Marlin 1894 44 Magnum...

[JonB]

There are enough bad testimonials on these older Marlin 44 mag guns (mine included), that I'd strongly suggest putting that thing into an auction and then ordering a new Ruger Marlin 1894 44 mag with the .430 barrel and 1:20 twist...that is, assuming your Buddy can afford it.

 

[Brad]

I solved the problem by buying an older Rosie 92 in 44 mag.

 

[Bret4207]

i doubt that's your accuracy problem.
throw a couple of XTP's down it and see.

you got 10 other chunks of rifling there, one little boo-boo in one shallow spot throwing groups off to some ridiculous amount?
no,, there's something else going on.

Such as? I'm not doubting your opinion, but a crosswise to the bore obstruction like that seems about as bad a thing as you could ask for IMO. Of course the rest of what I can see of the gun gives me little to think it's just peachy outside of that divot, which isn't really a divot at all but an obstruction. What's the opposite of a divot?

 

[Bret4207]

I solved the problem by buying an older Rosie 92 in 44 mag.

Surprisingly sweet little rifles...once you get the bloodletting stopped! Why they leave a scalpel sharp edge on the loading gate I still don't know!

 

[fiver]

it depends on which one of their guys built the gun.
if you look at enough of them you can see clearly the workmanship varies from gun to gun.
a bunch of us on the Rossi lever gun forum [which is back up and running BTW] speculate that one guy builds each rifle from start to finish, mostly based on the fit and finish of the various guns we own.


what he has there is a pressed down portion of the front sight making an impression in the barrel.
it's no different than rolled engraving or a rear sight, or a too tight barrel in the frame on a revolver.
except that it's miniscule and waay down the barrel after the point where the bullet has gone through all of it's up and down sizing and spinny gyrations.
besides where is all the stripped off and galled lead?
all that's happening there is a small portion of the bullet is being squeezed a bit.
all on one side of the bullet, all at the same point in the process.
probably moves the point of impact a little, but it's moving them all the same.
kind of like a gas check coming off at the muzzle it keeps happening at the same time every time.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I shot this again today. I did not get that nice two hole group but it was not aweful.



Here is same load out @ 100yards.



First target is a 3" The orange target is a 8" black circle.

Its useable but isnt what Id call a accurate rifle. Remember this is wearing a 24x scope!

CW

 

[fiver]

and getting 4" 100 yd. groups.... which is exactly what they expected out of a lever rifle for over 100 years.

they'll do better, but you gotta work e'm over pretty hard,,, some harder than others.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

and getting 4" 100 yd. groups.... which is exactly what they expected out of a lever rifle for over 100 years.

they'll do better, but you gotta work e'm over pretty hard,,, some harder than others.

I have a bunch of levers as do most of you guys I know. Not one will do worse then 2"-2 1/2" @ 100 yards many have peep sites. This new 454 is close to 4" but only has about 75-80 bullets down the pipe and hasnt really show a fav load yet. (Shoots everything good)

CW

 

[BBerguson]

I have a CVA Scout in 44mag and made good improvements on the accuracy by seating bullet out to the lands and gas checked bullets. I don’t remember how much other than it was A LOT and couldn’t do it with 200gr bullets because they were too short. I doubt this is an option with a lever unless you want a single shot.

 

[RBHarter]

Because it is a bulge under the sight .........

Does the sight have a set screw making the bulge ?
Maybe back the screw off a half turn or so and shoot a full house load 5-10 times and see if it's gone as you go . If you get a dip you can push it back out . I don't have a set screw on the 2013 with the dip . The circa 1986 has the barrel band front sight .

 

[L Ross]

Such as? I'm not doubting your opinion, but a crosswise to the bore obstruction like that seems about as bad a thing as you could ask for IMO. Of course the rest of what I can see of the gun gives me little to think it's just peachy outside of that divot, which isn't really a divot at all but an obstruction. What's the opposite of a divot?

If you read Franklin Mann's, "The Bullet's Flight", it will give you new ideas to think about regarding muzzle damage.

 

[Brad]

While the divot isn’t helping the accuracy the 44 mag Marlin is not renown for small groups.
A 4” group at 100 with that rifle is actually pretty damned good

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Surprisingly sweet little rifles...once you get the bloodletting stopped! Why they leave a scalpel sharp edge on the loading gate I still don't know!

I had one in 38/357, wished I still had it.
The interior of the action looked like it had been machined with rocks and chisels. Once I got it cleaned up, it was a great rifle.

 

[CZ93X62]

I've owned 2 Marlin 1894 carbines in 44 Magnum, and neither lasted very long with me. Both were fat-bores--.432" and .434" grooves, both had the 44/40 twist rate of 1-38". Both were inaccurate PITAs--much like the M1 Carbine in that the revolvers produced in both calibers shot better at a given distance than the carbines did.

