- Location
- AB foothills
Ya right, good luck!!!
Levers in Pistol Calibres - Advice?
- Thread starter bluemike807
- Start date
Ya right, good luck!!!
- Location
- AB foothills
Edward Teach
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- who cares?
So is the 1894 in 45 Colt
Except you pay a premium for the "cowboy" moniker.
I wish they'd make an ordinary 1894 in .45 Colt, otherwise I may have to settle for a Puma.
I'm happy with the marlin in 357. Both a niece and nephew have shot deer with it. paid $350. Would probably never part with it due to starter hunters having good luck with it. And I have 3 .357 pistols so there's always lots ammo in the house.
Clint
Clint
My Marlin M1894S in .44 magnum has put in excess of 12,000 rds downrange with only a broken firing pin that took about 10 minutes to replace once I got a replacement. It is a quality carbine! You can't say that about a post 64 Winchester Wrangler in .44 that I bought in 1994!!!!!!
- Location
- AB foothills
I know the feeling. Mine broke when lined up on a big badger that I had been trying to kill for two months
. Replaced it with a one piece aftermarket and have been happy ever since, accept still no badger, he and his family moved on...Iron Glove
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Hope and Tulameen
Took my brand new Puma 357 to the local range yesterday for it's baptism.
16" sure makes a nice handling rifle, will be easy to carry around in the bush - probably will become the wife's "protection" carry when we go hiking.
At 50 yards, open sights with no adjusting or fiddling, was grouping in the 3 - 4 inch range. Considering that's with my ancient eyes and shaking body, no shooting rest and the ammo was some sort of mystery load I picked up at a recent gun show, labeled " Old .357", I was quite pleased. Forgot to bring a box of 38 Special to try so that will have to wait.
Recoil is negligible at best, far less than 30-30 or 44 Magnum.
Overall I'm pretty happy with the purchase, the Puma isn't as "hefty" as my Marlins nor as smooth as my Henry's but a nice overall package for the price.
16" sure makes a nice handling rifle, will be easy to carry around in the bush - probably will become the wife's "protection" carry when we go hiking.
At 50 yards, open sights with no adjusting or fiddling, was grouping in the 3 - 4 inch range. Considering that's with my ancient eyes and shaking body, no shooting rest and the ammo was some sort of mystery load I picked up at a recent gun show, labeled " Old .357", I was quite pleased. Forgot to bring a box of 38 Special to try so that will have to wait.
Recoil is negligible at best, far less than 30-30 or 44 Magnum.
Overall I'm pretty happy with the purchase, the Puma isn't as "hefty" as my Marlins nor as smooth as my Henry's but a nice overall package for the price.
stickhunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria, B.C.
I can heartily recommend any of the Marlin models in the cartridges you're considering, particularly if you're looking at a used rifle since they're fairly common (excluding the 357).
As others have mentioned, the 30-30 is the most flexible of the bunch, particulary if you want the flexibility of using it out to 150+ yds. That being said, the frame of Marlin's rifle cartridge leveractions (i.e., the 336) is larger than their pistol cartridge counterparts (i.e., the 1894). Not that the 336 isn't a trim and handy rifle in its own right, but the 1894s are even more so. I have an 1894c (18.5" 357 mag) and it's my favourite carrying rifle. I love the ergonomics and aesthetics of walking with a slab-sided leveraction in my hands.
The other consideration is stock configuration. Most 1894s have straight stocks, which are my preference. Straight stock 336s aren't currently being manufactured and they aren't that common on the used market.
The idea of a slug barrel would appear as an economical solution to your dilemma, but I think you'll find the comfort and cost of getting lots of practice in at the range will be a deterrent. I think if I were in your situation, I'd probably opt for a used 336 in 30-30 --- the ammunition is cheap enough that you can afford to shoot the regularly at the range (hint, reload!) and you have bonafide short and medium range deer rifle.
