I want your opinion. Each and every one of you. Good, Bad, or Ugly.

Rumor has it that Marlin is set to offer the 1894 CL or CB in 25-20 next year. I've been thinking about picking up a lever gun in 25-20 for a long time. I don't why, I just have. I know Marlin made a run of these a few years ago in 25-20.

Question is, how do you like your '94? Something I should consider? Any changes that need to be made?

I don't think I've ever even seen a 1894 Marlin in person (that's what I get for living in Alaska, I guess). Any comments on the rifle?

Neat, tough little rifle. My .45 Colt kills on both ends with 300 grain bullets, but you won't have that problem, LOL. Perhaps not as elegant as an original '92 Winchester, but a heck of a lot cheaper.

Don't have the best triggers in the world, but that can be fixed.

Definitely falls in the 'fun gun' category. My dad likes to shoot varmits with a .25-20 and 60gr. soft points, but don't know if you have any 'varmits' up there that don't bite back.....

This would be a "fun gun" for me, Mike. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm ashamed to say, but I'm not a varmint hunter up here. There are opportunities, but I just don't take advantage of them. I'm sure the 25-20 could handle a wolf or coyote or lynx, but figure there are others that are better suited for the job. This would be a range and "gravel pit" gun.

I've got a Buckeye Blackhawk in 32-20 that is a fine example of the fun gun and I like it a lot. I've been thinking about working over a Martini to match it. I just figured if Marlin does offer the 94 in 25-20 or I find one of the previously issued rifles, I'd like to try one, if the quality is up to snuff.

alyeska338,

The Marlin in a 25-20 is a great fun gun. I bought a new one in June 1990 while living in West by God Virginia.

From the factory the trigger was terrible, smooth as a canoe stuck on a gravel bar. A gunsmith or someone with trigger experience can fix it in a short time. A couple minutes with a stone in the correct places and life is good.

Some people don't like the factory sights. I didn't either. Lyman 66LA on the receiver and a 17A up front worked for me. At that time, the eyes were better, with the Lyman sights I could hit squirrels and turkeys easy out to about 50yds.

There still are about three jacketed bullet weights, 60, 75, and 86grs. The 60gr. Hornady is ruff on critters meant for the frying pan, better hit them in the head, unless you eat the brains too.

Never had a chance to figure out a good cast lead load. I did try the Lyman 257420 in a 65gr. pill. Wished they still made the 257312 89gr. blocks. Both of these are gas check designs. NEI Handtools still list a 89gr gc item and RCBS a cowboy plain base 89gr pill.

I ended up installing a 1.75X6 Leupold scope and STD mounts, a good choice of old eyes.

The receiver safety must bug some hunters. Some threads already posted mention missing game because the safety was bumped to the safe position and a shot tried. Of course the loud KKlaaaaaack, would ruin my day too! So far it has not. Really don't like this feature, its a price some of us have to pay for living with pilgrims that should not own a firearm or hunt with one. The half-cock on the hammer will do the job just fine.

Would I buy a Marlin 25-20, YES.

Hoopie,

HAd the use of a Colt pump 25/20 for a over a year, and promised myself to get a 25/20 once the owner got back in the US. Never did; did get a 32-20 and am pleased.

Can look at the 25/20 - 32/20 as the 30-30 - 38-55 in miniature (or the 17HMR - .22MAg in larger scale). One shoots a lighter, smaller bullet a good bit faster than the other will shoot a heavier/larger bullet, but with the same base case. One flatens out trajectory and offers a bit more expansion, the other offers a bit more bullet weight and diameter.

While that old Colt didn't offer the possibility of the hot-loads a modern Marlin could stand, the comparison is still valid as a modern 32-20 offers the same increase over the older, weaker actions.

Good round...I think I'd prefer casting for the 32-20, but from the use of that old Colt and the current Marlin 32-20, ther isn't a whole lot one can do that the other can't do as well.

Makes a dnady small game gun or turkey gun (if your local allows rifle use); they are a LOT of fun, which is reasona enough to own one even if you never shoot a live critter with one.

I pretty much figure this gun would shoot lead from the time I got my grubby hands on it till it was passed down.

I wish we had wild turkey's up here. No such luck. Figure the rifle will be a paper puncher and a can popper, exclusively.

Did the 1990 Marlins have the tang safety? My newish 1895 Winchester has a tang safety, and I really hate that.

I pretty much figure this gun would shoot lead from the time I got my grubby hands on it till it was passed down.

I wish we had wild turkey's up here. No such luck. Figure the rifle will be a paper puncher and a can popper, exclusively.

