Happy Birthday to me! Marlins are getting better...

[Trey Veston]

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.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I love it. It looks real nice congrats.

 

[Pat Riot]

Congratulations and Happy Birthday!
That’s a nice looking rifle.
I wasn’t aware they had come out with the .357 models. That must mean .45 Colt is in the future.

 

[W.E.G.]

Beautiful gun!

Now chop the barrel and add solvent-trap suppressor and orange-and-purple hydro-dip folding stock with a high-lumen light with strobe function.

Right?

 

[MachIVshooter]

Nice! Congrats! Seems like Ruger is doing them right.

I still like the older ones. And by that, I mean much older. The one I just bought earlier this week is an 1893 .38-55 made in 1900. Most of mine are over a century old, the oldest a first year model 1881

 

[horsemen61]

Congrats that’s awesome run her like a scalded Dawg!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Looks great, happy birthday!

 

[dranrab]

Good looking rifle. I wish you luck. With Ruger, you need it. https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...topics/19007895/all/new-ruger-made-marlin-357

 

[chicharrones]

Good looking rifle. I wish you luck. With Ruger, you need it. https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...topics/19007895/all/new-ruger-made-marlin-357

Are you a ball player? Looks like you made quite the double play. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/marlin-ruger-45-70.925892/post-12782428

 

[JmacD]

Happy birthday! And nice rifle! I agree that the last batch I picked through to look at were DRASTICALLY better and MUCH improved over the earliest ones I looked over. I personally have yet to see a decent remlin. I saw one of the Ruger runs from fairly early on, and wasn’t at all impressed; just saw one last week and got to compare (like in store; not on the range unfortunately) to a new rossi and Henry. It seems like they’ve upped their game for sure!
I’m still wishing for matching caliber rifle/revolver sets with a super redhawk and/or Black-hawk… lol

 

[Ks5shooter]

You will love it ...I have a Win. lever in .357 fun to shoot.Happy birthday!

 

[Riomouse911]

That rifle will be a very nice way to celebrate your birthday again and again and again!

Stay safe.

 

[jmr40]

Nice looking rifle and based on the prices I've seen on others that seems like a very good price.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

If I'm reading the SN correctly, you're still a comparative youngster Trey. The situation described sounds like the ideal occasion for a little splurge on a sweet little carbine -- I hope it shoots as good as it photographs.

Happy birthday!

 

[Frulk]

Very nice. I’m still on the sidelines waiting/hoping for the 1894 CB’s to be reintroduced. I’ve yet to read anything in print that Ruger is contemplating/planing to roll them out. If they don’t then I’ll opt for the standard 1894’s.

 

[Trey Veston]

I took it to the range today and was pleased...

 

[Insignificant bill]

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...

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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.

Love the wood

 

[dranrab]

I went to a gun show yesterday and put my hands on 5 different 1894s. They looked and felt fantastic. From a somewhat cursory glance there were no fit or cosmetic issues at all.

 

[PapaG]

None of my Marlins were made after 1975. Best ever. I have seen a few of the new Rugers and I think they have gotten it right. Wish I’d kept my 94 357.

 

[Big_Al]

That's a nice looking rifle, I'm going to keep my eyes open for one. Not a bad price either.

 

[3Crows]

When loading a Marlin it is best to push the leading cartridge in until it hangs on the gate by the rim, then each cartridge in turn push the leading round with the nose of the following round. In doing so only the last round is pushed beyond the gate and allowing the gate to close and in so doing you get bit only once instead of everytime.

The gate can be relieved by bending it inward, best done removing the gate, such that the gate does close fully to the receiver inside but just barely so when adjusted. Or in a few hundred rounds the gate will do this of own accord and thereafter be not so cantankerous.

Every Marlin I have owned benefited by careful use of 600/1000 oiled paper wrapped on a dowel (cartridge diameter) and a few swipes of the inside edge of the receiver cutout. The rounds will slide in easier and not leave marks on the brass or on the pinky tip.

 

[stringnut]

Very nice. Thank god they got rid of the stupid stamping on the side of the receiver. I saw a Remlin that had been reworked so the action was slick, and , had custom wood on it. The price was right and I knew someone who had shot so knew it was good. Because of the code stamped in the receiver just couldn’t force myself to buy it.

Ended up with a Ruger No 1 in 44 mag instead.

 

[Remington1911]

Friend of mine got one, he said the same thing, fit and finish are very well done, and it shoots well.

It is also hella fun.