I want a lever 44 mag,and I want accuracy who is best Winchester or Marlin.Which is a better handeling rifle.It will be a 100 yard or less bush gun.I like the looks of the Winchesters,Trapper model,Timber scout,and maybe the long barrel Legacy.I kind of want the short barrel quick off hand type.The only marlin I saw was the 1894 who is the best.
44 magnum what should I choose
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I'm sure any of the rifles you mentioned will provide good service. You won't go wrong choosing the Marlin 1994.
I wouldn't leave the Rossi/EMF clones of the Winchester '92 off the list. Those are pretty nice rifles for the money, accurate, and available in 44 mag. I've got another one due to arrive from Steve's Gunz any day now, all slicked up for cowboy action, but it'll see hunting duty, too. Mine will sport a 24" octagon barrel and case colored receiver, along with some tweaking and a few modifications done by Steve (who is also the EMF warrantee work guy).
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16 Posts
You are going to get a lot of opinions on this.
Winchester and Marlin make good rifles.
Your desicion depend on which twist rate in the barrel you want.
Winchester has a twist rate that will allow you to shoot bullets larger than 300 gr bullets with stability.
Marlin's twist rate won't let you shoot these heavier bullets with stability.
personally I like the Marlin. If i need a bigger bullet than 300 gr. myself I'm going to be using a different rifle anyway, but that's my personal preference.
Any of the rifles you mentioned are good rifles. The decision should be based on whether you decide if you want to use the really heavy bullets or not. I don't know about the winchesters (you may want to check this out) on the marlin you would have to have a gunsmith to make adjustments to the carrier to load the heavier bullets and will prevent you from loading .44 specials from the tube magazine. If you also want to use .44 specials this may be a consideration.
Winchester and Marlin make good rifles.
Your desicion depend on which twist rate in the barrel you want.
Winchester has a twist rate that will allow you to shoot bullets larger than 300 gr bullets with stability.
Marlin's twist rate won't let you shoot these heavier bullets with stability.
personally I like the Marlin. If i need a bigger bullet than 300 gr. myself I'm going to be using a different rifle anyway, but that's my personal preference.
Any of the rifles you mentioned are good rifles. The decision should be based on whether you decide if you want to use the really heavy bullets or not. I don't know about the winchesters (you may want to check this out) on the marlin you would have to have a gunsmith to make adjustments to the carrier to load the heavier bullets and will prevent you from loading .44 specials from the tube magazine. If you also want to use .44 specials this may be a consideration.
I've been poppin' piggys with my Marlin 1894 .44 mag for 30 years now, great little gun I highly recommend. VERY easy to take apart and easy to clean from the chamber end of barrel, remove one screw that's it. I also own a Winchester 94ae which is a very fine gun. As mentioned the '92 clones are also worth a look. I don't think you can make a wrong choice here. I use 240 grain jacketed soft points exclusively so the 1-38 twist not an issue. My biggest pig dropped at 125 yards with one shot. 44 mag big medicine for Wild Boar.
You've probably made your decision and gotten your rifle a long time ago. If anyone else should read this post though, know that I got a Win94 Legacy in .44Mag with a 24" barrel and used it last fall to kill a good sized spike at about 30 yards with a 240gr sjhp. Graveyard dead in 10 steps, bullet exited after a quartering away downhill shot.
I think this gun is somewhat of an enigma, beautifully made and furnished while still very inexpensive. Some would say that it is too long to be a good brush gun but I would disagree. It's narrow profile makes it very easy to carry and the little extra bit of weight hanging off the muzzle makes this a very smooth to swing piece that settles down nicely. Very stable. :agree:
I think this gun is somewhat of an enigma, beautifully made and furnished while still very inexpensive. Some would say that it is too long to be a good brush gun but I would disagree. It's narrow profile makes it very easy to carry and the little extra bit of weight hanging off the muzzle makes this a very smooth to swing piece that settles down nicely. Very stable. :agree:
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807 Posts
Thw Winchester wins the handling test hands down IMO.
