I would like to ask, what is the largest game you have Reliably taken with a .44 chambered 1894? The largest game you Would hunt with the .44?

I've killed some pretty big hogs with my 336-44. I would imagine guys have killed elk and moose with the guns at close range. It would be interesting to hear some hunt'n stories.

I know a fellow named Chief RID that would like to kill his 1894!!!

I've killed some pretty big hogs with my 336-44. I would imagine guys have killed elk and moose with the guns at close range. It would be interesting to hear some hunt'n stories.

I know a fellow named Chief RID that would like to kill his 1894!!!


Yes, I've read the post, and could imagine him trying it :rolleyes: ! He shouldn't worry. The rifle will work out it's orneries soon enough :cool:.

I would like to ask, what is the largest game you have Reliably taken with a .44 chambered 1894? The largest game you Would hunt with the .44?

Back in the late 60's I had one of Ruger's then new 44 mag auto rifles. This little gun was a darn fine killer of deer and black bear out to a hundred yards.

Used to shoot the deer with a jacketed bullet loaded for the carbine and a shot thru the front shoulders caused some dramatic upsets for deer. Usually could eat almost up to the bullet hole.

I still have my Fathers AWESOME-MINT- Ruger44 Semiauto deerslayer rifle. Awesome gun!

Hogs in the 200+ pound class. With one of Buffalo Bore's heavy .44 loads made for leveraction rifles 1000 pound critters wouldn't be out of the question, given range, shot placements, all the usual variables.

Ain't killed it yet but it ain't over til it's over. I will be hunting with a hard cast bullet this year so we will see it's full potential. Next weekend. I am bow hunting with my oldest son this weekend.

I still have my Fathers AWESOME-MINT- Ruger44 Semiauto deerslayer rifle. Awesome gun!
Cool! :cool:
Have you shot it much? How does it group?

I got my 400LB boar this last weekend with my 1894SS. 300gr Federal Castcore in 44 mag. One through the lungs and one through the Head/Neck and Spine. This was my first hog hunt and I am hooked.

Picture: http://www.universalsight.com/images/razorback.jpg

Robb

I got my 400LB boar this last weekend with my 1894SS. 300gr Federal Castcore in 44 mag. One through the lungs and one through the Head/Neck and Spine. This was my first hog hunt and I am hooked.

Picture: http://www.universalsight.com/images/razorback.jpg

Robb
Excellent! Thanks for posting the pic, makes me want to schedule a hog hunt myself.

That is a nic'en. sounds like the old 44 did its job. Good work.

I used my 1894SS on my deer last year. This year however it is my primary bear gun with Speer 270gr GD bullets :) . As most of my shots will be within 100yds. No luck yet though.

You know what....I don't think I'm going to worry about caliber...what rifle, ect anymore.......it's been the .44 mag 1894 I've been wanting, and I think I should just go ahead and get the dang thing when I can afford it. This is the one I've been wanting for years, and always ended up getting something else I wasn't happy with.....Now I just got to save up for it :D. May be a while with the new job and all, but so be it. Waited a few years already...what's a few more months.....


Tim

You know what....I don't think I'm going to worry about caliber...what rifle, ect anymore.......it's been the .44 mag 1894 I've been wanting, and I think I should just go ahead and get the dang thing when I can afford it. This is the one I've been wanting for years, and always ended up getting something else I wasn't happy with.....Now I just got to save up for it :D. May be a while with the new job and all, but so be it. Waited a few years already...what's a few more months.....


Tim
I think you'll be happy with you choice.

levergun94, go ahead and get that rifle I am sure that you will enjoy it. I got my 1894SS for a number of reasons.

1. I wanted a woods bumming rifle yet had to have sufficient wallop for Black bear, yet easy on the shoulder.

2. Had to be economical to shoot/ reload for with plenty of choices in bullet weights to handle the above mentioned job.

3. Ready to take on foul weather, the last was not so impotant but my local Gander Mountain just happened to have one left so I snagged it up :D , and I haven't regreted it since.

Problem is that I find myself reaching for this rifle more than I do my 336A which I've had for about 3 yrs now and still haven't drew blood with it yet.

Anyone know where a guy could get some synthetic stocks? I would love to have some hogue rubber overmolded ones for it. My black walnut is very pretty and I don't want to mess it up. If not, oh well, I will still take this one out and hunt the heck out of it.

Robb

levergun94, go ahead and get that rifle I am sure that you will enjoy it. I got my 1894SS for a number of reasons.

