Marlin 1894 44 Questions

[Blazin]

I've been wanting a 44 Mag/Spec lever action, and after much research I've settled on a Marlin. I've read some informative threads on this forum, but (since most of my revolver shooting is with Specials) I have a few questions:
1. How well do 44 Specials feed through these guns?
2. How much velocity increase do you see with 44 Specials?

I will predominantly be shooting cast boolits.

Thanks,
Blazin

[Seafarer12]

Do you reload? I have a Navy Arms 357 that doesn't like 38's a whole lot so I just load light 357's for it. I load 158 grain casts to about 900 fps. Just about like a hot 38 +p.

[runfiverun]

#1 should, maybe, probably will.
#2 100 to 300 fps depends on your loads and what powder you use.

[leadeye]

I have had good luck with my old microgroove 1894 using RD 265's and Lil Gun powder. 296 and H110 are winners as well. These will give you best performance out of the rifle. I don't shoot specials but put various power level magnums through the gun as well. The RCBS 240 SIL GC with 2400 is a a good round for both my Ruger and the Marlin sized to .431

[Sprue]

I know you're inquiring about the 44mag/spl but if its any consolation my 1894C in 357 digests 38 spl as well as the magnums. Never a hicup. My 38 spl boolits are SWC's.

I shoot a lot of 44 mag in pistol and yet to load the first 44 spl. Around here its much easier to come by mag brass as opposed to spl. Course it all depends on what you have readily available.

[beagle]

The M1894 Marlin digests .44 Specials all right but you have to understand that ejection will not be as positive.

The Marlin extraction system is set up for the .44 Magnum case. This depends on the case mouth being retained by the receiver until it contacts the ejector and is being pulled out by the extractor. With the magnum, the ejector is "timed" correctly. With the special case, you run out of case to hold the rim back and it kind of tumbles to the right when it clears the receiver. Then, you get to the ejector and it attemps to kick and the case rim isn't there.

So expect some jams with special cases. But they'll work./beagle

[Blazin]

The M1894 Marlin digests .44 Specials all right but you have to understand that ejection will not be as positive.

The Marlin extraction system is set up for the .44 Magnum case. This depends on the case mouth being retained by the receiver until it contacts the ejector and is being pulled out by the extractor. With the magnum, the ejector is "timed" correctly. With the special case, you run out of case to hold the rim back and it kind of tumbles to the right when it clears the receiver. Then, you get to the ejector and it attemps to kick and the case rim isn't there.

So expect some jams with special cases. But they'll work./beagle

Very insightful, thanks. Any idea how Winchester's extraction system compares?

[runfiverun]

my 92 throws special cases fine it feeds them fine too.the 357 rossi on the other hand don't like to feed 38's but ejects them fine.