Opinions on Marlin 1894C

[rathunter]

I was thinking of purchasing a Marlin 1894C for hunting, and target shooting. What is you opinion on them?

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firear...fire/1894C.asp

Thanks in Advanced RH

[KaBar67]

I have one. It is unscoped and pie plate accurate. Lost of fun to shoot especially for little ones. For hunting, I don't think so. Goes great w/ S&W revolvers.

[scoutrifleshooter]

I have one... Mine has a Lymam peep sight and a AO scout mount with a cheap red dot on it. Hitting a 12inch gong at 200yds is no problem, once you have it sighted in. As for hunting.. People use a .357 in pistols to take deer. ( within resonable ranges ) I see no problem with a 158gr JHP at 1800fps to take deer size within 100-150 yds. Then you have the plinking aspect to look at!!! .38 Spec. are cheap and fun! just remember the fun stops if you run out of ammo! I would rec this firearm to anyone!!!

[Bulletsmith]

I have one,and I love it!For hunting,it depends on what you want to hunt.It can be used with 38 special for small game with minimal meat loss.Load it with 357 and it works great for game up to deer size under 75 yds.158 gr softpoints seem to work better for deer.Very little recoil,fairly quiet,and lightweight make this a very handy little rifle.Pair it up with a good revolver and you have a very versatile survival or SHTF combo.

[Rifleman336]

When you have the right ammo it's great!!! First off this is a great reason to reload. For the ammo manufacters have stedaily drew down the power of the .357 Magnum cartridges due to the cracking S&W K frame revolvers and the complaint that the 158gr loading was, get this, TOO powerful!!! For self defense out of a handgun, yes it is for hunting you need all you can get.

Corbon,Buffalo Bore,WWW.CustomCartridge.com, make the best commercial stuff, but if not I say get in to reloading and a strong .357 Magnum like the S&W L,N frames and Rugers GP-100, SP101, and Black Hawk are great companion revolvers.

You can get the skinner ladder sight for the rear and one with practice can shoot out to 600 yards with the right ammo.

In the end, you have an awesome rifle and you need to go to www.Leverguns.com and to Marlinowners.com to really appreciate what you have.

Rifleman 336

[Peter]

They are great little carbines that make an ideal companion to a revolver of the same caliber. One in .357 would top the list for me....

[J&J]

I have a Win 94 in 357 for all the reasons mentioned above. It is paired with a 357 GP100 and a 357 sp101. These are my do all weapons... the versatility makes the 357 lever/357 revolver a great combo. If I can't get to hell and back with those three guns... it ain't worth going...

My winchester is the most accurate weapon I own out to 100 yards and has been since day one out of the box. I actually scoped it for a while, but find the speed of target accquisition with the stock iron sights to outweigh the scope... and the scope throws off the balance of the rifle. It is dead on at 100 yards even without the scope. The best part of a levergun is the handling. I can race my buddies through 8 or so rounds at 50 yards onto a paper plate, them with semi autos, me with my winny and I usually am just as fast and more accurate.... of course... they beat the hell out of me reloading :-)

John

[FlungPup]

357 over a 45-70 gov?

[Peter]

Originally Posted by FlungPup

357 over a 45-70 gov?

For the average shooter? yes!
I like the 45-70, yet would be the first to say, NOT everyone appreciates the 45-70.
Now that you mention it....a Marlin 1895 teamed up with a Magnum research BFR would be an interesting if not unique rifle pistol combo.
Peter

[Sam43]

Should I have the opportunity for a future purchase of a Marlin lever action, it will be a toss up between the 30/30 or 450 Marlin. Since it may be a couple of years before I get around to buying, the 450 will probably (as many other rounds) will have become obsolete.

[Peter]

You can get the skinner ladder sight for the rear and one with practice can shoot out to 600 yards with the right ammo.

I noticed that he is now making the ladder sights. I really like the skinner receiver peep sights...may have to try one of the ladders tho.
Peter

[FlungPup]

Is the 45 Colt anemic compared to the 357 or 44 magnums?

[gern_blanston]

I have an 1894C. I love it. I put the Skinner brass peep sight on it, which is great compared to the factory sheet metal open sight.

[Rifleman336]

Originally Posted by FlungPup

Is the 45 Colt anemic compared to the 357 or 44 magnums?