1. I wanted a woods bumming rifle yet had to have sufficient wallop for Black bear, yet easy on the shoulder.

2. Had to be economical to shoot/ reload for with plenty of choices in bullet weights to handle the above mentioned job.

3. Ready to take on foul weather, the last was not so impotant but my local Gander Mountain just happened to have one left so I snagged it up :D , and I haven't regreted it since.

Problem is that I find myself reaching for this rifle more than I do my 336A which I've had for about 3 yrs now and still haven't drew blood with it yet.


Like I said...been wanting one for years. Only problems is I'm still not sure if the caliber is Colorado hunting legal........but I won't be in Colorado forever, and this is the rife I've been wanting for a long time.

Like I said...been wanting one for years. Only problems is I'm still not sure if the caliber is Colorado hunting legal........but I won't be in Colorado forever, and this is the rife I've been wanting for a long time.

Big Question now......
Is there any real difference in the standard 1894, and the 'Cowboy'? I know the action is the same.........., but I like the looks of the 'Cowboy' better, and found some decent looking sights for it http://xssights.com/store/specialty.html but isn't there a pretty big price difference between the two? Well, may as well take the plunge, and get the one I want....because I don't think I'll be getting more that one in the next year or so :D.


Tim

Anyone know where a guy could get some synthetic stocks? I would love to have some hogue rubber overmolded ones for it. My black walnut is very pretty and I don't want to mess it up. If not, oh well, I will still take this one out and hunt the heck out of it.

Robb

http://www.gun-parts.com/marlinstocks/

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i79/Bull3540/SyntheticstockforMarlin.jpg

Yes I have blasted many deer with my 44mag rifle.

I love to hunt with my 1894 Marlin but I have had mixed results with it on deer. I will be giving it one more chance this season if the deer cooperate. Good luck to all.

I love to hunt with my 1894 Marlin but I have had mixed results with it on deer. I will be giving it one more chance this season if the deer cooperate. Good luck to all.

Are you STILL having problems with that rifle? I figured it would have found it's sweet spot by now :(.....


Tim

The groups just fall apart somewhere after 80 yds, but I can live with that. "A man just has to know his rifles limitations."

The groups just fall apart somewhere after 80 yds, but I can live with that. "A man just has to know his rifles limitations."


I'm just wondering now if accuracy problems with the .44 mag 1894's is a common problem, or if it's more limited to the occasional rifle. I would really love a .44 mag 1894, but the accuracy issues I've been reading about lately are making me wonder about considering a different caliber.........


Tim

Both of these are five shot groups at fifty yards with iron sights.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k191/KGKILBY/Targets002.jpg

I know I'm starting to repeat myself but the Postal Match scores could be a valuable resource to people.

Click here http://home.awesomenet.net/~ranch-dog/PM/ and you can see how more than 50 different levers guns in about every caliber they come in actually shot.

I'm just wondering now if accuracy problems with the .44 mag 1894's is a common problem, or if it's more limited to the occasional rifle. I would really love a .44 mag 1894, but the accuracy issues I've been reading about lately are making me wonder about considering a different caliber.........


Tim

Well, this year for the Postal Match there were a total of 4 people that used Marlin .44 magnums, and of those entry's scores were .58, 1.07, 1.08, and 2.34.
Here's part of the rules and scoring procedure;
"Shooting your target
Shoot from a known distance for the class desired. 50-yards for open sights and 100 yards for scopes. This match depends on your honor and ethics as a sportsman and the target DOES NOT need to be certified by a range officer.
Scoring the target
The size of the 5-shot group will be measured from the center of the bullseye to the center of the furthest bullet hole from the center. Your target once submitted, will be scored electronically with the Shooter's Lab software using the referenced specification.

Ranch Dog Comments... The idea of the match is to place five shots as close to the center of the target as you can.

Here's some score from other rifles and calibers;
Browning 1895 30-40 Krag - 0.59 vs 0.58 Marlin .44 mag
Savage 99, .300 Savage - 1.34 vs 1.07 & 1.08
Winchester 94, .45 Colt - 2.40 vs 2.34

So as you can see, it did no worse and a little better against calibers normally considered without question to be more accurate. Sometimes you just get one that isn't right no matter what you try in it. Mine was a Winchester 94 in .45 Colt and a Marlin PG .44 mag. Neither one could put a bullet inside of a dinner plate at 10 paces not matter what ammo I used.

