Considering a Marlin 1894C...want to hear from owners
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Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Considering a Marlin 1894C...want to hear from owners
I've read on another forum about people having problems with the 1894 in .357. What have your experiences been with this gun?
Mark Dickinson
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Mine is less than a year old and shoots very well. She's still a little stiff but will feed 'most anything.
I prefer my pre-safety Interarms Rossi SRC, I must say. Slicker, lighter (despite a 20" barrel) and handles better.
Buy both.
Quinn
I prefer my pre-safety Interarms Rossi SRC, I must say. Slicker, lighter (despite a 20" barrel) and handles better.
Buy both.
Quinn
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Go for it!
Having own both pre and post safety 1894's in 357 - I'd say get it. My experience is that the older models are more likely to feed the .38's but both old and new feed 357's well. I believe that Marlin changed the design of the carrier a couple of years ago to help this on the new ones.
Texican
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Re: Considering a Marlin 1894C...want to hear from owners
Yeah, I have an ongoing major problem with mine. Well, two problems actually...azmark wrote:I've read on another forum about people having problems with the 1894 in .357. What have your experiences been with this gun?
I want another and everyone wants to buy mine... that sucks...

Oh, and mine is a 1982 and shoots very well indeed.

Sincerely,
Hobie
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Hobie
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- J Miller
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I had one that was made after the safety was introduced. It had three problems right off.
A: It was picky about certain SWCs . Occasionally it would hang up on the sharp shoulders.
B: The barrel was not quite indexed properly and so the sights tilted. Would have been an easy fix had I not had to sell it to pay bills.
C: My wife took it away from me.
I highly recommend them. But if your wife likes to shoot, buy two.
Joe
A: It was picky about certain SWCs . Occasionally it would hang up on the sharp shoulders.
B: The barrel was not quite indexed properly and so the sights tilted. Would have been an easy fix had I not had to sell it to pay bills.
C: My wife took it away from me.
I highly recommend them. But if your wife likes to shoot, buy two.
Joe
I have two 1894Cs. One I bought at a show a while back... kind of a beater... and one I just bought from a fellow forum-member (1886) that's in great shape. Both feed 38s and 357s very reliably... at least the ones I've put through them so far. I would unreservedly recommend the 1894C.
Incidentally, having just gone through the process of trying to find a pre-safety model to buy... I think they are going to appreciate rapidly some time in the next year or two. You can buy an original for a reasonable price today..... and you should! You may not be able to for a whole lot longer (my opinion).
Haycock
Incidentally, having just gone through the process of trying to find a pre-safety model to buy... I think they are going to appreciate rapidly some time in the next year or two. You can buy an original for a reasonable price today..... and you should! You may not be able to for a whole lot longer (my opinion).
Haycock
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mine is a newer one and i've removed the safety and put in a plug,you'd never know that it has been altered if you didn't examine it closely.then i put a reciever sight,and an xs scout scope mount and a leupold ler scope with q r leupold rings. i tied a bundle of money in this gun,but it's worth it.
I have a 1980's one and it shoots everything well. Haven't shot it for 'accuracy' but it hits pop cans 4 of 5 times at 100 yards.
Only problem with it is it isn't STAINLESS and I really like weatherproof guns. Oh yeah, and I'd really like a synthetic stock too.
Makes a nice little companion to the 20" 44 Magnum.
Only problem with it is it isn't STAINLESS and I really like weatherproof guns. Oh yeah, and I'd really like a synthetic stock too.
Makes a nice little companion to the 20" 44 Magnum.
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- DocHolliday
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I got my 1894c from a discount sporting goods shop (Big 5) about six years ago for $279 and I think they were this inexpensive as the wood is very plain and has no checkering. Other 1894c's I'd seen had prettier wood, but sold for more so I think mine was the "most basic" model available. That all said, I've never had any mechanical problems with it at all and it get's fed mostly .38 special and handles wadcutters just fine. It's a surpurb rifle and most defintely a "keeper".
Politicians and diapers both require frequent changing for the EXACT same reason!
I've had an 1894C for about 4 years and it is my favorite lever-gun.
I've never had a single mechanical problem, and the gun feeds any .357 or .38 that I shove into the mag tube.
The one item I feel is worth mention is that I did not like the factory sights at all, and it took some time to find sights that I liked. Ended up with an XS peep and front.
A fun little gun. Not a bruiser by any means, but still plenty of power for deer and pigs. I switch back and forth between this .357 and my .30-30 Trapper as a truck gun and I don't feel like I'm stepping down in fire-power

