I want a .44 mag.

[john0286]

I'm wanting to buy a .44 mag rifle for deer hunting. I want something that is either lever or bolt action, and something I can easily mount a scope on or comes with a scope. Not much over $700. I've been looking at some ruger 77/44's....anyone have any experience with these? Any other suggestions???

Thank You.

 

[shooter1054]

I'm not a fan of the Ruger. I could be, but the bolt is a 90 degree bolt. When you cycle the bolt, it comes close to a scope. It shoots pretty well, but the bolt bothers me. For less money and just as accurate, I chose the Marlin 1894. No issues with it at all. Yesterday I was ringing steel with it at 209 yds. That is not a shot I would take on a deer. The longest shot I would take on a deer is about 150 yds. Its not a problem with the rifle, but I think thats about the limit of the round to make a clean,effective kill.

 

[gunman41mag]

Ruger has a nice 44 mag semi-auto carbine

 

[RichardR]

I am a big Marlin 1894 fan as well, they are definitely worth looking hard at if you are in the market for a lever action .44 mag.

 

[shooter1054]

Ruger has a nice 44 mag semi-auto carbine

Really? I haven't seen this. Do you know a price? Is it a new gun or an old one? I could be interested in this.

 

[farmboy365]

They don't make them anymore there is a carbine model with tube feed magazine and a Deerfield with rotorary mag I have a Deerfield and it is a vary fun gun.mine is scoped.Go to gun broker and look up ruger 44 under semi auto

 

[sbcman]

Marlin 1894. Blued if you're cool, ss if you extra cool.

 

[mikerccie]

There were about a dozen .44 lever guns from Marlin, Winchester and Henry at the Kokomo gun show yesterday - most were in your price range. Henry's .44 rifles are drilled and tapped.

 

[brasshead]

I have the 77/44 and love it. Put a trigger sear in it and it makes a sweet deer rifle, short,light and accurate. Easy 100 to 130 yard rifle. I can ring a 10 inch gong at 200 yards with mine easy.

 

[paperboy]

I would say look for a Marlin 1894, built like tanks, very easy scope mounting. Stick with ammo thats 240 grain & under, Marlins have micro-groove rifling and may not stabilize heavier bullets. I always shoot WWB 240 gr. JSP and they lay the smack down.

 

[fordtuff]

If you decide to raise your price cap a little I can vouch that Henry's big boy rifle in .44mag is a damn fine rifle

 

[sgreen3]

My brother has a Marlin in .44 Mag real nice rifle

 

[sbcman]

I would say look for a Marlin 1894, built like tanks, very easy scope mounting. Stick with ammo thats 240 grain & under, Marlins have micro-groove rifling and may not stabilize heavier bullets. I always shoot WWB 240 gr. JSP and they lay the smack down.

Some do and some don't have microgroove (mine doesn't). Either way, 240 grain in a Marlin is about right because even those with ballard rifling have a very SLOOOOOW twist, thus creating stabilization problems with heavier (longer) bullets.

240 grain is plenty for almost all hunting purposes with a 44 though.

 

[spainy79]

Here's some porn for you. I love mine and it shoots the Leverevolutions just fine.

 

[Yote69]

I found a very nice Ruger 77 Stainless that shoots very well for $500.

 

[rhart]

After a bit of research, I just picked up a 77/44 SST with Camo stock at Plainfield Shooting supply. They had the best deal them at the time that I could find. Its very light. They had blue wood, sst black and sst camo.
I love Rugers, built like a tank and they shoot good too. Oh, the trigger was horrible but in about 30 minutes and Youtube, I did a home trigger job that I'm fairly satisfied with.
I put a Nikon 2-7x32 scope on mine.
I love lever guns too but I like a scope on my deer gun and my lever guns without scopes.

 

[paperboy]

Some do and some don't have microgroove (mine doesn't). Either way, 240 grain in a Marlin is about right because even those with ballard rifling have a very SLOOOOOW twist, thus creating stabilization problems with heavier (longer) bullets.

240 grain is plenty for almost all hunting purposes with a 44 though.

Thanks for the correction, I thought they all had micro groove. Maybe I was thinking Ballard rifling. Anyway, I am with ya about a Marlin 44 paired with 240 Gr. JSP is an awesome deer set up!

 

[wildman6266755]

I have the ruger m77 and it after a little trigger work that thing is great comes with rings and shoots great. My hunting buddy has one too (he bought his first and I had to have one) I put 8 of 9 on a playing card with mine at 100 yds. GREAT DEER GUN!

 

[Kveldulf]

For just over $400 you can get a Rossi 92 from buds. They've got a faster twist rate than the Marlins, so they can sling heavier lead. They downside is that they eject the casings vertically instead of horizontally, so mounting a scope is a pain. But you can easily get peep sights on the barrel, the tang, or on the receiver if you pop out the safety (at your own risk). Other options would take more doing. I highly recommend the Rossis. They're great bang for your buck. I don't know that a Marlin, particularly many of those of recent manufacture, are worth the premium they're commanding right now. Their price will come down when Marlin starts making them again in February/March and the main hunting seasons end.

Disclaimer: I am a VERY satisfied owner of a Rossi 92 in .44 Magnum.

 

[Kveldulf]

Shoot. I didn't notice this was an old thread that has been resurrected.