Marlin 1894 Carbine 357 Mag

[Cherokee]

Well I finally pulled the plug and bought one of the new Marlin 1894 Carbines in 357 Mag/38 Special. It will just be a fun gun, plinking and paper, not likely to do any hunting with it, don't do that any more. I have standard loads for my revolvers that cycle in the Marlin so now I'll have to see if they shoot good in it. Cleaned and lubed, ready to go later this week.

 

[Brad]

I like mine except for the poor accuracy. I think I got a bad barrel or something. Mine doesn’t do much better than 6” at 50 with anything but the MP 359640. The 358156 is supposed to shoot great in them but not in mine.

That said, a 357 lever action is a bunch of fun. Might be why I have a Win 92 in 357?

Make sure to take enough ammo. Those little rifles tend to eat a lot.

 

[Cherokee]

I've got 5-600 rounds loaded, should last a day or two. Half of them are the Lee 158 FN, others are NOE's 357135 @ 139 gr.

 

[CZ93X62]

I got tired of waiting on Marlin and Miroku, and bought a Henry Big Boy/steel about 2-1/2 years ago. What a fun rifle! With the OEM open irons, it threatens 2" groups at 100 yards with some old Win Super-X 158 JHP carry loads I had sitting around. It sends Lyman #358156 about 1/2" to 5/8" wider (13.5 grains of 2400), and doesn't shoot the 125 grain JHPs worth a diddly-flop.....Federal factory or Remington handloads. I have a variety of 357 loads to try out in this rifle and to help re-acquaint me with the 6" S&W Model 586 that recently returned from a long sojourn. I want to do this before the summer inferno starts in the low desert, but lots of distractions loom for the next few weeks.

 

[Cherokee]

I've had Win and Rossi 357 LA, none of them were satisfactory for my liking. I hope this one is better. The side eject will help in retrieving brass.

 

[Brad]

I really like Marlin leverguns. Easy to tear down for cleaning. Might be why I have 7?
I wish Marlin made guns with the fit and finish of a Winchester.

 

[Cherokee]

The fit and finish on this new one is not as nice as my older 45 Colt but its still good. The rubber butt pad surprised me.

 

[Brad]

Yes, the rubber pad is humorous. My 1894CB in 45 Colt recoils far more and has a simple plastic buttplate. A rubber pad on a 357 is just not required.

 

[waco]

My 1894 Marlin cowboy likes a fat .361” bullet.
Brad. You should give a bigger bullet at try. Might help out?

 

[Brad]

I can try. Never went that big. Mine seems to have a pretty sharp throat with is part of the trouble.
May need to make a new sizer?

 

[Ben]

A beautiful rifle.
I hope it shoots well for you.
I'm looking forward to seeing some of your progress with this one.

Ben

 

[RBHarter]

I had a JM 38/357 it shared brass an loads with 47' Model 10 and a 74' Sec 6 . It shot very well and wasn't at all fussy about loads .

 

[fiver]

that square throat could be part of the issue, remember the CZ?.

my only 357 lever rifle is a rossi 20" carbine, never fidgeted with the loads for it.
I just feed it something around 150-160grs at 358 and use medium speed powders and it's a happy camper.
never really tried anything else in it.

 

[Cherokee]

Only had time for 35 rounds this morning at an indoor range but all went well. 50 ft group under 2" for both 158 and 125 FN loads, good for my old eyes, fuzzy front sight and target. Can't see any leading in the barrel.

 

[KHornet]

Have a 94 Win in 357 with a 26" BBl, shoots fairly well
with most every thing I put thru it, but has a preference
for Kieth 358429 over a stiff load of 2400..

 

[Rally]

Nice rifle Cherokee. I’ve got the earlier Jm plain stock. Wish I had your wood and checkering. Mine is a little slippery when wearing gloves. I shoot the Noe 180 wfn dp, with 9 hrs Blue Dot, sized .358. One of the two Marlin lever guns I have that doesn’t like fat bullets. I have an old mod 336 in .44 mag that likes .428 bullets also.

 

[Ian]

Rally, for about $163 you can get a finished, checkered, black walnut stock set at MidwayUSA. Probably have to do some whittling and bedding for a perfect fit, but not a bad deal all things considered.

 

[Cherokee]

Update: Got a little outdoor range time this afternoon. Shot various loads at 35 & 50 yd steel with good hits once I got the sights on. Just midrange stuff for plinking. Anyway, shot one 8 shot group on paper at 50 yd.


One went low for 2.84" spread with 7 in 2.11". Not bad considering my eyes and that the front bead covered the whole black circle. Shoots a little right. A better trigger would have helped. The little Lee 125 RF was clocked at 1050 fps via LabRadar. Good cycling of the Lee 158 RF as well...but, its a real PITA to get either of those rounds loaded into the magazine. Even using a dowel "pusher" was not easy, took the fun out of it. My Marlin 45 Colt loads a lot easier.

 

[Brad]

Nice shooting.
I think some of the ease of loading the 45 Colt is because the case head is larger and gives more room for pushing.

Sure wish my Marlin 357 show that well.

 

[fiver]

probably not too hard to take that gate out and work it over some to easy the access.
I could explain the process for a Win 92 [and I bet Brad can now too] but the marlin shouldn't be too hard, and I would bet a new lighter spring is simple enough to get.

that little LEE is showing some pretty good promise there, get it lined up to the sights and it would work quite well for bunny's and the like if needed.