Lever Gun Gurus, help me decide

[SimpleSimon]

It's been a long time coming, but I'm finally ordering a lever action in 44 magnum. I just can't decide which one!

I had my heart set on a Ruger-made Marlin 1894 SBL. Love the look of it, the compact, yet full sized, 16in barrel. The included rail gives me the option of putting a little scope or red dot on and off at will if I want to, without losing the iron sights. It's purely to be a fun rifle for plinking and gallery rifle shoots, although I do like to idea of something that could also be used to take a muntjac in dense woodland.

Just recently I saw that Chiappa are offering their 1892 Alaskan takedown rifle with a 12-inch barrel. The importers have confirmed they could get one for me.
Now, I think I'd probably have to forget the idea of using it for live quarry, the 1892 action making scope mounting difficult and probably losing a little performance from the shorter barrel. It's less pretty than the Marlin to my eye, and about £250 cheaper. But for fun factor, I imagine it would be an absolute hoot, being so short in the barrel.

If all other specs were equal, would you take the Marlin or the Chiappa?

 

[Smallholder]

How many rounds can you get in the Chiappa? A quick search for the 12" suggests only 5 rounds which would make it tricky to use for many galley rifle comps.

 

[sh1kar]

@Smellydog

 

[375win]

Marlin would be my choice, if only for the name.
You are right, it looks better as well.
Even if I were to use it just for plinking and fun, Marlin.
44 Rem Mag should be good for munty.
Good luck.

 

[tackb]

there is lots of go faster goodies for marlins

any takedown type of rifle will wear at the splitting point it's inevitable , not sure i'd like that

 

[Jagged77]

Love my Marlin in .44 mag - have put lead, full power jacketed and .44 special through and it’s great to shoot. Roger at SYSS will still have loads of performance bits for them (and probably rifles too). I’m sure the other you mentioned is great but I can only comment on the Marlin.

 

[shootnfish]

I had a 30 30 for a bit. Bloody awful thing, kicked like a mule and too loud. Others will say im soft. I don't disagree, up till then the largest calibre I shot was a 308. But that was a heavy varmint barrel of a bipod- easy on the face and shoulder. Not like a short barrelled 30-30 with a brass shoulder pad.
In the right place it would have be good, but not for me. Good fun though, but I'd rather a moderated 243

 

[Smellydog]

You won't lose performance from a 12" barrel on game. Huge beasts have been taken from 44 mag revolvers!
But it won't feel as good to aim like a 20" barrel.
I can't recommend any you favour sorry as I'm a Winchester 94 man. Just prefer the action. Ae models or older, give me a Winchester 94 anyday.

 

[Smellydog]

I had a 30 30 for a bit. Bloody awful thing, kicked like a mule and too loud. Others will say im soft. I don't disagree, up till then the largest calibre I shot was a 308. But that was a heavy varmint barrel of a bipod- easy on the face and shoulder. Not like a short barrelled 30-30 with a brass shoulder pad.
In the right place it would have be good, but not for me. Good fun though, but I'd rather a moderated 243

Shot it from a bench correct?
Should be shot standing really or sat upright.
For zeroing from a bench put a thin newspaper in your jacket.

 

[Greenmist]

I have a Rossi, until recently I would have advised against one, especially with full power rounds and the open sights are poor, now I've fitted a red dot in place of the bent spoon of a rear sight, and more importantly reduced power loads and I find I'm quite enjoying it to shoot

 

[safer]

Marlin. Simplest to maintain, reliable, and as you said with side ejection you can put the scope on it.
I have handled Ruger Marlin and it looks very well made but time will tell. If you can get good JM Marlin even better.
Stay away from Remington Marlin and ( in my opinion ) microgroove barrels.

 

[Lever357]

Depends what you want to use it for. I would certainly look secondhand as it's a buyers market. I have a Winchester 94AE in 44 magnum and really like it. There are a few nice ones on Guntradet for £6 -700. No good for gallery rifle though.
My 38/357 is a Uberti which is lovely to shoot and very slick but I'm not sure they do a 44.

 

[Swedish]

I had a 30 30 for a bit. Bloody awful thing, kicked like a mule

Really? Whatever you do, don't try a 12 gauge shotgun then!

 

[farmer7]

I've an Alaskan Takedown in .357 - 16" barrel though. I love it, slick and accurate.

any takedown type of rifle will wear at the splitting point it's inevitable , not sure i'd like that.

I wouldn't worry about this, as the Chiappa has 3 hardened pins behind plate on the forearm - at the joint - which can be adjusted if required - I've had mine for 5 years and it's still tight at the joint with no adjustment needed yet and is significantly more accurate than my last two Marlins!

 

[shootnfish]

Really? Whatever you do, don't try a 12 gauge shotgun then!

I've several, but pretty sure theyre not deer legal.
The point i was making is that 30 30 with open sights, no mod and no recoil pad isn't as much fun to shoot as many would think

 

[shootnfish]

Shot it from a bench correct?
Should be shot standing really or sat upright.
For zeroing from a bench put a thin newspaper in your jacket.

No, just off hand. Wasn't my cup of tea. Shot 357 uberti as a kid and that was fun, but 30 30 just wasn't. Mix of calibre and gun. Just didn't like it

 

[alberta boy]

I've owned a few of both , I'd take the Marlin over the Chiappa every time . I've repaired quite a few Chiappa 92 clones over the years , the most common failure being the cartridge lifter breaking at the pivot point . That's what happened to the last one I had after a few hundred rounds . It's not a common occurrence , there's just a lot of Chiappa levers out here . The Marlins are very solid rifles , but they can have their issues too , notably the Marlin Jam ( google ) . It can easily be dealt with though . I prefer the Marlins because they tear down far easier for cleaning , are simple to mount optics on , and have a large number of after market accessories available . The new Ruglins are really well built rifles . I've shot a few recently , a 94 in 44 RM , and a 1895 SBL in 45/70 . Both were very accurate and , IMHO , are as good , or better , than the older JM stamped versions . The Chiappa is a decent rifle for the money , but the Marlin is a lot more flexible due to the ease of adding your own aftermarket options . If that isn't a consideration , go with the one that fits you better . Both are a lot of fun to shoot .

AB

 

[sy247]

I've got a Winchester 94 AE in .44 with a 16" microgroove barrel. I've replaced the standard sight with Skinner aperture rear sight. Accurate and a lot of fun to shoot. The trigger is a bit agricultural but maybe could be fettled. I shoot it in an indoor underground range. Always gets a smile.

 

[Smellydog]

I've got a Winchester 94 AE in .44 with a 16" microgroove barrel. I've replaced the standard sight with Skinner aperture rear sight. Accurate and a lot of fun to shoot. The trigger is a bit agricultural but maybe could be fettled. I shoot it in an indoor underground range. Always gets a smile.

I don't think Winchester did a microgroove barrel.

 

[SimpleSimon]

That's fairly unanimous! Deposit will go on the Marlin today