Consensus on Marlin 41 Mags

[KevH]

What is the general consensus on Marlins chambered in 41 Mag?

I'm looking at a later production new in the box 1894 with a pistol grip stock chambered in 41 Mag to compliment my S&W M57.

[Streetstar]

This is just my personal opinion -- and you may deem that it is worth what you paid for it -- but -- here goes .......

My opinion is the .41 Mag was developed to fill a niche as a more powerful alternative to the .357 magnum that is still more controllable than the .44 Magnum
It does this admirably in handgun format

that said ----- in carbine form, there are not very many issues of controllability with a .44 Magnum - my 1894 .44 thumps my shoulder roughly the way a 30-30 does ---

so while i think the .41 is a spectacular handgun cartridge, it doesn't really do anything in a carbine that the .44 can't do better


-----------but ---- most of us like rifle/pistol combos , and i think a lot of us are a little obsessive/compulsive --- so it is probably your duty to have a .41 Mag companion piece to your revolver

[Hobie]

I find that the .41 Mag cartridge in a carbine deserves a big thumbs up. However, I've heard of feeding problems in the Marlin carbines. THAT said, I've no experience with the Marlin carbines as I never had the scratch for one at the same time as I knew of an available one in the configuration I desire. My .41 Mag carbine is a Contender! Easily surpassed 1800 fps with the 210 gr. bullets. That beat Winchester .35 Rem factory ammo I bought at that same time.

[Ray Newman]

About 4-5 years ago, I purchased a Marlin .41 bought it to accompany my Ruger .41. Was a NIB rifle and was on the dealer's shelf for awhile. Found that if you "baby" the lever, feeding is not always reliable. A quick and robust movement to the lever feeds the rounds w/o problems. I shoot mid-level loads and find it an accurate and enjoybale rifle and round.

[.45colt]

I don't think there were very many of them made. I would jump on that bugger like it was a winning lotter ticket.....and I don't have a 41 mag. .

[1894c]

My best friend/hunting partner has one--has had it for over 25+ years--great cartridge--great levergun--he has three 41 Mag revolvers to go with it--out of everything he owns he tends to hunt deer with that combo--I always pick on him and tell him that the other rifles he owns never get to go hunting--he smiles... :)

[6pt-sika]

I had one of the Marlin 1894FG's and it shot well enough on paper and deer . Also the one I had fed just fine .

However (and I've said this a few times already on this forum and a couple others) even with killing shots on three seperate deer I got no reaction what so ever from the deer and shot all three of them twice .

Upon skinning them all three deer had both shots within an inch or two of each other so ALL my shots were in the boiler room . Even recovered two of the bullets that had mushroomed nicely and the other 4 passed thru .

But again each of these deer were shot twice all 3 showed no reaction after the first shot and two of the three walked off after the second shot . Only one gave indications of having been hit after the second shot . None went any further then 40-50 yards before dropping dead . Also the longest shot of the three was 60-65 yards so they were all inside a "safe workable range" for the cartridge .

Now based on the bullet and the amount of distance the deer traveled after the shot I would say they did their job . But based on the reaction from the shot in MY eyes they failed . I saw nothing to make me believe I had hit any of the three of these deer after the first shot on each and only one after the second shot .

I firmly believe all 3 would have died from the first shot . But since I was uncertain each time I gave each one another round . NONE of these were big deer per say . One was a mature doe and the other two were 1 1/2 year old doe and button buck .

Would I use a 41 MAG rifle again to hunt ? Sure , but I'd rather have a 44 MAG .