In the Marlin 1894 44 mag, with the deep cut ballard type rifling, is the 1:38 twist enough to get "good" accuracy with 250-300 gr bullets?

I had the same rifle and used 300 gr. hard cast bullets for it. Accuracy was very good in mine.

my 1894 shoots a 1 1/2 inch 10shot group at 100 yards with a williams peep sight and my old eyes! This is accomplished with 300 grain XTP's and a large charge of 2400. I think the tale that microgrooves will not shoot an over 240 grain bullet is false for more than a few of us.

buckeyeshooter,

Is your Marlin 1894 a "microgroove" model?

yes, it is marked 'microgroove' and 1 in 38 twist on the barrel. It is a 1984 year of manufacture.

My Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag is a fairly recent purchase. Accuracy with 240 gr jacketed bullets has been very poor, as in 4 to 6 inch groups at 100 yds. The 200 grain jacketed are better, best so far has been cast 200 gr RNFP over 6.8 grs of WW 231. That will make about two and a half inches. Still working on it, but I sure wish Marlin offered a 1 in 20 twist.

Some good advice given here on the 1894 Marlin in 44Mag...here's the deal on these rifles: not only do they have the 1 38" twist but the bores are oversized as well. My 1894PG (pistol grip) shoots wonderfully well with .432 cast bullets..best with truncated cone 240 gr. I use AA#5 powder. At 77 meters (about 85 yds), they often clover leaf into a cluster. I also use 23.5 gr H110 and 240 JHP Sierras...even though they are .429 they also shoot wonderfully well. Shrps74

Thank you shrps74 for your successfull loads. Components are in short suppy currently in northern CA, but as soon as I can obtain the proper supplies I will be trying them out.

Mine shoots Winchester 240 grain soft point into about 1.5 inches at 100 yards. My old Winchester 94 Legacy (1 in 26inch) shot 300 grain Hornady XPT factory to sub moa groups at 100 yards. Of course it had a 2-7 scope instead of a 4x and I was a lot younger and more foolish (I sold it ).

I was looking for a Marlin in either .44 Mag. or .45 Colt to use hunting whitetails with a friend on his farm in Indiana. I chose the .45 Colt because of it's 1:16 twist and am not disappointed. The rifle shoots 5-shot groups with the 300 gr. Hornady XTP of 0.5" at 50 yards and under 1.5" at 100 yds. The first load I worked up (22.5 gr. Win. 296, almost exactly 1500 fps)) worked well with the rifle, so that is what I used. Worked fine on a doe. I did not use my buck tag. The rifle shoots almost as well with cast bullets, and I will try to work up a load for a cast bullet to hunt with next year. It also feeds fine with all the cast bullets I have tried, including the Lyman #454424, a 310 gr. NEI SWC, and a 305 gr. truncated cone P&C bullet. If you are not set on a .44, I think the .45 is worth considering.