I just got this 1894 in 44 mag, Cowboy, 20" octagon barrel. It was NIB. A guy I know won it at a banquet and didn't want it. It lives with me now and after just coming in from the cold after only 6 shots in the backyard (farm) I can tell you it will stay with me a long time.

I'd read most of the information on this forum about these guns and no matter what your opinion, I value your comments. I will say I was getting a bit concerned I'd bought a lemmon because of some of the negative comments. I'll try for the bennifit of others to give a quick run down on what I found so far about this gun.

1 I didn't slug the barrel for measurement but did try really hard to get a good reading from ID barrel measurement. The same as my Super Blackhawk in 44 .429

2 The lever was a little sticky. But only intermitently. It is new. Not a concern to me.

3 The trigger does have a lot of flop both fore and aft, and side to side even when cocked. but the pull is good, the, creep is ok, function is perfect, the break pretty good. Even the lock time was ok. This from a guy with 3 custom trigger jobs in the gun case.

4 I fed three rounds each of two types of bullets, 200 gr cast and 300 gr speer plated soft points through the magazine and off to target. No feeding problems at all. Loading and cycling were fine.

5 All six shots were at 30 yards. Even that close my light loads of 200 gr cast bullets (833 fps in the 10.5 inch blackhawk) made an audible sound on impact. Pretty cool I think. Kind of a Ker...whump.

6 The accuracy claims have been validated, both the good and bad. It really likes the 200 gr cast launched from 5.2 grains of titegroup. A three shot group measured 1.267. Two were almost touching. Not bad for my tired eyes. The sun was a bit a factor too. Darned hard to see the front sight, but I did find it. The 300 gr plated were MUCH wider apart. It's likely two if not all three of them keyholed. The score was 2.822 (30 yards remember) I'll take the blame for part of that, but it really showed the differance in what it likes and doesn't like. I'll work on all the sighting in, load work up, and bullet selection, but for now, I just wanted to shoot it.

7 The recoil seems almost non existent. The flip side of that is the big log holding up my target went over backwards after the first 300 grainer! Really funny to watch as it was big heavy and slow moving, with a face painted on it. We shot the daylights out of that stump with 22 223 243 32s&w 9mm and the blackhawk in 44. This is the first time it ever tipped over, It was rather encouraging.

8 I like it.

congrats! Have fun. That is what that gun is all about.

The recoil seemed nonexistant?!

WOW! My son has the Puma 44mag 20inch and it kicks harder than I was expecting. In fact with just a Tee shirt on I would not want to shoot a bunch out of it. We were using Winchester 240 jhp.

The recoil seemed nonexistant?!

WOW! My son has the Puma 44mag 20inch and it kicks harder than I was expecting. In fact with just a Tee shirt on I would not want to shoot a bunch out of it. We were using Winchester 240 jhp.

The reason, I should have clairified this, that the recoil was so light is that the loads were light. We reload everything we shoot, often making them light, cheap, and fun, as well as a bit less noisy. the 200 grain loads are a light 44 s&w equivalent. The 300 grainers were middle of the chart loads. Still not bad at all, but as it was 15 degrees out, I did wear more than a t-shirt. I will be trying some of the mid 200 grainers this summer. Probably in a t-Shirt.

The marlin does not like the heavy grain bullets because of the barrel twist rate. My Winchester 94 (1:26 rate) does shoot the heavy bullets well, over my the 1894 I use to have.

Read this taken from Buffalo Bore's website:



"NEW HEAVY 44 MAGNUM +P+

This new load is designed for only certain revolvers that have the cylinder length to handle it. They are as follows. Ruger Red Hawk, Ruger Super Red Hawk, Ruger Super Blackhawk or Vaquero, Freedom Arms Model 83, Taurus Raging Bull and Dan Wesson Revolvers. Suitable rifles include T/C Encore, "modified" Marlin 1894, Winchester 1894, any rifle with a falling block action and the Handi Rifle.

What do we mean above by “modified” Marlin? Marlin (for an unknown, not well thought out reason) is using a very slow rate of twist (1/38 inches) on their 1894 chambered in 44 mag. Because of this slow rate of twist, the heaviest bullet that the factory Marlin will stabilize is about 270grs. Other firearm makers that chamber for the 44 mag all use a much faster rate of twist so that their guns will stabilize and therefore accurately shoot bullets over 300grs. Many folks today want their 44 magnums to be able to utilize the heavy 300gr. and heavier bullets—Marlin has not figured this out. If you want decent accuracy out of our new +p+ load in a Marlin, it will need to be rebarreled with a twist rate of roughly 1/20 inch. I have Dave Clay rebarrel all my Marlin 1894’s with a faster twist barrel. A 44 magnum that wont accurately shoot 300gr. or heavier bullets is useless to me. Call him at 817-783-6099 for pricing."

The reason, I should have clairified this, that the recoil was so light is that the loads were light. We reload everything we shoot, often making them light, cheap, and fun, as well as a bit less noisy. the 200 grain loads are a light 44 s&w equivalent. The 300 grainers were middle of the chart loads. Still not bad at all, but as it was 15 degrees out, I did wear more than a t-shirt. I will be trying some of the mid 200 grainers this summer. Probably in a t-Shirt.
OK, That makes more sence to me now. I was starting to feel like a wimp! :o

The marlin does not like the heavy grain bullets because of the barrel twist rate. My Winchester 94 (1:26 rate) does shoot the heavy bullets well, over my the 1894 I use to have.

Read this taken from Buffalo Bore's website:



"NEW HEAVY 44 MAGNUM +P+

This new load is designed for only certain revolvers that have the cylinder length to handle it. They are as follows. Ruger Red Hawk, Ruger Super Red Hawk, Ruger Super Blackhawk or Vaquero, Freedom Arms Model 83, Taurus Raging Bull and Dan Wesson Revolvers. Suitable rifles include T/C Encore, "modified" Marlin 1894, Winchester 1894, any rifle with a falling block action and the Handi Rifle.

What do we mean above by “modified” Marlin? Marlin (for an unknown, not well thought out reason) is using a very slow rate of twist (1/38 inches) on their 1894 chambered in 44 mag. Because of this slow rate of twist, the heaviest bullet that the factory Marlin will stabilize is about 270grs. Other firearm makers that chamber for the 44 mag all use a much faster rate of twist so that their guns will stabilize and therefore accurately shoot bullets over 300grs. Many folks today want their 44 magnums to be able to utilize the heavy 300gr. and heavier bullets—Marlin has not figured this out. If you want decent accuracy out of our new +p+ load in a Marlin, it will need to be rebarreled with a twist rate of roughly 1/20 inch. I have Dave Clay rebarrel all my Marlin 1894’s with a faster twist barrel. A 44 magnum that wont accurately shoot 300gr. or heavier bullets is useless to me. Call him at 817-783-6099 for pricing."

Speer manual states that their test gun shot 300gr. bullets in the 1-38" twist barrel just fine, FYI...

Some brands of 300gr. bullets could be longer and not stablize.

Speer manual states that their test gun shot 300gr. bullets in the 1-38" twist barrel just fine, FYI...

Some brands of 300gr. bullets could be longer and not stablize.

I'll play with bullet selection a little more this summer but for now, for those who have had accuracy problems, could you tell us the bullet weights and types. I believe from the twist rate that 270 grains and down should be fine. 270 to 300 maybe ok and above that rather likely to key hole but heck I'm new to this gun. Who has more data?

I have a 222 thats a terrific shooter, unless you use longer bullets. Same thing must be happening here. I'm ok with the light bullets anyway.