Do all Ruger made Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum suck or is it just the brand new one I bought?

[Ol Salty Sailor]

I am a fan of Ruger firearms.  I have bought many of them in my life and still own most of them.  That being said, today with great disappointment I sent my brand new rifle back for warranty service.  A couple of weeks ago I purchased a new, Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum at Scheels. It jammed the first time I tried to lever in a round.  It jammed every time after that as well.  I tried four types of ammo in both .357 and .38.  I hope this is just a one off and it will be returned with no problem.

 

What did other owners experience?

[Snakebite Dust SASS 75484]

My Marlin is very picky and only feeds 1.5 overall length reliably 

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

I have two of them, and they both won't accept anything longer than 1.510" OAL cartridges. Stay below that length and it should run just fine.

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

Yep 1.50-1.46

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

7 hours ago, Ol Salty Sailor said:

I am a fan of Ruger firearms.  I have bought many of them in my life and still own most of them.  That being said, today with great disappointment I sent my brand new rifle back for warranty service.  A couple of weeks ago I purchased a new, Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum at Scheels. It jammed the first time I tried to lever in a round.  It jammed every time after that as well.  I tried four types of ammo in both .357 and .38.  I hope this is just a one off and it will be returned with no problem.

 

What did other owners experience?

Bullet profile? 

C.O.A.L.?

38 Special or was .357 mag used?

This is a Ruger made Marlin? 

[Kid Rich]

23 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Bullet profile? 

C.O.A.L.?

38 Special or was .357 mag used?

This is a Ruger made Marlin? 

read the sixth word of his post that you quoted OLG.

kR

Edited December 22, 2024 by Kid Rich

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, Kid Rich said:

read the sixth word of his post that you quoted OLG.

kR

I asked for clarification. 

In the last few weeks, I have seen a couple NIB Remmy/Marlins on the rack at a couple of small gun shops.

Not all know the Marlin history.....

[Possum Skinner, SASS#60697]

no

[Kid Rich]

21 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

I asked for clarification. 

In the last few weeks, I have seen a couple NIB Remmy/Marlins on the rack at a couple of small gun shops.

Not all know the Marlin history.....

The headline of the post says RUGER MARLIN, the first sentence says RUGER MARLIN. Just thought you needed to put your glasses on.

kR

Edited December 23, 2024 by Kid Rich

[Ol Salty Sailor]

Here is a list of ammo I tried in this gun:  

Winchester Super X, 357 Mag 158 grain Jacked Soft Point OAL 1.574

Remington UMC, 38 Special, 158 grain LDRN, OAL 1.535

Remington UMC, 38 Special, 130 grain FMJ, OAL 1.522

HSM Cowboy Action, 357 Mag 158 Semi Wadcutter Cowboy Action Lead, OAL 1.574

HSM Cowboy Action, 38 Special, 158 grain RNFP cowboy action lead, OAL 1.414

 

[Sedalia Dave]

 

BTW ALL stock 38/357 Marlins including JM Marlins are OAL sensitive.

Edited December 25, 2024 by Sedalia Dave

[McCandless]

Just a note:  All my .38/357 Marlins run best with Truncated Cone Flat point bullets.  1.48" overall length works perfectly for me.  Except for the short-stroked one that requires 1.40"  

I did have a carbine that would only take full-length .357s, but when I replaced the carrier, it would only feed .38 sp.  It's now been made into a Widdermatic. 

[Irish Pat]

Slater did my new Ruger Marlin 1894-C and it runs like a top. I recommend him. Irish ☘️ Pat

[Griff]

When I was younger and faster, and used a Rossi '92, or even when I used a full stroke 1873, I hoped all my competition used a stock Marlin... Now that I'm older, slower & use a short stroked 1873, I still hope all my competition uses a stock Marlin!  

Edited December 26, 2024 by Griff

[Kid Rich]

8 hours ago, Griff said:

When I was younger and faster, and used a Rossi '92, or even when I used a full stroke 1873, I hoped all my competition used a stock Marlin... Now that I'm older, slower & use a short stroked 1873, I still hope all my competition uses a stock Marlin!  

