Marlin 1894 Club
- Thread starter kmrcstintn
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Sun195
Member
I've got a basic Big 5 version - goes well with my S&W 686 and S&W 60.
I bought this thinking that I would get into CAS/SASS, but never quite got enough other guns to do that.
I think I paid $365 for it, but had to visit several Big 5's before I found one in 357 and that had decent wood. It's been a good shooter w/ no malfunctions so far. The wood isn't very exciting, but it's no different than my basic Marlin 60 and I've never had any complaints about that.
I like that it's a great all-around rifle: can be used for new shooters to SHTF scenarios. It's the type of rifle that just feels right in the hand.
I bought this thinking that I would get into CAS/SASS, but never quite got enough other guns to do that.
I think I paid $365 for it, but had to visit several Big 5's before I found one in 357 and that had decent wood. It's been a good shooter w/ no malfunctions so far. The wood isn't very exciting, but it's no different than my basic Marlin 60 and I've never had any complaints about that.
I like that it's a great all-around rifle: can be used for new shooters to SHTF scenarios. It's the type of rifle that just feels right in the hand.
Sistema1927
Member
I picked up a lightly used checkered walnut 1894C for $300 about two years ago. I put a Williams receiver sight on it, but removed it when I started using the Marlin as my back-up CAS rifle. Mine feeds both .38 and .357 with ease, for CAS I use a 122 gr. truncated cone bullet.
I would not hesitate to pick this carbine up for serious social work.
I would not hesitate to pick this carbine up for serious social work.
kmrcstintn
Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2006
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- 1,236
one of the other members (USP45T) sent me a leupold base that is weaver style and has a groove milled into the top that allows me to see the sights...YES!!!
now I need some medium height leupold QD rings and a decent scope and I gots a great low recoil 50-75 yard deer rifle for my dad!
now I need some medium height leupold QD rings and a decent scope and I gots a great low recoil 50-75 yard deer rifle for my dad!
glockgod
Member
Count me in! 38 for Cowboy matches or .357 for x-tra thump. Wish I could deer hunt with it. Can't understand why I can use a .357 pistol to deer hunt and not a .357 levergun! They both take the same round-leave it to Ohio to come up with a brain fart like that!!
Pine Cone
Member
I guess I'd better join this one too...
I have a 1894C in .38/.357, which I got used but it was like new. Not clear if it had been shot or not. I've had it a little over a year now and haven't shot it enough. The link below is to a pix of it with it's cousin, the 336. It is the one with the Skinner sights on it.
While I would like to get a 39 or 39A, I haven't had any luck finding one I liked so I got a Winchester 9422 which is still a nice rifle.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=62215&d=1186806194
I have a 1894C in .38/.357, which I got used but it was like new. Not clear if it had been shot or not. I've had it a little over a year now and haven't shot it enough. The link below is to a pix of it with it's cousin, the 336. It is the one with the Skinner sights on it.
While I would like to get a 39 or 39A, I haven't had any luck finding one I liked so I got a Winchester 9422 which is still a nice rifle.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=62215&d=1186806194
MrDig
Member
Put me in the Roll Call I have both the 1894c and a 336 in 30-30. Need to get out and shoot them more.
woof
Member
I don't think they have made the 1894 .357 in stainless, just the .44mag. If they did it would be too much to bear, I'd have to have one.
Hi Guys, I have enjoyed reading your thread. Is this rifle in .357 or .44 mag practical for hunting boar and deer? If so what would be the maximum effective range in each caliber? One more: Is there a substantial increase in muzzle velocity when shooting those calibers out of a 18-20" barrel?
Thanks!
Thanks!
joe4702
Member
I've got an 1894CP. Don't care for the porting, but I like the 16.25" barrel. It wears a Williams peep sight. Fun rifle. I also have it's brother (sister?) in .44 mag.
tubeshooter
Contributing Member
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2006
- Messages
- 2,149
I'm not quite in the club yet, but this will be my next purchase. I've wanted one since before their relatively recent spike in popularity.
I hope to officially join within the next couple of months.
I hope to officially join within the next couple of months.
You do get a substantial boost in velocity and power when shooting the 357 and 44 mag from carbine and rifle length barrels. Approx. a 400 to 800 fps boost iirc. with a corrosponding increase in energy. I do not have one of these 1894c rifles yet, but it will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine
LaEscopeta
Member
Most posters on this site tend to say 100, maybe 120 yards max. effective range for either caliber. Beyond this bullet drop makes it difficult to hit a target that you don’t know the exact range, and terminal ballistics drops down to hand gun level. Some posters talk about hitting paper targets at 200 yards, but this is with sighting in at that range.
