable when its rotational speed drops below a certain point, so again, out to a hundred yards and a bit more, it will probably shoot the 300 grain bullets as well as the 240s. External ballistics gets quite complex, the simple rules you have read here and above are correct for conditions sometimes but not all times. Each time there's a change in the length (weight) of your bullet, or twist of the rifling, or velocity, the answer changes. Don't worry about it; just get a load with a 240 grain bullet that will stay in 4 inches at 150 yards and forget everything else.

[dubber123]

One thing to watch for is that not all of the Marlins will feed a WFN.  My 1894P for instance won't.   I contacted Clements custom guns, and they said that have had a rash of feed problems with the newer Marlins.  He said his older one would feed even empty cases.  He did have a fix and it's not expensive.  The loading lifter gizmo just comes up too high, which puts the top edge of a wide bullet into the top edge of the chamber.  I was disappointed.  I only shot one deer, a 137 lb. with a 240 XTP, and won't use them again.  Very accurate, but no exit on a broadside shot that only clipped one rib.  No blood trail.  Luckily it only went a few feet.  If it had run I would have been in trouble.  I was pushing 1800 fps. maybe too fast?  I now shoot the 270 Gold Dots, great accuracy, and seem to hold together better.  My nephew shot 2 deer with it, one a diagonal from front shoulder to rear hip that exited with a 3 inch hole for an instant drop. My velocity for these is 1600 in a 16 1/4" barrel.  1/2" groups at 50 yds.