Marlin 1894 44 mag

[.45&TKD]

There's a new Marlin 1894 44 mag at Big 5 for $379.

I haven't seen it yet, but I'm thinking that is a good deal.

Should I get it?

Or, should I keep scrounging around pawn shops for a lower priced used one.

(It's my first lever gun. I've already decided on 44 mag to go with my S&W Model 29-2, as opposed to 30-30. It would be used for plinking and possibly a camp rifle. I don't hunt yet, but have plenty of rifles more powerful than 30-30 if I take up hunting. A 30-30 could always be my second lever action).

 

[eastwood44mag]

Bought one out of pawn for $250. It's UGLY. Bluing worn away in places, stock chewed up. Pad was dry rotted. Kicks like a mule, but doesn't weigh much, so it's a joy to carry in the field.

For $379, but it new. By me, it would have been $450+, so I bought used. Currently it's my fix-it-up project, so I'm putting on a new pad, red dot, and maybe a larger lever (depends on whether or not I can find one at a reasonable rate).

They're fun. Buy it.

 

[rbernie]

That's a smokin' deal - I'd certainly buy one at that price.

 

[ArmedBear]

Big 5 1894's are not checkered, not walnut. But they're Marlins, just the same.

If you're not picky about having a fancy stock, they're excellent "working guns". And they look just fine to me, a lot like the "Cowboy" models, but without the octagon barrels.

 

[.45&TKD]

Big 5 1894's are not checkered, not walnut.

I know that Big 5 carries the Marlin 336A which is not walnut, as opposed to the 336C which is walnut according to the Marlin web site.

Since the Marlin web site does not have a 1894 44 mag in anything but walnut, I am hoping that this one is walnut.

I'll just have to see.

 

[ArmedBear]

The Big 5 versions of the Marlin pistol caliber carbines are not in the Marlin catalogue.

Big 5 has round barrel .45LC 1894's for the same price you're seeing. These are most definitely not currently-catalogued guns.

See http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=282463

However, walnut is not equivalent to "good" and everything else is not "bad."

Some walnut can ding easily -- really easily. It can be pretty, or it can be just wood. Other hardwoods are perfectly acceptable as gunstocks. Nothing wrong with them.

 

[.45&TKD]

Ok. It is the Hardwood uncheckered stock.

But my next question is whether the Big 5 1894's in 44 mag have the Ballard rifling or the microgroove rifling?

The Marlin website for 1894 in 44 mag says, "Barrel 20" with deep-cut Ballard-type rifling (6 grooves)."

The Big 5 rifle does not appear to have deep cuts as far as I can tell (although I'm no expert). From what I've read Marlin went back to Ballard instead of microgroove for the 1894 so that cast lead bullets would shoot better, while still being able to shoot jacketed. It is actually important to me to be able to shoot the hard cast lead bullets.