Hello Gentlemen:

Looking for a new fun gun/SHTF rifle.

1) How reliable are the Marlin lever guns?

2) Which caliber has more advantages-Pros and Cons

3)I wondering if these are good to scope and be reasonably acurate out to 100-125 yards

Thanks in advance

Here's the links
http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/1894_centerfireRifles/1894C.htm

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/1894_centerfireRifles/1894SS.htm

I would go with the 357 as you can shoot most 38 specials in it. The 44 will be cheaper on ammo, as you won't want to shoot many full loads from it, it kicks.

Quoted: I would go with the 357 as you can shoot most 38 specials in it. The 44 will be cheaper on ammo, as you won't want to shoot many full loads from it, it kicks.

How bad is the kick?
The Dirty Harry gun I shot was not as bad as a 40

357 vs 44 mag,  Doesn't 44 mag make an incredulouse hole?

I cannot understand how .44mag is cheaper on ammo.  edit:  OK, the kick makes it cheaper.  Therefore, the .45-70 is much, much cheaper to shoot.

I have the .38/.357 CBII and have used it extensively in SASS matches.  It is built like a battleship.  

If I was pig hunting, I would lean toward the .44, but it is not an issue, because I also have a .45-70 Marlin.

1895 Guide gun in 45/70

I was kicking around getting a marlin .357 lever a while back,decided instead to build another ar,however as to your question,I would go with the .357 due to cost of ammo,and if you reload you will get more rounds per pound of powder.Also there are some hot loads out there that boost the ballistics of the .357 close to a 30-30.

Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone make a stainless .357 lever action rifle?

      Both of the models you listed have "ballard rifleing" . This is what you want and will handle both jacketed and cast. If you are considering a used gun be carefull to avoid "micro-grove" as this type of barrel isn't a great performer with cast bullets.
       The 38/357 will handle all kinds of cheep ammo and is cool for blasting and general shooting fun,great for protection against 2 leg type varmints . Could also be pressed into service in shtf for close range hunting up to medium size deer.
       The 44 is going to be a bit more expensive to buy ammo for if you do a lot of blasting,you really want to learn how to handload,44 is easy to learn on and will save you the most per shell on a factory vs handload type of cost check.The 44 in a rifle is an excelent hunting round at close to medium ranges on up to medium size game, the 44 out of a longer rifle barrel really cooks compared to a pistol. The 44 with full power heavy bullet loads will make you pay attention but compared to most any rifle bigger than a 223 it isn't any big deal .
       Both the 357 and the 44 out of a rifle are heavy bullets going at a moderate speed when compared to most rifle loads so the trajectory is somewhat rainbow shaped. To place a scope on one of these is kind of overkill and makes a fine handy rifle kind of heavy and out of proportition. The factory sights are somewhat slow and downright difficult for my 50 year old eyes. The solutition to this delema is a receiver mounted peep sight. The marlins (and most modern lever guns) are all drilled and tapped for these sights so it is a matter of buying a sight from midway or brownells and getting out your screwdriver set.
The peep is fast and easy to use,it solves many eyeball problems ,it is cheeper than all but the junkier scopes (remember you will need both a scope and some type of mount and rings) and is more durrable than all but the highest dollar scope and mount system .
       I think the marlins are some of the best lever guns,I have the 44 in the cowboy rifle (heavy octagon barrel) and put a tang mounted peep on it . This sight looks right on this gun but truthfully the receiver mounted one is a better sight because the tang mounted model can limit the way you grip the gun and tends to "fold" at the worst times . I really only use this gun as a range toy so it is all fine,your choice is a much better all around gun .
        I have a yearning for the full size 45/70 marlin (you can keep the guide gun,I have shot a couple with fairly hot handloads  and didn't much care for it) but the budget never meshed up with finding one .
I might get a little cash from a car crash(some missed work,some trips to dr officies,odds and ends I have allready written off or paid for out of pocket) and I am thinking of an ar10 type or the marlin. It things work out well possibly both! Truth be I would shoot the marlin more than the ar10.
        Both your choices are fine,lean towards the 44 if you think you will hunt,spend the $40-$70 for the peep before you spend a bunch for mount,rings,and scope. (you will spend more for the rings and mount than for the whole peep sight!) Prepare to have bunches of fun!

The .44 Mag lever good is very versitale, suitable even for dangerous game with the 300Gn loads. However the "micro-groove" Brl may not stabilize hard cast and heavy bullets. Marlin is aware of this and many of their 44mag lever guns do not use to "micro-groove" Brl anymore.

The .357 is a fun plinker but most 357mag ammo may be too fragile for large game at carbine velocities.

Another aspect, one which affected my choice:  Have you either caliber in a revolver?

Marlin rifles are excellent, reliable, accurate, some say stronger actions than Winchester.  Some purists object to the cross bolt safety; I don't really care, as I never use it anyway (why I like exposed hammer firearms).  

I have a .44 magnum 1894 cowboy (couldn';t resist the octagon barrel, though I could have had a round one cheaper), and a matching .22 1897 cowboy.

