Marlin 1894 Carbine 357 Mag

Cherokee

Medina, Ohio
The gate is not a problem; its getting past the mag tube spring tension and getting the meplat past the entrance to the mag tube. I've taken 6 coils off the mag tube spring and its still sticking out the tube about 8" before capping it - seems like overkill. I'll get to the trigger after solving the loading challenge. Oh, should mention, there was no sign of leading from the CB loads so .358 seems good.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
sounds like your on top of it.
I bet a couple thousand cycles of compression/de-compression will help settle that mag spring down some.
 

Cherokee

Medina, Ohio
fiver - I just took some more coils off, leaving 3.5" extending beyond the tube, then tried the 3 dummies I have. They loaded easier and cycled fine. I figure I only need enough tension to feed the last round reliably. I've worked on Marlin triggers before (assuming Remington hasn't hanged them) so I'll get to that, it'll just harder to do now with the arthritis.
 

M3845708Bama

Active Member
Well I finally pulled the plug and bought one of the new Marlin 1894 Carbines in 357 Mag/38 Special. It will just be a fun gun, plinking and paper, not likely to do any hunting with it, don't do that any more. I have standard loads for my revolvers that cycle in the Marlin so now I'll have to see if they shoot good in it. Cleaned and lubed, ready to go later this week.

View attachment 8996View attachment 8997
You will like it
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I doubt they changed the design.
maybe the materials some, but I'd bet the design is pretty much the same as it's always been.
 

Ian

Notorious member
A little de-nibbing/chamfering/cold bluing on the end of the magazine tube and receiver hole would probably go a long way toward helping the loading. My Henry BB doesn't seem to have this loading problem at all, cartridges just drop right in. :p