24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1
J
jbd619 Offline OP
New Member
OP Offline
New Member
J
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1
Which of these two .44's is better, especially for shooting bullets over 300 grains? I am looking to buy one of them so comments on accuracy, reliability, etc.. is welcome regarding either gun.

BP-B2

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,677
B
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
B
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,677
Had the Ruger, couldn't find a bullet that it liked. Never got a good group in the 2 years I owned it. Aluminum receiver I think. Now have a Marlin, heavier, but solid construction. Haven't found a bullet it doesn't like. 2-2 1/2 in groups at 100yds consistantly- works for me.

Last edited by bearmgc; 11/02/05.
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 103
W
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
W
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 103
I have not tried bullets over 300 grains but don't really see the need. Even a hollowpoint 240 grain bullet will bust right through a deer and leave two large holes.

My Marlin likes 240g. Montano Gold either HP or SP with Hornaday XTP next and Speer FP and Remington SJHP pretty close. At 100 yards 3" is pretty common with open sights.

http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1066975

Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 31,989
Campfire 'Bwana
Offline
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 31,989
I don't like the geometry of the Ruger's pistol-grip, so that eliminates my interest in any of the Ruger 96s.

Jeff

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,719
C
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
C
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,719
I am a Ruger man generally. I have NEVER heard positive coments on the model 96 and wouldn't have one. I do however have the Marlins in 22, 357, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, and some Rifle calibers. The 1894 is a shooter as are Most Marlins. I shoot both the 240 grain white box Winchester SP's and the 300 grain Federal Premium Cast Core. Haven't done any 100 yard shooting as my eyes don't quite cotton up to that but at the shorter ranges you can shoot the center out of the target.


NRA LIFE MEMBER
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS
ESPECIALLY THE SNIPERS!
"Suppose you were an idiot And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself."
-Mark Twain
IC B2

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,673
M
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
M
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,673
I have a Ruger 96. The stock leaves a bit to be desired but this rifle is extremely accurate. It will shoot anything I put in it. It seems to have a slight preference for 255 hardcast and the nosler 250 partition. With a two power scope I can group about an inch at 50 and just under two at a hundred. It handles well and you cannot argue the convience of a box magazine. Action is very smooth and quick.It requires only about half the movement to cycle the action than any other lever action I have used.

Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 31
M
Campfire Greenhorn
Offline
Campfire Greenhorn
M
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 31
Had a Ruger 96. Mine was also very accurate with the 250 gr Nosler Partition. In my opinion the weak point of the rifle is the plastic magazine. I broke two, one during a hunt, which rendered the rifle a single shot. Also, 300 gr bullets don't fit well in the mag.

I love Rugers, but by all means, get the Marlin.

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,673
M
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
M
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,673
Well i guess it could be a problem. But the likely hood of breaking all my mags in one hunt in very small. See one mag goes in the gun then one in each front jacket pocket, if I can do all these in during the course of one hunt I would just give and go home. As far as 300 gr bullets go there is an option. Cast performance makes a 300 grain hardcast, the crimpimg groove is positioned as such that the overall length is the same as the 255 they make and it will function just fine.

Last edited by mike7mm08; 11/08/05.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 31
M
Campfire Greenhorn
Offline
Campfire Greenhorn
M
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 31
I bought mine used for $259. After the mags broke I traded it straight up for a NIB Win 94 BB .375. Yes, I got a screaming deal.

I don't know how much they want for a new 96 now, but if the price is comparable to the Marlin, the Marlin is a lot more gun, IMHO.

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,673
M
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
M
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,673
You got a great deal on the 375. I have two and love them. I have seen them going for a high as 6oo a piece. I also have two marlins in 375 as well as two savage 99s, seeing a pattern here. I will agree that the marlin is a great gun. But I don't think they should even be compared to the Ruger. For what it is the ruger is a great gun. But not a great lever action.

