Bought one of the new Marlin 1894s in .357 Mag.

[Idaho45guy]

This will be my third Marlin 1894 I have owned since 2007. The first was a used JM I bought in Arizona for $400. Chambered in .357 Mag, it was supposed to be a working rifle when I lived out in the boonies. I had javelina terrorizing my lawn and dogs, and a cougar in the area going after the javelina. But it was just too nice to have bouncing around on an ATV or thrown in the Jeep.



I got divorced a few years later and sold it for $1200 to some lawyer in SF wanting to play cowboy. It paid for my move from Arizona to Idaho.

The second one was a new Remington made 1894 in .45 Colt bought in 2015. It was supposed to be a camp carbine for the Idaho woods. I bought it online for $750 and was very disappointed when it arrived. It was like a cheap imitation of my JM 1894. The checkering was crude, the action was awful, fit and finish was subpar, and it would not reliably function. I joined a Marlin forum to try and figure out how to get it to run, and it never did. I sold it for $700 a year or so later.



Today's purchase was a total impulse buy. I have long since replaced the 1894 with a Henry Black rifle in .45 Colt as a camp/hiking/ATV carbine and it is awesome! Great rifle!

But today while visiting the local gun shop on my birthday, I spotted one of the new Ruger-made 1894s in .357 Mag. I inspected it and it was much, much better than the Remington-made 1894 in terms of finish and wood to metal fit. The checkering was much better, and it just seemed like a nicer rifle overall. Still not as nice as my JM 1894, but getting closer. The price was $959, which was less than most are going for online. With my military discount and birthday gift card, I paid $946 total for the rifle and a box of ammo, including taxes.

I'm planning on shooting it tomorrow and praying that it functions better than the Remlin.

[r80rt]

Nice, I saw one at the local fun shop yesterday, it was impressive.

[dverna]

I hope it works out for you. Looking forward to your range report.

I have two JM 1894's and they will be here when I go home. Two rifles I will never sell.

[kungfustyle]

Happy birthday to you. I love birthdays like that. Great looking rifle.

[Idaho45guy]

Complete range report here:

[Outer Rondacker]

Congrats on the gun and the birthday. You will love it...

[Bloodhound689]

Congrats on the rifle and happy Birthday. Ive been fighting the urge on one of these. Thanks for the review

[Pereira]

Happy belated birthday and congrats on the new toy.

RP

[Bigslug]

Nice! Saw my first Ruglin last week - one of the .44 Mags - and was overall very impressed. Gonna hold out for a Dark series .357, or at least one with a PG stock.

Comment on the video - you were resting on the mag tube for the .38's and back on the wood for the .357's. Might be a factor in the grouping. Eager to see how it does on cast.

[rockrat]

I have probably one of the last Remlins. Must have finally figured out how to make them as fit and finish are good. Its accurate and eats just about anything I feed it. Little jiggling of the lever and it even feeds wadcutters
Hope your new Ruglin works out well

[Mk42gunner]

Glad to read that some one else also buys guns for their own birthday present.

In the early years of this century, I went into the local gunshop to buy a Marlin 1894 in .357 on my birthday. They didn't have one in stock so I bought Winchester 1894 16" barreled carbine instead. I have often regretted that decision.

The worst part is that I still don't have a Marlin in .357.

Robert

[45-70marlin]

I bought one yesterday, Really nice gun. Haven't fired it yet but feeds semi wadcutters in 38 and 357 no problems. I had 2 of the jm marlins and they would not feed them. Ruger did a great job on this one.

[Sig556r]

I think Ruger is doing a lot better job in keeping the legacy

[BFJ]

Very good post. Thanks

[Kosh75287]

OP, if you're a reloader, you should be able to find the particular load that gets the best accuracy and ballistic performance out of your rifle.

[FergusonTO35]

Awesome! Love my '82 model and will never part with it.

[Rapier]

Good to hear of a pleased buyer in todays market. By the way, Jard Triggers makes a new trigger and lever for Marlins if you need an improvement.

[georgerkahn]

This will be my third Marlin 1894 I have owned since 2007. The first was a used JM I bought in Arizona for $400. Chambered in .357 Mag, it was supposed to be a working rifle when I lived out in the boonies. I had javelina terrorizing my lawn and dogs, and a cougar in the area going after the javelina. But it was just too nice to have bouncing around on an ATV or thrown in the Jeep.



I got divorced a few years later and sold it for $1200 to some lawyer in SF wanting to play cowboy. It paid for my move from Arizona to Idaho.

The second one was a new Remington made 1894 in .45 Colt bought in 2015. It was supposed to be a camp carbine for the Idaho woods. I bought it online for $750 and was very disappointed when it arrived. It was like a cheap imitation of my JM 1894. The checkering was crude, the action was awful, fit and finish was subpar, and it would not reliably function. I joined a Marlin forum to try and figure out how to get it to run, and it never did. I sold it for $700 a year or so later.



Today's purchase was a total impulse buy. I have long since replaced the 1894 with a Henry Black rifle in .45 Colt as a camp/hiking/ATV carbine and it is awesome! Great rifle!

But today while visiting the local gun shop on my birthday, I spotted one of the new Ruger-made 1894s in .357 Mag. I inspected it and it was much, much better than the Remington-made 1894 in terms of finish and wood to metal fit. The checkering was much better, and it just seemed like a nicer rifle overall. Still not as nice as my JM 1894, but getting closer. The price was $959, which was less than most are going for online. With my military discount and birthday gift card, I paid $946 total for the rifle and a box of ammo, including taxes.

I'm planning on shooting it tomorrow and praying that it functions better than the Remlin.

Happy birthday!!! I bought a Marlin Model 1894 .357 Mag. Carbine S/n 21,049,xxx (1979) in which I put a Bushnell Banner 4x Scope, and it was not a bad rifle -- until I foolishly tried running some .38 S&W Specials through it! Such a jam I had to take it to a gunsmith, who strongly advised against ever trying .38 S&W Specials in it in future -- unless I want another jam!. This bugged me, to say the least. So.... I acquired a Marlin 1894 Cowboy Limited Model 1894CB; .38 Special/.357Mag; S/n 03028xxx on which I put a Leupold FX-II 4X x 33 scope on.
It surely is not "heaven" -- but it is perhaps as close as I'll ever get! The action is butter-smooth; and I can choose ammo (velocity & noise as concerns) as I elect, with no worries re function or getting precisely on target.
I do hope you are as happy with yours as I am with mine!
geo

[FergusonTO35]

Happy birthday!!! I bought a Marlin Model 1894 .357 Mag. Carbine S/n 21,049,xxx (1979) in which I put a Bushnell Banner 4x Scope, and it was not a bad rifle -- until I foolishly tried running some .38 S&W Specials through it! Such a jam I had to take it to a gunsmith, who strongly advised against ever trying .38 S&W Specials in it in future -- unless I want another jam!. This bugged me, to say the least. So.... I acquired a Marlin 1894 Cowboy Limited Model 1894CB; .38 Special/.357Mag; S/n 03028xxx on which I put a Leupold FX-II 4X x 33 scope on.
It surely is not "heaven" -- but it is perhaps as close as I'll ever get! The action is butter-smooth; and I can choose ammo (velocity & noise as concerns) as I elect, with no worries re function or getting precisely on target.
I do hope you are as happy with yours as I am with mine!
geo

Strange, my '82 model eats .38 all day long.

[uscra112]

Just my luck that there's a finally new Marlin in .357 for sale now that I'm too old and decrepit to enjoy one.

Congrats on your purchase! Enjoy it a little extra for me!