Trey Veston
Member
I stopped by the local gun shop to redeem a birthday gift card and was planning on picking up another pound of or two of powder when I decided to check out the lever-action rifle rack for anything cool. It was filled with bright shiny Rossi rifles and a couple of Henry rifles when I spotted a familiar form. It was a brand spanking new Marlin 1894 18.6" in .357 Mag/.38 SPL.
I picked it up and inspected it. Much nicer than the 1894 I bought when Remington was making them. And much better than the Ruger-made Marlin I inspected a couple of years ago. The fit and finish was much better! The checkering was great, and the machining was better quality.
I looked at the price and it was $959. A couple of hundred more than I paid for the Remlin a few years ago, but cheaper than online. It was my birthday, I had a military discount, a $25 gift card, and the year of my birth was in the serial number, so I bought it...
I've been pretty harsh on the Remlins and early Ruglins in the past, and I stand by my comments on the rifles I have personally inspected. They had quality issues and function issues. This rifle is much, much better than any new Marlin I have seen in years, so I bought it. The action is a bit rough, and the trigger not great, but it is nearly as nice as my JM 1894 I had years ago and it should smooth out with use. Shooting it tomorrow and will hopefully have a positive range report.
I picked it up and inspected it. Much nicer than the 1894 I bought when Remington was making them. And much better than the Ruger-made Marlin I inspected a couple of years ago. The fit and finish was much better! The checkering was great, and the machining was better quality.
I looked at the price and it was $959. A couple of hundred more than I paid for the Remlin a few years ago, but cheaper than online. It was my birthday, I had a military discount, a $25 gift card, and the year of my birth was in the serial number, so I bought it...
I've been pretty harsh on the Remlins and early Ruglins in the past, and I stand by my comments on the rifles I have personally inspected. They had quality issues and function issues. This rifle is much, much better than any new Marlin I have seen in years, so I bought it. The action is a bit rough, and the trigger not great, but it is nearly as nice as my JM 1894 I had years ago and it should smooth out with use. Shooting it tomorrow and will hopefully have a positive range report.