Marlin 1894 Cowboy ( 45 Colt)

Youtube ^ | 4 August, 2010 | Hickok45

[Errant]

Hickok45 video having some fun and gunning with one of mine and his favorite Marlins, the 1894 Cowboy Limited in .45 Colt caliber. This rifle is a jewel and so much fun to shoot. The .45 Colt is a great flexible round.

[Joe 6-pack]

Yes...I was asked to leave a silhouette range once because I was damaging their targets.

[Errant]

I really like the versatility of the .45 colt. The only thing I haven't loaded it with is homemade blackpowder.

[Errant]

If you get a rifle, get it in 454 and you can still shoot .45 colt. The only problem might be a feed issue with some rifles.

[Joe 6-pack]

I’d be using smokeless powder so I wouldn’t have the same kind of residue build up as you were having. Apart from that, what were your impressions? I haven’t fired one, but have handled a few, and have been very impressed by the bluing, the case hardening and the general fit of the parts.

[mylife]

Those 300 grains in the marlin look like a hoot.

[Lancey Howard]

Cool!

[Clint N. Suhks]

I would suspect that bulky 19th century gloves

Excellent observation.

[Errant]

Cheap to when you pour your own. I've got about 5 .45 Lee molds. They seem to work pretty well but you have to smoke them properly.

Hickok was right about recipes out there which get close to light 45-70 ballistics.

[Sender]

45-70 is longer and it still fits in your belt loops.

[50cal Smokepole]

Just watched the vid. Looks like too much fun. As if there is such a thing....

[Errant]

You might be interested in these Hickok45 videos as well.

Flintlock Musket (Brown Bess)

Civil War Enfield (Caplock)

1858 Remington Cap & Ball

:)

[Inyo-Mono]

I’d be using smokeless powder so I wouldn’t have the same kind of residue build up as you were having. Apart from that, what were your impressions? I haven’t fired one, but have handled a few, and have been very impressed by the bluing, the case hardening and the general fit of the parts.

It was a very well made piece. Bluing, case hardening, fit and finish were all very good. The grip takes a little getting used to, but I have big hands so it wasn't really a problem. Well balanced, it fires .45s accurately and you can even use a speedloader with it.

[Joe 6-pack]

Thanks...have a gun show coming up weekend after next...I’ll see if I can find me a bargain :-)

[Deaf Smith]

When I was in the serious market for a 44 mag back in '84 (up grade from 45 LC) I read many owner's manuals. Most said..."Not recommended for magnum loads"

WHAT?

Then I read Ruger's and there were no disclaimers. I called them up...."Shoot mags all you want".

Started with the Super Blackhawk and then traded for the Redhawk. Have around 14K full house rounds through the Redhawk.

Now if I can just get Mr Miller at KEAD to sell me 215 grs projectiles.

[Errant]

I have two Blackhawks with consecutive serial numbers. I should trade one for the Redhawk I want but can't bring myself to do it...

There's silver, gold, lead, and also stainless steel!

[TigersEye]

I had a Marlin 1894 in .44 magnum at one time. Loved it. I swear it kicked harder than my 30.06 though. I love lever actions and Marlin makes the best IMO.

[yarddog]

One of my favorite rifles of that type was a Browning model 92 in .44 mag. Since John Browning invented the original Winchester model 1892 I think they were entitled to make one too.

Not as practical but even more fun was a single barrel H&R in .357 Maximum. It would of course take all the .38s and .357 magnum cartridges too. It was more accurate than the Browning which was pretty accurate itself. Those hot .357 maximums out of a 20 inch barrel were just about perfect for any medium American game. Probably would have done just fine on larger game with 180 grain hard cast Keith style lead semi-wadcutters.

[TigersEye]

Brownings are beautiful. I have a Browning BR22 that I've had since I was 15. Very pretty cherry wood stock with a hard lacquer finish. But it regularly feeds a cartridge into the edge of the chamber.

Years ago I had a friend, since passed, who had a Marlin lever .22 that fed cartridges flawlessly so it was a matter of the make not the little rim fire carts. Mine looked nicer but his worked better. Although his had an octagonal barrel which was pretty cool.

[yarddog]

I worked with a guy who had a Browning lever action .22 which did the same thing yours did. He offered it to me for $35 and I should have grabbed it. He changed his mind and returned it to Browning. They repaired it and it was fine thereafter.

Overall Brownings are among the best but you can get a bad one, especially when they first come out.

[TigersEye]

It never occurred to me that it could be fixed. It has always done that so I thought it was a design flaw. I can't describe how I do it but there is a certain way I can work the action to minimize it. It's not a constant problem just regular. Sometimes I can crank them off without a hitch. Thanks for telling me about that.

Brownings are generally very nice no matter what the model or type of gun. When it comes to lever actions though Marlin and Savage are tops in my book.