1894 Marlin JM 44 mag vs 45lc Factory ammo accuracy

Chiappa, Marlin, Mossberg and non-Rossi Manufactured Pumas plus anything else with a leveraction.
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Re: 1894 Marlin JM 44 mag vs 45lc Factory ammo accuracy

Post by Sarge »

Some of my favorite Ruger/Model 92 loads with chrono results in this thread, Reese/

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=6098
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Re: 1894 Marlin JM 44 mag vs 45lc Factory ammo accuracy

Post by Strawdawg »

I have one from the '70's. It has always been very accurate with 240gr rounds
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Re: 1894 Marlin JM 44 mag vs 45lc Factory ammo accuracy

Post by LittleBill »

Sadly I have no experience with the marlin but it would seem that you would want to try as many different factory loads ( different bullets) as you can to see which one(s) your gun may like, or not like.
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Re: 1894 Marlin JM 44 mag vs 45lc Factory ammo accuracy

Post by Thebige58 »

My experience with every lever action gun I have had that it is important to slug the barrels to know exactly what the bore dimensions are. Otherwise it is just taking a chance that factory ammo will be accurate.
From personal experience, Henry rifles are close enough to advertised specs to be able to use most factory ammo. Marlin & Winchester not so much other than 30-30.
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Re: 1894 Marlin JM 44 mag vs 45lc Factory ammo accuracy

Post by Thebige58 »

Also I would add, I have had 3 R92 rifles in 45 Colt all from different time frames of manufacture. They all slugged at advertised specs. So I assume that factory ammo would do fine. The reason I say assume is that I have never bought any factory 45 Colt ammo. I have always hand loaded my own.
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Re: 1894 Marlin JM 44 mag vs 45lc Factory ammo accuracy

Post by Gunny268 »

OP, how many rounds have you fired through this rifle? Some bores don't "settle down" until you get a high enough round count. Also...
As Thebige58 stated, "with every lever action gun I have had that it is important to slug the barrels to know exactly what the bore dimensions are."
Trying to help out some of my fellow lever-gun buddies, I've slugged (for grove diameter) and pin gauged (for land diameter) several Marlin 94s in 44 cal. Their variation required bullet diameters ranging from .429 to .432 for accuracy (reloads). The 1 in 30" barrel twist is no help either. As others have also advised, try different bullet weights from the various manufactures to determine if this rifle is able to shoot at lever-gun accuracy with what's available. Be methodical (and somewhat patient) and then decide. I hope this helps.
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Re: 1894 Marlin JM 44 mag vs 45lc Factory ammo accuracy

Post by Czy_Horse »

I can't afford to shoot factory ammo. At my LGS a box of Remington 444marlin is priced at $95.99/box 20.
I reload for all my centre fire rifles.

My Marlin 1894 44Mag/44Spl does OK when you take the time to develop a load.
300gr Hornady XTP's at 50yds
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Marlin 1894 444Marlin c/w Vortex Diamondback 2-7*35 BDC
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Marlin 1894 44Mag/44Spl c/w Vortex Diamondback 2-7*35 Rimfire

44 is my fav calibre I have a decent bullet stash squirrelled away.
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I use 240gr Campro TCFCP in both rifles for regular trigger time saving the discontinued 265's FN Hornady and missing in action 270gr Speers.
I call a 240gr Hornady XTP's at ~2475fps from the 444 a coyote bomb.

I've never seen a deeper darker hole.
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240gr Swift A-Frames
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