Accuracy seems to be debatable. Probably Marlin has the edge on average, although there are some very accurate Winchesters around.
Accuracy seems to be debatable. Probably Marlin has the edge on average, although there are some very accurate Winchesters around.
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75 Posts
if you scope it
If you scope it the marlin has side ejection where some win's have top, if you use a scout mount set up it doesn't matter. also i believe the marlin has laminated and stainless levers now.
If you scope it the marlin has side ejection where some win's have top, if you use a scout mount set up it doesn't matter. also i believe the marlin has laminated and stainless levers now.
Right after I posted here I found out about Winchester's recent dificulties. I honestly don't know if my gun was made in Japan or not. I'd prefer made in America, but there are no easy answers, and this subject is covered in another thread.
I guess the point is that soon the Marlin will be the only choice for those wishing to buy American, and though Marlin makes an excellent product competition will only make it better. Celebrate diversity.
I guess the point is that soon the Marlin will be the only choice for those wishing to buy American, and though Marlin makes an excellent product competition will only make it better. Celebrate diversity.
I own a Winchester Model 94AE in .44 Mag and have never had a LICK of trouble with it. It will take ANY manufacturer ammo I can throw at it and give me 6" groups all day at 100 yards. With iron sights. I'm sure changing shooters might improve those groups, but that's all I can do, personally.
Anyhoo, I also own a Marlin 1895 in 45-70. One thing I CAN say is that the Marlins see more sturdily built. Tighter. That make sense? They are also VERY easy to take apart and clean, etc.
Both are great guns and you will not go wrong with either.
Can't say a lick about Henry's. Never shot one.
[edit] I should also mention that my new Marlin is enroute to the manufacturer because it didn't function properly out of the box. So making a fair assessment of its shooting ability is not fair at this moment. And from what I've seen, it is a fluke. They are typically HIGH quality.
Anyhoo, I also own a Marlin 1895 in 45-70. One thing I CAN say is that the Marlins see more sturdily built. Tighter. That make sense? They are also VERY easy to take apart and clean, etc.
Both are great guns and you will not go wrong with either.
Can't say a lick about Henry's. Never shot one.
[edit] I should also mention that my new Marlin is enroute to the manufacturer because it didn't function properly out of the box. So making a fair assessment of its shooting ability is not fair at this moment. And from what I've seen, it is a fluke. They are typically HIGH quality.
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105 Posts
For those who own the Win 94 Trapper (which I believe is the version with the 16" barrel) I pose one question. How hard does this bad boy kick? I found one at wally world for $365 and put it on lay-away, just in case. I've been wanting to pick up a lever action 44, and with the win 94's going the way of the dodo, thought this would make a good investment, at the very least.
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316 Posts
Check out the Ruger 44 magnum
I know I guy that hunts the sloughs creel bottoms in Eastern South Dakota with a Ruger lever Gun he loved it. I think it has a 4 shot rotary clip.
He's a scope guy but I don't know why you could be happy with iron sights.
longwalker
I know I guy that hunts the sloughs creel bottoms in Eastern South Dakota with a Ruger lever Gun he loved it. I think it has a 4 shot rotary clip.
He's a scope guy but I don't know why you could be happy with iron sights.
longwalker
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Thanks for the info. I found the Win 94 new at wally world for $365 and practically threw it in lay-away. What are your thoughts on this price? I was expecting more, so I jumped on it, but since it's just in layaway, I could return it without trouble.
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37 Posts
I wouldnt count out the Rossi 92's either. Whether it be one imported through EMF or LSI. My 44 Mag Rossi 92 Rock-N-Rolls and is one slick carbine.Good STRONG rifles they are!
Hey Tapehoser... This will probably get a raise out of you but, do you call a six-inch group good? I've got pistols that'll do better than that! What kind of sights are your irons? Maybe a buckhorn would allow that much scatter. I don't mean to upset anyone, I'm just curious.
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