Marlin 1894 Loads?

[Percussion Pete]

I got a pretty good deal on a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag. I'll use smokeless loads for deer hunting my deep timber.

I shoot the Frontiersman class, and I want to use the same gun. I need some help with a BP load. I'm sort of a warthog, so no wimpy loads please. 

Would I be better off using the .44 special brass, or the mag? I don't plan on reloading the smokeless hunting loads, so I only need to setup for the BP CAS loads.

Thanks in advance.

[Pitmaster]

I shoot .44 mag with the Big  Lube Mav  Dutchman 200 grain bullets bullets. My Marlin 1894 in .44 is my favorite cowboy gun. In fact its my favorite rifle.

[Percussion Pete]

Thanks. Should I fill the case and leave just enough room for the bullet? How would this compare to a 44-40?

Being a .44 mag action. I don't think any BP load could hurt it. I love a challenge, and the BP load would be more of a challenge than the smokeless loads. What sort of ballistics does the BP load have? 200gr is perfect for CAS, but a bit light for deer. I used to think hunting with my Hawken was a challenge, but that has a 32" barrel and uses 90gr of BP and a 220gr ball. I'm thinking i'd have to keep my .44 BP hunting to 50yds. Being a still hunter I might not be filling the freezer as often, but the satisfaction will triple. My biggest concern is a humane kill.

[Percussion Pete]

Can this be believed, or is it 1875 hype?




With regards to it's effectiveness on deer, here are a few excerpts from hunters as shown in a copy of Winchester's 1875 catalog .................

..."I have fully tested the late improved Winchester Rifle and take pleasure in stating that it is the best rifle I have ever used. I have killed a number of deer, at distances from one to two hundred yards and in every instance, the bullet passed clean through the body."
..."I killed at a full gallop, at about 100 yards distant, a very large buckwith a splendid set of antlers with the first shot. The bullet struck him in the shoulder, as he ran toward me, and after traversing the entire length of his body, tearing the lights and paunch into atoms in its course, it passed out behind through the thickest part of the ham."
..."The killing qualities, at large game, is all that could be desired, to the wonder and admiration of the guides and sportsmen who saw its working during my visit to the Adirondack woods last fall."
..."I can say for one, that I think the Winchester Model of 1873 is the best firearm now in use for hunting and sporting; they give the best satisfaction to every one that has used them here. James Gary and C.S. Martin have killed 17 bears and 100 deer since the first of September with Model 1873.
..."For a sporting rifle, I think the Winchester Rifle is excelled by none. I have killed antelope, deer, and elk, with my gun, at from 200 to 400 yards. I would not exchange it for any other rifle."

[Percussion Pete]

Not a popular gun I see.

[w44wcf]

Pete

Not hype, although "tearing the paunch intoi atoms" is a bit much .

Here's a couple of more recent reports:

Doc Toombs  on the SASS Wire - January 11, 2002.........................

"I took 2 deer this year with a '73 short rifle clone in .44 W.C.F. My hunting partner took 3 deer with a Marlin in 44 magnum. We both using hand loaded cast bullets, mine weighed 200 grains, his 240 grain. His came out of the barrel at over 1,700 f.p.s., mine came out the barrel at 1,290.  All deer were shot at under 100 yards."

The results:
- all deer dropped within 50 yards
- no bullets were recovered (complete broadside penetration)

"There was NO difference on effectiveness between the two calibers. Of course I still believe the Magnum is a superior deer cartridge. Probably the result of too many years of reading gun magazines."

"But the reward of using a 73 in 44wcf with original velocity cartridges is immeasurable."

Interesting story from Tom Dalton - posted on the SASS Wire 3/29/04..........
Just thought I would pass this experience on to all you folks. My Pa runs a Scottish Highland cattle ranch. Its small but he does OK.
Well here in the Pacific northwest in Washington state we gots a few mountain lions and one of em got a hankerin after one of our 8 month old hiefers and took after during the night. Tore her poor little throat out and then left.

Cougars like to let their kill ripen a bit before they eat it. Well I wasn't too pleased so I took my Pa's Uberti made 73 in 44-40 and
waited near the carcass in the field with my little brother. Sure enough the cougar came to feast and I plugged it with a 44-40 right in the chest. Penetration was clean through the vitals and came out right under her tail and clipped the end off on the way out. She bounced around for about 3 or 4 seconds and fell over dead. I tanned the hide and salvaged the skull and teeth.

The cartridge was handloaded  200 gr RNFP Orgeon Trail laser cast bullet at about 1,200 f.p.s.   Tom D

44 Magnum cartridges loaded with a compressed  load (.10-.20) of 3F powder will do 1200+ f.p.s. with a 200 gr bullet which will replicate the performance of the above W44WCF loadings.

Good Hunting!

w44wcf

[Lefty Dude]

If you are going to try 44 Specials in your marlin, be advised that not all Marlin 94's will feed and cycle the shorter case. I had a 94 which would not feed or cycle 44 specials. Some Pard's use the 44 specials and seat a 240 gr. bullet long to duplicate the proper length of a 44 mag.

My Rossi 92/44 will feed both and also SWC's. I also have a Browning B-92/44 it will feed both, but not SWC's.

I had a Marlin 94. Sold it because it was over-bored and would not feed Specials. The bore slugged .434", patterened like a shotgun.

[Percussion Pete]

Through research after making my post. I've found out using the .44 special in not the way to go. Like has been said. Loading the 44mag with BP is more practical.

At my age. Hunting the 94 with BP sounds more friendly than lugging around my 11lb Hawken. 

[Dick Dastardly]

44 ELR (44 Magnum to those in Rio Linda) shoots very well with a compressed load of Schuetzen FFFg under a Mav Dutchman Big Lube®LLC bullet.  The Extra Long Russian case, dies and chambers are all modern and therefore more precisely uniform, thus having less blowback than other popular SASS calibers.

I just ran a 12 stage annual match, side matches and a Buffalo shoot without cleaning.  The little Browning 92 was still accurate and running like a pink bunny.  I just cleaned it this morning.  A spritz of moosemilk and a tug of the Boresnake were all that was needed for a sparkling clean barrel.

I expect that your marlin 94 would do every bit as well with those same loads.

DD-DLoS

[fourfingersofdeath]

44 ELR (44 Magnum to those in Rio Linda) shoots very well with a compressed load of Schuetzen FFFg under a Mav Dutchman Big Lube®LLC bullet.

Will 10 of those suckers fit inside a normal Marlin mag tube? I saw on the Marlin site they will take 10 rounds, I have the standard rifle and a Mav Dutchman mould, hopefully the mag is long enough.

[Dick Dastardly]

Howdy Fourfingersofdeath,

The Mav Dutchman bullet loaded in 44 Mag brass and crimped in the crimp grove yields SAAMI spec 44 Mag cartridge OAL.  Thus, if your Marlin 94 will hold 10 factory 44 Mag rounds in the tube, it ought to hold 10 44 Mag rounds stuffed with Mav Dutchman Big Lube®LLC bullets.

DD-DLoS

[fourfingersofdeath]

Sounds good, I am sick of the fiddly farting around I have had with my 73. I bought it to shoot classic cowboy, but am introducing the wife to cowboy shooting. I think she will be better off with the Marlin than the long barrelled 73. I ordered the Marling in 38/357, but it was so rougn I ended up passing on it. The old (well 2002 model) 44Mag Marlin is looking better all the time.