New-to-me Marlin 1894C .357 Mag joins the herd

[Old No7]

I recently picked this up from vonfatman from the Classifieds forum here; and as you'll see, it's a real Marlin .357 Mag, made in 2004.

Best news is the price was agreeable to both of us, and she's in really great shape. It does have the safety, but I do use that while unloading or crossing a stream; but for still-hunting, it's off and I have it on half-cock like it was originally designed.

At the range, I had put 3 shots fired off elbows from the bench into 1" at 50 yards, so she's a shooter for sure. I carried it around the Maine woods on Wednesday and Saturday mornings of this week and never felt the need for a scoped or larger rifle. This sweet little carbine carried and handled really well in the river bottom where I hunted. Now that I didn't connect on meat during the firearms season for deer, I'll switch gears and load up some plinking loads and later next summer I'll develop some XTP hunting loads too.

357Marlin 01 (Medium).jpg

357Marlin 02 (Medium).jpg

357Marlin 03 (Medium).jpg

I had sold off a newer Remlin 1894C a year or so ago, as it took a lot of work to smooth up the action, and while it was "OK" when I was done -- I always knew it "wasn't a real Marlin" and there wasn't much I could do about the "just so-so" wood-to-metal fit or the overall finish (which was no where near as nice as this one is). So ever since then, I'd been keeping a sharp eye out for a good one at a reasonable price -- and I believe I have succeeded.

This will make a nice companion to my 39M Mountie and 336 Cowboy 38-55 -- and a terrific on topic posting too!

Tight groups all.

Old No7

[Old Savage]

I will be interested to see how it shoots. Very nice looking rifle.

[Blaine]

I may still get a .357 1894 someday. I've got a a .44mag and it's sufficient for that sort of thing, and then some....But, I don't hunt that much, and nowadays I plink with mostly .22 due to that old disease LackAMoney

[Griff]

I will be interested to see how it shoots. Very nice looking rifle.

Yes, nice lookin'. Neat how all those little chips outta the stock and forend form a pattern, huh?

[FWiedner]

I will be interested to see how it shoots. Very nice looking rifle.

Yes, nice lookin'. Neat how all those little chips outta the stock and forend form a pattern, huh?

That's like saying that all the dips, bumps, and holes in a fella's noggin kinda look like a face...



You're gonna love that 1894C. An excellent little utility/plinker/hunter.

[MrMurphy]

Had the same in .44 Magnum.

Add XS ghost rings or a Williams aperature. It'll help.

[AJMD429]

It does have the safety, but I do use that while unloading or crossing a stream; but for still-hunting, it's off and I have it on half-cock like it was originally designed.

To me, that well-designed, positive on/off (unlike the Rossi) safety is the best of both worlds - there when you want it, but positively off when you want it off. Maybe in 'bear country' or if using primarily for home/self defense, I'd want none of it, but for my purposes, I really like it.

[El Chivo]

safety is nice for unloading after the hunt because you have to rack the unexpended rounds into and out of the chamber.

(well you don't HAVE to, but it's the cool way to do it)

[Borregos]

That is NICE

[RIHMFIRE]

that is a great looking shooter

[jackruff]

safety is nice for unloading after the hunt because you have to rack the unexpended rounds into and out of the chamber.

(well you don't HAVE to, but it's the cool way to do it)

Please explain how you get the rounds out of the magazine without racking them into and out of the chamber. When I've tried to do that I've managed to jam the action so badly I had to remove the lever to correct it!

[Blaine]

safety is nice for unloading after the hunt because you have to rack the unexpended rounds into and out of the chamber.

(well you don't HAVE to, but it's the cool way to do it)

Please explain how you get the rounds out of the magazine without racking them into and out of the chamber. When I've tried to do that I've managed to jam the action so badly I had to remove the lever to correct it!

On some, but not all of my levers, if I push down hard on the loading gate the rounds pop out..then you can lever out the last one. Another cool flourish is to eject it in the air, and catch it

[horsesoldier03]

If you ever get tired of it, I MIGHT know someone willing to take it off your hands!

[vonfatman]

I have to say...that is a dandy. Glad you like it. Too bad about the deer hunt. Have fun plinking!


Bob

[44-40 Willy]

Nice rifle. Now you need some more lever guns in 357 to keep it company.

Oh, and if you don't already reload, I'd advise you to get started. 357 rifles are hungrier than a teenage boy with hollow legs. They flat eat up some ammo.

[Ysabel Kid]

Y2K's favorite!