44 mag Lever Gun Question

[dats82]

For quite some time, I have been wanting a 44 mag lever gun.  I have been keeping an eye out for an older Marlin at a good price but to no avail.  They are available, but I'm seeing them in the $800 range.  That's a little more than I want to spend for a gun that has battle scars in its future from bouncing around behind the truck seat and hopefully a decent amount of time in a deer stand. 

 

I've been considering a new Marlin 1894 vs a Henry Big Boy Steel vs a Puma.  I am leaning more toward the Henry or the Marlin because they are made in America, and I had been pretty well set on the Henry until I read an article on the new Marlins.  As we all know, Marlin had some significant quality issues in the recent years, but it seems like they are getting all that sorted out.  Now I'm leaning more toward the Marlin.  My first gun was a "JM" Marlin 30-30, so I'm admittedly a little partial to Marlins.  However, I also recently picked up a Henry Frontier 22, and it is a splendid little gun.   

 

What is your opinion or experience in the 44 mag lever gun market?  Thanks for your input.

Edited September 13, 2015 by dats82

[gregintenn]

Marlin trumps Puma. I don't have any experience with the Henry rifle.

 

I'd have some patience and hold out for an older Marlin. Mine was cheap. I saw a guy walking around a gun show with it and asked if it was for sale. I couldn't get my wallet out fast enough when he priced it.

[TNWNGR]

I'm in near the same boat as you having been on the lookout for a pre-crossbolt Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag. I did however luck out and find a pcs 1894 Marlin in .357 Magnum. So at this point I'm leaning towards one of the Henry's but will add a Marlin if I find one. Hope this helps in your process of eliminations.

[f3joel]

Love my Browning B-92 .44

They can be a little hard to track down though.

My brother has a Henry, it is very nice but heavy.

 

The Rossi M92s aren't bad if you get a good one.

I have one in .45 colt that I enjoy.

[z0mbies fear me]

The Rossi m92s aren't bad, at least the one I have isn't. I bought it from a guy at a local chemical plant that was hard up for some cash, got it for $300. It isn't in excellent shape but it is more than good enough to ride behind the seat of my truck.

[TNWNGR]

Well the FO sights a plus but how well does that porting work and who did it. FWIW I've shot Winchester and Marlin 30-30 rifles with the Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum having enough recoil to suprise you.

[tnhawk]

I got my Henry .22 over a1-1/2 years ago and enjoyed it enough that a few months later I bought a Henry .44 mag.  This has been a great rifle.  Most of my 44 mag ammunition is used in the rifle instead of a revolver now.  My next lever gun will be another Henry.

[Djay3]

Nice demo of the Henry Big Boy .44 magnum here ...

http://youtu.be/ZC9GaZZVvNc

Front tube loading, around 8 lbs, and the yellow receiver are some differences from the 1892 versions.
But, made in America, good build quality, very good shooters, and excellent customer service.

Enjoy the hunt!

[gregintenn]

The Rossi m92s aren't bad, at least the one I have isn't. I bought it from a guy at a local chemical plant that was hard up for some cash, got it for $300. It isn't in excellent shape but it is more than good enough to ride behind the seat of my truck.

 

The Rossi m92s aren't bad, at least the one I have isn't. I bought it from a guy at a local chemical plant that was hard up for some cash, got it for $300. It isn't in excellent shape but it is more than good enough to ride behind the seat of my truck.

I didn't mean to disparage your rifle. I have both an1894 Marlin and a 92 Rossi. I wouldn't part with either. They are both fun, accurate guns. There is no doubt, however, that the quality and workmanship in the Marlin is superior to the Rossi.

[z0mbies fear me]

I didn't mean to disparage your rifle. I have both an1894 Marlin and a 92 Rossi. I wouldn't part with either. They are both fun, accurate guns. There is no doubt, however, that the quality and workmanship in the Marlin is superior to the Rossi.

Definitely not taken that way,I completely understand! I know that the Marlins are much better quality firearms. Just was saying that the Rossi I got is plenty accurate enough for a deer rifle and cheap enough that I don't worry about it riding behind the truck seat or beating around on the way in and out of the woods.

[z0mbies fear me]

Well the FO sights a plus but how well does that porting work and who did it. FWIW I've shot Winchester and Marlin 30-30 rifles with the Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum having enough recoil to suprise you.

I love the FO sights and the porting does help "a little" not sure on who did it, it had already been done before I bought it. However I have shot it and an unported m92 side by side and it does help some.

[lshel]

I bought my Marlin 1894 44 Marlin (Manufactured 1979)  off this site or Armslist for $560 and added fiber optic front sight and peep rear sight ($50).  Great shooter out to 100 yds. Just keep looking and advertise WTB. Hold out for the Marlin, Rossi i& Henry are okay, but not Marlin's quality prior to Remington's ownership.

