For plinking and hog hunting I would definitely go with the 44 mag. Great hog round. I hunt hogs with the 357 and have no complaints but you would definitely have more than enough with the 44 mag to anchor them. You could also should light loads that would be very light on the shoulder, even though the 44 mag isn't bad itself.

If there was a chance at moving up to elk and moose territory i would start leaning towards more power, even though within range the 44 would still do the job.

 

Have you considered a 336 in 35 Remington? Don't get me wrong, I love the '94 in .357 and .44 but since you already have the '94CS then a .44 would be basically the same gun. With the 336 in .35 Rem. you could cover a lot of critters. If you reload, you could use the same bullets for the CS and the 336 as they both have a .358 bore. That would be a cheap plinking round. Then move up to 200 grain bullets for hogs and such. Just a thought.

 

I would have to say as a general "fun" gun, out of those three I would go with the 1894 44mag. Unless you reload, which you could load down the other two and make them more enjoyable for extended plinking sessions or whatever. Between the 444 and the 45/70 I would say go with the 444, but I'm a little biased in that direction. 8)

 

I would go with something other than an 1894 just to be different. I'm a 444 fan so that's my first reaction however the 35Rem is a good choice as well.

 

Hello,

You already have a 357Magnum caliber in a Marlin rifle now. Do you think that you want to consolidate your Marlin or any other firearm calibers down the road to keep things simpler or do you just want something really different?

I would go with a 22LR Marlin or a 30-30 Marlin.

If you want a bigger caliber - I would go with a 45-70 although ammunition can be pretty expensive there unless you 'reload'.

If you do not have a 357Magnum handgun and want one so you can share your rifle ammunition - I would go with a Ruger Blackhawk (Single action revolver.) in 357Magnum or a nice Smith and Wesson d/a Model 686.

Best wishes to you no matter what you decide to do!

Catherine

 

Thanks for all the ideas! I do have a revolver -- a S&W Model 19 -- and do reload as well, but in the most primitive manner possible; using a Lee loader. I guess I never really considered the 35 Remington -- I always pretty much thought of it as a slightly larger 30-30 (with similar ballistics) but much rarer ammo! I also didn't realize that the 35 rem has the same bore diameter as the 357; interesting, but I don't know that it's a compelling issue.

The reason I am interested in the 444 and 45-70 is that I've never really had the opportunity to shoot a "big bore" rifle, and of course the historical significance of the 45-70 is appealing. Since I live in the Bay Area (very urban) the appeal of firearms for me is more theoretical than practical; I frankly do not have easy or quick access to a range and don't really have the time or $$ to devote to hunting since we left Idaho about 25 years ago. Therefore, pretty much all of my shooting these days is target shooting. I really want to take my son pig hunting -- the kid's 28 and has been raised in the city and I've never really had the opportunity to do that with him and would really like to -- but the guns I have are really pretty much devoted to target shooting, and I figured one of the marlins would be more interesting and "fun" than the scoped remington...

 

Hello again,

Do you know someone who owns a 45-70 for you to shoot or can you rent one someplace close to where you live? You could try it out and so could your son at the same time. Does a member of this forum live close to you and would be willing to let you shoot his 45-70?

If your son does not do a lot of shooting... I do not think that I would just hand him a 45-70 rifle to shoot with or without factory or 'reloaded' ammunition. How does he handle recoil? I am only 5' 3" tall and smaller but I used (Before my arthritis got really bad.) to shoot some pretty big calibers in handguns, on a regular basis - NO kidding you, myself so it is up to the individual.

I shot a Marlin 'Classic' 1895 45-70 years ago and the handloads were 'loaded' specifically for me since I had an old, bad injury plus my arthritis was not as bad as it is now. My hands are much worse now unfortunately! I shot it fine - 4 rounds out of MM's former, older Marlin 1895. It was not the classic one that he has now - he has a newer one and not the former walnut/stainless steel guide gun one. I like the historical details and LOOKS of a 45-70 but if I had one - MM would shoot it or it would hang on the wall.

If I was you, which I am not, I would get a 30-30. Cheaper ammunition to buy and found just about anywhere easily plus you can reload too. Don't they shoot pigs with that just as much as they do deer, moose, elk, etc.? MM hunts animals with a 30-30, a 45-70 and a 30-06. Plus his 22LR for grouse and so forth.

