I want to get a 44 mag lever action rifle. Whick 44 mag carbine whould I get? I have had good luck with Marlins (45-70 and a .22), but I am a little concerned about the barrel twist rate of 1 in 38. Will it stablize 300 gr bullets? Could it handle standard length loads max 44 Ruger Redhawk(300 @1300 fps in the Redhawk)? I like the idea of the Puma '92 (as I am not crazy about the looks of the Marlin 94) but looking through posts, I am a little nervous about the quality of the Pumas.

WJM

I have owned 3 different 44 Mag rifles over the years.

First was the original Ruger 44 Mag Deerstalker semi-auto, second was a Marlin, third, and the one I still have is a Winchester Trapper.

All had the 1 in 38 twist.

All of them would shoot near one hole groups out to 75 yards, at 100 the groups would start to open up.

There were no heavy bullets when I had the first 2, but I have found that the Winchester shoots 270 Speer and 300gr Federal Cast core better at 100 than the 240 grainers.

I have killed deer as far as 125 yards with the Ruger. I killed a lot of deer with it and it worked great.

Out to 125 yards it kills deer and pigs as good as a 308/30-06, IMHO.

You may have a hard time finding a Winchester.

The Marlins are excellent guns, I must say I really like the 16" bbl on the Winchester.

All in all the Ruger was my favorite.

A friend of mine has a Puma in 454 and so far it has been a good gun. If you like the '92 style also look at a Browning.

If I remember correctly the Winchester will handle cartridges loaded to a longer OAL.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

I'd steer clear of the 44 Puma/Rossi, at least until you have been assured that the newest ones are OK. I've seen this complaint (below) too many times. They don't appear to have the same problems with the 45s, just the 44s.

http://leverguns.sixgunner.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=32555

The Browning is set up for the standard 1.6" OAL and won't accept the super long Redhawk loads without modification and the Marlin is pretty much the same, although I think the Marlin can accomodate them with less fuss but it will still take some $$$ to get the really long ones to work.

Hi,
I went with a Ruger 96/44 and a 2-7 Loopy and could not be happier. A lot of people knock the 96 but I have found most of the criticism un-warrented.
They may not be the most accurate or pretty guns out there (mine manages 2.5 inches @ 100) but most of my 44 hunting is done under 75 yards and most things it gets pointed at has a kill zone the size of a dinner plate. The trigger is no Sako but it's safe and you don't notice it in the field and as far as looks go, well I look deeper than the skin and that's what you have to do with most Rugers.
They are hunting tools. Reliable, functional well engineered, simple and safe and have some of the best rings in the business.

Safety is what put me off the Marlins and the like. Fact is the Ruger can be loaded and unloaded whisper quiet. Very imnportant when stalking. But within seconds the gun can be carried safely with an empty chamber and a full magazine.
This is and important feature for myself and my hunting buddies. I don't care for hammer block safeties and half cock bla bla bla.
If a gun is carried with one in the chamber, accidents are more likely to happen and there is no easy and quiet way of loading or unloading a Marlin or Winchester and leaving the chamber empty and the mag full.

The Ruger also has a 1:20 twist so it will stabalise the bigger projectiles. Only problem might be how deep you have to seat a 300 grainer to get it in the mag. Personaly I have found the 240 grain pills at around 1400 fps kill anything they hit and would imagine they are more controllable in such a short light gun.

Bottom line, the 96 does exactly what it was designed for.

Good luck with whatever choice you make.
Cheers.
Boof.

Boof

Have you tried the Federal Cast Core 300gr factory loads. They are shorter tham most other 300gr loads I have seen.

I am curious if they would fit in your magazine and feed.

NE 450 No2,

I don't really have any need for 300 grainers.
As I said, the 240's kill everything.

I use 240gr hardcast for 95% of my hunting.
10.7 gr of Unique
Win Case
Fed 155 Primer.
medium crimp
Guesstimate 1400-1500fps
5 shot groups around 2.5 inches @ 100

Zero @ 25 is: +1" @ 50 and -2" @100.

Estimated energy is about 950 ft-lbs at 50 yards. Not much on paper....try telling that to a big pig drilled end to end with a near 1/2 inch hole!

The same load gives the same points of impact with 240gr XTP's at 25 and 50 yards (if I feel like using jacketed).
The XTP's shoot a little more accurate but here in OZ they are 5 times the price of hardcast.

This is a very comfortable load to shoot even with the Ruger buttplate.

If I want a cannon load then I have a few boxes of factory PMC 240gr HP's.