Muzzle increase of about 1/3 with muzzle energy as much as doubling.
As search of “Marlin 1894”, “Winchester 1892, 1984”, Carbine .357, 44 mag” etc will yield a wealth of additional information, including on hunting deer & boar.
Last edited:
115grfmj
Member
sight in to hit 3" high at 100yds.....
the round (158 gr jsp magtech) doesn't cross the line of sight until it crosses 171 yards.....i.e it's a dead on hold. Most people are surprised by how flat the .357 from a rifle can shoot, relatively speaking. Also Your not really getting down to handgun velocity until about 150 yards, IIRC, from my own chrony work. Personally I wouldn't hestitate to take deer at that range....as always though if you can't land your rounds in the right spot........
the round (158 gr jsp magtech) doesn't cross the line of sight until it crosses 171 yards.....i.e it's a dead on hold. Most people are surprised by how flat the .357 from a rifle can shoot, relatively speaking. Also Your not really getting down to handgun velocity until about 150 yards, IIRC, from my own chrony work. Personally I wouldn't hestitate to take deer at that range....as always though if you can't land your rounds in the right spot........
glockman19
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
- Messages
- 3,700
Well yesterday I shot my 1894SS .44 mag and loved it. I only went to the indoor range so teh farthest distance I could shoot it was 12 yards, 36 feet. All groups on the silouette were 1-1/2". I can't wait to take it to the outdoor range for longer shots.
The 629 however, started to hurt after 20 rounds and my hand was feeling numb after 50. Fun, great grouping but WOW some recoil from the 5" barrel. I'll ost likely get some different grips and see if it helps.
Nex I'll be looking for a .38 and .30-30.
The 629 however, started to hurt after 20 rounds and my hand was feeling numb after 50. Fun, great grouping but WOW some recoil from the 5" barrel. I'll ost likely get some different grips and see if it helps.
Nex I'll be looking for a .38 and .30-30.
JustsayMo
Member
Of the flavors of 1894 Marlins I own(ed) my favorite is the 1894CB in 45 colt. I can't knock the others, I just like the 45 colt a little better.
My first was a 1894C big 5 in 357. Fun, handy and inexpensive to shoot.
The next I found at a garage sale in 44 Mag. That upped the fun factor and the 357 stayed home. Worked up some accurate loads for it though it wasn't too picky. A 240 grain anything over a max charge of 2400 would do sub 1" groups at 50 yards. Target pics at http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1066975
My most recent 1894 is the 45 Colt Cowboy Limited 20" barrel. My least finicky 1894 in what it will digest and shoot accurately. The Octagon barrel looks very cool on a levergun. I plan to hunt with it this year. My current go to load is a 315 gr Cast bullet over 2400 chugging along in the 1200 fps neighborhood. I've exceeded 1500 fps (SR 4759) with that bullet. Now that is gitty-up
Sort of a Big Bore Lite...
Target pictures at: http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1225592
If this club includes the 1895 sign me up for those too... I'm a big bore addict. I have three 1895's including a Guide Gun and a Cowboy...
http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1219065
My first was a 1894C big 5 in 357. Fun, handy and inexpensive to shoot.
The next I found at a garage sale in 44 Mag. That upped the fun factor and the 357 stayed home. Worked up some accurate loads for it though it wasn't too picky. A 240 grain anything over a max charge of 2400 would do sub 1" groups at 50 yards. Target pics at http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1066975
My most recent 1894 is the 45 Colt Cowboy Limited 20" barrel. My least finicky 1894 in what it will digest and shoot accurately. The Octagon barrel looks very cool on a levergun. I plan to hunt with it this year. My current go to load is a 315 gr Cast bullet over 2400 chugging along in the 1200 fps neighborhood. I've exceeded 1500 fps (SR 4759) with that bullet. Now that is gitty-up
Sort of a Big Bore Lite...Target pictures at: http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1225592
If this club includes the 1895 sign me up for those too... I'm a big bore addict. I have three 1895's including a Guide Gun and a Cowboy...
http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1219065
AStone
Member
Kmrcstintn, thanks for this club. Saved me time.
Nice to have others be the club host.
And there are more than a few names in here that I recognize from a couple of other lever club houses.
I joined officially last week. Picked up my 1894C, which must have been one of the last remaining one's in the US until Marlin restarts production this month (reportedly). Took me weeks to find it.
I haven't shot it yet, and no pics yet.