You can 'load' just about anything from what I gather. I do NOT reload but my husband has reloaded for many, many, many years. Since you mentioned your reloading equipment, there is nothing wrong with simple reloading tools - you don't need some fancy or super expensive tool for that. If it works for YOU and it is simple, quality made and accurate - use what you have for your new rifle too.

Montana Man, my husband, has owned many, many Marlins over the years. When we consolidated a BUNCH of our firearm calibers after we got married, I am a remarried widow, since my hands got FAR worse, since we moved from one small place into a small home that we just finished building... he really changed a bunch of his calibers not just me. He sold his nice 35Remington Marlin 336 a few years ago and got a 30-30. Then I got a 30-30 too. I still can take that 30-30 with me for woods/wilderness/etc. protection but I ended up fairly recently giving it to him.

I am the type of person that wants to find ammunition available and at a reasonable cost even though ammo costs have gone through the roof in the last several years. Since I do not 'reload' (I can use his ammo though.) - I used to and still plan on buying specific calibers where I could not only afford the factory ammunition but could FIND it easily.

If I ever had a 45-70 - I would call it my 'buffalo gun' because that used to be in my past plans.

Best wishes to you again.

Catherine

 

Thank you again, Catherine, you are a peach! I'll probably talk to the kid about it before I do anything, because I'd imagine he -- and not my daughter -- is going to be inheriting my guns when I'm pushing up daisies and I will definitely take his views into consideration! He actually shoots more than I do these days. He has a Kimber 45 I gave him as a (college) graduation present, a 22 SA revolver, a ruger 10/22 (well -- actually it's mine, but you know how kids are) and a 12 gauge, so I think he's pretty interested in making sure my (his) next rifle fits my (his) needs.

 

You cover quite a gamut of calibers in your story line - - - but to me there are only two true options --- MATCHING COMPANIONS !!!!

Let the pictures do the talkin' - - - - -

Marlin 1894CSS .357 Magnum (TIMES TWO) & S&W 686 Custom 7" Barrel .357 Magnum . . . . . .

Marlin 1894SS .44 Magnum & Ruger Super Redhawk .44 Magnum

;D ;D GB45 : :



PS - - I can shoot those babies up there all day long - - but when I pull out my 1895GS .45-70 it is good for one mag tube worth before I have to call it a day due to delaminated shoulderitis ! !

:

 

Thank you again, Catherine, you are a peach! I'll probably talk to the kid about it before I do anything, because I'd imagine he -- and not my daughter -- is going to be inheriting my guns when I'm pushing up daisies and I will definitely take his views into consideration! He actually shoots more than I do these days. He has a Kimber 45 I gave him as a (college) graduation present, a 22 SA revolver, a ruger 10/22 (well -- actually it's mine, but you know how kids are) and a 12 gauge, so I think he's pretty interested in making sure my (his) next rifle fits my (his) needs.

You're very welcome! Take care.

Catherine

 

Even though I like the 45-70GS I would have to agree with some others here that the Ole 30-30 would work fine for what you are going to do. Plus as others have mentioned that Ammo is pretty darn easy to find and not all that expensive to boot.

I also have to say look for a good used Marlin in 30-30 to stay away from the new production stuff as there quality is just not there right now.

 

GB45,

SWEET! I like matching caliber companions too! I did that with my past and present firearms. They liked to share ammunition.

You have pretty guns!

Catherine

You cover quite a gamut of calibers in your story line - - - but to me there are only two true options --- MATCHING COMPANIONS !!!!

Let the pictures do the talkin' - - - - -

Marlin 1894CSS .357 Magnum (TIMES TWO) & S&W 686 Custom 7" Barrel .357 Magnum . . . . . .

Marlin 1894SS .44 Magnum & Ruger Super Redhawk .44 Magnum

;D ;D GB45 : :



PS - - I can shoot those babies up there all day long - - but when I pull out my 1895GS .45-70 it is good for one mag tube worth before I have to call it a day due to delaminated shoulderitis ! !

:

 

bsman, If you ever get up to Ventura from the bay area you could shoot mine to see how you like them, I have a 1894 44Mag and a 1895 45-70. I love both of them but if I had to pick just one it would be the 45-70 as I love big bore guns and the kick they have ;D

 

I'd have to say that: 1) I'm prejudiced! 2) Why buy something that's basically what you already have?

