.357 1894C or other?

[Ruber]

Hey all,

I've seen some nice posts and photos of lever guns on here and thought I'd ask you all about some.

I've been a fan of Browning and Winchester lever guns and haven't had good luck with the one Marlin I've had (stainless guide gun). But I've been looking at 357 leverguns (I have a couple in 45 Colt and 44 Mag and wanted something a little "less" all around).

The Marlin 1894C has caught my eye as one that looks like fun at a reasonable price.

What do you all think?

Thanks!

 

[meanc]

#1 Find one Pre-Remington / Pre safety is nice, too.

#2 Buy it

#3 Have fun.

BTW it's 1894c

 

[Ruber]

Thanks! I was just checking out an 1895M at a local shop for $300 and had that on my mind... :oops:

 

[Wheelgunner]

I like my Browning B92. They are hard to find and expensive in many areas.

Wheelgunner

 

[Old Judge Creek]

If the 94c is a pre-Remington Marlin, I'd jump on it!

 

[VAdoublegunner]

The Marlin 1894c is a great rifle. They are not too difficult to find. However, if you want to shoot it with cast bullets the more recent Cowboy versions with Ballard rifling are better I think. You can get the microgroove ones to shoot well with cast bullets, but it may take a little experimenting. One of the more accurate ones I have ever shot is an 1894 Cowboy Competition in 38Special.

The Browning 1892 is even better. 357s are very difficult to find, 44Mags just difficult.

 

[RUFFBIRD]

They are a fun, sweet handling, light weight rifle in a fairly powerfull cartridge for close range deer or smaller game. I like it for tin cans too! If you reload, it's amazing how versitile it will become.
Here's mine with some of it's big brothers in .44 mag.

It can be a little fussy with SWC's but found it likes most Jacketed or RNFP cast bullets. You will find once you use one, you will likely carry & use it a lot.
I certainly admire the 1894c.....

As far as other brands, I can only speak for one Rossi that was a good gun but like the Marlin was fussy about the style of bullets it would feed. If was not as easy to clean, but then again the action is different....

 

[Ruber]

Very nice, thanks. Looks like the key is to stay away from the safety, that's one of the big sources of grief I had with the guide gun.

I really like the B-92 also, and found a really beat up one locally for $950... :roll: So I think the Marlin is a bit more realistic for me.

Thanks!!

 

[Lateck]

I have a 16 1/4" SS carbine 1894 in .357 and it IS FUN.
Yes the older ones are good.
But, I just picked up a 1894 in .44 Mag. that was built in late 2011 and it is quite good. (The fit and finish is as good as other rifles I own.
I have only ran less then 50 rounds through it, but it has cycled flawlessly)
You'll enjoy the .357!!! Here's mine:


Lateck,

 

[Ruber]

Just took a look at a Puma 92 in 357 and an 1894C 357 side by side, and that Puma sure was nice, and not much more than the Marlin.

 

[txpitdog]

I love shooting 38's more than anything else. If you found a pre-Remington, I'd say get it. They are only going to go up in value. Here's a pic of my '82 1894c.

 

[RJ556]

I am partial to stainless guns. Here's a pic of my 1894CSS.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Have Marlin 1894s in both .32 Mag and .41 Mag and have had zero issues with either. The .32 is a fun little shooter. Can't see the others in the model line being any different, the .357 included.

 

[BIGGUY]

I picked up a Henry Big Boy .357 about a month ago and it's been really fun to shoot. I've shot both .357 mag and .38 Spl in 3 different styles of cartridge and no problems with any. I've only put about 150 rounds through it so far though.

 

[MMichaelAK]

I love shooting 38's more than anything else. If you found a pre-Remington, I'd say get it. They are only going to go up in value. Here's a pic of my '82 1894c.

Ive got one too txpitdog. Same year and everything. Lyman peep mounted on mine though. I did the scope thing with an old Weaver V4 but prefer the peep.

 

[dfletcher]

You should have no trouble finding a pre-Remington model 1894 and that would be my choice. I have an 1894 Cowboy in 45 Colt and with a peep rear and Lyman 17A globe front (and my good eyes) I shoot it as accurately as any scoped rifle.

Don't forget the odd calibers if you reload. I just picked up an 1894 Cowboy in 32 H & R Magnum and a half tubed 1894 in 25.20 WCF. I've outfitted the 25.20 with a Weaver pivot scope base/rings and as back up a Lyman globe front with Williams peep rear sight. I keep the Williams ladder in the stock and the folding buckhorn in place as immediate pack up.

 

[Ruber]

You should have no trouble finding a pre-Remington model 1894 and that would be my choice. I have an 1894 Cowboy in 45 Colt and with a peep rear and Lyman 17A globe front (and my good eyes) I shoot it as accurately as any scoped rifle.

Don't forget the odd calibers if you reload. I just picked up an 1894 Cowboy in 32 H & R Magnum and a half tubed 1894 in 25.20 WCF. I've outfitted the 25.20 with a Weaver pivot scope base/rings and as back up a Lyman globe front with Williams peep rear sight. I keep the Williams ladder in the stock and the folding buckhorn in place as immediate pack up.