About 12 years ago I snagged a Miroku/Winchester Model 1892 in 44 Magnum--HIJO LA, it's a fine little rifle! Redcoats and castings both group about 2"-2.5" at 100 yards, .431" castings fit well. and it has a 1/24" twist rate that stabilizes 310 grain bullets just fine--but they do thump you a bit when sent at the 1500-1600 FPS ZIP Code. 240-250 grainers at 1750-1800 are plenty.

I just read the article in the American Rifleman about Ruger's rendition of the Marlin 1894 in 44 Magnum. The rifling is proper--6 rights at 1/20" rate. I hope these units fare better than the uneven examples foisted upon us by Marlin for the past two decades.

 

[Bret4207]

If you read Franklin Mann's, "The Bullet's Flight", it will give you new ideas to think about regarding muzzle damage.

Got it right here and I have read it. I agree that this "divot" could be doing a lot of damage. I've owned 2 rifles with holes in that area- neither would shoot for snot.

 

[Bret4207]

it depends on which one of their guys built the gun.
if you look at enough of them you can see clearly the workmanship varies from gun to gun.
a bunch of us on the Rossi lever gun forum [which is back up and running BTW] speculate that one guy builds each rifle from start to finish, mostly based on the fit and finish of the various guns we own.


what he has there is a pressed down portion of the front sight making an impression in the barrel.
it's no different than rolled engraving or a rear sight, or a too tight barrel in the frame on a revolver.
except that it's miniscule and waay down the barrel after the point where the bullet has gone through all of it's up and down sizing and spinny gyrations.
besides where is all the stripped off and galled lead?
all that's happening there is a small portion of the bullet is being squeezed a bit.
all on one side of the bullet, all at the same point in the process.
probably moves the point of impact a little, but it's moving them all the same.
kind of like a gas check coming off at the muzzle it keeps happening at the same time every time.

I think this is one of those Bassackwards situations- "It doesn't matter until it does." and I think this time it does. It doesn't have t leave a big gob of lead on the upstream side, all it's got to do is leave a problem area that will combine with whatever other faults this beauty has and give you poor grouping.

 

[Glaciers]

I just read the article in the American Rifleman about Ruger's rendition of the Marlin 1894 in 44 Magnum. The rifling is proper--6 rights at 1/20" rate. I hope these units fare better than the uneven examples foisted upon us by Marlin for the past two decades.

I just read the American Rifleman article on the new Marlin 336 & the 1894. From the pictures they remind me of the USRA Winchester for fit and finish. That and the twist rate for the 44 is going to be a big improvement.
Last year I sold my Marlin 94 in 44 for two reasons, one I’m very happy with the Browning 92 and I have a 16 inch Rossi Carbine both of course are Winchester knock offs so other than the slow twist I’m happy.
But I think I could go for the new Marlin as it’s a big improvement in the fit and finish department and with the standard rifling and twist rate I could see a Leupold 1x4 mounted on it… nice addition to the small herd.
I like a long pull on my guns so Decelerator pads will be added to my 44’s. I just need to get brave enough to do an install myself. Rossi first as I want to refinish the wood anyway.

 

[Winelover]

I just read the American Rifleman article on the new Marlin 336 & the 1894. From the pictures they remind me of the USRA Winchester for fit and finish. That and the twist rate for the 44 is going to be a big improvement.
Last year I sold my Marlin 94 in 44 for two reasons, one I’m very happy with the Browning 92 and I have a 16 inch Rossi Carbine both of course are Winchester knock offs so other than the slow twist I’m happy.
But I think I could go for the new Marlin as it’s a big improvement in the fit and finish department and with the standard rifling and twist rate I could see a Leupold 1x4 mounted on it… nice addition to the small herd.
I like a long pull on my guns so Decelerator pads will be added to my 44’s. I just need to get brave enough to do an install myself. Rossi first as I want to refinish the wood anyway.

I installed a prefit Decelerator on my Marlin 1894 carbine. Fit like it was made for it, after taking off the factory butt plate and spacer. Also wears a Léopold 1x5 lighted reticle German post. I'm happy with the accuracy I get from my Marlin, across all bullet weights (210-300 grains). Neck size the brass and load fat bullets (.433 diameter) and 16-18 grains of 2400 powder..............depending on bullet weight. Albeit the Accurate 210 RNFP does the best at 100 yards.

 

[fiver]

it wouldn't be too hard to make a lap and just work that little bump down.
if things kept improving as you took more and more off it'd point right to that being the issue.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]