Long Live the 44.
Cheers.
Boof.

Boof

For deer sized game I prefer the 240's as well.

I was wondering about the 300 grainers for those that might be considering the Ruger Lever.

They run fine through my Winchester and shoot very well to boot.

I also have a 96/44. I shoot the cheap Winchester USA 240gr JSP's available at Wal-Mart. They group about one inch at 100yds. I have a 1.5 X 4 Swift on it. Everything I had taken with it here in Southeast Georgia has fallen DRT (dead right there). This include deer and hogs. I have a gun safe full of rifles, but I have a hard time leaving the Ruger at home. It is light, accurate, and does the job.

I have a Winchester Wrangler in 44mag that keeps my SBH company. I shoot the same stuff out of both. Mostly 240gr XTP with a almost max charge of 296. At 50yds the Wrangler will stay around 1.5 inches. I have loaded some 265gr that hit hard but they run about 3" at 50yds. I loaded some mid range Blue Dot with Speer 240gr sp that also print about 1.5" at 50yd.

It is one of my top 5 fun guns to shoot.

If I was going to buy another it would be a full size Marlin.

I have shot a Puma in 45 Colt. It shot ok, but the gun just seems to be built very light.

WJM
Basically, what you have learned here is that all of the 44 Mag rifles, have given their owners good results...

Bottom line is, buy the one you like the best.

I can say that a 44 Mag rifle is a light, handy, hunting rifle that kills way beyond its "paper ballistics".

I have a winchester and love it. I'd say get the one that lights your fire and shoot the hell out of it.

Stay away from the Rossi Puma the one I had woudnt shoot cast bullets worth a darn and was not a very accurate rifle

If you are truly interested in a Rossi 92 check with Steve Young of Steve's Gunz. He is THE 92 expert. He has said that Rossi has corrected the overly large bore problem for the .44s.

I had a .44 Mag carbine (a Marlin) and while I use the 300 gr. bullets in my Contender carbine it is more a matter of gaining experience with them than needing them. Even the Remington 240 gr. SJHP load easily handled 100-250 lb CA hogs back in the 1976-77 period. Also took at least one goat with it with no problems.

I've got the Marlin 44 mag SS....nice well made rifle...accurate...easy to maintain & clean...

I owned the Ruger 96/44 and found it to be the smoothest, fastest handling lever action I've ever held. That being said the darn thing was lucky to shoot 10" groups at 100yds so I had to send it packing. I now use a Ruger 99/44 that shoots 1.5" 5 shot groups a 100 yds which is a big ragged hole , so it looks like I lucked out with the auto but it sure doesn't feel as good as that lever did maybe I'll try another 96/44 and see if I get lucky this time. I do like Marlin levers but only have them in .35 rem, 30/30, and .410 so I can't speak for the .44 but given Marlins quality I am sure they are nice also but you would give up the quick loading, unloading magazine of the Ruger.

I have had a Winchester Trapper 44Mag since 1987. It is a tack driver. At 50yds it will stack 240grn low loads one on top of another. Using 300grn, 19grn of H110, magnum loads it will do the same thing. It also has the finest burle(spelling) stock on it you have ever seen. Don't get me wrong it is a working,i.e, get drug thru the woods rifle. I guess I just love it.

I have an 1892 (reproduction...Japanese) in .44 mag for sale if you want.....mint 100% and 20" octagon barrel.
PM me if you're interested......

I had a Marlin in 44 Rem Mag for a short while...worst shooting Marlin (Only bad shooting Marlin) I have ever owned...

It got horse traded for a new 7 x 57 Ruger 77 Mk 2...

I got a great trade, which is all I can say good about that rifle...

But I also realized afterwards, that I have a tack driving 444 that I can load to 44 Mag specs.. so that problem is forever solved...

I've always been a Marlin fan and have had a number of Marlin leverguns in my day, including a 44, and it's pretty much the ONE I would personally say avoid. This is not because it was inaccurate or unreliable, but because for some damned reason it kicked like hell! I also had a Marlin in 35 Rem at the time and I swear it was much more pleasant to shoot than the 44. I really saw no benefit recoil wise in shooting the Marlin 44 over my 270. This was all the more strange in that I also had one of the Ruger 44 leverguns and it recoiled noticeably less for whatever reason. Some weird quirk of stock design or something. I later found out that the guy who gave it to me as payment for some money he owed me was glad to get rid of it because he also felt it recoiled too much, and he had an 06 at the time he had been using. I know it sounds strange, but that was my experience, so I thought I'd throw it out there. To me the Ruger's the way to go in this comparo.

quote:

Originally posted by Boofhead:
NE 450 No2,

I don't really have any need for 300 grainers.
As I said, the 240's kill everything.

