Hello everyone!
I was visiting a small gun shop this morning while traveling and they have a new Marlin in 44 magnum. I know it’s probably been discussed but does anyone know the twist rate on these? This one has wonderful figure in the buttstock and plain grain in the forearm. Is this the norm?
They have it priced at $1,069. I’m not sure if this is reasonable or not? What prices have you seen?
Thanks for any help!
Rick

Not a terrible price from what I have seen but I have no idea on the twist rate.

https://www.marlinfirearms.com/s/model_70401/

Twist 1:20" RH

How heavy of bullets can this twist rate stabilize well?

I don't understand the need for a real heavy bullet in a 44 mag. I find the 240 to be as heavy as I would want to go. I actually prefer the 200 grain in my 1894SS.
I have one that can shoot a heavy 44 cal bullet... it's a 444 Marlin

I have a 265 grain mold from Accuratemolds.com for my 444.Tom does a wonderful job. It would be nice to use the same bullet in a 44 Magnum lever gun.
Rick

That sounds like a fair price for a small gun store. This is the best online price I have seen https://lockedloaded.com/product/1894-classic-44mag-bl-wd-101

After shipping and FFL, you may save $80 online, but you won't know what will show up in terms of wood character, fit, finish or functionality.

Not sure but I've shot up to about 330-grain cast in 1:20 Ruger revolvers and they have stabilized (though WFN bullets past about 100 yards have not, though that is a bullet design issue, other nose profiles have done fine).

Twist is 1/20'" and it has conventional rifling. Just bought one this morning for $999 at Academy (not bad considering no shipping or FFL fees). I slugged it and groove diameter is .4296". It will feed 429421 Keith bullets seated in a magnum case and crimped properly in the crimp groove. It looks like someone actually listened to all the complaints from us bullet casters. I can't wait to shoot it.

I have a "JM" 1894SS. It too has the 1-20" Ballard rifling. It shoots 180, 200, and 240 JHP bullets very well. I use the 200 Hornady XTP for hunting with top end Win296 loads. These bullets are designed for handgun velocity so I fill the HP with JB Weld. I have tried some 265 cast that were given to me. But I like the jacketed bullets for hunting. I don't shoot heavier bullets as I have a 444 Marlin that takes care of 240 XTP and the 265 grain.

To get your best accuracy look up Paco Kelly's tips for accurazing a lever gun. Mine is now close to clover leaf at 100.

Don't overthink the twist. I had a Win 94 trapper .44 magnum with a 1-38" twist and it'd handle the 300 grain XTPs very well with groups around 3/4 inch at 50 yards being normal. That action was long enough to handle the now discontinued 300 grain Speer UniCore seated to the rear groove, way over SAAMI length, and it shot those pretty darn well, too.

The previous 44 and 444 barrels didn't throw Barnes XPB bullets worth a crap, even 200 grain.

I just got my 1894 SBL set up today, and hope to shoot Monday. 1 in 20 twist in the Ruger Marlin is a gamechanger.

After action disassembly and inspection, fit and finish is much improved over even the best era of Remlins. No burrs, sharp edges, or machine marks. Factory trigger was the normal heavy, but a Wild West Happy solved that real quick.

Hoping to pick up one of the new SBLs, but probably in .357 as I already have a couple .44 leverguns. I'm kinda sticker shocked at the asking price of them right now, hopefully that'll settle down once they become more available.

The 1-38" MicroGroove does well. I am not a fan of the heavy bullets in the 44 mag. I prefer a 200 XTP for deer. I have a 2001 Ballard rifled 444 and it seems to shoot the 240 XTP very well. I am trying the 265FTX bullets but to work around the length, I trim the rubber tips at the edge of the jacket so that they function properly without have to shorten cases. I have some 300 grain HP that I got as part of a deal but have no desire to use them in the 444.

The 1-38" MicroGroove does well. I am not a fan of the heavy bullets in the 44 mag. I prefer a 200 XTP for deer. I have a 2001 Ballard rifled 444 and it seems to shoot the 240 XTP very well. I am trying the 265FTX bullets but to work around the length, I trim the rubber tips at the edge of the jacket so that they function properly without have to shorten cases. I have some 300 grain HP that I got as part of a deal but have no desire to use them in the 444.

The new Marlin 1894 by Ruger in .357 and .44 both have 1 in 20” twist rates. I’ve got one of the new 1894 in .357 and it’s very well made, everything on wood to steel fit and finish is fine, and it’s extremely accurate with +/- 1” groups at 50 yds.
Thankfully Ruger saved Marlin.