CAS rifle question

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gerardjohnson

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Marlin 1894: .44 Mag vs. .357 Mag. Is one preferable to the other? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each (accuracy, feed problems, etc)? Does the .357 feed as well with .38 spl? The .44 has a 20" barrel and 10 shot capacity,while the .357 has an 18.5" barrel and 9 shot capacity. If you shoot .38 spl, is it still 9 shot capacity?
 
Hi Gerry, Ginger shoots a Marlin in .357 /.38 and I shoot one in .45LC the accuracy on both is great, (5 shot cloverleaf at 30 m out of the box.. from a benchrest on the .45) and no problem hitting a 12 in gong at 75 m with the 357. They both feed flawlesley with the mechanical lifter ( as oposed to the Winchesters spring loaded lifter.) ( I have shot many and in many cal. and they all had lifter problems with heavier bullets.)
Ginger's .357 feeds excelent with .38 rounds.
She is shooting a Marlin Cowboy Limited ballard with a 20 in bbl and it is quite heavy. and has a 10 shot capacity.
If you plan to shoot competition you will need the 10 shots to save a reload "on the clock".
Both Ginger's .357 and my .45 are great rifles, and many of the competitors at the CAS Canadian National finals at Ft. Kusk Ab. were using Marlin rifles to compete and three of the prizes given out were Marlin rifles (.357 &.45)
As for cal, it depends on what you want to do with it and your club policy on hits vrs knockdowns on targets. If you just have to ring a gong , go with the .357 cowboy , if you have to knock down a steel plate, (or want to take it bear hunting in your spare time) go with a heavier cal. And remember that you want the 10 shots to stay competitive.
I am sure you will receve as many opinions as there are members here and most of it will be good advise.
I suggest you try to get to a CAS shoot and look at the firearms they have.
Most of them are more than happy to let someone try out one of their firearms if even just to show off how proud they are of it.
I hope you can get some usefull info out of all this. Feel free to pm or email me for any info I can provide.
Doc Thompson SASS # 72011,
Prince Albert, Sk.
 
WARNING: I KNOW NOTHING!
Now, with the disclaimer out of the way...
- There is a modification out there (with the spring and follower, I believe) that will allow 10 rds in the .357
- If you have .38/.357 revolver(s), the ammo thing is made easier
- If you plan on a multi-purpose gun, the 44 mag. would be better suited for hunting.
- Handloading either of these calibres will allow you to put the "special" loads into the magnum brass, thus ensuring better cycling.
$.02
 
Marlin is the only way to go!! I've been shooting an older Marlin M1894S now for about 8 years and I bought it second hand. Very durable rifle. I was commenting to a friend recently at the Ft Kusk match, that those shooters that have .44's do better at steel knockdown targets than do those using .38's. In a match where you just have to hit a target and not worry about knocking it down .38's rule. If the target just has to go down now, nothing does it better than a 240 grain LRNFP bullet.

In matches with paper targets, that large .44 hole helps alot as you get older, plus as previously mentioned the rifle can also be used for hunting. If you plan to compete with the carbine, install a 1 piece firing pin and illiminate that pesky safety (http://w w w.evilroyshootingschool.com/).
 
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I had an older Marlin .357 that was very inaccurate with lead although quite good with jacketed. I had a .44 Trapper with feed problems that was also inaccurate. My last one was a 44-40 Winchester 94 (made in the 70's) that would feed well slowly but if you tried to work the action quickly, the cartridge would miss the chamber almost every time. I'm now considering going for a new one. I shot a borowed one yesterday that worked flawlessly. It was a Marlin .357 that held 10 rounds, I don't know which model. I have dies & molds for both .357 & .44 calibres. They have been letting me use my 30-30 until I can pick up another pistol calibre rifle. So far at our shoots, we only have to ring the gongs (steel cut-outs of cowboys, indians, buffalo, wisky bottle, etc.). We are just getting started here and seldome have more than 8 to 10 shooters and 3 or 4 shoots a year. When you are just getting started there is so much to buy most of us have to spread it out over a few years. Thanks for the input.
 
You may not want to limit your choices strictly to Marlin, great as they are.
I tried a few different makes, calibres and models before I bought a Uberti 1866 Yellow Boy in .45
It's capable of a lot better performance than I can give it and the action it and the 1873's is smooth right form the box.
Try out a few different makes and models before you settle on one or the other.
You'll find folks in CAS are friendly and accomodating.
Good luck and have fun.
 
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