I use 240gr hardcast for 95% of my hunting.
10.7 gr of Unique
Win Case
Fed 155 Primer.
medium crimp
Guesstimate 1400-1500fps
5 shot groups around 2.5 inches @ 100

Zero @ 25 is: +1" @ 50 and -2" @100.

Estimated energy is about 950 ft-lbs at 50 yards. Not much on paper....try telling that to a big pig drilled end to end with a near 1/2 inch hole!

The same load gives the same points of impact with 240gr XTP's at 25 and 50 yards (if I feel like using jacketed).
The XTP's shoot a little more accurate but here in OZ they are 5 times the price of hardcast.

This is a very comfortable load to shoot even with the Ruger buttplate.

If I want a cannon load then I have a few boxes of factory PMC 240gr HP's.

Long Live the 44.
Cheers.
Boof.

Boof,

What, who is you rifle's maker? I have a Marlin 1894 and it shoots jacketed bullets great, but I never could get that micro grove barrel to shoot hard cast accurately at the speed you are talking here. Very curious.

Also very curious on my Marlin is how the screw on the lever unscrews as you cycle the action? Once in a while I need to re-tighten?

I just purchased a Henry Golden Boy lever action 44 Mag. I was wondering what is best load to use. I have reloaded 240 gr JHP for use in my Ruger Super Blackhawk and according to 6 different books this should be a good load. What's everyone's opinion

quote:

Originally posted by Boofhead:

Safety is what put me off the Marlins and the like. Fact is the Ruger can be loaded and unloaded whisper quiet. Very imnportant when stalking. But within seconds the gun can be carried safely with an empty chamber and a full magazine.
This is and important feature for myself and my hunting buddies. I don't care for hammer block safeties and half cock bla bla bla.
If a gun is carried with one in the chamber, accidents are more likely to happen and there is no easy and quiet way of loading or unloading a Marlin or Winchester and leaving the chamber empty and the mag full.

Everyone should have and hunt with what they prefer and are comfortable with but I disagree with all of this.

I have been carrying an 1894 Marlin for a long time now with No Problems!!!!

Another one for the Marlin. If you don't like the safety either get an older one, just don't use or delete the the safety on a newer one.

The Winchester 92 reproductions are nice too but cost much more.

The Turnbull manufactured 1892 Winchester would be my first choice. I do own one, but mine is chambered in 44-40, not 44 magnum.
I like and own the Marlin, but would not own a Marlin 1894 manufactured by Remington, the quality is no longer there. There are also some new Winchester( FN-Browning) 92's in 44 mag out there. I do not like the Henry design but you might. I would not be interested in a Rossi.

Only two I can compare is the Ruger (now selling for collector prices) and the Marlin. I'd pick the Marlin.

Have owned and killed deer with a 1970 vintage Win 94; not the smoothest action as they are not made for pistol cartridges, but works.
Also have a Rossi; rough inside but I always smooth and tune everything anyway; works very well now. And Marlins are always great. As for the new "Henry", those are nothing but rip offs (I mean copies) of the Marlin 336 action, so they do work. Would not own one. I actually like the original Henry/66/73/76 action the best for historic coolness. I think Uberti makes a 73 in 44. Had a Browning (Japanese) 92 once too but did not shoot it; good quality of course.

I have 5 Marlin 1894s right now in various calibers.2 are 44 mags.They are newer JM made Marlins(Late 1990s)They have the Ballard type rifling and shoot cast bullets great.What is nice about the Marlin is the ease of adding a scope when your eyes need one.I shoot the 300 grain XTPs and they shot good at 100 yards.There are two crimping grooves so you can seat them a little deeper and they run through the action fine.How ever I think the 240 grain XTPs will do everything you would want them to do.OB

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
I have 5 Marlin 1894s right now in various calibers.2 are 44 mags.They are newer JM made Marlins(Late 1990s)They have the Ballard type rifling and shoot cast bullets great.What is nice about the Marlin is the ease of adding a scope when your eyes need one.I shoot the 300 grain XTPs and they shot good at 100 yards.There are two crimping grooves so you can seat them a little deeper and they run through the action fine.How ever I think the 240 grain XTPs will do everything you would want them to do.OB

There is also the fact that the Marlin is stripped by the removal of the lever screw and you have it dissassembled in in less than 5 mnutes for cleaning.