Yep, that's what I'll probably wait for. A 32 H&R would be fun too, really just looking for something between a 22 and a 44, and I haven't shot a factory centerfire cartridge in years, so oddballs are fine with me!

Thanks all for the posts, some nice looking guns!

 

[Tioga County]

How does the lever gun compare to the 77/357? Any preferences from those who have shot both?

 

[txpitdog]

Lever gun is quicker shootin', holds 10 357s or 11 38's, don't know if it's necessarily any more or less accurate, but even at 500 for a JM stamped Marlin, much cheaper than the 77/357.

 

[Calthrop]

This is kind of a list, and a story of caution.
Brownells sells a quick take down knob that is great. They sold a plastic widget to keep crud out of the action during cleaning. Get a crown protector made of brass. If you want to go all the way to stop the bounce look at Wild West's Happy Trigger. Go to Leverguns.com fixes on the "Marlin Jam". Resist temptation!
A solid firing pin swop and loosing the crossbolt safety modification may become a liability down the road. I have a web sight for a very cool SS replacement mag follower that seems to need some finding at the moment. Alloy ones will gall and wear unevenly in the tube[everything here requires maintenance for sand/grit]. The stock ones will shred.

If you can afford it get the AO rail. I have the first generation and love the peep. Other wise Brownells will sell you a full buckhorn that will slid right into where that POS folder resides. If you do not like the AO or the buckhorn a Marble tang can be had for about the same price. Take the disk out and you have a ghost ring. Invest in a Merit #42 [with the right ammo an you have a real blaster.

Brownells did sell a stock up grade to walnut for the "C" guns. It means cutting a slot for a tenon, a cap, some screws and eighty $ for the wood. The barrel band gets lost so there are some holes in the mag tube and barrel. Yup you need to have the barrel cut for a mag tenon and buy a screw.

You are correct. I fired some with some Winchester Winclean's 125, and some Winchester 125,,158 JHP's after cleaning and then some Winchester 145 Silvertips all at 25yards and a clean gun between boxes. Soooooooooooo. I got out the 140FTX Hornady levereolution. I set the mark for 50 yards fired a sting of five form a cold barrel and let the gun cool down. I moved the target to 75 yards and and zeroed the rifle. There is no doubt this rifle will go 125 yards in the right conditions if I do my part with iron sight with this ammo. I have all the data I need to change back to "regular' ammo if need be.

Note to self. Do not work up a cool shooting light fast handling lever gun. Then go to the range and shoot it. Bring it home and brag about it, spread the targets out on the kitchen table and explain it all " to you know who." over a glass of lemon aid. Do you see where this is going? Yup!

 

[RJ556]

Uh, What?

 

[Calthrop]

The carbine can be changed in to rifle configuration using parts ordered from Brownells and a end mill. Specialty parts from various venders do enhance the rifles working and accuracy. The rifle will handle various types of ammo however is still susceptible to Marlin Jam. It must be cleaned from the muzzle so take care of the rifling. Do not make to much of your new project or you may loose it to your wife.

 

[RJ556]

I never clean any of my Marlins from the muzzle. If Marlin owner does not possess the ability to remove one screw (lever) and remove the lever, bolt and ejector, then just maybe that Marlin owner would be better off owning a rifle that can be properly cleaned without having to possess the specialized skill of operating a screw driver. Grin! :lol:

 

[lctrcjim]

You can't go wrong with a Marlin. I'm the proud owner of
a pre-Remington: Model 1881 in 45/70, bought brand
new by my Great Grandpa in 1883. Still goin stong, action
still smooth as silk, still shoots straight as an arrow 129
years later - Double Thumbs Up on Marlin.

 

[Calthrop]

I agree with the take down and clean. I even mention the screw that Brownells sells that makes the job easier. Yet I am alway ready for a field expedient situation to arise. Like a ruptured case so I carry a muzzle guard. I know you do not live in the desert RJ. If you do we carry them dry as we can and tape the muzzles and wrap the actions during sand storms.

 

[FergusonTO35]

My 1980-something 1894C was the first gun I ever put my own name on a 4473 for, at the age of 19. In 95% condition it set me back $275.00 in 1997. I've fired it alot over the years, mostly with .38 Special +P. I've worked up some fast stepping loads for it with H4227 and 158 grain Hornady XTP's, haven't had the opportunity to kill anything with it yet. Mine wears a Williams 5D reciever sight and homemade Partridge style front sight with a fine blade. The only guns I would ever consider trading it for would be an 1894 Cowboy with full octagon barrel or an 1894 in .32-20 WCF or .32 H&R. Love those 1894's!! 8)

 

[Ruber]

Hey all, thanks for the info and advice.
Since I mentioned them, I haven't seen one for under $650, so I'm still looking.

Thanks!

Red

 

[txpitdog]

Keep looking and be patient. A local deal from a private seller will likely be your best bet, though I know nothing of California laws. It took me a year of browsing and making offers, but I finally scored mine for $450 shipped.

Patience wins the day....but don't be too patient. Another year or two and 550 will be cheap.