My FFL bud and I are going to buy a couple after Christmas. That's the plan. I'm stashing money out of every Social Security check for now.

 

My FFL bud and I are going to buy a couple after Christmas. That's the plan. I'm stashing money out of every Social Security check for now.

That's probably a good strategy, on the short term, for buying a Ruger Marlin. 5 or 6 months from now I would think that the prices for those models will have settled down a bit.

 

Nope and have no plans to either. I'm still seeing JM stamped 1894s selling for less than the Ruger.

 

It depends on why you want the rifle. For plinking or collecting by all means stick with the JM Marlins. There could be a couple around here for that matter…. However, if I want a really solid, reliable lever action for hunting I’ll take a Mayodan made Marlin. They are made as well or better than my JM Marlins. The hammer forged barrel with normal rifling has the potential to be more accurate and no worries about cast bullets and microgroove rifling. Plus my Guide Gun 1895 has a threaded barrel that keeps telling me it needs a suppressor. Oh and the Guide Gun loading gate does not try to take a chunk of thumb off on every outing like my 1895 LTD (which is a fine and beautiful rifle otherwise).

 

I'm suppose to pick mine up on Friday (18th). We will see.

 

Just sent the loaner back to Ruger after testing. I'm ready to publish my review and I must say it was a much more accurate rifle with cast loads than my JM 1894P's. I did find the square bolt to be a bit stiff in action for the first couple of hundred rounds. It did smooth out after that. I would recommend the new Ruger built Marlin 1894 to anyone considering. The wood to metal fit is excellent and all surfaces that one would come in contact were very skillfully deburred.

 

I have a pre-safety 1894 but I would like to have one of the new ones too, whenever I can find one that is reasonably priced. Sure looks like Ruger did a great job on them.

 

Beautiful rifle. I wonder if they’re planning one in 45 colt.

 

I’ve got 2 already one stainless and one blued, so none for me. I would buy one in 45 Colt though. Also, if they come out with an 1894 SBL in 44 mag, I would be all over that.

 

I don’t have a lever action .44 Mag yet, been keeping an eye out for one in decent shape.
I own a Ruger Carbine and stainless 77/44, wouldn’t mind getting a new 1894 in 44 mag to keep them company.
I have a Leupold 2.5x and a set of extra low dual dovetail rings sitting on my bench, just need an Ashley base and a new 1894 to make a great woods range deer rifle.

Rick

 

I bought one Monday. Found one at my local shop. $1204 after tax.

 

Range test report soon?

 

Might consider buying a couple of them, have two grandsons that will need a good rifle soon.

 

I too have been waiting for the release of the .44 mags ever since Ruger bought out Marlin.
In the interim I bought a set of RCBS carbide reloading dies, 500 pieces of Starline brass, a few pistol powders, and I pieced together a couple of thousand federal magnum pistol primers 200 at a time from Sportsmans Warehouse "Their daily limit".

 

I too have been waiting for the release of the .44 mags ever since Ruger bought out Marlin.
In the interim I bought a set of RCBS carbide reloading dies, 500 pieces of Starline brass, a few pistol powders, and I pieced together a couple of thousand federal magnum pistol primers 200 at a time from Sportsmans Warehouse "Their daily limit".

Looks like you were once a boy scout (not the current day organization that's been invaded by freaks & weirdos) who learned to "be prepared."

 

Just picked up one at Scheels in Sparks, NV. $1149. Wood is beautiful. Fit is almost on par with my 1980s 41 Mag Marlin.

 

 

Beautiful rifle ! I too, was impressed when I handled one two weeks ago. I'm patiently waiting for the 357..

 

Just sent the loaner back to Ruger after testing. I'm ready to publish my review and I must say it was a much more accurate rifle with cast loads than my JM 1894P's. I did find the square bolt to be a bit stiff in action for the first couple of hundred rounds. It did smooth out after that. I would recommend the new Ruger built Marlin 1894 to anyone considering. The wood to metal fit is excellent and all surfaces that one would come in contact were very skillfully deburred.

View attachment 936835

What size cast bullets did you use?

 

I used .430" coated cast from SNS bullets. I didn't slug the barrel however it shot cast much better than my two 1894P's. In fact the groups were actually better than the 265-grain Interlocks in same rifle!

 

Did anyone slug the Ruger/Marlin barrel? Groove diameter? Land diameter? Number of grooves?

 

Starting to see some pop up on gun broker. Couple of them with buy it now under $1200.
Has anyone purchased one yet?

Starting to see some pop up on gun broker. Couple of them with buy it now under $1200.
Has anyone purchased one yet?

I bought one off of my first cousin about two years ago for 250 a we shot that rifle a lot so I knew what i was getting. I would not pay the prices they are asking now

 

I wouldn't wait too long to snag a new 44, Ruger probably only has one 1894 line running right now, so I imagine before too long they will shut down the 44 production to introduce the 357.

 

Ruger is putting really nice wood on these. View attachment 945499 View attachment 945500

Ruger is putting really nice wood on these. View attachment 945499 View attachment 945500

These are beautiful. Mine has a quirk. The front sight is so loose I could drop it out by a gentle push. The hood holds it in. I have a message off to Ruger about this issue. Still loving the new Marlins. I also still love my olde Marlin 1936 30.30.

 

Well for those that are planning and or ready to buy. In the past more than once I've called Ruger CS and gotten good accurate information on availability of new Ruger's.
Sometimes it wasn't what I wanted to hear. But pretty much played out to be the truth. Another time I tracked down what I was looking for purchased like two days later.
Ruger CS gave me information like it's going to probably be 8 months before we make more of those. Or we just shipped a lot of those to distributors A,B&C.

 

I used .430" coated cast from SNS bullets. I didn't slug the barrel however it shot cast much better than my two 1894P's. In fact the groups were actually better than the 265-grain Interlocks in same rifle!

What powder were you using and at what FPS were you running them at?

 

I loaded them with HP-38 at 9.7 grains with a muzzle velocity just under 1,200 fps. Not heavy hitters however pretty dang accurate with good groups.

 

How quickly one changes their mind. My new Ruger/Marlin 1894 44 mag will be at my LGS after Labor Day. I figured I would give it a try and if I decide not to keep it, I don’t think I would have a problem selling it.

 

How quickly one changes their mind.

I should have known my comment would push you into action...

 

A couple dollars under $1100 is what my 1894 cost.

 

I should have known my comment would push you into action...

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the deal was done before that.