quote:

Originally posted by buckeyeshooter:

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
I have 5 Marlin 1894s right now in various calibers.2 are 44 mags.They are newer JM made Marlins(Late 1990s)They have the Ballard type rifling and shoot cast bullets great.What is nice about the Marlin is the ease of adding a scope when your eyes need one.I shoot the 300 grain XTPs and they shot good at 100 yards.There are two crimping grooves so you can seat them a little deeper and they run through the action fine.How ever I think the 240 grain XTPs will do everything you would want them to do.OB

There is also the fact that the Marlin is stripped by the removal of the lever screw and you have it dissassembled in in less than 5 mnutes for cleaning.

I see no one commenting on the Browning BL-92. Usually the Browning’s are super smooth and very accurate.

OP was asking about .44 mag carbines. Did Browning ever make one?

quote:

Originally posted by jkingrph:
OP was asking about .44 mag carbines. Did Browning ever make one?

Without getting into the semantics of the definition of a “carbine”, the Browning BL-92 in .44mag has a 20” barrel, is very lightweight, and is compact.

I would think that would fit this gentleman’s requirements. I prefer all Browning levers to the Winchester or Marlin equivalents just because I feel these Miroku models are better built, have nicer wood usually, and are very accurate.

Just my take.

No question about it; the Miroku 92s are the best quality of all the 44 carbines. No matter whose name is on them, Browning, Winchester. But some of these guys need scopes, so open top ejects are out.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
No question about it; the Miroku 92s are the best quality of all the 44 carbines. No matter whose name is on them, Browning, Winchester. But some of these guys need scopes, so open top ejects are out.

The BL 92 is said to be a great rifle. I have never handled one. Are they still in production? I thought they were discontinued several years ago?

quote:

Originally posted by mdstewart:

quote:

Originally posted by jkingrph:
OP was asking about .44 mag carbines. Did Browning ever make one?

Without getting into the semantics of the definition of a “carbine”, the Browning BL-92 in .44mag has a 20” barrel, is very lightweight, and is compact.

I would think that would fit this gentleman’s requirements. I prefer all Browning levers to the Winchester or Marlin equivalents just because I feel these Miroku models are better built, have nicer wood usually, and are very accurate.

Just my take.

That one slipped by me, I had forgotton about all the Miroku repros. I have a couple of their guns, 45-70 in a 1886 and a .405 Win in an 1895 and quality is excellent.

My only 44 mag long gun is a Marlin 1894 Cowboy with 24"barrel, so not a carbine, I just like long barrels.

I own a 92 44Mag. It has never been shot. Planning on giving it to a grandson. It was my fathers prior to his death. My father passed away over 10 yrs ago so I suspect the rifle is +15 yrs old???
Very nice little carbine.
I would suggest trying gun broker or guns America if interested.

EZ

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
No question about it; the Miroku 92s are the best quality of all the 44 carbines. No matter whose name is on them, Browning, Winchester. But some of these guys need scopes, so open top ejects are out.

Whilst the Miroku 92s with Brownings name on them have been discontinued for years, they are still readily available for $1000, unfired. Seems lots of guys bought them 30 years ago and didn't fire them. And, they are still made under the Winchester name, only these have a thumb safety. Which is ugly. Put a tang sight on it. Weld it up. Tape it up?
And the Rossi 92 is in the $450 range; not bad guns but not as smooth or well finished as the Japanese ones. I have smoothed several of them up and then they are fine.

I have one of the early Remington Marlins and have no problems at all with it. Wood to metal fit is good, it has nice straight grained wood as you would expect on a woods gun it shoots great with a peep sight I mounted on it a few years ago. I think I can get 3 inch groups @ 100 with my 240 grain hand loads. My Grandson loves it. I think its a great little gun and I got it at a great price. DW

I have an 1894 from 1978. I always shot the same loads in it that my revolvers got.
I never saw a need for 300+ gr bullets.
I used Lyman's 429421 loaded to around 1.710 or so, always fed well. I have a Lee 200 gr RFN mold for 44-40. crimped in the foremost groove it won't feed. I have to seat it out at least 1.680 to feed well, Don't shoot well a bit under sized for the Marlin.
Only time it gets jacketed bullets is when I fire factory loads for the brass or buy them cheap at auctions.
I do have a NOE version of Ranch Dog's 265 gr boolit. Haven't worked with it much but looks real good. Cast of WQCWW at around 270 grs Should be plenty for most anything that I'll shoot at.
Leo