This is so true. I lucked into a limited edition Marlin 1894 years ago. They did a run in stainless with 16" barrels, FO sights, and laminate furniture. this was when no one was making compact lever rifles. They made around 500 each in .357 mag, .41 mag, .44 mag, & .45LC. I found one in .45LC but later sold it as I don't reload.Do you reload? That has a lot to do with enjoying larger calibers, casting bullets as well. For the non reloader I think .357 is the best value.
I shoot more 44-40 than anything, but I reload and cast both. Historical guns can both hunt and be range toys.
I don’t do I think .357 is gonna be it. The Henry big boy large loop side loader seems to be the best in current production guns. I’d loved a JM stamped marlin but they are priced to high lol.Do you reload? That has a lot to do with enjoying larger calibers, casting bullets as well. For the non reloader I think .357 is the best value.
I shoot more 44-40 than anything, but I reload and cast both. Historical guns can both hunt and be range toys.
I don’t do I think .357 is gonna be it. The Henry big boy large loop side loader seems to be the best in current production guns. I’d loved a JM stamped marlin but they are priced to high lol.
16.5 or 20in I can’t really decide. Is the ballistics drastically different?
SnorkoThis is so true. I lucked into a limited edition Marlin 1894 years ago. They did a run in stainless with 16" barrels, FO sights, and laminate furniture. this was when no one was making compact lever rifles. They made around 500 each in .357 mag, .41 mag, .44 mag, & .45LC. I found one in .45LC but later sold it as I don't reload.
An answer you didn't ask for - I choose a Henry Big Boy in .327 Federal Magnum. Mine is the steel carbine version. While I reload, you can get ammo in .327FM, .32H&R mag, and .32 long. I have not had success with the .32 shorts, they always double feed.So been wanting a lever gun for along time and finally ready to pull the trigger but not sure what caliber. This is a fun gun.
.357
.44mag
30-30
45-70
Which one if you had to choose one?
I do own a ruger in .357 so that’s slightly tempting to stay same caliber.
I just acquired a 16" 1894P in .44 mag from a friend last week.
I just not long ago got a Winchester `94 in .30-30. Even though it`s an Angle Eject, (AE), I`m not going to put a scope on it, I want to keep that cowboy look. Unfortunately, the front sight is an awfully narrow piece of steel, so even if I try to put some color on that to aid sight acquisition it won`t really help. Add to that mix, 65-year old eyes, and this is going to be a very close range deer gun. I might be open to some sort of low-profile sight like on yours, tat still mostly keeps the cowboy look, minus the scope. Big Red on here told me about some other sight, but it might require some grinding on the rifle, and I don`t want that.Years ago, I picked up 1894P's in .357 and .44, and never fired them until I recently put a RDS on them. Now they're some of my favorites. I know some claim sacrilege for putting a dot on a levergun, but alas, it's the least objectionable option for me, to be able to see what I'm shooting at. It makes for a lightweight, handy carbine that's quick to get on target. Here's one of them, not sure if the .357 or .44, but they're both set up identical. That said, I would not be in the market at today's prices. None of mine will be for sale anytime soon.
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Do not overlook a Leopold compact 2x or 4x scope on a lever gun for a hunting rig. Small scopes look and Carry fine on a lever action rifle. You don’t need a large bell you want a very long forgiving eye relief.I just not long ago got a Winchester `94 in .30-30. Even though it`s an Angle Eject, (AE), I`m not going to put a scope on it, I want to keep that cowboy look. Unfortunately, the front sight is an awfully narrow piece of steel, so even if I try to put some color on that to aid sight acquisition it won`t really help. Add to that mix, 65-year old eyes, and this is going to be a very close range deer gun. I might be open to some sort of low-profile sight like on yours, tat still mostly keeps the cowboy look, minus the scope. Big Red on here told me about some other sight, but it might require some grinding on the rifle, and I don`t want that.
The full power, modern loads I've shot in .45-70 seemed significantly worse than standard .405 Win to me. In comparison to the nuclear loads I worked up for my .416 Rigby, neither were even close to the same league for heavy recoil.Nearly all my lever guns are old, like 100 years and up. That said, I think my most accurate caliber is 32-40 in both the Marlin 1893 and Winchester 1894. I'm also partial to the 32 WS as it performs better with cast bullets than the 30-30. Pistol calibers in Winchester 1873 and 1892 44-40 would be my favorite, but I do shoot a fair amount of 32-20. For old school power in the 1886 45-70, and for the masochistic looking for a gun that kills on both ends there's the 1895 in 405 WCF.
Modern guns like the Marlin 1895 can be loaded so they loosen you fillings and the 444 will guarantee scope cuts for the unwary.