Another 1894 Question

[Hickory]

I noticed that on the Marlin website that the 1894 .44 mag is offered with Ballard rifling but still has the same 1-38 twist.
Does anyone know how the Lyman 429640 feeds and shoots with this type of rifling & twist?
Is the quality up to snuff yet, or should I wait another year or two to buy one?

[osteodoc08]

I can't comment to the feeding and accuracy, but the last few marlins I've looked at were every bit as well made as the JM marlins. At least on the things I can inspect at the LGS.

[dragon813gt]

They are on the site but not in stores. If you go off the site you can get an 1894 in 32 H&R Magnum which hasn't been made in many years.

[Hickory]

No one else has any words of wisdom?

[dragon813gt]

Edited because I was wrong about when they switched to Ballard rifling.

[Shuz]

I noticed that on the Marlin website that the 1894 .44 mag is offered with Ballard rifling but still has the same 1-38 twist.
Does anyone know how the Lyman 429640 feeds and shoots with this type of rifling & twist?
Is the quality up to snuff yet, or should I wait another year or two to buy one?

I had a Marlin 1894 in .44 mag with Ballard rifling and the 1:38" twist. It fed the 429640 very well at 1.700 OAL, but it did not have the accuracy that my Winnie trapper with it's 1:20" twist does.

[John Taylor]

The 1 in 36" twist was what the Winchesters had in the 1873 and 1892 rifles. The slow twist works with about a 200 grain bullet loaded to around 1300 FPS. Heavier bullets may tumble with the slow twist. I did a couple long barrels a while back with a 1 in 38 twist and the customers say they are doing well out to 200 yards. The slow twist works well with black powder.

[nagantguy]

The new marlin in 30-30 I just played with was a fine looking and smooth working rifle that shot well, a neighbor just bought it at wally world for under $400 and I thought it was fine. Have seen some of the remilins that left much to be desired but maybe they got it together

[Outpost75]

I have Marlin 1894S Microgroove rifles with 36 twist in both .44-40 and .44 Magnum. Either shoots well with Cowboy style rounded flatnosed bullets up to about 260 grains and 0.7" long with a meplat up to 0.315" diameter. I shoot a nominal caseful, compressed of Alliant RL7, about 22-24 grains depending on the bullet, using plainbased bullets of 1:30 alloy. Rifle velocity is about 1300 fps. These are TEN-SHOT, iron-sight, 100-yard groups fired off an improvised rest while checking velocities on the chronograph. Four-inch, ten-shot groups at 100 yards with an iron-sighted levergun is reality.

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