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Posted: 8/21/2025 1:05:40 PM EDT
| Pretty straight forward… I have an opportunity to pick up with a Marlin 336 SBL or a 1895 SBL. This will be my first lever action and the only real difference is the chambering. So which should I go with and why? |
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Iowa requires deer rifles to be .35 cal or larger . 1895 SBL 45-70 1894 SBL 44 mag 1894 SBL .357 Are all Iowa legal calibers. The 336 is blue I would prefer stainless. The 336 is most often 30-30 so not legal As far as a discussion of 45-70 vs 44 m vs .357 the 45-70 ammo is expensive and better if you reload . Note the Barnes 300 TSX loaded with the max powder charge listed in the Barnes manual 50.0 gr AA1680 average muzzle velocity is 2284 ft per sec - significantly faster than factory Barnes ammo. 44 mag and .357 are the most user friendly calibers to learn to reload. Example : a 44 mag carbine loaded with a 240 gr Horniday 23.5 gr H110 has 1686 ft per sec muzzle velocity. 100 yds and closer 44 mag, past 100 yds 45-70 is my suggestion. The 45-70 is adequate for any large game. The down side of 45-70 is ammo cost - you pretty much have to reload if you want to shoot it. Hogdon recommends StaBall Match powder which produces great velocity at lower trap door pressures. Refer to reloading manual to verify loads. |
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What ya going to be doing with it? Hunting, HD or plinking? I have a L/A in 5 calibers. I don’t shoot the 45-70 (1895G)much, can’t hunt with it in my AO, but I can w/ 2 others. The 44, a Henry, has taken a few whitetails under 100yrds, no problems. The 357, a 1894, is a fun plinker with 158grn 38 Spcl rounds and a can, very quiet. I also inherited a Marlin in 30-30 and one in 35Rem, both kinda beaters, haven’t shoot either of them much, like the 45-70, can’t hunt with either here. The 35Rem would be my choice if I could. My favorite is the 1894, fun & cheap to shoot and the wife, her friends and the kids like it. Then the Henry, good compact firearm and can take anything we hunt here at the range we usually hunt at. My son uses it the most. The 1895g is a fine weapon, but expensive to shoot and as stated above I can’t hunt with it here. I would hunt with it if I was in an area I could. Very compact, set up with a scout scope which I like. |
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. - Thomas Jefferson
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1894SBL in 44 mag is the most versatile gun. 38 special subs are a hoot to shoot and 357 mag is still soft shooting. It will take deer but is one of the smallest and least efficient bullets for taking game while being on the approved caliber roster. 44 mag can have much heavier and harder hitting bullets making it much better for hunting while still being a soft shooter and being cheap enough to plink with. More so if you reload. 45-70 is a awesome round and I’d love to get one but it just not cost effective to shoot often even if reloading. Unless you’re going after elk, moose or a large bear breed, I’d say it’s overkill for 99% of uses. All that said, I don’t want any safe queens, I want a shooter that I’ll take out a lot more frequently,. |
My Ruger Marlin SBL 44 Mag is one of my favorite rifles. I bought it primarily to be used a handy tree stand gun for whitetail hunting in the forest where 75-100 yds is the furthest I can see. It has a lot of utility though, especially with both an LPVO and simple red dot sight optics on QD return to zero mounts.  
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Originally Posted By GimmeLibertee: My Ruger Marlin SBL 44 Mag is one of my favorite rifles. I bought it primarily to be used a handy tree stand gun for whitetail hunting in the forest where 75-100 yds is the furthest I can see. It has a lot of utility though, especially with both an LPVO and simple red dot sight optics on QD return to zero mounts. https://i.postimg.cc/VLnMbM5h/IMG-5209.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/Y9cT3V4q/IMG-4881.jpg Nice, I have it’s little brother, 1894 in .357. Attached File |
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By GimmeLibertee: My Ruger Marlin SBL 44 Mag is one of my favorite rifles. I bought it primarily to be used a handy tree stand gun for whitetail hunting in the forest where 75-100 yds is the furthest I can see. It has a lot of utility though, especially with both an LPVO and simple red dot sight optics on QD return to zero mounts. https://i.postimg.cc/VLnMbM5h/IMG-5209.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/Y9cT3V4q/IMG-4881.jpg @GimmeLibertee What LPVO is that? How do you like it? |
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Originally Posted By steve8140: @GimmeLibertee What LPVO is that? How do you like it? Leupold VX-3HD 1.5-5x20 with illuminated reticle. It works very well on this rifle. I wouldn’t hesitate to put a VX-Freedom 1.5-4x on it either, especially for the weight savings, however I like the illuminated reticle thst the VX-3HD has. |
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Originally Posted By MidMichHunter: Nice, I have it’s little brother, 1894 in .357. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/153483/IMG_0418_jpeg-3612300.JPG Very nice. I just picked up a can for mine too. TBAC Fly 45. It’s only 6.0 oz. in its short, direct thread configuration. |
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Originally Posted By GimmeLibertee: My Ruger Marlin SBL 44 Mag is one of my favorite rifles. I bought it primarily to be used a handy tree stand gun for whitetail hunting in the forest where 75-100 yds is the furthest I can see. It has a lot of utility though, especially with both an LPVO and simple red dot sight optics on QD return to zero mounts. https://i.postimg.cc/VLnMbM5h/IMG-5209.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/Y9cT3V4q/IMG-4881.jpg Those are slick. I feel the same as you do about my Henry .44 X but if your rifle had been available when I bought mine I probably would have went with the SBL, if only for the Jurassic World vibes.  .44 is an awesome carbine round. I bought mine for fun, hunting, HD rifle in AWB areas (180 Remingtons are going over 2000fps), 'muh camp gun' (hardcast 300s) and fun. 🤠 .22 and .44 are a fantastic levergun combo if you don't need a big gun. I want to put a Leupold 2.5x20 on mine, I have one on an AR and have been debating playing musical scope chairs. |
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Attached File From top to bottom- 1894 in .357 with a Leupold Delta point & AAC Ti Rant 45 Henry Big Boy in .44 Mag with a Vortex 1.75 x 5 1895g in 45-70 with a Leupold FX-II SCOUT 2.5X28 I’d like to pick up a smaller can, the Ti Rant is rather large. Unfortunately the Henry & 1895g don’t have threaded barrels and I’m not sure I’ll get them treaded, so no cans for them. The 1894 is new, got it late spring, a lot of fun to shoot. My son has used the Henry to drop a few whitetails, a solid choice for them in our area. The 1895g is a solid firearm, shoots & handles well, I do like the Scout setup, just need to go some where I can hunt with it. |
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By MidMichHunter: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/153483/IMG_0099_jpeg-3612910.JPG From top to bottom- 1894 in .357 with a Leupold Delta point & AAC Ti Rant 45. I’d like to pick up a smaller can, the Ti Rant is rather large. ECCO TLX all the way. It is the perfect can for my .357 Trapper. Out of stock now, but rumor is they'll be back soon 
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Originally Posted By MidMichHunter: I’d like to pick up a smaller can, the Ti Rant is rather large. Unfortunately the Henry & 1895g don’t have threaded barrels and I’m not sure I’ll get them treaded, so no cans for them. I just picked up a TBAC Fly 45 for my 44 Mag SBL. In its short configuration and with a direct thread adapter, it’s 6” long and weighs only 6.0 oz. TBAC also makes the Fly 9 (9mm) that I assume is even lighter. |
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