[79troublehead]

I've got the rossi 92 and it's been a reliable and accurate firearm for over 15 years. I've never owned a marlin .44 mag., but I have owned the .444 and 2 .30/30's. They're fine guns but I never noticed any superiority in workmanship over the rossi. Easier to scope is about the only plus I've noticed.

[KaNaPaPi]

I have a Henry Big Boy Steel in 357.  I absolutely love it. It is more accurate than I am. I decided on this, rather than the Rossi because the Henry has a side ejection port and makes for easier scope mounting.  I prefer the side loader on the Rossi as to the tube only of the Henry.  

 

The 3 most important factors in my purchase were:

 

1.  Made in USA

2.  Side ejection makes for better scope options

3.  Smoother action and better feeding.  Heard too many horror stories of Rossi feeding issues.

[dats82]

I've come across a Marlin 1894 cowboy at a decent price. It's almost too pretty to do what I want to with it, but at the same time, it's so damn pretty, I hate to not grab it.

[xd shooter]

I'm a Marlin guy, but with that said I have never touched a Puma that I know of & never owned a Henry.
It seems very funny to me that everybody is wanting these in 44mag & most that is found is 357 mag. On top of that the 357 mag seems to bring on a heftier price tag. I'm in the same boat too. I have been looking for a 1894 in 44 mag & bought 2 in 357 mag while looking for a 44.

Dats82. If you found one at a decent price for you then maybe you should grab it, if not let one of us know so we can. :). Happy Hunting!!

[dats82]

Well, I decided to get it.  Not exactly what I was looking for, as I wanted one that was not so nice that I'd have reservations of hunting with it.  However, I just thought it was too pretty and priced too well not to get it.  It's the Cowboy Limited version in 44 mag.  It has the cross bolt safety, but is still a "JM" gun built in North Haven.  It came with an assortment of ammo too.

 

Obligatory porn...

 

[URL=http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/72-oj/media/1894c_zpspzeujl4l.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/72-oj/media/1894b_zpshrzj9ga8.jpeg.html][/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/72-oj/media/1894a_zpsghlprcwh.jpeg.html][/URL]

 

[URL=http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/72-oj/media/ammo_zpsvmkqzpvf.jpeg.html][/URL]

 

It has already made friends with my Marlin 30-30 and Henry Frontier 22...

 

[URL=http://s1207.photobucket.com/user/72-oj/media/lever_zpsjwmmwm8p.jpeg.html][/URL]

[xd shooter]

Now that is some nice looking wood!!

[raildog]

Thats a nice little family you got there

[Djay3]

Can sure understand not turning away from that beauty! ...

Wood with character; octagonal barrel; forearm finished properly with an end cap; non-pistol grip stock! Sure hits all of my lever action buttons! Congrats!

[50 cal]

I scored a Marlin 1894S in 44 Mag from a coworker some years ago for very cheap. He fired less than a tube full and decided it was too much.

I've had it now since around '94 or so. Thought about getting the stainless version when they were offered but never picked on up.

[1madss]

I was at the ATA shoot today at Maury CO GC and there was an add on the board for a Winchester 94 Trapper in 44 mag for $600. I'm not sure how old the add is, it did not look too old. I can post the info is anybody is interested.

[dats82]

Finally got around to running a few round through this thing yesterday.  It seems accurate enough and had a pleasant amount of recoil with the 44 mag loads.  44 special in it had about as much recoil as a 223 AR.  It definitely fuels the addiction.  I've always liked lever guns, but lately, it seems I've been distracted by ARs and tacticool crap.  Time to get back to the more simple and classic stuff.  Now, I guess the search is on for one in 38 / 357 :yum: , or a Ruger 44 mag revolver. 

[Sidinman]

Love that Cowboy, Congrats.

I picked up a used Henry in 44 mag. back in the spring.

A very smooth action and accurate. 

Got a Puma/Rossi 357, love 'em both.

Maybe one of these days I'll get a 1894 Marlin, lookin for one in 41 mag.

But they are some kinda pricey.

Talked to the people at Henry about a month ago.

They are saying that just maybe early next year they make a small run of 41's.

Ifn they do I'll have one more Henry.

Here's a pic. of my two pistol caliber rifles.

<a href="http://s12.photobucket.com/user/sidinslinger/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-09/20150907_094806_zpsqqghafyt.jpg.html" 

Edited September 27, 2015 by Sidinman

[tnhawk]

Finally got around to running a few round through this thing yesterday.  It seems accurate enough and had a pleasant amount of recoil with the 44 mag loads.  44 special in it had about as much recoil as a 223 AR.  It definitely fuels the addiction.  I've always liked lever guns, but lately, it seems I've been distracted by ARs and tacticool crap.  Time to get back to the more simple and classic stuff.  Now, I guess the search is on for one in 38 / 357 :yum: , or a Ruger 44 mag revolver. 

I haven't shot any 44 special in my Henry yet but enjoy shooting the 44 mag.  I got a 357 Henry a few days ago but haven't had a chance to shoot it yet.