My second option would be the 44 mag 1894. Although I dearly love my 357, I think the 44 mag does offer quite a bit more as a deer/black bear cartridge. 30-30 Marlins in good condition are usually in the $350-$450 range while 44 mag 1894s are usually in the $400-$500 range. I haven't bought factory 44 magnum in a while, but I'll guess it runs about $35/box of 50 while 30-30 is $17/box of 20.
As others have mentioned, the 30-30 is the most flexible of the bunch, particulary if you want the flexibility of using it out to 150+ yds. That being said, the frame of Marlin's rifle cartridge leveractions (i.e., the 336) is larger than their pistol cartridge counterparts (i.e., the 1894). Not that the 336 isn't a trim and handy rifle in its own right, but the 1894s are even more so. I have an 1894c (18.5" 357 mag) and it's my favourite carrying rifle. I love the ergonomics and aesthetics of walking with a slab-sided leveraction in my hands.
The other consideration is stock configuration. Most 1894s have straight stocks, which are my preference. Straight stock 336s aren't currently being manufactured and they aren't that common on the used market.
The idea of a slug barrel would appear as an economical solution to your dilemma, but I think you'll find the comfort and cost of getting lots of practice in at the range will be a deterrent. I think if I were in your situation, I'd probably opt for a used 336 in 30-30 --- the ammunition is cheap enough that you can afford to shoot the regularly at the range (hint, reload!) and you have bonafide short and medium range deer rifle.
My second option would be the 44 mag 1894. Although I dearly love my 357, I think the 44 mag does offer quite a bit more as a deer/black bear cartridge. 30-30 Marlins in good condition are usually in the $350-$450 range while 44 mag 1894s are usually in the $400-$500 range. I haven't bought factory 44 magnum in a while, but I'll guess it runs about $35/box of 50 while 30-30 is $17/box of 20.
stickhunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria, B.C.
Damn straight!
What model/year Marlin is that and my gosh, the wood on the buttstock is something else!
- Location
- AB foothills
It is an 1894 Marlin Cowboy. Bought it about 5 years ago.
All my rifles are in pistol calibre!
Top to Bottom, .44 mag., .45 colt, & .357 mag.
Any one of them will get the job done whether it is for hunting or shooting tin cans. I reload for all as well, so using carbide dies for these straight-wall cases is simpler than loading for rifle cartridges. I can also use this ammo in my revolvers.
Nothing wrong with the 30-30 cartridge, I just have no use for one.
The way I look at it, is what ever turns your crank is what you should get, but let me say this, if I was to carry a rifle in grizzly country I would feel better carrying my .44 mag with 300 grain hard cast bullets loaded with a slow powder, rather than a 30-30.
While we are on the Pistol calibre rifles topic, let me show you my sweet Marlin in .32 H&R mag....
This one will be fun for rabbits, grouse, fox, coyotes & tin cans,....grizzly, NO....
Top to Bottom, .44 mag., .45 colt, & .357 mag.
Any one of them will get the job done whether it is for hunting or shooting tin cans. I reload for all as well, so using carbide dies for these straight-wall cases is simpler than loading for rifle cartridges. I can also use this ammo in my revolvers.
Nothing wrong with the 30-30 cartridge, I just have no use for one.
The way I look at it, is what ever turns your crank is what you should get, but let me say this, if I was to carry a rifle in grizzly country I would feel better carrying my .44 mag with 300 grain hard cast bullets loaded with a slow powder, rather than a 30-30.
While we are on the Pistol calibre rifles topic, let me show you my sweet Marlin in .32 H&R mag....
This one will be fun for rabbits, grouse, fox, coyotes & tin cans,....grizzly, NO....
44 Mag is a good choice. If you handload there is data for rifles and TC contenders that are considerably hotter than the pistol loads and add quite a bit more velocity. I was loading "rifle" loads in a marlin lever 357 some years back and had someone walk off with a box at the range. I found out who it was a few days later. The loads were so much hotter than pistol loads that his first shot out of a Taurus pistol siezed the cylinder tight.