The .45-70 is a fine rifle, accurate once you've found a round it likes, and no harder on the shoulder than anything, IF you reload for it. I put together a load for a 405gr Lyman 457193, pushed by 13gr of Trail Boss. With the recoil pad on the 1895SS, that round is like shooting my Rem .243 m788. It's easy on the shoulder and still packs enough punch for hog (or elk) at limited range, although, for elk, I'd probably bump it up to 15 or 16gr.

 

I'd have to say that: 1) I'm prejudiced!

I am not picking on YOU but every time someone asks about a new gun or caliber the RELOADERS are very biased in their point of view. I think ALL RELOADERS are prejudiced in their thinking - but personally think you are in the great minority as compared to the number of people who buy FACTORY AMMO. I do not reload, do not ever plan to reload, and am perfectly happy with the results I get from factory ammo, and I have no problems paying the higher cost of factory ammo.

I am going to try to find out what the actual numbers are for RELOADERS and NONLOADERS. Don't exactly know if anyone has taken a statistic on this but my guess from talking to a couple suppliers and large gun shops is that reloaders are less than 10% of ammo purchasers. Maybe I will start a thread poll of MARLIN OWNERS to start if this has never been done before.

THE SOAP BOX IS NOW YOURS - - or anyone elses for that matter!!! ;D

GB45

 

Golfbuddy45 that is why I mentioned the 30-30 as Ammo is not all that expensive and very easy to find.

As for Re Loaders VS Non Re Loaders I think by and large you are correct in the fact that there are far more people that do not re load than do re load. But on that token it would be nice to have more re loaders out there. It is a good hobby that opens a whole new world as far as shooting goes.

Many will say Re Loading does not have to be expensive and they are right but the problem is that many times it gets to be expensive by all the other stuff one may get once they find they like to Re Load lol.

 

Get the real thing 45-70. 8)

 

Greetings
Do not overlook the 45 Colt. Think of it as a mini 45-70. It will easily launch 320 grainers at speeds the BP loadings of the 45-70 accomplished and the 45-70 was used effectivly on all critters. I have 45 Colt leverguns and would not hesitate to hunt any critter on this side of our world. Buff can be taken. Griz at 50 yards and all the rest are lesser oponets.
I also have 45-70s. 45-70 was my second center fire rifle. But for a handy very powerful light weight rifle it is hard to best a 45 Colt lever gun.
Mike in Peru

 

Greetings
Do not overlook the 45 Colt. Think of it as a mini 45-70. It will easily launch 320 grainers at speeds the BP loadings of the 45-70 accomplished and the 45-70 was used effectivly on all critters. I have 45 Colt leverguns and would not hesitate to hunt any critter on this side of our world. Buff can be taken. Griz at 50 yards and all the rest are lesser oponets.
I also have 45-70s. 45-70 was my second center fire rifle. But for a handy very powerful light weight rifle it is hard to best a 45 Colt lever gun.
Mike in Peru

Yeah -- but then I'd have to buy a 45 colt pistol, and that would be.... awesome!!!

 

Reloading a 45-70 is simple and very effective. Here is my (at this time) 11 year old plinking with a 100 yard gong. He's shooting a simple 405gr. slug with 13gr. of Unique. This load would kill anything you're after. he weighs about 90# and is 5 foot 3.

 

Be aware that for both the 444 and the 45-70, factory ammo runs north of $1 per shot. Not the best for plinking...

 

Another point to consider is where you'll be hunting. Here in Arkansas it's legal to hunt pigs on the public WMA's during any open season, but you have to use a caliber legal for that particular season. I bought a 1894 in .357 to use as my pig/deer gun, only to find out that I can't use it during coyote season.
Since I was considering buying a Handi in .45-70 with a synthetic stock for use in nasty weather, I went ahead and bought one and shipped it back to H&R to be fitted with .30-30 and .50 cal muzzleloader barrels. So it's not a big deal. Also, the places I hunt are heavily wooded and a 50 yard shot is about all your going to get, so I can load my .45-70 on the mild side.
If you don't reload, a .44 will be much more economical to shoot, and ammo is readily available, just like the .30-30 and .45 Colt.
If you do reload, get the .45-70 and go knock the snot out of some pigs. ;D
GH1

 

45/70, 45 Colt, 44 mag, or the 336's in 35 Rem or 30-30, its all good! I love the big bores myself, for no particular reason.. Just about any will do the job you are wanting to do. I would just say to try to find one with the JM on the barrel if possible. 8)