Ok Pops gave me 1 of his Marlin 1894 357 lever rifles. I want to try this baby out this week. What kind of ammo do you guys use in your 357 rifles? Just looking for standard range fodder. I was thinking 158gr and would like to pick some up in bulk. Thanks PS I have a deep feeling that I'm going to want one in a 44mag too oh and maybe a 30-30 someday.......... here we go again. I have to say one thing my dad has collected alot of marlins and winchesters over the years all pre-safety NIB from GB. Looking at the prices he paid 6-7 yrs ago they have doubled in price. It's better than having $$$ in the bank at 1%. I believe he is up to 30 rifles.
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Marlin 1894 357
- Thread starter Hairbag
- Start date
Any of it to start learning. What you'll learn is that the longer barrel jacks up your velocity in almost every example. The only one I've found that loses velocity is the .38 special wadcutter target round, which lost velocity in my barrel. Everything else shows a gain.
The biggest gainer was a 158 LSWC bullet I load over 2400. From my 6" Model 28 I get 1200 fps. From the 16" Marlin barrel I get 1710 fps.
The biggest gainer was a 158 LSWC bullet I load over 2400. From my 6" Model 28 I get 1200 fps. From the 16" Marlin barrel I get 1710 fps.
Rampant_Colt
New member
I recommend Remington UMC 125gr SP for targets and general plinking. It's inexpensive, features a jacketed softpoint bullet with a flat profile, uses reloadable brass cases, and is pretty potent. Pretty much any softpoint, lead or hollowpoint ammo will work.
PS--If your Marlin has Micro-Groove rifling, swaged lead bullets will tend to foul the barrel in short order.
PS--If your Marlin has Micro-Groove rifling, swaged lead bullets will tend to foul the barrel in short order.
bamaranger
New member
favorite
A Marlin 1894 .357 is one of my favorite carbines. I've used a variety of bullet weights and styles, from .38 WC through .357/158-160 gr slugs.
Only troubles I had was with certain flat nosed SWC in magnum cases, and .38 WC. Never tried WC in mag cases but I suspect that would be cranky as well.
I played the field power wise too. The .38 WC made an ideal practice round for new shooters making the jump from .22. Then hot +p+ .38/110's, mag 125's, which were duty rounds for us in the revolver days. The .357/125 combo was formidable and hugely destructive in tissue on pests and varmints. Likely a bit fragile for a deer load, but I have no doubt a 125 JHP mag load from a carbine would tear a huge hole through a deer chest cavity but angles and shoulders might be tricky. For a long while a mid-range .357/158 SWC. which matched the woods load for my favorite utility Ruger SA revolver. What I found though was that I seldom carried both the handgun and the carbine and was robbing myself of power if I wanted to carry the handy Marlin for deer or SD, it required a special zero for the mid range loads and did not shoot full power stuff to point of aim.
I finally settled on 158 JHP/.357 full power for the carbine, mainly cause I got a deal on a huge supply of Rem 158' JHP.
Regretfully in the past little bit, my eyes have started to slip and I do not see the front sight on the short little Marlin like I used too. After years of taunting no scopes on traditional levers (and no white line spacers!) I realize that if I want to still fully realize the pontential of the andy Marlin, I may have to scope it, which will degrade its practicality a bit, for me anyhow. That is likely a little ways off, but is probably the future. Until that happens, the Williams peep and factory bead have served me well.
I have carried the Marlin alot of miles on foot, and it rides in the 4WD presently as a truck/utility rifle.
PawPaw has got it, from a carbine tube the .357 gets a big boost over handgun velocities and energies and becomes a serious customer.
A Marlin 1894 .357 is one of my favorite carbines. I've used a variety of bullet weights and styles, from .38 WC through .357/158-160 gr slugs.
Only troubles I had was with certain flat nosed SWC in magnum cases, and .38 WC. Never tried WC in mag cases but I suspect that would be cranky as well.
I played the field power wise too. The .38 WC made an ideal practice round for new shooters making the jump from .22. Then hot +p+ .38/110's, mag 125's, which were duty rounds for us in the revolver days. The .357/125 combo was formidable and hugely destructive in tissue on pests and varmints. Likely a bit fragile for a deer load, but I have no doubt a 125 JHP mag load from a carbine would tear a huge hole through a deer chest cavity but angles and shoulders might be tricky. For a long while a mid-range .357/158 SWC. which matched the woods load for my favorite utility Ruger SA revolver. What I found though was that I seldom carried both the handgun and the carbine and was robbing myself of power if I wanted to carry the handy Marlin for deer or SD, it required a special zero for the mid range loads and did not shoot full power stuff to point of aim.
I finally settled on 158 JHP/.357 full power for the carbine, mainly cause I got a deal on a huge supply of Rem 158' JHP.
Regretfully in the past little bit, my eyes have started to slip and I do not see the front sight on the short little Marlin like I used too. After years of taunting no scopes on traditional levers (and no white line spacers!) I realize that if I want to still fully realize the pontential of the andy Marlin, I may have to scope it, which will degrade its practicality a bit, for me anyhow. That is likely a little ways off, but is probably the future. Until that happens, the Williams peep and factory bead have served me well.
I have carried the Marlin alot of miles on foot, and it rides in the 4WD presently as a truck/utility rifle.
PawPaw has got it, from a carbine tube the .357 gets a big boost over handgun velocities and energies and becomes a serious customer.
christcorp
New member
Try some of the Hornady LEVERevolution Ammunition 357 Magnum 140 Grain or 158 grain ammo. If you use any other ammo in a lever action with a tube magazine, you'll have to use flat nose ammo. A pointed nose bullet could ignite a primer from recoil in the tube.
And where have you found POINTED 38spl or 357 magnum bullets?
You can use any of the 38spl or 357 magnum ammo in it. It's all either RFN (Round flat nose) or RN (Round Nose). It will work fine. I had a 1894 years ago, and was retarded, and sold it. Couldn't really find another one in the last couple years. But I did land a Rossi Model 92 in 357 magnum. Except for the TOP eject, instead of angled, (But I don't really want a scope anyway), it too is a really nice shooter. But the Marlin 1894 is one of the best.
I shoot tons of 38/357s in revolvers and my Marlin 94. I'd have to sell a couple grand kids to buy bullets if I didn't cast my own.
My favorite (and has been since the 70s) is the Lvman 358477 150 Grn SWC. That's the only bullet I have put through my Marlin, both in 38s and 357. It really likes them, and they are accurate in that rifle.
My favorite (and has been since the 70s) is the Lvman 358477 150 Grn SWC. That's the only bullet I have put through my Marlin, both in 38s and 357. It really likes them, and they are accurate in that rifle.