Well, this year for the Postal Match there were a total of 4 people that used Marlin .44 magnums, and of those entry's scores were .58, 1.07, 1.08, and 2.34.
Here's part of the rules and scoring procedure;
"Shooting your target
Shoot from a known distance for the class desired. 50-yards for open sights and 100 yards for scopes. This match depends on your honor and ethics as a sportsman and the target DOES NOT need to be certified by a range officer.
Scoring the target
The size of the 5-shot group will be measured from the center of the bullseye to the center of the furthest bullet hole from the center. Your target once submitted, will be scored electronically with the Shooter's Lab software using the referenced specification.

Ranch Dog Comments... The idea of the match is to place five shots as close to the center of the target as you can.

Here's some score from other rifles and calibers;
Browning 1895 30-40 Krag - 0.59 vs 0.58 Marlin .44 mag
Savage 99, .300 Savage - 1.34 vs 1.07 & 1.08
Winchester 94, .45 Colt - 2.40 vs 2.34

So as you can see, it did no worse and a little better against calibers normally considered without question to be more accurate. Sometimes you just get one that isn't right no matter what you try in it. Mine was a Winchester 94 in .45 Colt and a Marlin PG .44 mag. Neither one could put a bullet inside of a dinner plate at 10 paces not matter what ammo I used.


Thanks for the input all. I'll be checking those matches a little more often now. Think I will give it a go.....been waiting to long for this particular rifle to let it go due to internet jitters :D

Thanks again,


Tim

Levergun94,

I'm new to forum and haven't introduced myself yet, but wanted to go ahead and chime in. I've been shooting Marlin lever actions for years now and have always found them very accurate for their intended purpose. My dad's old micro-groove 336 carbine (circa 1969) will hold 3 shots in 1.5" @ 100 yards with factory 150 gr. Remington Core-lokt ammo with standard open sights off of sandbags.

I recently purchased an 1894SS .44 magnum and am still using the factory open sights. It will hold 3 shots in 1" CTC or less at 50 yards with Winchester USA 240 gr. JSP commercial ammo, 250 gr. Barnes JHP (no longer available) handloads with a maximum charge of H110 or the excellent BTB .430 dia. 325 gr. LWN GC over a maximum charge of H110 with a surprisingly good rest off of the rear corner of my truck bed. The BTB 325 gr. .430 dia. was the most accurate, turning in groups of .80 CTC at 50 yards. Despite some saying the rifle, with its 1:38 twist barrel, won't stabilize that heavy of a slug or the use of .432 dia. slugs are required, my 1894SS does not keyhole at all or foul the barrel. Some friends of mine in South Louisianna were shooting at 200 yards with their Remington SPS .300 Ultra mags and invited me to give it go with the 1894SS. I shot 3 times, straining my eyes with the factory open sights, using the BTB 325 WLN I spoke of previously. The first shot hit low in the dirt in front of the target (and it took a long time to get there compared to the .300 RUM). After a quick rear sight adjustment, I heard the following two shots "smack" the paper target. A walk down-range showed the two shots were 2.0" CTC low on the paper and no keyholes... just straight through like the 50 yard test.

I may have gotten a "lucky" gun, but it really shoots! And, if it was only luck to get one this good, I hope you have just as good of luck as me.

Oh... you'll need to modify the cartidge carrier of the 1894 for it to be able to cycle the BTB 325 WLN. I saw the procedure somewhere in this forum.

Regards,

Mark

I would like to ask, what is the largest game you have Reliably taken with a .44 chambered 1894? The largest game you Would hunt with the .44?
Well lever gun, since the introduction of the 44mag many years ago, it's been used in pistols to kill just about every critter man hunts. It's ability to handle a hugh assortment of bullets from 180gr to 320gr makes it very versitile for hunting critters from little coues deer to yukon moose. I've seen a big hog shot in the chest with a 320gr LWFNGC, backed by a stout load of H110, hit him in the chest and come out his butt and keep going. Use the right bullet, hit them where it counts, and there isn't many critters that you can't hunt with it. Just remember it's a short range number.

I would like to ask, what is the largest game you have Reliably taken with a .44 chambered 1894? The largest game you Would hunt with the .44?

My wife and I both killed lots of whitetail deer with the Ruger 44 mag auto carbine. She killed the biggest deer in the county back in 79 with that rifle and 240 grain Sierra Hollow Cavity bullet. The shot was 50 yards and it dropped like a the Hammer Of Thor smacked it on the head.

I have wished several times over, that I hadn't traded that rifle off for another caliber gun. :eek: :( I learned from my mistake.

I took my first black bear in September. I used a Marlin 1894P in 44 magnum and Buffalo Bore ammo. I hit him in the lungs at about 70 yards and he dropped where he was shot. The bullet had passed through the bear and was not recovered. The bear was average for Maine, about 175 lbs.