Marlin 1894PG in .44 Mag - Noob Questions

Goose3201 · Post by **Goose3201** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:53 am

Hey All,

I recently traded for a Marlin 1894PG in .44 Mag. I've been wanting a lever gun to accompany my S&W 29 in the woods and I've been gettin' a fever for lever guns for sometime.

I haven't run a lever gun in sometime (I grew up hunting with a Marlin in .35 Rem).

I was looking for was general information relating to function, reliability, best loads for hunting, things to be aware of, preferred modificationsthings to go ahead and replace...etc.

I would love to hear your first hand experience with this rifle, see pics of you setup, etc.

Regards,

TC

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:06 pm

I replied to your add about my 1894 P 16 inch for trade for your .30 cal. The loads for 16 inch lever depends on what you want to use it for. For deer, 240 gr, jhp are hard to beat. If you wanted solids, 250 grain keith bullets onto of unique work very well. I have shot Garret 310 grain loades through mine. If you want to trade, let me know.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:11 pm

I'm not familiar with "M1894PG", but I have an M1894P, which is a 16" barreled (ported), straight-grip .44 Mag.
Mine's set up with an XS peep & front blade, and Weaver 2x28 Classic Pistol scope in an XS LeverScout mount.
I've owned it for about 6 years, and have been very successful with factory 240gr JSP's.

(It's the topmost rifle, below)

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:15 pm

My 94P also likes 240s. This is the only one of my Marlins that won't feed Wide nose flat points so I've been sticking w/ Rem 240 JSPs.

GANJIRO · Post by **GANJIRO** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:20 pm

in the past 32 years all I ever did to my Marlin was add a Williams 5D peep sight, and sling swivels, hard to improve in perfection.

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:22 pm

The 1894pg is just a 20" 1894 with a Pistol Grip stock and ballard rifling instead of the straight grip.

Mine is of 1974 vintage, and has the micro-groove rifling in it. Thankfully the bore slugged out to .428", and is as accurate as they come using Winchester and Remington JSP bullets.

If you reload, the best thing to do is first slug the barrel for proper size bullet to use.

Aside from that, I don't suspect you'll have much problem with function of yours.

With the right size bullet you should expect pretty good accuracy also.

Mine puts them into at least 2", often it's less, at 100yds using Winchester and Remington JSP bullets over 19.5gr of 2400.

Sharptop · Post by **Sharptop** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:31 pm

I've been using Wally World Winchester white box 240 JSP for several years now and it has killed every deer I've shot at. I have a 3-9 Bushnell scope on that gun. The other levers just have factory iron sights.

cecil · Post by **cecil** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:04 am

Another owner of 1894 cp version (16 in ported). It is sensitive to COL and wide mouth bullets. Much more so than the Win trapper owned.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:20 am

The only thing I've done to mine is put a slight chamfer on the upper side of the chamber mouth to help it feed WFN cast bullets. Feeds anything now and is plenty accurate.