Marlin 1894 44mag convert to 44-40 question

[bigtheno]

Greetings!

I purchased a gutted Marlin 1894 reciever with barrel chambered in 44 Mag. I'd like to re-barrel it in 44-40. My question is this, as I purchase parts to reassemble this, is the breech bolt assembly for a 44mag usable with a 44-40 barrel? How many other parts are interchangable? Any information would be most helpful. Thanks!

[Griff]

The cartridge rim diameters are very slightly different. But, the bolts are interchangeable. But, you might find that if you get a bolt on the "small" side of .44 Mag specs, it might not allow a 44WCF rim to sit flush... a small amount of machining would take care of that post haste. The only other questionable part would be the carrier, but it's easily modified...

I do know for a fact that between 44Mag and 45Colt the bolt & carrier are interchangeable, as I've done that conversion.

[AJMD429]

What Griff said.

Somewhere on Marlin's website (a few years ago) I found a chart of parts for the 1894's, and it had 44 Mag, 45 Colt, 357 Mag, and I think a couple of hyphenated-calibers. As Griff said, the bolts for 44 Mag and 45 Colt are identical, which is how I got an affordable 1894 in 45 Colt.

You might prowl their website, on-line owners manuals (for the 'parts' section), or Numrich, to see for sure.

[bigtheno]

Thank you very much for the replies. Any idea where I could get a 45 colt barrel for my marlin 1894? I wanted to go that route initially but I could never find one. Numrich has the been out for a while

[jdad]

Get your barrel here.

http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/lever-acti ... e-barrels/

[AJMD429]

I got mine from Numrich a couple of years back. They had two in inventory when I ordered mine....for $108, ready to install.

I don't know who could make a blank barrel into a 'Marlin 1894' one, with the right threads, timing, extractor cut, and so on....

[mack]

I have a '94 in .44 mag and a .44wcf barrel I got from Numrich years back. They have been swapped back and forth a couple of times with no other modifications. They work fine with the exception of some .44wcf loads with a lead bullet with a wide meplat. These will occasionally hang up, (or shave a bit of lead), on the top of the chamber while feeding. I think that the carrier lifts them a bit too high. Both are micro groove barrels and shoot very well with jacketed .426 - .430 or lead sized to .429-.431. The chamber on the .44wcf is OK with the larger bullet diameters.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Thank you very much for the replies. Any idea where I could get a 45 colt barrel for my marlin 1894? I wanted to go that route initially but I could never find one. Numrich has the been out for a while

Have you thought about re-boring the 44 barrel to 45lc?

[bigtheno]

Thanks for the idea Nate, hadn't thought of that. Probably be close to the same price of a barrel plus installation. I'll have to check on that.

[Malamute]

A simple solution if a 44-40 would work is rechamber the 44 mag barrel and load appropriate sized bullets. Many 44-40s run a bit loose anyways, may not be much real difference in groove size.

I have a 44 mag Browning, I load similar loads to 44-40 in mag cases and just call it good. They look similar with 200 gr RNFP bullets loads, and I have the option of heavier loads if desired.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

A simple solution if a 44-40 would work is rechamber the 44 mag barrel and load appropriate sized bullets. Many 44-40s run a bit loose anyways, may not be much real difference in groove size.

I have a 44 mag Browning, I load similar loads to 44-40 in mag cases and just call it good. They look similar with 200 gr RNFP bullets loads, and I have the option of heavier loads if desired.

The 44mag chamber will ream correct to 44-40 at the rear but the front part of the 44mag chamber is too big. I know of some CAS shooters that have done it but the thin 44-40 brass doesn't live long.

[Malamute]

The 44mag chamber will ream correct to 44-40 at the rear but the front part of the 44mag chamber is too big. I know of some CAS shooters that have done it but the thin 44-40 brass doesn't live long.

Good information. I had heard of them being rechambered but didn't know any details of how well it worked out.

The "if a 44-40 work work..." was if it would make him happy. You provided the required details of the functional aspect though, so it sounds like it isn't the best idea. Does the Starline brass improve case life in 44-40s in general?

[bigtheno]

I contacted a rebarreling specialist at Redman's rifling, he said you cannot bore out a 44mag to 45lc because they are not far enough apart in calibers. I may be sticking with my 44-40 idea unless Numrich gets one in stock. Green mountain barrels are just too expensive.

[bigtheno]

Get your barrel here.

http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/lever-acti ... e-barrels/

I contacted them & they apparently discontinued making barrels for Marlins all together for a while now. Any other suggestions for companies?

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

The 44mag chamber will ream correct to 44-40 at the rear but the front part of the 44mag chamber is too big. I know of some CAS shooters that have done it but the thin 44-40 brass doesn't live long.

Good information. I had heard of them being rechambered but didn't know any details of how well it worked out.

The "if a 44-40 work work..." was if it would make him happy. You provided the required details of the functional aspect though, so it sounds like it isn't the best idea. Does the Starline brass improve case life in 44-40s in general?

With the 44-40 brass being so thin I'm betting it won't make that much difference one brand or another.

[Malamute]

I had seen comments in the reviews on either Midway or Starlines site that mentioned they thought the Starline lasted much better and had much less crushed cases, but was wondering if people in real life had noticed the difference.

[crs]

The .44 special should work with no gun smith work. Is that enough power for you?

[bigtheno]

Since green mountain barrels aren't making Marlin barrels anymore & Numrich is sold out, anyone have a place to check for a marlin 1894 in 45 colt?

[Griff]

Since green mountain barrels aren't making Marlin barrels anymore & Numrich is sold out, anyone have a place to check for a marlin 1894 in 45 colt?

Ummm... Remington?

[JerryB]

Unless you just want to say you shoot a 44-40, I would think a .44 special with the Skeeter load would be a good round from a carbine. A 240 grain cast over 7.5 grains of Unique ought to do the job.

[ollogger]

Big check Ebay you just never know when one may come along
have a newer Marlin 1894 in 44-40 & its sweet!!



ollogger

[AJMD429]

I contacted a rebarreling specialist at Redman's rifling, he said you cannot bore out a 44mag to 45lc because they are not far enough apart in calibers. I may be sticking with my 44-40 idea unless Numrich gets one in stock. Green mountain barrels are just too expensive.

Could a barrel for 45 Colt get re-lined for 44-40...?

Here's another path.....http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =557433114

Or this (looks almost new)....http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =556205726

The second one is pricey, but I see the JM Marlins going the way of pre-64 Winchesters, and probably higher prices, since there weren't as many of these.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I contacted a rebarreling specialist at Redman's rifling, he said you cannot bore out a 44mag to 45lc because they are not far enough apart in calibers. I may be sticking with my 44-40 idea unless Numrich gets one in stock. Green mountain barrels are just too expensive.

Redman may not want to do it but it can be done. I have sent two of the Browning B92's to John Taylor because they were 1 in 38 twist and didn't stabilized the 240's very well. They are both now 45lc.