Did the 1990 Marlins have the tang safety? My newish 1895 Winchester has a tang safety, and I really hate that.


My 1894CL purchased in 1990 had a receiver crossbolt and the half-cock notch on the hammer.

This run of 25-20's did not have microgroove rifling, they should shoot cast lead bullets fine.

Hoopie,

I pretty much figure this gun would shoot lead from the time I got my grubby hands on it till it was passed down.

I wish we had wild turkey's up here. No such luck. Figure the rifle will be a paper puncher and a can popper, exclusively.

Did the 1990 Marlins have the tang safety? My newish 1895 Winchester has a tang safety, and I really hate that.

No tang safety on the 1990's issue, at least not that I remember when handling one (that one in .218Bee).

Guess what settled me on the 32-20 and ended the 25-20 search was finding several bullet molds for the 32-20 at a bargain price, gas checks, ammo, and even a couple of 32-20 revovlers...so I had the molds and such long before I found a suitable rifle.

I tried to find suitable molds and such for the 25-20 at bargain prices while I looked...came up with one, 2000 gas checks, and a few boxes of brass. When I "settled" on the 32-20, sent that stuff along to the owner of that 25-20 (who became a Colt Lighting collecotr...never knew all the varieties/calibers of that model until he started collecting.

The 25/20 (and you could add in the 32-20 here) makes nearly a perfect cast bullet gun, so long as the bullets are light/short enough. Not every rifle has to have killing something as it's ultimate use...plenty of room for just plain fun guns. Some people seem to foreget that, feeling that if it won't slay a moose at 500yards, it's worthless.

Alyeska
We have two .25-20's. One Savage M-23 and one of the Marlin 1894Cl's. We sure like them both. The Marlin functions flawlessly, but is just a bit heavy. Comparing the .32-20 to the .25-20, I find the .25-20 more accurate overall and it tears "things" up less. Both cartridges will give you ricochets on hard ground with most all of the bullets available.
The available .25-20 jacketed bullets provide quite a variety. We have acquired a number of .25 caliber bullet molds and have found the Marlin to be very accommodating with all bullet weights. The Lyman 257283 85-grain plain base bullet is one of the best in our rifle. This mold was offered by F&M Distributors back when the Marlin CL's first came out. I do not know if they are still available. I think F&M is run by some enthusiastic turkey hunters as in the box with the mold came a letter with load data and glowing comments on the bullets performance in their rifles.
The one draw back we have found with the .25-20 is brass life. We are using Remington brass from several different lots. The case necks harden quickly in our rifles and must be annealed every five or six loadings. The case necks will split if not annealed. We full length resize all of our brass. The cases tend to stretch and when trimming you can feel the roughness of the neck when it hardens. A soft neck trims effortlessly. Primer pockets remain tight with all reasonable loads.
I should say that one area I have found the .25-20 lacking is against porcupine. The .32-20 and .32 Magnum are better killers with the 115-grain bullets on these tough critters.

I have an 1894 in S/S .44 magnum caliber. I'm quite happy with it. I think one of it's great attributes is that the bolt can be easily removed for proper cleaning from the breech. It is very easy. I don't know if that would apply to the calibers you mentioned, but being 1894's, I would guess they would be the same.

Rumors are one thing, and actually making the rifle is another. The 1894 in .41 mag was made in low numbers and had some quality control problems, and I think the same is true for the .32 mag. I've had several 1894 designs, and have settled on my .45 Cowboy Comp., which is just as good playing cowboy as it is killing pigs, plus another in .44 mag. The latter was well used and pre-cross bolt, but I've spent much more time and money refinshing and restoring it than I talked the pawnshops down on price. My advice would be to smooth up the action as soon as possible, especially honing a slight radius in the snail shaped cam on the lever, to avoid the "Marlin Jam" in the future. An ounce of prevention; then it'll cycle slick and be a real shooter.

New Marlins are a quality control problem from what I have bought and seen others buy in the way of new firearms lately. I would never buy a new one anymore.

But a rifle from Marlin that seems to be forty or fifty years old is a thing of beauty and are as smooth as butter to operate.
I would quickly sell my 1895 guide, but you would need to pry my cold fingers off my 1954 #336/35 one by one when I pass on.
Was it that guns were hand fitted or more care and pride went in the product I am not sure, but to get a good shooter out of the box that has no problems of any kind is getting hard to do.
Out of the twenty / thirty firarms I have had I have kept four.

Like new cars , you need to take it back a few times for the bugs , never to just drive and wash it.

