mariln 1894 44mag vs 45 colt for cast

[dale.l]

Im looking to buy a marlin 1894, which is better for shooting cast 45 colt or 44mag? the one im looking at is a 45 colt with a 24" barrel. The ser# begins with 03if I get one I want to be sure it's not a MG

[Daddyfixit]

Both would work fine, lots of mould choices in 44 & 45. I'd make my choice based more on what are you using it for, cowboy action? hunting? Do you already have a hand gun in one or the other cal?

[x101airborne]

+1, D.... pick one you have a pistol interest in. I love my 44 mag marlin / ruger redhawk combo. Same load w/ Ranch Dog 300 gr. shoots great for both. No hog / deer is safe. 44 special for target, 44 mag for hunting. its all good. if you go 45 colt, try to get a rifle / pistol in 454 casull. They will handle 45 colt like a dream. Same principal.

[Cherokee]

I like the 45 Colt but Daddyfixit has good points. Use ? Handgun in same cal ? Some have good luck with the 44 microgroove but I did not.

[x101airborne]

Cherokee, before you give up on the Marlin MC, give Ranch Dog boolits a try. This saved my Marlin MC.

[prs]

What is the "MG" or "MC" stuff all about? With light loads any straight walled modern case tends to blow back a bit in lever guns, so for Cowboy shoot'n I recommend the 44/40 (do as I say and not as do - mine are 45 Colt). Great advice above about matching your revolters. For hunting, the Marlin rifle will handle hopped-up 45 Colt loads with ease.

prs

[x101airborne]

im sorry, i meant Micro Grooved. I guess fat fingers on the keyboard just hit the wrong keys....

[EDK]

Go to lasc.us and read Glenn Fryxell's article on 1894 Marlins. Lots of data there.

That said, I'm a 44 advocate, but I have 357 rifles also. The 45 requires reloading and there is the problem of your high performance reloads ending up in a Colt SAA or a Ruger New Vaquero...you might learn the hard way why Elmer Keith went to 44 Specials 'way back when! I recently acquired an old model Ruger 45 convertible so an 1894 in 45 Colt may be in my future.

I'd base my purchase on what handguns I have or plan to acquire. While there are differences, a suitable 44 or 45 is more than adequate. AND Uncle Ed has a couple of 30/30 and 45/70 Cowboy rifles that could use some range and hunting time if the 44 isn't adequate...and if that won't suffice, there's a 50/90 Shiloh Sharps too.

Ranch Dog has some excellent boolit designs for 44 Marlins. I don't know what he has for a 45 Colt. Lots of good information and advice for either choice here and over at marlinowners. I'd buy either caliber in a 24 inch Cowboy rifle and head for the Dillon machine.

[geargnasher]

Either caliber would be a good choice, and standard pressure .45 Colt loadings are quite powerful as they are, especially in a rifle.

Micro-groove barrels shoot just fine with cast boolits at full velocity, the fact that it gets a bad rap has more to do with inexperienced/uneducated reloaders than any inherent issue. One thing about MG, the barrels I've seen are usually slicker than cut or button rifled barrels are due to the way MG barrels are made.

One other consideration that is talked about quite a bit is twist rate. Some .44 magnum carbines seem to have a very wrong twist rate for good accuracy with typical boolit weights and velocities, someone more knowledgeable than me should be along shortly to put forth some facts about this.

Gear

[wheezengeezer]

Marlin has used a 1in38 twist for many years .I think some of the newer cowboy guns use a faster twist.My 1979 vintage 1894 will not shoot light cast loads worth a darn.It does shoot 240 to 250 gr cast quite well at 1725 FPS or so.

[Cherokee]

x101Airborne - I gave up on the MG Marlin back in 1980's, sold it. I am so happy with my 45 Colt LA rifles (3) that I don't feel inclined to try the 44 again. But I do know now (I been educated) that they can be made to shoot fine.

[Bambeno]

Get one of both.

[shooterchris]

Get one of both.

X2

As long as you have a good mold the 44 will shoot. Ranch Dog seems to be the preference with these guys. I would suggest sizing the 44 to .431-.432. Undersized bullets seem to be the kiss of death for accuracy in these rifles in a 44.

[Mk42gunner]

dale.l,

To answer your question, a Marlin with a S/N starting with 03 should have been made in 2003, I believe. It should also have ballard (standard) style rifling. Look down the barrel and count the lands and grooves, the .45 Colt should have six groove rifling, IIRC.

Robert