Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Cowboy Action Shooting Marlin 1894C

I am looking at a Marlin 1894C in .357/.38 Special with the idea of using it for cowboy shooting. The box says 9 round magazine. That would not do too well when I need ten rounds during a match. I assume that 9 round magazine is if you use .357 rounds and am wondering if I could easily load 10 rounds of .38 Special into the magazine.

Nope, it only holds 9.

Rats.

Well, I went back and the store owner got out a box of .38 Specials and tried to get 10 in the magazine. It worked with a bit to spare. It will not, however, hold more than 9 .357 Magnums.

Grab it quick, never seen one that would.

I did. I will try it out tomorrow. It did surprise me somewhat that it would allow that extra cartridge.

You can trim the magazine spring. It's kind of a trickey operation. I did mine where it will hold 10 125 gr. .357's. A bonus is that it is easier to load.

Trimming the magazine spring is not hard and when done will allow the magazine to hold 10 357 mags or 10 38's. Just remove the plug on the muzzle end of the magazine tube. With the magazine spring hanging out of the magazine measure how far it extends out. Cut off 2 inches at first and then in 1 inch sections. Between each cut check for capacity of the magazine when reassembled. When you can first fit 10 357's stop. If you cut off too much just order a new spring or two from Brownells.

Many of the Marlins come with some rust inside the magazine tube and shout be cleaned and oiled.

I have the Marlin 1894CB and it holds 10 rounds of .357. It's a great rifle if you can find one.

I tried it out today and was generally pleased. It did hang up feeding occasionally when shooting rapidly. It did it with both .38 and .357 rounds and with both jacketed and lead SWC bullets. It was totally reliable if I did not try to cycle the action very fast. I am sure I will enjoy having this rifle.

I own the exact rifle and use it in CAS. It holds 10 38Specials or 9 357Magnums. This rifle is great for CAS!

I shot it some more and still can't get it to be completely reliable with my .38 Special reloads. I have a M94 in .45 and an 1894 in 32-20 that was made in 1898 that I can use for CAS so I may just use the .357/.38 rifle as a tractor gun and plinker until I can get it working to my satisfaction with .38 Special rounds.

Notropis;

Should you find it unsatisfactory, I may be interested in finding it a new home in NC.

Ditto that '94 in .45LC.

I suppose I should clarify that the .45 Colt is a 1894 Marlin and not a Winchester M94. It shoots great and has earned a permanent place in my safe. The .357 is quite a handy rifle. I carried it around a bit today while doing a little post-deer-season tinkering down on the farm and will probably give it a permanent home in a rack on one of my tractors.

Just as good on the '94; either would work plenty fine.

I have an 1894C in 25-20 WCF. I don't know what it is good for. But it is a cute little rifle. It was won at a DU Dinner about 10 years ago. Has the DU plate on the butt.

It's a great turkey gun, where legal.

mine hates swc's and is not overly fond of 38's. canting the gun slightly to the left helps some.