Slim,
How did the 25-20 work on coyotes? I think this would be a fun little coyote gun to have, as long as it drops them reliably.

Harry, I have to agree only to a certain extent. My 336 .35 was a shooter from the day I bought it new, and like you, my cold dead hands will be the only thing to release it. To get my brother into hunting and shooting I bought him a new 336 30-30 many years ago and he's a fine pig killer with it. Same can be said with my CB II limited .44 mag, CB Comp. .45, and my other 336 30-30's that have come and gone. However, and quickly sold a 1894 in .44 mag. ( the short, round barrel ), which was bought new but was just not accurate for my expectations. I know of a few people whose .41 mag. FG's functioned and shot well, but there are many other with the opposite. I agree quality control should be better, but at least Marlin is listening to it's customers and potential buyers of new rifles if they are of a certain caliber. I this continues to be a problem, then I guess you and I will be shopping the pawnshops (we can compare the price differences between the North and South), but I still love Marlins and so far they seem to be more sturdy and better shooters than any of the Winchester reproductions as well as the other similar imported designs. Speaking strictly from my experience with cowboy action shooting in this respect, keeping in mind that even low power loads in the thousands will test the design.
New Marlins are a quality control problem from what I have bought and seen others buy in the way of new firearms lately. I would never buy a new one anymore.

But a rifle from Marlin that seems to be forty or fifty years old is a thing of beauty and are as smooth as butter to operate.
I would quickly sell my 1895 guide, but you would need to pry my cold fingers off my 1954 #336/35 one by one when I pass on.
Was it that guns were hand fitted or more care and pride went in the product I am not sure, but to get a good shooter out of the box that has no problems of any kind is getting hard to do.
Out of the twenty / thirty firarms I have had I have kept four.

Like new cars , you need to take it back a few times for the bugs , never to just drive and wash it.

I have looked at two new model 94 Marlins. the files would not always feed and eject factory and reloads that worked perfect in other rifles.
I think cost cutting has taken a set with quality control.I have yet to see a good used unit , and one of the new CB comp. guns to compare.
Marlin is not the only manufacture to follow this path.
I have bought two winchesters and one ruger that were out of the box good shooters that needed no repair or alterations.
I bought two new Marlins and one Browning that should never left the factory.
Well I will continue searching the gun shows and the used racks for another good Marlin, or Stay with RUGER of which I have three.

I own four Marlin 1894s. The only one I had any problems with was the 1894FG. I called Marlin, they paid the freight both ways. Marlin went through the rifle and pretty much sent me a custom rifle in return. I will not hesitate to purchase another. As a matter of fact, my son is going to purchase a new 1894SS as soon as he can get one. I am going to buy an 1894CB32 as soon as they begin shipping. May purchase another 1894 in .44 Rem Mag myself. If you have a problem with a new Marlin the company will reimburse you shipping and make the problem right and you should have the gun back in about two weeks. I certainly get better service from the gunmakers than I do from the local dealers in these parts.
Rich

I have a 1894PG and its great. Cycles pretty smooth and with a williams firesight set is plenty accurate out to 100yds. Like you I didn't really need my 1894, just wanted a little fun gun, but mine will see some short yardage deer work this season. Good luck, I wouldn't hesitate one bit on buying a new one.

This isn't much of a problem shipping it in the states, but for someone in Canada, you might as well buy a new one. I don't live there, but I shipped a small package to a friend, and it was astronomically expensive for him to receive it, after customs slapped a declared value on it, taxed him for it, then added shipping, which I thought I'd already paid! I think if Marlin would send him a postage paid, return shipping box for his Marlin, he'd gladly send it back, but reimbursement isn't an option all things considered. I've been disappointed by Marlin only once, but it seems that as the selection goes up, quality suffers.

This isn't much of a problem shipping it in the states, but for someone in Canada, you might as well buy a new one. I don't live there, but I shipped a small package to a friend, and it was astronomically expensive for him to receive it, after customs slapped a declared value on it, taxed him for it, then added shipping, which I thought I'd already paid! I think if Marlin would send him a postage paid, return shipping box for his Marlin, he'd gladly send it back, but reimbursement isn't an option all things considered. I've been disappointed by Marlin only once, but it seems that as the selection goes up, quality suffers.

Could not have said it better myself.I would probably not see the rifle for a year, plus need to pay the export/ import fee's both ways.

Harry ( Happy)

If Marlin comes out with a nice 25-20 again, will ante up. Have been looking for a 25-20 for years. Went to auction on Friday to check out Win round barrel and half tube. It went for close to a $1000. First 25-20 have seen up here with clean bore and sharp rifling.