|
|
Post by Hood on Mar 12, 2011 20:55:31 GMT -5
What do you think about the Marlin 44 Mag?
I was thinking about a Winchester, but the Marlins look pretty nice. Any thoughts?
Thanks
|
|
|
|
Post by HuntMeister on Mar 12, 2011 21:46:11 GMT -5
Love my Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag! Some folks have had accuracy problems with them and some, me included, have had to return them to Marlin for a minor tuneup. The Marlin will easily accept a scope and I prefer the side eject to the top eject of the Winchester. Factory WW ammo from Walmart was giving me 2-3 inch groups at 100 yards but some fine tuning with handloads got me sub-moa.
|
|
|
|
Post by parson on Mar 13, 2011 6:19:17 GMT -5
The on that I used to have had an oversized bore, .433. Marlin tech told me that it was within specs. I was able to cast up some fat bullets that it shot OK.
That was a couple of years ago and they may have corrected that problem by now.
|
|
|
|
Post by DEERTRACKS on Mar 14, 2011 6:37:37 GMT -5
I have a Marlin 94 in .44 mag. with open sights & it shoots a 2" group out to 100 yds chambered with LeverEvolution rounds. It's my sneak & stalk gun since it is light & short. Does a number on deer & coyotes.
|
|
|
|
Post by cedarthicket on Mar 14, 2011 9:39:17 GMT -5
If I were to limit myself to open/iron sights I would use my older Winchester M94 in 44 magnum a lot more than I do. [It has a much smoother action and better trigger pull than the more recent Winchesters. Some of the recent copies of the Winchester M92 are much slicker than recent Winchester M94 rifles.] When I want to use a scoped rifle it is no contest. The Marlin wins.
|
|
|
|
Post by drs on Mar 14, 2011 9:52:45 GMT -5
You might consider buying a Ruger Model 77/.44 bolt action rifle, unless you want a lever action.
|
|
|
|
Post by hoosier on Mar 14, 2011 21:20:56 GMT -5
Hood, I wouldn't hunt with (nor be seen with) either if it wore a cross bolt safety.
Find you an old 44-40. I think it would please you more than a lawyer built levergun.
|
|
|
|
Post by tenring on Mar 15, 2011 5:36:40 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by jajwrigh on Jun 4, 2011 8:29:55 GMT -5
I had a stainless Marlin lever gun in .44 mag and it shot loads up to 300 grains very well. Sold it to finance another gun purchase and its now perhaps one of my worst regrets regarding selling or trading a gun!  |
|
|
|
Post by tenring on Jun 6, 2011 12:21:55 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by coyote6974 on Jun 6, 2011 18:22:12 GMT -5
I have a pre cross bolt safety Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum. The bore is oversize on it, and it won't shoot .429 diameter bullets worth a darn. I started handloading Hornady 240 grain XTP bullets, that I believe are .431 diameter, and started getting 4 inch groups at 100 yards which is barely acceptable. This is the most inaccurate rifle I own. Seems to be a common problem with Marlins in .44 Magnum.
|
|
|
|
Post by dbd870 on Jun 7, 2011 4:31:48 GMT -5
Marlin is having QC issues right now as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by HighCotton on Jun 7, 2011 14:14:26 GMT -5
I have a Marlin 94 in .44 mag. with open sights & it shoots a 2" group out to 100 yds chambered with LeverEvolution rounds. It's my sneak & stalk gun since it is light & short. Does a number on deer & coyotes. I'd have a hard time disagreeing with ya DEERTRACKS! Every thing you said is consistent with my experience, too. I struggled with the gun (Marlin 94) the first year I had it because of scope issues. Removed the scope and got down to 1" MOA with open sights-killed one of my biggest does in the Parke county woods (almost killed me and whitetail1 draggin her out, too)! |
|
|
|
Post by drs on Jun 7, 2011 15:47:47 GMT -5
Back in the early 1970's I bought a Winchester Model 94 in .44 Magnum. Didn't have much luck using the standard open sights, so I had a receiver sight installed since the '94 I owned wasn't an angle eject model so I could mount a scope. With this peep sight; I received 5-shot groups <1.5" @ 75 yards using factory ammo.
|
|
|
|
Post by hookeye on Aug 24, 2011 23:58:46 GMT -5
Both are set up for iron sight usage (stock comb height). A Marlin with a Weaver 1 pc base could allow for more optics choices and possibly more room for positioning. Nice rifle the Marlin, the Winchester looks better to me though. Hate the stocks on both. I vote Ruger #3 (with #1 wood)  |
|
|
|
Post by jordanffemt on Nov 3, 2011 21:47:13 GMT -5
I love my 1894 Marlin SS. 2" group at 150. Love it. Ive killed probably 15 deer over the past 3 years. American Eagle 240gr. shoots best.
|
|
|
|
Post by Boilermaker on Nov 4, 2011 7:53:19 GMT -5
I have a good article helping to clear up the tough decision of Marlin vs. Winchester. I'll send it in a PM...its a tad lengthy.
|
|
|
|
Post by hankhunter on Nov 5, 2011 8:06:41 GMT -5
I have win's and marlins. Both are good. I prefer the marlin and I have both in safety and pre-safety. Don't let the safety scare you, Its not hard to figure out.
|
|
|
|
Post by jordanffemt on Nov 9, 2011 0:25:04 GMT -5
yep
|
|
