Which lever 44?

GeorgeBush

GeorgeBush

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Budget is a concern of mine but lets pretend for a second its not the most important thing.

Right now I am looking at a Marlin 1894 (44mag, one of the special Curly Maple run they did).
Concerns on the Marlin? Its a bit pricey but I suppose I could do the regular walnut... I just like unusual guns sometimes. Sight unseen? Ordering it online so I wouldnt be able to check for Marlin deficiencies (or maybe thats no longer a big deal? Or maybe the TALO guns dont have those issues? Sights... I am not a fan of buckhorn so thats probably gonna be changed for Skinners. 20 inch? I am only going to be shooting 44 special so a shorter gun might be better, not a big deal though.

Henry Carbine (steel)... every Henry I have ever handled was top notch quality and not super expensive. Sights are buckhorn so also changed. Not a limited run like the Marlin so feel less guilty about altering it. Tube loading doesnt bother me. Is bullet jump shooting specials in a magnum chamber a big deal?

Uberti 1873. Expensive but I like how the 73 action works (I had a Winchester made in Japan once, 38/357, it was very cool). 18 inch so splits the difference between the Henry and Marlin. Ladder sights that I like better than buckhorn but still might be changed for Skinner. The particular one I am looking at is actually chambered for 44 special, so no magnums (which im not sure I would shoot in a 73 anyway). No sling swivels like the other two... not a dealbreaker just something to think about. Unlike Marlin and Henry I have never put my hands on an Uberti product.

So I keep flip flopping between all these and flip flopping between spending 700, 900, or 1100 dollars. Probably a topic thats been hashed out a million times and ive been reading a lot of messageboards... I appreciate those comments but like this places opinions / advice more (obviously). What say you?
 
I have my quintessential marlin in 30-30.

for 44 mag, I have the Henry mare leg. Because I’m a weird like that

10-0217514.jpg
 
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A vote for the marlin.
I have one in 44 mag ( not the curly maple) and its one of my favorites.
These can still be found in pawn shops at reasonable prices, if you're patient.
Mine was less than six hundred, I'd tell you exactly how much but I can't remember to be honest, I want to say 450.00 but it may have been 550.00.
Editing to add get the jm stamped
 
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but yeah, if you're going to do some customization, buy a good used one and start there. 44 is expensive to shoot and i don't imagine most used guns have a lot of wear on them.
I don't have any uberti, but you can't go wrong with henry or pre-freedomgroup marlin.
 
I'm highly partial to the Marlin 1894 SBL. But it doesn't seem to fit your bill that well.
 
Henry's customer service is supposed to be superb, should the need arise.

New vs. new, I'd get the Henry. I love my .41 Mag carbine. Shot a bud's .45-70 side by side with my JM Guide Gun & wouldn't feel I was missing out if I had the Henry instead.
 
Here's my Marlin 1894 in 44 mag, mfg in 1971. I like it. I bought it used in a pawn shop back when levers had gone un-cool. I kept it for at least decade and sold it to a friend who really wanted it, then bought it back under circumstances that would be only important to me. Go make yourself a story. :)

Marlin 1894 44mag.jpg
 
Wellllllll if we can talk about heavier hitters, just sail on past the 45-70 and spring for a 50 B&M Lever gun. Check our website...there is No comparison to Any other lever gun for "Power".
 
The Marlin I am looking at is 2019 manufacture .. looks like from what I've read online they started getting better and better each year after 2014? I got the price where I want it now too, talking to the guy.

The only thing I am weary of is 44 special .. its all I got right now and my revolver is 44 special ONLY (so kinda kills the dual ammo perk). I suppose I could always keep some mag handy in the rifle just because? I also cant shoot mag revolvers worth a crud.

That being said, I've read the MARLINS eat 44 special just fine... but they dont rack quite as smooth. The HENRYS (again, supposedly) fire them just fine too but sometimes JAM.

I believe the Uberti is out of my budget but is 44 special only so I assume feeds and shoots just fine. All the info I find on them is from the cowboy shooters and they all modify their guns so much I'm not sure the info is what I need. Also the wood looks red?

Long story short... you fellers tell me a 2019 Marlin is g2g and youll probably see pictures of it in the lever thread shortly! ha,
 
My Marlin .44 is a post JM. I would say probably about a 2017 (have to check the serial number again). Fit, finish and wood are above average and it cycles smoothly with both .44 mag and .44 special. Have run a lot of different loads through it and have not had any issues. I have quite a few JM marlins and this one is pretty much equal in quality to any of them. Yea, I wish it was a JM marlin, but it is what it is and works fine.
 
I have a JM stamped Marlin, and a Rossi 92. Both are fantastic shooters.

If I couldn't find another JM Marlin today, and I wanted another, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Rossi 92. They're fantastic shooters.
 
Henry uber alles.

Three great "Big Boy" options:

X Model if you want modern with a rail etc.
Steel if you want old-school simplicity (and choice of 20" or 16.5" barrels)
All Weather: if you like the stainless look along with a treated/coated walnut stock.
 
rufrdr said:
Winchester Japan production 1892. Extremely high quality.
Click to expand...

I really like my 1892 from Japan even if it does have a tang safety. I was having problems with it early on because it was not allowing me to load 10 rounds of 357 Magnum. I had to take the magazine plug out to clear a jam and was surprised that two magazine followers came out. Some fellow in Japan put in two while he was assembling it. The jam was caused by ammo that was not the correct length.

I am very fond of all my JM Marlins and have had very few problems with any of them. I use my 44 Cowboy more than most but always shoot 44 Magnum ammo. I tried it with 44 Special and found that it fed and shot them with no problem. I do not have a 44 Special handgun and have little use for 44 Special ammo.
 
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