Marlin 1894 .357 Mag Situational Reportage

[DPris]

I know nobody's interested in 'em, but thought I'd mention anyway that word from Remington today is the .357s are still suspended.
New machines, new drawings, new processes, all still in the works.
Production should resume on them in "a few months".
Denis

[TedH]

A Marlin 357 has been on my wish list for a long time. I sold my Rossi 92 357 with the intention of buying a Marlin 1894 357, but the money disappeared into the pile of bills before I could make it happen.

[DPris]

Phooey on those bills!!!!
Phooey on 'em all, I say!!!!!
I feel your pain.
Denis
(Actually said something stronger'n phooey, but altered it. Sensitive ears here. )

[Griff]

I sure hope they get their act together when they get them into production again. I love my Rem mdl 700s... and find nothing that I like better in a modern bolt... I would certain expect equal quality, nor would I accept less quality in a lever from the same firm... especially since the Marlins were only eclipsed by the Winchester lever... (HEY! It's my opinion, so it doesn't need facts)!!!

[DPris]

My pre-Rem .357's a good one.
Been playing with the idea of building a new one into a Mare's Leg.
Denis

[AJMD429]

My pre-Rem .357's a good one. Been playing with the idea of building a new one into a Mare's Leg.

If I had a 'spare' I think I'd consider rebarreling to 256 Winchester just for the heck of it...

[Mescalero]

AJ,
Before I die, I am going to!

[Conductor]

Back in the 1970s, Browning came out with a copy of the 1892 Winchester saddle-ring carbine that they called the B92. It was chambered in 44 magnum and also in 357. I had one of the 44s, but didn't care much for the recoil, which in a light gun like that, was fairly brutal.
I recently picked up one of these guns in 357, and it is a wonderment. It has virtually no recoil, and is a true tack-driver. I'm only a so-so shooter, but I have no trouble at all shooting a 3/4 inch group at 50 yards with this little gun (from a rest, of course).
Quality-wise, it beats the Rossi all to hell. There is absolutely no comparison between the Browning and the Rossi.
Keep a lookout on the gun trading boards. These nice little guns show up there every now and then (as do the Marlins you were discussing).

[AJMD429]

Back in the 1970s, Browning came out with a copy of the 1892 Winchester saddle-ring carbine that they called the B92. It was chambered in 44 magnum and also in 357.

Ooh... that reminds me of my OTHER pet project - a 357/44 Bain & Davis, made by re-barreling a Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag...

So - all I gots to do is get me a pair of 1894's in 44 Mag and 357 Mag, and turn them into a pair of 357 and 25 caliber wildcats...

I'll bet those tapered cases would feed right nice, too...

[KWK]

New machines, new drawings, new processes, all still in the works.

Given the reports of the quality of the "Remlins," I'm surprised they are putting that much investment into their 1894s, but I'm happy they are. Here's hoping they succeed!

Are the 336 lines to be given as much attention?

[DPris]

Dunno, didn't ask.
I had to return the last .357 unfired a couple years back, it was so bad.
Been waiting for them to catch up on the model ever since so I can do another project with one.
Denis

[AJMD429]

Are the 336 lines to be given as much attention?

Interesting question - it seems 'everyone' is copying the Marlin 336 and the Winchester 92 and 94, but for whatever reason, nobody seems to copy the Marlin 1894's...

Odd, because there aren't many parts, and they could be made to suit a wide variety of 'handgun' cartridges. I wish someone would make them in the necked-down cartridges again, like 25-20, 218 Bee, and 256 Winchester and 357/44 B&D. What a hoot it would be to have all those to pick from.

It seems like with a bit of work, one could make a 'takedown' version of the Marlin 1894 with a set of replaceable carriers, enabling use of several cartridges in the same gun. . .

[Rusty]

I've been thinkin about thinin the heard a bit. Maybe concentrate on the .357 a bit more and less on the .44. A Handi rifle in .357 Mag ca be reamed out to .357 Maximum which will come really close to .35 Remington from a rifle. I've been looking over a 77/357 too. Handy, light, and strong.

[norton_mike222]

I'd love to get my hands on one but my Rossi 92 in .357 is going to have to be "close enough" for the time being.

That being said, after giving it the paco treatment, it's my go to gun for just about everything!

[AJMD429]

A Handi rifle in .357 Mag ca be reamed out to .357 Maximum which will come really close to .35 Remington from a rifle.

I think if you use the common 'combo' Handi's that are in 357/12 gauge and 44/122 gauge, you get into primer rupture problems due to the larger 'shotgun' style breech/pin construction. I know on the HandiRifle section of the GraybeardOutdoors forum there is lots of information on this.

The Ruger 77/44 in 44 Mag is a nice and compact powerhouse, and if I really thought I 'needed' one I'd want to get one in 357 Mag as well (or 45 Colt, or 32-20...)

The 77/44 is slightly shorter than my 77/22, actually.

[KWK]

The Ruger 77/44 in 44 Mag is a nice and compact powerhouse...

Indeed, but the one I handled was very stiff in the action, especially next to the Tikka T3 in .308 I tried the same day. How's yours? Do they smooth up nicely with use, or is the 77 action inherently stiff? (I've never owned a turn bolt for more than a month, so I'm not familiar with them, really.)

[AJMD429]

The Ruger 77/44 in 44 Mag is a nice and compact powerhouse...

Indeed, but the one I handled was very stiff in the action, especially next to the Tikka T3 in .308 I tried the same day. How's yours? Do they smooth up nicely with use, or is the 77 action inherently stiff? (I've never owned a turn bolt for more than a month, so I'm not familiar with them, really.)

I would say that after a few hundred rounds it has slicked up a bit. Reminds me of the new Marlins vs. ones a few thousand rounds old. Probably never buttery-smooth though.

[Blaine]

Me Like:
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