1894c marlin

[jballs918]

just wondering if anyone has used cb in 38 in this model. i may end up getting one instead of a pistol. please any thoughts on it

jason

[45 2.1]

You asking about the tuned 1894CBC in 38 special? If so, it is a jewel and worth having.

[jballs918]

not sure on that one 45, it just says 1894c they got one at big 5 for 379 bucks is that a good deal

[imashooter2]

Lots of folks have shot cast .38 Special loads in their 1894C's and they work just fine. The Big 5 rifles are a pretty good deal. No reason not to get one if they strike your fancy.

Pluses, I hit a lot easier with a rifle than a revolver. Minuses, they don't conceal well and you have to be pretty tall to wear the holster.

[Jack Stanley]

I really enjoy mine using .38's , from wadcutters to heavies it shoots them all pretty well .
Wadcutters are loaded one at a time but at twenty-five yards cuts a ragged hole in the target . Semi-wadcutters don't feed in mine very well at all but single shot is fine . I have a LBT mold for a 185 grain flat point that has a profile like a jacketed bullet and it feeds real well .
It's a great walk-about carbine , mine has been in the woods with me some and is never a bother to have .

Jack

[9.3X62AL]

JB--

If the local Big 5 had a 94C in 357 at 380 bucks, I'd get one. Strangely enough, I've never owned a rifle in this caliber. The cartridge is my absolute favorite all-time handgun round, so not having a 357 levergun--while owning lever rifles in 25-20, 32-20, and 44-40--is a little hard to understand.

[NVcurmudgeon]

I have been intrigued by Cobb Mt Mac's Marlin 1894 in half magazine .32/20 configuration, ever since I saw it on a rainy weekend and could not shoot it. If it shoots as good as it looks one of those will be high on my wish list, hope he brings it to NCBS!

[cobbmtmac]

NVcurmudgeon.

My B-in-Law alerted me of your post. Yes I am bringing my new Marlin1894CL half mag. to the NCBS 06. Lots of rain, 9'4" (so far since Jul 1.) has held me up on most of my desired shooting. I have it equiped with the Williams, WGRS receiver sight that we mounted when you were here and a Lyman 17 front sight that with your help is a match. It took some time getting the front sight and then I could not get the dovetailed original front sight out without fear that I would harm this fine rifle. It was some time before I could see my Gunsmith Dave in Ukiah, but that happened last week. the sights are mounted and sighted in, Dave says pretty close. Everyday I have planned to shoot it, rain has come. Tomorrow Mon. 4/24 I plan to try again with some loads plus and minus 8grs. of 2400 suggested by Deputy Al. Will let you know the results.

You are certainly welcome to shoot it at NCBS 06. as well as anyone else that wishes. I have been able to shoot my Springfields several times with for me good results. However, the credit goes to the Ohaus 30-190S and to the guys that found it for me. I thank you. I plan on shooting one of them tomorrow as well as some expiermental loads in my Marlin 336. 30-30. I have a relatively new Ohaus 30-170F mould and have loaded 13, 13&1/2 & 14 gr. of 2400. with hopes of course of good results at least out of one of the loads.

See you all at NCBS 06, Mac

[cobbmtmac]

To: NVcurmudgeon, Deputy Al, and other CB nuts that care to read this:

First of all, last night the lovely Marlene fixed me a wonderful Elk Rib-Eye steak like only she can fix. I thank the provider, I feel like Isaac being provided for by Esau without the interference of Jacob.

Now to my day at the range with my new Mary-Lyn Model 1894CL, half mag. with 6 grove barrel, also with trigger work @ 3&1/2 lb. pull. I use boolits from a Lyman 4-cav 311316, 115gr, they drop at .313.5-.314.5. I loaded both .312 and .313 using 7&1/2, 8, & 8&1/2grs. of 2400. All shots at 50yds. I shot some 3 shot and some 5 shot groups. The 8&1/2gr. averaged 2.34" with 2.85" being the largest. the 7&1/2 gr. were much better and averaged 1.8". The best as recommened by Deputy Al was 8 grs. 2-5 shot groups at 1.25" & 1.30", a couple of 3 shot groups at about 1". Then there was 1-3 shot group that I thought my spoting scope was fooling me, it measured .52" outside to outside. I should have vacuum packed this fine rifle and put it away, but no, I had to try a couple more shots and ran that measurement all the way down to 1.20". Anyway I think the rifle will even get better. I don't know whether or not I will be able to keep up.

I will experiment with the .312 vs. .313 a little later. I could not see any difference.

My model 336 micro-grove 30-30, with a Denver/Redfield 2-7 scope which I got from a collecter of such things in Idaho It has also had some trigger work. This one was shot at 100yds. I used 13.5 grs. of 2400, my mould is a Ohaus 30-170F, sized at .310. I had 2-3 shot groups at 1.90" & 1.40", then a 5 shot groups @ 2.30" and quit with a 5 shot group @ 1.40".

All in all it was a good day for me, Mac

[jballs918]

are the micro groves going to be a problem for cb, if so then i might have to use the others eeekk.

[imashooter2]

are the micro groves going to be a problem for cb, if so then i might have to use the others eeekk.

The new 1894's are Ballard rifled, not micro groove.

[9.3X62AL]

Mac et al--

It's about time to get things in order for NCBS, isn't it! I'll drag along the Marlin 1894CCL in 32-20 also, so folks can try out an octagon barrelled/full-length magazine variant as well. As an aside, it was fortuitous that the date for this meeting got pushed back in yet another way--the week of May 8 looks like it will get screwed up with a court appearance of at least 2 days' duration.

That's pretty good results--esp. if the barrel/rifle is new. My 94CL x 25-20 took several hundred rounds before its poetic tendencies with cast boolits started to leave. It was good to go from Day 1 with Speer 75 FP's, but took some shooting to do the right things with real boolits. My CCL x 32-20 tends to throw a flyer or 2 in a ten-round group that is otherwise pretty decent--not as good as yours, though. It needs to get fired more before making judgements about its accuracy potential. Right now, Lyman #311316 and 8.0 grains of 2400 seems to be its go-to load.

How many shopping days until NCBS?

[NVcurmudgeon]

Mac, good shooting with both Marlins, especially the .32/20. Looking forward to shooting yours and Al's both in only 3 1/2 weeks!

[cobbmtmac]

curmug. & Dep. Al.

Thanks guys, Will see you at the shoot

Mac

[9.3X62AL]

Jason--

Sorry for going so far afield with your question. As stated above, the recent Marlin 1894C variants have Ballard-type 6 groove rifling. That said--I have an older Marlin Model 62 levergun in 30 U.S. Carbine that just dotes on both Lee Soup Cans and Lyman #311316 if the boolits are sized at .311". This rifle has the allegedly evil Microgroove rifling, and I've run both boolits well past 1800 FPS with good accuracy. In fact--the castings shoot better than the jacketed boolits do. The twist rate is 1:20", which may be lead-friendlier than 1:12" 30 caliber barrels (Marlin 30-30's), not sure as to that. I only know that mine works well.

[Char-Gar]

Jason, Al et. al. ...... I think the myth about the Marlin MG barrels not being cast bullet friends has been laid to rest by now. With a proper bullet fit, these barrels will shoot cast as well as any.

Beartooth Bullets has a neat little chart giving the Marlin MG groove diameters as measured from a number of rifles. This chart shows as we already knew that MG barrels are .001 to .002 larger in the groove than normal. Because of the shallow riflings they also run .002 to .004 larger accross the lands. Many molds don't cast bullets of the right size to fit these barrels.

My Marlin 336A in 30-30 will shoot cast at full snort (2.2K fps) speed as well as it does jacketed. All it takes is a bullet that fits. I size my bullets .311 and the nose is .304.

MG barrels are "special needs" barrels, but are 100% cast bullet friendly with bullets that fit. In this regard they are no different from most other barrels. There is not much future is shooting bullets that don't fit in any type of barrel.

[9.3X62AL]

Full agreement, Chargar. Well stated.

[jballs918]

ok guys i just put it in layaway the other day, i got it for 335. i cant wait to get it out. i also was wondering does anyone know a good scope rail for this gun, i want to run the high rings also. any ideas

[9.3X62AL]

Good price, Jason.

I used a Redfield-type base on the 1894CL in 25-20, and I had to remove the rifle's factory rear sight so that the base would fit. I REALLY like the Redfield/Leupold scope mounting system, but it sacrifices the rear sight in the process.

Maybe someone using a Weaver-type base on an 1894 Marlin will weigh in here. I would be interested to know if the Weaver base avoids the rear sight, too.

[Bullshop]

Good price, Jason.

I used a Redfield-type base on the 1894CL in 25-20, and I had to remove the rifle's factory rear sight so that the base would fit. I REALLY like the Redfield/Leupold scope mounting system, but it sacrifices the rear sight in the process.

Maybe someone using a Weaver-type base on an 1894 Marlin will weigh in here. I would be interested to know if the Weaver base avoids the rear sight, too.

I put a one peace Weaver base on the 25/20 from last weeks GS. With an old set of Weaver low rings and a 3x9 Bushnell the rear sight is still in place.
Did have to lay it down though. No problem with the Marlin pivoting rear sight though.
BIC/BS