[patepluma]

Does anyone have experience with the 24" 1894's - either in .357 or .44 - or both. I can't decide which to buy. I've already got a .357 in 18 1/2". Thanks.

 

[Mike Buchanan]

Does anyone have experience with the 24" 1894's - either in .357 or .44 - or both. I can't decide which to buy. I've already got a .357 in 18 1/2". Thanks.

I have three of them in CB limited models all with the 24" oct. barrels in .357, .44mag, & .45 colt. I love them all and mostly shoot target and steel plates with them to 200 yards. They all have williams reciever sights on them for my old eyes. If I could only keep one it would be the .45 colt.
Mike B.

 

[patepluma]

....

thanks. How would you compare them to the 20" models - in .357 & .44...I can't decide whether to buy the 20' or the 24". thanks.

 

[Mike Buchanan]

thanks. How would you compare them to the 20" models - in .357 & .44...I can't decide whether to buy the 20' or the 24". thanks.

With my limited experience with them I can't really compare them since I only have them in 24". Depending on your planned use I think the shorter 20" is probably handier to do a lot of carrying but I love the 24" barrels for offhand shooting. They just seem to settle in so smoothly for shooting iron sights offhand.
Mike B.

 

[patepluma]

Ok

Thanks, Mike.

 

[Bucolic Buffalo]

Does anyone have experience with the 24" 1894's - either in .357 or .44 - or both. I can't decide which to buy. I've already got a .357 in 18 1/2". Thanks.

I've had exeriance with both the 24" barrel and the 20" barrel. I personally like the 24" barrel a little better than the 20" for the same reason Mike gives plus take out the plug in the cartridge tube and I have 2 more . 44 mag. rounds to shoot. The 20" barrel 1894 would be a little handier in the woods or brush if you go hunting in those conditions. You know what you are going to use it for the most and make your decision based on that. You really can't go wrong with either barrel length.

 

[patepluma]

Ok

Thanks, guys...I don't know what happened to my post in 'lever guns',...but anyway - thanks for your posts - I think I'm going to buy two of each(a 20" & a 24" in both .357 & .44), then, after I try them out I can sell on or the other and - at worst, lose a little $$ - or maybe I'll just keep them both!! Thanks for ypur help.

 

[Clem]

Does anyone have experience with the 24" 1894's - either in .357 or .44 - or both. I can't decide which to buy. I've already got a .357 in 18 1/2". Thanks.

I have a few Marlin ‘94s:
18 ½” 94C .357, 24” 94 Cowboy .357, 24” 94 Cowboy .45. I use the 94 Cowboys for CAS, so they have full buckhorn barrel mounted sights. The full buckhorn acts like a ghost ring for me. I have a Bachman front sight on them. The 94C has a Williams Foolproof rear sight. It is much shorter and handier, but I don’t use it for CAS.
The 24” barrel hangs better for me for long shots, but the increased moment of inertia slows it down in swinging between targets.
Hope that helps.