Did I just F up?

[kriller134]

I just put money down on a new marlin 1894 44 mag. I'm reading that the remlins are junk, but I also read an article that the newer ones are good. Did I order a turd?

[Bigtwin]

Time will tell!

[tmh1]

From everything that I have read and heard, Marlin is making a true and dedicated effort to produce better '94's than some of those which came out of the factory right after the move.

There are truly a lot of complainers out there, many of whom probably never even owned one of the guns that they parrot the complaints about on the internet. Was there a quality issue with initial production after the move? Most definitely, even Marlin acknowledged it. Were all of those guns garbage, and will all subsequent production be? I really don't think so.

Personally I own a "post-JM" '94 in .357 mag and it is a sweet rifle. Fit and finish are excellent, as is function. Do I care that it doesn't have "JM stamped on the barrel"? Not a whit - I have too much fun shooting it to worry about where or when it was made.

Get your new Marlin and enjoy it. And if it has any issues out-of-the-box, I'm sure that they will be corrected by the company.

I know that it isn't fashionable not to bash, but there are plenty of other things to worry about.

[kriller134]

Thanks for the reply tmh. That makes me feel better that you have actual experience with one and it's not a turd. This has been years in the making for me, so I'm really excited to get my hands on it.

[osis32]

I've heard the newer ones are better haven't seen one though. I hope yours treats you well sir. Pistol caliber levers are fun.

[Metal God]

44 mag lever gun is on my short list . May I ask the price or ball park ? When I was looking a year or two ago I was looking at the SS model that were in the $750/$800 range .

[kriller134]

44 mag lever gun is on my short list . May I ask the price or ball park ? When I was looking a year or two ago I was looking at the SS model that were in the $750/$800 range .

I ordered the blued version. It's gonna cost me 670 out the door. I'm sure I could have saved an extra 15 bucks if I would have looked for a cheaper ffl.

[cannon]

Probably not but if you did...

The newer ones are fine but if you get one like I did that was rough to lever and would occasionally lock up. No big worries. I had a gunsmith smooth the action and replace the plastic cartridge magazine spring pusher thing with a metal one.

Cost was $120 and that rifle now runs flawless and as smooth as silk and much better than my older jm marked Marlin.

[dyson]

Theyre better quality now

[golfrj]

Remember on the internet, every negative post is overshadowed by 100 good ones that don't post.. Everyone likes to complain now & then.. Sure you will be happy with your new rifle..

[omega]

I had one back in the late 1980's in .44 magnum and I didnt like it, it was hard to load, very stiff loading port, and the lever action was clunky, I didnt keep it long.

[sloppy joe]

Shoot it and tell us all about it

[desertrider]

kriller134, don't let buyers remorse creep in until after you take it home and give it a thorough cleaning and inspection. Afterwards, put at least 250 rds through it with regular cleanings and lubrication. Then evaluate waht you've got.

I've wanted handgun/carbine combos since I was a kid, and my first was a Ruger Single Six and a Browning BL 22 lever action. I let several years pass before I indulged in another combo, my GP100 and Rossi R92 lever. I then picked up a HiPoint 4595TS to go with one of my .45acp handguns.

Some people poo poo'd on my choice of getting a Rossi instead of a Henry or older Marlin, but the Rossi was at least $300 less. I forced myself to hold back on any criticism of my new lever until I broke it in and gave it a chance to "wear in" naturally. I won't even comment on all the crap I got for buying my HiPoint, and it's turned out to be reliable as a rock.

I'm at somewhere between 750~1k rounds through my Rossi now and have absolutely no complaints. It runs smooth and shoots accurately. In the beginning I remember it being hard to load and the action being tight, but that all worked itself out through use.

I've been thinking of getting a 44 mag lever myself because I recently bought a 44 mag Desert Eagle, so I'm interested to hear about your future range reports. Congrats on the new purchase!

[Johneracer]

Remlins are fine now and fit and finish is good. They are good guns. However, most Marlin guys will never buy one as it will never be a true Marlin and resale might be an issue. There are used Marlins "JM" still available so most people will go that route. Marlin forum is a good place to find used original Marlins. If the branding and resale value does not matter to you then you will be fine. That will be a fine shooting gun. Just don't expect it to go up in value. Original JM Marlins have gone up significantly in value due to Remington takeover and will likely keep going up as the supply of original used guns dries up

[lyyca]

I never owned a Marlin before nor do I know anything of it. I do, however, own a Henry Big Boy 44 mag and I love it! I love lever action guns in general. I was looking up the Marlin 1894 and one thing that really stands out for me about that lever action gun is the convenience of the loading port compared to feeding tube of my Henry. I'm sure your Marlin will shoot wonderfully. Enjoy it!

For the record, try to get your hands on the .44 MAGNUM REMINGTON 180 GR. ammo if you want to get a big bang out of your rifle. I've seen a rise in prices for that ammo lately. Ammoman.com has the best price for them at the moment for what I know. Have fun!