To go with the .44 I have a few .44 revolvers, hence the first point above.  I like .44 as you can load it to whatever you need.  Make it real light for certain types of practice or nuisance, close range varmints, or heavy to the pressure limit for longer range or dangerous animals.  The .357 is fine as far as it goes, but obviously can't achieve .44 mag. energies, but you can load a .44 as light as a .357 if you want.  I like flexibility.  

Bottom line, I'd say .44, but if you are going to get a revolver like it.  Otherwise, I love .45/70.  

The Marlin 1894 is a little light and kicks a little with a 240gr. bullet in 44Mag. Get a .41 mag 1894.

I have an 1894S in 44 Mag. I shoot 240g XTP reloads in it. Lots of people say the micro groove barrel has crappy accuracy. That's BS. Mine is accurate enough to take deer every year out to 150m using iron sights.
I wouldn't give it up for anything.

Got the 44 mag. took a bear this spring w/ 300gr. federal cast cores. No penetration problems to report. Get the 44 mag.

.44

Get both!




Seriously, I'd go with the .357

+1 for the .357mag

I owned one of the Marlin 1984 in .357 for a while.  It shot .38 Specials just fine.  .357mag is a good man stopper and big enough for deer.  It is also cheaper and more plentiful than .44mag.

Quoted: Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone make a stainless .357 lever action rifle?

Ya beat me to it: The .44 is available in stainless - A very nice feature in a truck/beater gun.

The Marlin Leverguns are very good rifles, the 44 Mag can hit 1700 fps with a 300 Gr. cast bullet through these rifles, which compares favorably with the 454 Casull from a 7.5" Revolver, they hold 10 rounds, they are light, shoulder well and are exceptionally fast for follow up shots. I generally carry a 45-70 Levergun when I carry a rifle (I carry a Revolver most of the time) but I could live with the 94 in a 44 Mag just fine. Spend some time with a Levergun and you will throw rocks at the Boltguns.
I see some ref to the Micro Groove barrels used on some Marlins, they don't have a problem with jacketed bullets, however some don't like lead.

Quoted: 3)I wondering if these are good to scope and be reasonably acurate out to 100-125 yards

why would you need a scope for 125 yards. Iron sights should be plenty good for nailing coke can sized objects/

If you're going to get a scope, buy a small one.  A big scope on a lever gun looks rediculous.

Marlin lever guns are awesome.  You can hardly find a better gun for the money than the 30-30 models.

The 45-70 guns kick so hard they will jerk the snot out of your nose.  no kidding

i would get the 44

I turned 44 yesterday, my wife got me the Marlin .44, 20" round barrel.

I am in love with this gun! Williams peep sight on the receiver makes for easy 2" groups at 50 yards, and I don't shoot open sights well any more. I do a little better with my AR, but I've only shot the Marlin once.

My 12 year old says that it hardly kicks at all, he was shooting it with full power 240 grain loads and he doesn't like the way his 20 gauge kicks with slugs.

I already have a .44, I'll probably use it to hunt deer, so I didn't consider the .357 (besides, I'm not that old yet!)

 Just for fun and SHTF I would say 357 all the way. The 357 out of a rifle is almost a 30-30 and has very little recoil. The 44 out of the same gun has more recoil than you would think. Cruise over to leverguns.com for indepth lever info. I have multiple 44 and 357 carbines and rifles from Marlin, Browning, and Rossi. The 357's  are great guns and will go right through a deer loaded with Speer GD 170's.

Not a Marlin (would love to have one), but I love my 44 mag Trapper.

Get the 44 mag for any serious work. I think it's the best combination of weight and firepower for a pack/camp gun.

Quoted: www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/images/firearmImages/1895G.jpg 1895 Guide gun in 45/70

+1.. I love it.. fun gun.. ammo is kinda spendy vs. 357 or 44 though..

Quoted: Quoted: www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/images/firearmImages/1895G.jpg 1895 Guide gun in 45/70 +1.. I love it.. fun gun.. ammo is kinda spendy vs. 357 or 44 though..

another +1.  I have the stainless.  Great gun

This is the Marlin 444P. Not a suggestion, just showing the scout configuration.

This is the Winchester Timber Scout. Available in .44 Remington Magnum and .30-30 WCF.

Quoted: Quoted: Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone make a stainless .357 lever action rifle? Ya beat me to it: The .44 is available in stainless - A very nice feature in a truck/beater gun.

Yes, a version in .44 is stainless, but no one makes a .357 version.

I have this rifle in .357.  I bought it as a companion to my S&W Model 19 Combat Masterpiece.  I added a rear peep and I love it.  It's a blast to shoot and has never given me a bit of trouble.

I think I'd probably choose the .44.

HH

 Check out his little jewel


Stainless Marlin 357

Thanks for all the help,
I'm glad to here such good reports about both of these Marlins.
The 357 will have a little brother--My 686 Distinguished Combat Magnum

But the 44 Mag in rifle velocities makes me cream all over myself just thinking about it.

Also the 44 is stainless which I am a sucker for(in spite of its lack of stealth)

The Arfcom tradition of get both is calling...
Resistance seems Futile, I must not be....................

Quoted: How bad is the kick?

I've got 2 1892s, both in .44 mag, and if anyone here says they kick, they should ask for their balls back.

45-70