I have been disappointed in the chamber sizes in the '73' and '92'. Do not know about the marlin's chamber.
I am ready to begin my own journey into the 44 WCF because of this large chamber problem with the (Favorite cartridge of mine) the 45 Colt cartridge ... the problem child of the 73 and 92 rifles [ Miruko Japanese built winchesters ].
I am of the impression that the 44-40 chambered lever guns have a more appealing chamber size rather then the rather generous chambers found with the Colt 45 chambers.
Again I have no reports on the Marlin 94 ... either the JM models nor the new Remlin models in 45 Colt.
My question is two fold ...
1- can I please get some info from reloaders on the past as well as present Marlin 94 offerings ... chamber wise ... in the 45Colt? Do they run large like the new Jap-chesters?
2- same querry as to the 44-40 chambers in all three models. Are they generous like the Jap-Chesters chambered in the 45 Colt?
My japchester 92 was large enough that I could finger seat a .457 inch boolit in an unsized fired case. If sizing back for the .454 boolits ... my case life took a spankin and would split after just a few loadings.
My japchester 73 is a bit smaller but the fired and flaired cases will take .455/.456 inch boolits and even tho they do not split as soon ... it still is pretty hard on splitting after a few more loadings then the Colt chambered 92.
If the 44-40 chambers are the same over size in the new 92 or 73 rifles ... then I will not waste anymore hard earned dollars on new rifles that just ruin my brass in just a few loadings.
I have 45 Colt brass fired over and over in my second gen Colt SAA. The new rifles though will take new Rem cases and Starline cases and split them in short order. My old rem and starline brass shot in the Colt ... while losing one every once in a while ... just keep getting loaded and loaded ... and loaded.