Marlin Lever Gun in 44 Mag with standard cut rifleing Not Micro-Groove

[45-70 Chevroner]

I saw this Marlin at the park and swap. The guy wanted $450.00 it was in good to very good condition, I had to pass on it for lack of money. I offered to trade him a Browning 1911-22 in new condition in the box, no luck. He said he could sell the rifle but could not sell the 22 because of the lack of available ammo. Sure would like to have that rifle. Oh well there will be other days and more Park and Swaps.

[Shuz]

The Marlin you saw with the Ballard rifling still has the 1:38" twist, provided it is the stock bbl. Too slow for the .44 mag in my experience. I've had a couple of Marlin 1894's down thru the years, with both Micro-Groove and Ballard bbls and I've tried all kinds of cast boolits of all kinds of sizes and hardnesses and could never get any to shoot as well as my Winnie Trapper .44 mag, so I sold them. Interestingly, my .444 Marlin's also have the dreaded 1:38" twist, but I can get them to shoot because I'm driving them over 2100fps!

[RPRNY]

The micro-groove barrels are 1:38. The Ballard barrels are 1:20.

[45-70 Chevroner]

It had the square bolt, so it was an older one. Just from memory of a week ago I am pretty sure it had a faster twist than 1 in 38. The barrel was only 20" long and I am sure the twist made a full turn in the barrel. Neither here nor there it is probably gone.