I'm not prejudiced I would say no matter what they're using it should be stock.

kR

[Hashknife Cowboy]

I bought one last summer and have no intent to use it for CAS.  All my loads are right at 1.50 in length and have never had a misfeed.  For the bullet I am using the Hornady .357 158 gr SJHP and some Berry's 125 gr FMJ-RNFP.  Never a problem one, it is a fun little rifle.  Powder is 231 or Unique.  I have no plan for an action job.   Good luck, I absolutely love mine.  Taking it javalina hunting in February.....

Edited December 27, 2024 by Hashknife Cowboy

[Dacotua]

On 12/21/2024 at 12:17 AM, Ol Salty Sailor said:

I am a fan of Ruger firearms.  I have bought many of them in my life and still own most of them.  That being said, today with great disappointment I sent my brand new rifle back for warranty service.  A couple of weeks ago I purchased a new, Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum at Scheels. It jammed the first time I tried to lever in a round.  It jammed every time after that as well.  I tried four types of ammo in both .357 and .38.  I hope this is just a one off and it will be returned with no problem.

 

What did other owners experience?

 

It could be just your gun. I bought my son a Ruger Marlin 1894. When I first got the gun, it felt too tight. I ended up buying some parts for it to make it useable.

 

1. Spring Kit for the Gun. (The lever spring made a huge difference btw). 

2. Aluminum Follower

The gun at this point cycled to my likings and I took the gun to the range.

 

Discovery at the range

 

1. Spring in the loading tube was too strong (Solution - I cut the spring down and reinstalled it, don't quote me on this, I think I had to take 2 inches off of it. Maybe it was 1-1/2 inches, but cut small and keep checking until you get it where you want it.)

2. The gun shot low. I ended up adjusting the rear sight to the highest position on the gun and it was still shooting low at 50 yards. I ended up ordering a Marble's 1/6" gold bead sight that is 0.26" tall. (THIS solved my shooting low issue, now at 50 yards, the rear sight is adjusted on the 3rd notch (lowest)). The factory sight is 0.303 high and my gun needed a 0.26" tall sight.

 

Total Parts Summary to Fix my gun:

1. Spring Kit

2. Aluminum Follower

3. Marble's 0.26" tall front sight.

4. Cut Down Magazine Tube Spring (For my gun, I think it was between 1-1/2" and 2")

 

I did NOT have any issues with feeding. The gun so far eats my 38 Specials (125gr Cowboy Action Loads - Used Desperado Bullets) and eats my full house 357 Magnum Loads (158gr Hornady XTP).  (Both handloads of course)

Edited December 27, 2024 by Dacotua

[Ol Salty Sailor]

I need to add a follow up to my post.  Ruger took care of the issue under warranty.  The rifle now functions as expected.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

Any report on what they needed to fix?

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Sounds like a typical Marlin action to me 

[Eyesa Horg]

Hey,hey,hey!

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

Sounds like a typical Marlin action to me 

Go back to your dungeon 

[Whitey James]

Love mine, never had any issues with it. I did replace the springs with the Shotgun Boogie kit to make it faster, but never had any jamming issues.

[Ol Salty Sailor]

On 2/6/2025 at 11:45 AM, Smokin Gator SASS #29736 said:

Any report on what they needed to fix?

The magazine tube follower and the loading gate door and springs.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

If you take your Marlin of any vintage .

And you put it in a rifle holder of your favorite type .

Take a Brass punch and knock out the rear sight from Left to Right .

Too not damage the dovetail or the sight itself. 

Remove the Marlin from the holder and turn it over and cycle the action 14 times upside down .

Then 14 times on its left side .

14 more times on its right side .

This is all done with No Ammo in the firearm. 

This is the smoothest a Marlin will ever feel .

Then you put it back in the safe for that rainy day of shooting .

Pull out your Winchester 73 .

And go shooting with the best  functioning rifle of all time 

Rooster  

 

 

Edited February 9 by Rooster Ron Wayne

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

The 73s were less popular then Marlins until the development of being able to reliably short stroke the 73s through either cut and weld or redesigned toggle links.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

8 hours ago, Smokin Gator SASS #29736 said:

The 73s were less popular then Marlins until the development of being able to reliably short stroke the 73s through either cut and weld or redesigned toggle links.

I know .

I shot a 92 for many years over the Marlin. 

I still consider the 92 as one of the best lever action rifles ever made .

 

[watab kid]

i dont know - my JM marlin is really great , but i did have a remington made in 45colt that i sold very quickly after buying it , never worked as i wanted it to , money lost was insignificant but the irritation was too great to endure 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]