Which 44Mag LeverGun?

[rbernie]

I've decided that my next rifle purchase is gonna be a 44Mag levergun. The money is set aside, and all I have to do is pick out the one I want ordered. I'm actually gonna hunt with this one, so accuracy and function are prized over any sort of CASS-type visuals..

So - which one? Marlin, Winnie, Puma, Henry, and others - so many choices, and only a few in the local stores to fondle...

 

[Selfdfenz]

The only level gun I own at this time is a Rossi and I love the thing but if (a) money is no object and (b) cowboyafication means nada, get the Marlin.

Well made, accurate and able to take a licking for years and years but above and beyond all that, the main reason I'd go Marlin is they are easier to scope.

S-

 

[redd7]

I also have a marlin and like it. Take a look at the cb version. Longer oc tagon barrel. points very nice.

 

[spacemanspiff]

marlin!


p.s. this 'one post per 60 seconds' rule is a pain in the butt.

 

[EghtySx]

I wouldn't trade my Win 94 for anything.

 

[Preacherman]

Another vote for the Marlin. If you want something short and handy for brush work, go for the 1894C. If you will be in more open terrain, I second redd7's recommendation for the 1894 Cowboy model - it has a 24" octagonal heavy barrel, as opposed to the 20" round lighter barrel on the 1894C. Gives slightly better velocity, absorbs recoil better, but is heavier to tote around.

 

[Bullet]

I've got a Marlin 1894SS, 44Mag. I really like my Marlin. I haven't had any problems at all. The Marlin's will also shoot 44 Specials.

 

[ftierson]

I'll throw in a vote for the Win. M94 Trapper...

That's the kind of .44Mag "pistol" we all need...

 

[rbernie]

Anybody got the Winnie Timber Scout? Looks kinda interesting....

 

[PowderBurn]

Last fall I bought a Marlin1894P with the short, ported barrel (16.5" ??) and I just love it. Great for plinking, target shooting, and MN/WI deer. Sling it over the shoulder and up the tree in no time. Very generous recoil pad makes it easy to shoot well too. My dad bought a full-length barrel SS model, non-ported, no recoil pad, and it's not as fun to shoot. Sure looks nice though. And I'm sure a recoil pad will soften it up.

 

[Pointman]

I have a Win94 Trapper and a Rossi 92 Rifle both in .45 Colt. The Rossi is hands down the lighter and handier action especially for the short cartridges.

 

[treeprof]

I wrote up a short range report of my 1894SS and 1894P here:

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=24342&highlight=1894p

The 1894C is actually the .357 mag version; the 1894 is the blued .44 mag. Last year Marlin made a pistol grip version, but I'm not sure it's offered this year. The 1894P is discontinued, but there a few still around. I've recently seen a coupla NIB 1893CPs, the also-disc. .357 mag version, locally.

 

[roscoe]

Buffalo Bore says the Marlin rifling (1:38") won't stabilize the heavy bullets. Anyone have experience with that?

 

[Winters]

My marlin 1894 .44 mag is accurate with up to 240 grain loads. The 265 grain pattern. I haven't tried any heaver. The most accurate was the 200 grain. But not by much . I use 240 grain fp or exp for deer.

Winters

 

[cookekdjr]

Marlin or Rossi (properly tuned from http://stevesgunz.com/SalesSG.htm).
Good luck,
David

 

[jsalcedo]

My win 94 trapper is scary accurate with cast handloads.
It is also light and handy.

It holds 9rnds of .44 mag and 10 .44 specials

 

[s&w 24]

I was just at gander mountain looking at there 44 carbines. The straight stocked marlin 1894 didn't work for me, I felt cramped trying to use the lever and trigger ( I've got super-sized hands). The semi pistol grip marlin felt much better in my hands and was much easier to opperate. The rossi was nice and light, I liked the balance and it seemed pretty smooth for what it is. Then there's the winchester. I liked this one best handled great, smooth action, It just seemed more natural and if I want to add a little more snuse I could have it rechambered for 445 DW mag.

 

[Dread Pirate 257 Roberts]

I went through this last year before I bought my 44 lever action.

I ask my experienced gunsmith his opinion on things, and he's never led me wrong. He said I could go Marlin or Winchester, as either one was fine. I polled some experienced gun owners I trust, and some leaned one way and some the other, perhaps with a slight preference for the Marlin. I was told how Marlin makes different rifles for different cartridges and how the Winchester rifle action is excessively long for pistol cartridges. I was told that the Marlin was better because you can mount a scope. In the end, I got the Winchester Trapper because Marlin no longer made the short 44.

The scope mounting issue is moot since the Winnies have been angle eject for years now. On the plus side for the Winchester, the long action probably allows longer bullets than perhaps the Marlin does, and the larger action opening is probably easier for single-feeding cartridges or clearing jams. (Not that the Winchester has a jamming problem, but I've tried some goofy bullets in there.) And the wood on the stock I got was absolutely amazing. Nearly everyone who sees it comments on the wood.

The only really frustrating thing on the Trapper is that the front sight dovetail is directly behind the barrel band and really limits the front sight options. I want a gold bead, but the only one that will fit is the Lyman, the bead fell out the first time I shot it, and my 'smith said it was a loose fit, so I returned it and am not excited about trying another.

I initially put a Williams 5D aperture sight on it (although wish now I had sprung for the FP), and intend to mount a scout scope to it with the XS Sight Systems mount.

I'm not sure how the Marlin safety is mounted (I'm too lazy to bring up their web site), but I find the tang safety on the latest Winchesters to be more intuitive to use than the cross-bolt on the older models, but I was disappointed to find out that Marble's has no tang sight for the tang-safety 94 (yet - they do for the tang-safety 1892.). That's only an issue if you want a tang sight.