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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,938 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,938 Likes: 1 |
Just ran 100 rounds through the new Ruger built Marlin 1894. I was shooting 9.8 gr & 10.0 gr of Unique behind a Missouri Bullet 240 gr TCFP in Starline brass. First impressions are so-so.
Pros: Accuracy was good and the bore was able to stabilize the cast bullet unlike my Rossi 92 with its larger bore size. Fit and finish was decent. Bluing on the barrel was shinier than the matte receiver.
Cons: Trigger broke around 4.5 lbs. However, it had some creep in it that was noticeable, almost like a two-stage trigger. Rounds were hanging up from time to time when coming out of the follower and being presented to the elevator. OAL on the rounds were 1.600 and being a truncated-cone flat-point, they shouldn't have had any issues. The ejection area of the receiver was as sharp as a utility knife. The lever was smooth enough but wasn't what I would call smooth. I also noticed that the lever was wanting to open after the shot. It could have been that 10.0 gr of Unique was too much for this chamber. I have not chrono'ed the loads yet.
With that said, I also have a recent production Rossi 92 in .44 Mag. I have to say that the Rossi has it beat in the areas of feeding and extraction. The trigger on the Rossi was better than the Marlin. The Rossi has an oversized chamber which causes some minor "Glock" bulging. Price wise, I feel the Rossi is a better bang for the buck provided you size your cast bullets to its bore.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,096
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,096 |
Thanks for the report. It certainly seems the revolver cartridge lever guns can be a fickle bunch.
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,397
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,397 |
Not uncommon for them to need polished up to inprove feed and trigger pull.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,933 Likes: 21
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 30,933 Likes: 21 |
Not uncommon for them to need polished up to inprove feed and trigger pull. What he said ^^^^^^^ http://marauder.homestead.com/files/TUNING_M_1894.htm
T R U M P W O N !
U L T R A M A G A !
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 6,257 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 6,257 Likes: 1 |
Thanks for the review. Hopefully it slicks up over time.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 975
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 975 |
I owned a Marlin 1894 in 44MAG for several decades but traded for a RUGER 96 when this amazing carbine was introduced. The wood is plain but accuracy, reliability, trigger, and twist rate are far superior to my old Marlin. Cartridges feed from a clip type magazine. I have always admired the 336 model very much but the 1894 model is not worth it to me. - Sherwood
FIRE UP THE GRILL - is NOT catch and release!
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,352 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,352 Likes: 3 |
Wow! Talk about serendipity. I was just going here to post a question regarding the Marlin 1894 vs the Rossi 92. Thanks! I've been having a love/hate thing with 44 Mag for a while. 44 Mag: It won't leave me aloneWell, I thought I'd finally gotten that under control and I was in the LGS the other day and saw a Rossi 92 Stainless. I couldn't help myself. Much to my surprise, I could actually see the sights on this thing. I haven't been able to shoot off irons effectively in 30 years, but I guess the chemo knocked my eyesight around. Those 92 sights were perfect. I'm thinking a 24-inch octagonal barrel.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,616 Likes: 20
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,616 Likes: 20 |
$1000 seems like an awful lot of money for a crude gun that doesn't function properly. But, it's a Ruger, so that's what I'd expect.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,938 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,938 Likes: 1 |
$1000 seems like an awful lot of money for a crude gun that doesn't function properly. But, it's a Ruger, so that's what I'd expect. Agreed Paul. Had I known prior to the purchase what I know now, I probably would have passed. The "sell" for me was it's looks. Ruger did a great job on fit and finish. I'll play with it some more and go from there. If it's still double-feeding, it's going back to Ruger/Marlin.
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,470 Likes: 4
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,470 Likes: 4 |
I have a couple 44 Mag rifles, 10 gr Unique isn’t a heavy load, in my opinion. One of my 44’s was manufactured by Remington "Marlin". It is in all respects a fine rifle. I too appreciate your review. I’m considering adding a 357 lever and am not sure which way to go.
Last edited by Bugger; 12/03/23.
I prefer classic. Semper Fi I used to run with the hare. Now I'm envious of the tortoise and I do my own stunts but rarely intentionally
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,362 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,362 Likes: 1 |
Picked up a new Ruger Marlin yesterday from Bass Pro. It was in the used gun rack that BP had bought from a gun store that had gone out of business. They couldn’t sell it as New In Box so that’s why it was on the used rack. Anyway 10% off for Monday on any purchase, another 10% off for using Cabelas card and 5% off for Military discount. Out the door at BP for $647…….Score!!!
We’ll see how it turns out….
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Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,556
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,556 |
Picked up a new Ruger Marlin yesterday from Bass Pro. It was in the used gun rack that BP had bought from a gun store that had gone out of business. They couldn’t sell it as New In Box so that’s why it was on the used rack. Anyway 10% off for Monday on any purchase, another 10% off for using Cabelas card and 5% off for Military discount. Out the door at BP for $647…….Score!!!
We’ll see how it turns out…. Great score. That’s a heck of a deal.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,938 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,938 Likes: 1 |
Picked up a new Ruger Marlin yesterday from Bass Pro. It was in the used gun rack that BP had bought from a gun store that had gone out of business. They couldn’t sell it as New In Box so that’s why it was on the used rack. Anyway 10% off for Monday on any purchase, another 10% off for using Cabelas card and 5% off for Military discount. Out the door at BP for $647…….Score!!!
We’ll see how it turns out…. You got a deal!
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,938 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,938 Likes: 1 |
To follow up on my original post, I took my new 1894 Classic in .44 Mag back out yesterday. I tried various loads in it this time using cup and core bullets. The rifle seemed to run much better this time around. The only exception was the occasional hiccup where the cartridge isn't being fully presented to the elevator. This could've been me running the lever easy. The trigger is still gritty with some creep...It almost feels like a two-stage trigger. All in all, I'll cheap shooting it. Some of the loads I tried yesterday:
9.8 Unique with a 240 gr flat nose: This load was a hammer and registered with the sights at 25 yards 12.1 gr Unique with a 200 gr XTP: Decent load, shot high and right from sights 23.9 gr H110 with 240 gr XTP: A full-house load
I think Ruger did a great job on the wood with this rifle. It's the best looking lever out there currently in my opinion.
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