IC B3

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 30
Campfire Greenhorn
Offline
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 30
Howdy! I have a Ruger 96/44 and love it. I haven't heard about the mags breaking before reading this post. I don't have any experience with the Marlin 1894. But, if want a "real lever gun" go with the Marlin. But the Ruger is a nice shootin' rifle. Buy both!!!! It's only money. Good Luck.

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,004
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,004
The Marlin doesn't do very well with heavier bullets on the micro-groove barrel because of the lousy twist rate. If you want a Marlin and you want to shoot heavy hardcast try to find a Cowboy 2 model with the Ballard rifeling. They no longer make them but there are a lot of new ones still floating around in gun shops. Est $550-600

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 131
N
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
N
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 131
New Marlin 1894's have Ballard rifling, or so it says on the Marlin site: http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/1894_centerfireRifles/1894.htm

My 1894C's (.357 magnum) have Ballard rifling.

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,004
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,004
There are about a gazillion new 1894's out there in gun shops with the micro groove barrel. Just know what your lookin for. In either event the 1/38 twist rate on the new Marlins will never reliably stabelize a bullet over 300 grains. I believe the Cowboy 2 model that Marlin put out had a 1/20 twist rate with ballard rifeling. This is the model you want if you want to primarily shoot hard cast bullets over 300 grains or at least a faster twist rate with the ballard rifeling.

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,719
C
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
C
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,719
My standard 1894SS shoots 300 grain Fed Cast Core's real well. I think somepeople need to slug the barrel to find out what works for their particular rifle but I haven't found what you said to be anymore true with jacketed. Some rifles do shoot better than others whether jacketed or cast. Although that is something that has followed it around for a long time many people don't find that to be the case.


NRA LIFE MEMBER
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS
ESPECIALLY THE SNIPERS!
"Suppose you were an idiot And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself."
-Mark Twain
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,004
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,004
I'm not sure what slugging the bore really accomplishes. Mine is .432 and oversize hard casts don't shoot any better than standard .430 once you get over 300 grains. You cant change the twist rate by slugging the bore. I guess it depends on the gun and what distance you shoot at. I'm sure there might be a few 44's with a 1/38 twist that would shoot over 300 grains well but I certainly wouldn't buy a new one counting on it. If you only shoot 50 yards then its all a pretty moot point. At 100 things start to open up quit a bit.

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 518
M
Mak Offline
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
M
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 518
Ruger could hv done much better w/their gun.
Inspired by Savage 99, but on the cheap. Can be accurate, always is ugly.
Not bad for its intent, no real advantage over Marlin.
Marlin #1 ease of maintenence, quality fit n finish.
Microgroove just fine for JSP/JHP. Ballard preferred for shootin lead pills.
1894 n 96 limited by action length, no real problem for most purposes, if need super heavyweights best get 45-70, 450M, even 444 better choice.
Slow twist no problem if bullet is driven fast enuff.
If need fast twist look at Winchester scout in .44mag.
Good Shootin

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 315
O
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
O
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 315
I never had a Marlin Lever that wouldn't shoot close to or even better than a bolt gun. I've had several Ruger rifles that wouldn't shoot as well as I'd need.


(Psa 18:34) He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

ought6

Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 240
R
RLB Offline
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
R
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 240
forget the marlin or ruger there both great guns but.....if you want t oshoot over 300gr. with ballard riflings then buy a winchester trapper or puma 92....


The world ends when you dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. stand it like a man-and give some back..
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,004
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,004
You must have some lousy bolt guns! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Ive had some decent levers but no way are they going to consistantly shoot sub-moa at 100 yards.
I dont see the trapper as a very good option for 300 plus grain pills. The twist in the winchester is only marginally better than the Marlin and the trigger is worse. Plus your going to loose any extra ooomph by shooting those high end loads out of a super short barrel.

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
186 members (35, 257 mag, 44mc, 163bc, 338reddog, 300_savage, 20 invisible), 1,295 guests, and 572 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,186,241
Posts18,371,465
Members73,765
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.158s Queries: 14 (0.006s) Memory: 0.8866 MB (Peak: 1.0355 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-19 10:04:48 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS