My side job shop has a new Ruglin .44 and its a real beauty. Even at $1200.00 I think it is worth it as long as it shoots as good as it looks. The Italian and Japanese 92's go for that much or more. I bet my local shop could sell one for less than that.
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
The Marlin site says 1:20". I am hoping that is true!
Another good question is what the groove diameter is! Has anyone slugged one to see if the .44 is "normal" .44 groove diameter or the oversize SAAMI spec for rifles? Mine like boolits of at least 0.433".
The pics of the gun on the website look very nice! I have a 1980's vintage 1894 that has plain... make that ugly, wood and the fit and finish is poor with gaps around tangs. I am sure that Ruger used the nicer looking guns for the adds but if they are even remotely close to what we will be buying they will be nicer than mine!
Longbow
I have put more rounds through pistol caliber lever actions than another other CF rifles. They are just a lot of fun to shoot for ringing steel.
I did sell the .44 Mag Marlin, Rossi .45LC, and two .357 Uberti rifles but kept the two Marlins. One in .38 and the other in .357. I did not shoot them much when the cost of primers went nuts. With "off brand" primers down under $60/k they will be seeing more use this year.
IMO, $1000 is lot of money for a "fun toy" but worth it. If you are a younger guy, they will provide a lifetime of fun. Even if you only live another 20 years, it comes to $50/year. If you die sooner, you can't take the money with you anyway.
I was disappointed with the review Idaho Guy did on his new gun. The accuracy was poor. I hope it was due to using factory ammunition, but I fear that is not the whole story. I have not seen any other reports wrt the accuracy of these guns. My old ones put 10 rounds into an inch at 30 yards with mouse phart loads and that was all I needed for CAS. I plan to test them at 100 yards this year with .38+P loads and will report back.
Don Verna
Ruger and Mr. Buchanan give us hope. I look forward to the Cowboy action shooters really working them hard. If they're as rugged as the old Vaqueros it will be a winner.
HOLLYWOOD Collector Left hawg 405#, right one 315#, had my elderly neighbors granddaughter treed and why I got the call. Both charged, one from 20' and one from 40'. Thanks to the good Lord and Samuel Colt I won. May God bless our Lawmen & Soldiers!
My LGS has several recent ones and I see some very inconsistent quality. They have two Lipseys 5" blue GP100s. One is great, with tight lockup and good wood, the other is sloppy and has grips that won't get tight. I have the good one set aside for me.
I've also noticed that none of the wood grips fit all that well any more, which is actually surprising to me as I would expect in this CNC world they would be better than ever. Maybe not like the hand-fitted grips of yesteryear, but all pretty tight and consistent.
I have seen and handled a new 336 and it was as smooth as I've seen on a new gun. The fit and finish was very good. If I did'nt already have a Glenfield 30A I would be sorely tempted but I am waiting for a 35 cal. At the same time, I got to look over a new Rossi that had a remarkable resemblance to a 336 and it was as good as the Marlin except for the polishing of the metal finish, but impressive for the $.
IT AINT what ya shoot--its how ya shoot it. NONE of us are as smart as ALL of us! The more I travel, the more I like right where I am.
I picked up my Ruger Marlin 1894 in .44 mag for $1060 out the door. Haven't shot it yet. I slugged the barrel and it measured .430. I'm replacing the safety with with the Beartooth Mercantile saddle ring and taking the recoil pad off and replacing with a factory hard plastic buttplate. Seems like a really nice levergun. Now if they would just make a Marlin 39A mountie. They would get more of my money. The gun store also had a .357 mag version right beside it.
Handling coal of 1.620” would have been a nice ask.
If Ruglin brings back the 336 Texan I will sell a kidney to get one. My favorite hunting rifle of all time hands down. Took a giant buck with my 1976 edition that is on my living room wall.
Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.
I saw a new one today at a new gun shop not too far away. 1894 in 44 mag. very nice, action smooth and slick. blue was nice on whole gun and walnut was nice also great fit and finish with $1000 price tag. seems every bit as good as old jm marlins
I agree, these are the best Marlins ever produced. I bought a new 1894 in .357 and took it home for a good look and try out. Went back the next day and bought another one.
Only a fool would attempt it, and God help me I am that fool.
I just got a 44 mag. this morning. Academy had one in stock for $999. 1/20" twist, conventional rifling, and it slugged out at .4296". I won't be able to shoot it for a couple of days, but it will feed a Magnum case with a 429421 crimped in the crimp groove. It also feeds a WC round at 1.542" OAL. Wood to metal fit is great and I like how they relieved the wood just a tiny bit behind the top tang to prevent cracks due to recoil. The action is/was a bit stiff, but I took it apart, cleaned it, and lubed it properly and it is a lot better. The wood is better than any I ever saw on an older Marlin. The forearm is slimmer than the old Marlin .44 and the gun just seems to handle a bit more "livelier" ) for lack of a better term) than the older .44s. If this shoots as good as it looks I'm in love!
I might add, that if this .44 shoots well, I may just sell my older 336s in 30/30 and .35 to someone who likes the "JM" mark and replace them with "Ruglins".
What is the twist rate? I don’t understand why most rifle makers give their carbines much slower rifling twist than .44 mag revolvers. I hope Ruger has corrected this in the new Marlins. I have one of the early Remlins but thankfully it is well made and shoots great. Interested to see how these newest ones are finished and shoot.
Ruglin, I like that. The new Ruger produced Marlins are a sight better than the Remlins, but I like my Marlins with a JM stamp and no crossbolt safety.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |