The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Sandgrouse, now that's funny. Bloody boing. :lol:

The Winchester 94 didn't transition to pistol calibers as well as it was thought it would. They really should have stuck with the 92 for the shorter cartridges. The pistol calibered 94 has some weaknesses that are compounded because of the lack of parts due to WRAC going bust.

The Marlin is not without problems now and needs to be chosen carefully. If looking for a new one, I would be waiting a couple of years. They are picking their game up, but a Remington produced Marlin is still not upto the standard that Marlin was before the factory closed.

If looking at second hand, the barrel address you want is "North Haven, CT." If you have that, then look on the barrel, towards the reciever for a "JM" in a circle. That's a "good" one. "REM" indicates Remington manufacture. Some of the early transition rifles have a North Haven address with an REM mark as these were parts taken to the new factory by Remington.

"JM" made Marlins also command a premium now, which is one of the reasons that S/H values have gone through the roof...... (I was offered riduculous money for my very rare .32 H&R Magnum Marlin....)

The other considerations for the larger calibres include:-

1. Not getting your brass mixed up on the firing point

2. Quicker and easier reloads if you need it (practical and action shooting)

3. Easier to handle on the reloading bench

3. Choice of pistol or rifle primers if (when) supplies get short

4. Longer case lo longevity (some of my .45 have been reloaded twenty times and still going)

I use 11.5, Accurate No.5 which produces an extreme spread of less than 12fps. The accurate being about half the price of other powders and me being tight!

The hint is - Go Large!

Whatever you get - enjoy.

:cheers:

I once owned a winnie 94a,and a very accurate gun it was with a 20 inch barrel, Being relatively new to the sport then I was persuaded to exchange it for a Marlin 1894 with a 18.5 inch barrel,and tho I dont find the Marlin as accurate as the Winnie it does the job. I also owned a .44 Marlin 1894,which I must say I much prefered. Unfortunately my missus owns a
Rossi 357 which she loves using,and so not having the time to load for both as well as or 308s and 223s I made a big mistake and sold the .44. How I wish I hadnt,the .44 is a much better rifle to shoot,but with full load rounds did recoil much more than the .357. That was one occasion I should have listened to my heart instead of my head.But back to the subject,I know 2 people who have had ejector problems with their Winnies,both struggled to get the parts for repair,Marlin is much easier.

Thank you all for the in depth replies, ive only shot 50 rounds or so through a .357 and a little less through a .44, and with the many replies, I now believe the right choice would be a marlin or henry due to the durability, action, and so forth, all my shooting will be out door , so I believe my best option will be to lean towards the .44. I dont believe theres much cost difference in the 2 rifles in that calibre 357/44 , so the future purchase is a .44 marlin/henry.... thanks all

Mike357 wrote:Sandgrouse, now that's funny. Bloody boing. :lol:

Oh dear!

Yes, I did get Mike's Winchester to work with new brass. Once it gets worn I start to get double feeds again, however I know what the problem is it shouldn't take much to sort.

Even so, I really like it and given that L/As are not my favourite type of action, it's a pretty good recommendation!

I can only echo what most are saying - I have a beautiful .357 Winny 94AE legacy, it's a sweet rifle to shoot and handle and I would be sad to get rid of it - BUT - I have had a fair bit of trouble with it. I think I have had three ejectors and now I have broken the lifting arm. Spares are getting very hard to find and the last ejector came from Canada and cost an arm and a leg. We also have a .357 trapper as a club rifle and also had to replace the ejector on that.

I'm now thinking about a Rossi.

I own a Winchester trapper 94AE in 38/357. It was the first rifle I bought with my compensation money from the pistol ban. So that is how long I have owned it. I love it its accurate it will shoot as fast as you can work the action with out any problems and its accurate. I broke a lifter on it a few years ago(my fault) It took a while to source a new one. I fitted the new one my self in half an hour. A cracking rifle. Love it. Easy to re load for in 38 special cheap to run. What more could a man want.

Alpha1 wrote:I own a Winchester trapper 94AE in 38/357. It was the first rifle I bought with my compensation money from the pistol ban. So that is how long I have owned it. I love it its accurate it will shoot as fast as you can work the action with out any problems and its accurate. I broke a lifter on it a few years ago(my fault) It took a while to source a new one. I fitted the new one my self in half an hour. A cracking rifle. Love it. Easy to re load for in 38 special cheap to run. What more could a man want.

Same gun in a man's calibre?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Mikaveli wrote:

phaedra1106 wrote: I also had a Marlin 1894 in 44mag, luckily one of the earlier "proper" Marlin rifles not the new Remington produced rubbish, nice rifle, accurate, not a great trigger and lighter than the Big Boy but when using the two side by side the Henry felt so much better.

When did the switch-over happen? My Marlin is second-hand, so I wonder if I've got a 'proper' one or a 'rubbish' one? :)

I did advise a 'pre-Remington one'...and judging by the condition of yours, it is! razz

If you have any problems with the action, you can always have it 'tricked and slicked' ...then dings or not you'll have a reliable and accurate rifle