I've never had a single mechanical problem, and the gun feeds any .357 or .38 that I shove into the mag tube.
The one item I feel is worth mention is that I did not like the factory sights at all, and it took some time to find sights that I liked. Ended up with an XS peep and front.
A fun little gun. Not a bruiser by any means, but still plenty of power for deer and pigs. I switch back and forth between this .357 and my .30-30 Trapper as a truck gun and I don't feel like I'm stepping down in fire-power

Re: Considering a Marlin 1894C...want to hear from owners
azmark wrote:I've read on another forum about people having problems with the 1894 in .357. What have your experiences been with this gun?
I've not played around with mine as long/as much as some others here. For instance, I haven't tried 180-grainers in it yet. However, it loves my 158-grain hollow points and I took a rabbit with some 125-grain softpoints. It literally blew the rabbit apart. It is one of my handiest rifles and is a pleasure to carry in the woods. When I go woods-bumming/trail walking, it is one of my go-to guns. The other is a Winchester 9422 Magnum. Just depends on what I am in the mood to carry.
BTW, mine is a 1980 pre-safety gun.
.........THE TWINS..........


- gundownunder
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My 1894 is a 2006 cowboy limited and I have a huge problem with it,
its insatiable and I can't make ammo fast enough.
It shoots Winchester factory 125 and 158 gr no worries and some ex police issue 38sp 158gr without a hickup although with a poor level of accuracy. Its a little fussy about handloads and from what I've read a lot of them have that problem. I can drive 125gr tc bullets slow with 6.2gr unique and get 2.5" at 100 with open sights, but couldn't get 158gr and unique to give accuracy so I'm guessing the heavier bullets will work better with more grunt, maybe lilgun, 2400 or w296 will do the job, I'll wait and see.
All I can say is "GET 1" you will love it.
its insatiable and I can't make ammo fast enough.

It shoots Winchester factory 125 and 158 gr no worries and some ex police issue 38sp 158gr without a hickup although with a poor level of accuracy. Its a little fussy about handloads and from what I've read a lot of them have that problem. I can drive 125gr tc bullets slow with 6.2gr unique and get 2.5" at 100 with open sights, but couldn't get 158gr and unique to give accuracy so I'm guessing the heavier bullets will work better with more grunt, maybe lilgun, 2400 or w296 will do the job, I'll wait and see.
All I can say is "GET 1" you will love it.
Bob
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I got mine this spring after two years of "keepin an eye pealed" for one. Was pretty happy the day one was on the shelf and money was in the pocket.
Have not regretted the purchase one little bit.
I put a set of Skinner sights on it and have found it to be plenty accurate for both plinkin and gatherin things for the stewpot.
Shot a few dozen grouse with it this fall and ended the day with a nice little black bear. Judging from the performance of the BB 180's on the bear, I am gonna need a little bigger bear or perhaps a medium sized moose to actually stop one inside the critter.
The 200gr CorBon HC's will not quite feed but I believe I have found a fix for that.
Some 38 wadcutters need a little prompting to get to feed. Not a big deal since I use em on grouse and am not in much of a hurry.
It is probably not the perfect rifle for every situation, but it comes pretty close. It is darn sure a pleasure to shoot and easy to feed.
Have not regretted the purchase one little bit.
I put a set of Skinner sights on it and have found it to be plenty accurate for both plinkin and gatherin things for the stewpot.
Shot a few dozen grouse with it this fall and ended the day with a nice little black bear. Judging from the performance of the BB 180's on the bear, I am gonna need a little bigger bear or perhaps a medium sized moose to actually stop one inside the critter.
The 200gr CorBon HC's will not quite feed but I believe I have found a fix for that.
Some 38 wadcutters need a little prompting to get to feed. Not a big deal since I use em on grouse and am not in much of a hurry.
It is probably not the perfect rifle for every situation, but it comes pretty close. It is darn sure a pleasure to shoot and easy to feed.
Porquipines are peacefull creatures but God still saw fit to give them quills
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