But I can say that:
I've now researched a LOT about 1894s, and a bit about 1895s, but I still tend to put them into different realms, mainly I guess because of the caliber differences: pistol caliber carbines v .45-70, 450 Marlin & 444 Marlin. I almost expect the 1895 crowd to want to have their own club ...
I've noticed that so far, the majority of posts are about '94s. It'll be interesting to see how the conversation plays out in here about '894s and '895s. Should be an interesting exercise to compare and contrast them in terms of actions, issues, sighting, rnds, uses, etc.
Nem, host of the 336 club and the 39A club
Nice to have others be the club host.
And there are more than a few names in here that I recognize from a couple of other lever club houses.
I joined officially last week. Picked up my 1894C, which must have been one of the last remaining one's in the US until Marlin restarts production this month (reportedly). Took me weeks to find it.
I haven't shot it yet, and no pics yet.
But I can say that:
- It's beautiful, with awesome furniture (IMO)
- The size, weight and balance are perfect for me; just picking it up and pointing feels great.
- It has already become my favorite rifle (again, haven't even shot it yet).
- I predict that it has the potential to become my favorite gun of all times.
I've now researched a LOT about 1894s, and a bit about 1895s, but I still tend to put them into different realms, mainly I guess because of the caliber differences: pistol caliber carbines v .45-70, 450 Marlin & 444 Marlin. I almost expect the 1895 crowd to want to have their own club ...
I've noticed that so far, the majority of posts are about '94s. It'll be interesting to see how the conversation plays out in here about '894s and '895s. Should be an interesting exercise to compare and contrast them in terms of actions, issues, sighting, rnds, uses, etc.
Nem, host of the 336 club and the 39A club
c pierce
Member
marlin
This sounds like a great site. Count me in. I have a model 1894 pre lock 44 mag a 1895 4570 1886 33 win 1895 3006 win and two 39a . I mainaly collect smith& wessons.
This sounds like a great site. Count me in. I have a model 1894 pre lock 44 mag a 1895 4570 1886 33 win 1895 3006 win and two 39a . I mainaly collect smith& wessons.
kmrcstintn
Member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2006
- Messages
- 1,236
update & pondering...
I'm kinda tossin around the idea of letting my father use the 1894C this year for deer (background: dad handed over his Remington 760 in .30-06 since I didn't have a hunting rifle at the time; I had some 'updating' done to it as well as an overhaul & thorough cleaning; he has a S&W 686 PowerPort with a Bushnell Trophy red dot scope for hunting; my stepmom passed amonst all the hoopla and we're preparing to move in together since he's up in age);
I know that he'll want to scope it; based upon what he's done in the past, he'll probably use see through mounts so he has access to the rifle sights in a pinch (the Leupold base that I has mounted on it would allow use of QD rings but may be too thick if clamp-on see-through mounts are used since the crossbar would block the channel in the base);
I basically bought the 1894C for hunting camp defense and for plinking with open sights (I replaced the factory sights with Williams Firesights--equivalent to day glow) and that's the way I would like to keep it, but I feel that dad could benefit from using a very low recoil rifle (the 1894C would fit this criteria and would still be lethal out to 75 yards)
sorry about the rambling...I highly enjoy my 1894C; I am very glad that I bought it; keep the thread going! I will be off THR for a while preparing for my move! Later
I'm kinda tossin around the idea of letting my father use the 1894C this year for deer (background: dad handed over his Remington 760 in .30-06 since I didn't have a hunting rifle at the time; I had some 'updating' done to it as well as an overhaul & thorough cleaning; he has a S&W 686 PowerPort with a Bushnell Trophy red dot scope for hunting; my stepmom passed amonst all the hoopla and we're preparing to move in together since he's up in age);
I know that he'll want to scope it; based upon what he's done in the past, he'll probably use see through mounts so he has access to the rifle sights in a pinch (the Leupold base that I has mounted on it would allow use of QD rings but may be too thick if clamp-on see-through mounts are used since the crossbar would block the channel in the base);
I basically bought the 1894C for hunting camp defense and for plinking with open sights (I replaced the factory sights with Williams Firesights--equivalent to day glow) and that's the way I would like to keep it, but I feel that dad could benefit from using a very low recoil rifle (the 1894C would fit this criteria and would still be lethal out to 75 yards)
sorry about the rambling...I highly enjoy my 1894C; I am very glad that I bought it; keep the thread going! I will be off THR for a while preparing for my move! Later
Danny Creasy
Member
Purchased new in early 80s from Woolco - $169
Lyman receiver sight.
Groups best with 180 grain jacketed hps.
Lyman receiver sight.
Groups best with 180 grain jacketed hps.
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