Marlin 44 mag questions

[Rifleman]

Well I found a great deal on a used Marlin 1894 at the gunshow today and snagged it. It is in very nice condition, other then it is a newer model with the cross-bolt safety I love it.
I brought it home and gave it a good talkin too. Seems the prior owner shot about 1 box through her and left her lay alone in the closet. I gave her some TLC and she cleaned right up.
I ordered a scope base for her from Midway USA and right planning on mounting my EO Tech Holosight for this year. Probably will buy a 1.5-6x Elite 4200 by next year though.
But since it was used I did not get a manual. Anybody know how many rounds this old girl will hold?
I have not loaded her up yet, but I do have a good supply of 180 and 240 gr JHP's, surely she will shoot good with one or the other. This rifle has the Marlin Micro-Groove rifleing. I have heard some of the 44 Mag Marlins have Ballard rifleing so it will be interesting to see if she is a shooter or not. I spoke with the " Jackal" today and he has a similar rifle rigged out in Hoosier Sniper Rifle fashion complete with a BDC scope ;D, and says his is shooting just at or under MOA with Winchester USA 240 gr JHP.
I also was looking at several ammo maker websites and interesting enough they do not give velocities out of rifles for the 180 grainers, only the 240's. I suppose maybe the 180's might go to pieces on impact, but until I try it, I will not know.
Anyone ever run any 180's out of a rifle over a chrony? How about shot a deer with one? I have alot of Rem 180 gr JHP's that run 1600 fps out of my 7.5 inch revolvers. But I expect to get close to 1900 from this gun.
Lastly the trigger is a little stiff on this rifle. I suppose the sear engagement can be cleaned up rather easily, and I have done plenty of trigger jobs before but never on a Marlin lever gun. Anybody ever do a trigger job a Marlin? Any tips on the job?
Lastly I could not find a 1 piece STEEL weaver rail on for this rifle, anybody know where I can get one?
Thanks Rifleman

[whyohe]

i can help you alittle. i have one too and its a blast to shoot! BUT it took me a while to get it to shoot 1.5 and under groups at 100 yards. i found a manufacturer called moutaineer custom carterages who made a load specificaly for this rifle. it uses the hornady 200grn xtp and shoots 1950fps out of my gun. he wouldnt tell me the powder but when i took one apart it was a spherical powder at apx 23 grns IF i remember correctly.

my gun likes the 200grns better than the 240 but i havent reloaded to get a load to work. i have shot the wincester supremes in 180 and 210 and both shot ok. i did get a deer with the win supreme silver tip 210 grner. well thats all i can remember right now i hope it helps. enjoy the gun!! i think it should hold apx 13 shells

here is my rig i dont remember where i got the 1 piece weave style base

[rossman40]

I thought the 1895 in 44 Mag held 10 in the mag.

As far as a steel one piece weaver you will have to look hard. You can find them for a 336 but while the 336 and 1895 uses the same two piece bases the distance between the mounts is different. You will see aluminum one piece bases with 6 screw holes to mount on ether model.

The Ballard type rifling was put into the Marlin line for all the cowboy shooters. The Micro-Groove rifling is picky about cast lead bullets, they will shoot but you have to have the right speed, diameter and lube. Also the Micro-Groove barrels have slower twist rates.

[whyohe]

rossman your right its 10+1. mine must be aluminum cause i have 2 exta holes but it has held up great sofar and ive had this gun apx 15 years. from what is stated here its a 1:38 rh twist


www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/1894Centerfire/1894.aspx

[rossman40]

I do not understand why the kept the 44 Mag at 1:38. The 45 LC and the 357 Mag went to much faster 1:16 twist when Marlin made the switch from Micro Groove. They changed the 444 to 1:20 which IIRC was also 1:38 when it was made with Micro-Groove. Of course the 45LC and 357 Mag are bigger sellers in the cowboy shooting arena. With the slow twist rate 240 and 300gr bullets are pretty much out of the question.

[Rifleman]

Thanks guys!

[whyohe]

rossman im not sure of the answer to your question but i have a thought. with the 44 cal bullets being short and stubby may be they where thinking, if i have it correct, the shorter the bullet the slower the twist. i know mine likes the 200 grns better than the 240s. just a thought.

[Rifleman]

Well since I have about 500 of the 180 gr JHP's loaded up and only about 200 of the 240's I guess I am in luck.

[whyohe]

what speed do you estamate out of the 180s? and out of your 240s?

[Rifleman]

I plan on running them over a chrony soon. I know the 180's do 1600 from a 7.5 in Super Blackhawk.

[Rifleman]

I ran the 180's over the chrony today and they came in just a hair over 2000 fps. The 240's were a probem though, I have to go back and check my reloading records as they were very weak. They only recorded at about 1200 fps. Seems I recall loading some 240's at 900 fps (pistol velocities) for a combat load at one time and this must have been what I was shooting. No big deal, I have good records and just have to go look it up. The ole memory is not what it used to be. I am glad I was so careful to make good records of everything I reloaded. But on the brigher side of things, the 240's were very accurate with the irons. Alot of times I go to a range that is real close to home to shoot pistols and do chrony work, etc, etc. The only problem is that the main shooting table ( read the old picnic table) is set at 65 yards for some reason I have never found out about. So anyways I did shoot the rifle with both loads with the irons. The 180's shot poorly, averaging about 5 -6 inches at that distance. The 240's did much better, they shot right at the inch mark. The irons are really poor for paper work as they are a semi buckhorn V with a post/bead type front sight. Anybody have an older Marlin laying around will know what I am talking about. It is a decent close range hunting sight, but is difficult to attain perfect sight alignment and good sight picture with.
So I bought some full strength Win. USA white box 240 gr JSP's, Tomorrow I plan to mount the Holosight, and go to a different range where I can stretch out a bit farther. I plan on testing the new 240's and the 180's again. I doubt the 180's will do any better, but I wish they did as a 180 at 2000 fps would be pretty darn flat shooting for a 44 mag. I hope to also take some pictures of the rifle and post them with a report as I progress with this project.
s

[whyohe]

well its a start. what bullet where you shooting(hornady, win.?)not to discurage you but i had worked 2 years trying to find a load my gun liked but when i did its a shooter!keep me posted!! im wanting to reload again.

[Rifleman]

You know that rifle is finicky I think. I shot a Rem 180, a 240 Rem JHP, and I shot the 240 gr WIn USA white box factory load, the last one clocked about 1630. The rifle seems to walk when it gets hot. Not sure that my mount for the Holo sight is not moving. Still working on it, will let you know.

[Rifleman]

By the way, does your rifle have Ballard or Microgroove? Mine has the Micro groove.

[Rifleman]

I still have work to do to figure out this rifle and did not get to shoot today, but I ran some #'s
180 gr JHP at 2000 fps with a BC of .14
50 .73
75 .79
100 0
125 -1.79
150 -4.74
175 -9.02
200 -14.03

240 gr JSP at 1600 fps with a BC of .15
50 1.5
75 1.42
100 0
125 -2.89
150 -7.44
175 -13.82
200 -22.19

[whyohe]

mine has the micro grove. yes mine wanders as it gets hot! a max of 5 shots befor it gets bad. the barrel heats up fast on mine. especilly with fast loads. this is in the summer though.

nice numbers now i have an idea of wher to hold thanks

[Rifleman]

Also one more thing, point of impact with the 180's is a good foot away from the point of impact for the 240's at 100 yds.