Yes and no. You see the factory loaded rounds that you get at MOST places are loaded to black powder equivalent pressures for there worried about original 1873 Colt Peacemakers that can't take the pressures that the casing is capable of.

Now there are those old folks out there that get in to screaming arguments on how the the casing isn't strong enough. Trust me it's more than capable, for everyone here has heard of the .454 Casuall. Well how do you think **** Casuall developed the round he did when their was no such thing as Casuall brass? Believe me it's not a coincidence that the .454 Casuall can shoot both .45 long Colt and it's own shells.

So the 45 Long Colt can be "magnumised" through handloading and buying from places like Buffalo Bore, Corbon, and WWW. Customcartridge.com can fix you up with factory loaded rounds.

So the 45 LC could easily be made to take out a grizzly bear. Now with all this being said one must use weapons that can handle the pressure. So don't load these in to a Colt Peacemaker or replica weapons like most of the winchester 1892 out there. Weapons that can are the Marlin 1894, Rossi's 1892 winchester (for there is one thats chambered in 454 Casuall and thus there .45 LC is made to the same specs with a shorter chamber.), Rugers Black Hawk, Red Hawk, Super Red Hawk, and any other gun chambered in .454 Casuall.

For more information go to WWW.Leverguns.com, click on articals then click on .45 Long Colt in leverguns under Paco Kelly's articals.



Happy Trails,

Rifleman 336

[long range]

I just bought a 1894c and been reloading for it and found that a 38 4.2 gr. unique pushing a 158gr. swcgc bullet lee #358158swcgc "light load" zero at 50 yds. will shoot a .57" group. 4 clicks up on factory sight 1.0" at 100 yds. Point aim. I shoot at 200+yds. at a old steel 5gal. bucket hanging on a peace of bent rebar. hitting it 10 out of 10 time daily. extremely accurate right of the box no changes needed. just a little reloading to find what it likes. would recommend this gun to anyone. the gas check aren't need at such low velocity but i shoot same bullet in 357mag. with 15.0gr, H-110 "very steamy load" not recommended for pistol shooting. I also set around one evening and worked the action on the gun some 200 times. helped work the stiffness out now its very smooth no hang ups. I also left 5 shells in the magazine for several days which lightened the spring up for loading. One of my favorite guns i own carry it every where i go. Its a sleeper of a gun thats for sure........

[whatzhizname]

I've thought it would be cool to pick up a lever gun in 357 or 44 magnum but can't find them anywhere. The ones on gunbroker.com are $600-$700. Any idea why they're so much for a pistol-caliber carbine?

[dayliterun]

Originally Posted by Sam43

Should I have the opportunity for a future purchase of a Marlin lever action, it will be a toss up between the 30/30 or 450 Marlin. Since it may be a couple of years before I get around to buying, the 450 will probably (as many other rounds) will have become obsolete.

Check your pawn shops too. I had the opportunity to get 2 30-30's for $125 each. I got one, my nephew ot the other.

[J&J]

Don't know much about the handloading part, but everything else Long Range said is right on with my experience. Actions are stiff from the factory but ease up after a few hundred rounds, loading the magazine gets easier too.

John

[trouble]

I've had my 1894C for about 5 years and love it, it is actually my GF's now she likes it so much. Very pleasant to fire, accurate and just a good all around little rifle. Factory 158's are real close ballistically to 30/30 loads, i'd have no issues with deer or black bear hunting with my 1894C. I like the idea so much I went and got a 44 mag 1894 for myself, there's alot to be said for your rifle and handgun shooting the same ammo I guess the oldtimers had it right after all.

[Peter]

Originally Posted by whatzhizname

I've thought it would be cool to pick up a lever gun in 357 or 44 magnum but can't find them anywhere. The ones on gunbroker.com are $600-$700. Any idea why they're so much for a pistol-caliber carbine?

Popularity is what is driving the price of leveraction carbines in pistol calibers...It's my opinion, the leveraction carbines popularity may come from nothing more than the fact that they are light and handy. That and 50 rounds of ammo won't break the bank...

Good Luck on your quest to purchase one...When I bought my carbine, I noticed there were two guys looking at me looking like they were hoping I'd put it back on the shelf....