M1894CL 25-20

[Ojaileveraction]

1894CL
Last Saturday driving back from the Club Range Workday, I stopped at an LGS I don't get to often.
I've missed some good deals there. A Former Coast to Coast Hardware store that still sells rifles. Not many of those still around here in Cali.
Well, I spotted a couple Marlin 94's One a Round barrel 41 mag, and a 1894CL. Didn't know what that was and I didn't think I'd seen the configuration.
22 inch sporter type barrel with a 1/2 mag. I really had only heard of the cartridge, 25-20 Winchester.
The 41 mag held no interest for me. It was a little beat up and looked like it was refinished poorly. My 45-70 satisfies my big bore needs.
It was the price of the 25-20 that got me going, $500. For a Marlin 1894 in my area, that is a great price.
My gut was saying buy it now, but I put it down and walked away.
To many unknowns for me. Cartridge, rifle, ammo.
So I spent the afternoon and evening researching, sifting through the chaff to find kernels of knowledge.
That being said I was in the door of the store soon after their morning opening and bought the rifle.
It is a modern rifle with the "dreaded" Marlin cross bolt safety. Has a serial number starting with CLxxxxx. CL stands for "Classic". There were several runs in various years.
Comes with a Williams 94/36 receiver sight installed.

Ammo is an issue. I have not checked with any where local but California law is going to make it harder.
I've also ordered dies, including some to use making 25-20 cases from 32-20 cases that are easily avaliable from Starline.

Didn't know any of this Saturday.

No pictures yet, The rifle is in it's 30 day hold to check if it is stolen.

Anybody Have/had a 25-20 caliber rifle.

Tim

[BigAl52]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/832661256 Tim maybe you have looked but there is some brass on GB

[Ojaileveraction]

Thanks Al.
I know that is there, I'm just not into the bidding. but its a resource.
There is Remington ammo online at Midway but... California. I have to check with the LGS's and see if they will order it from someone.
A member at another forum was also nice enough to sell me a good start for cases.
I have a friend that shoots BP cartridge. He lost all his brass and many rifles, in the fires a couple years ago and he's been Reforming brass. I can talk to him about reforming 32-20 possibly.

[Vaquero]

Ojai, as I mentioned in the other thread I do have an Winchester 1892.
The barrel was garbage, but have found another barrel and having it installed.
Hoping the gunsmith will call any day.
I do have everything and have loaded a few rounds.
Maybe we can finger our way through this one together.

RP

[Vaquero]

Just out of curiosity what were they asking for the 41?

RP

[GaHenryFan]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/512497251/ ... uantity-50

I've had really good luck with Etsy purchases.

[Ojaileveraction]

$575 , for that caliber Id think a very good price.

Just out of curiosity what were they asking for the 41?

RP

[North Country Gal]

I've had several of those cross bolt cowboy editions of Marlins and all have been great shooters. Glad you didn't let that cross bolt stop you. That's an amazing price for one of the cowboy editions, by the way. Around here, they usually go for $800 to $1000 and even more for the popular calibers. Congrats on a great find.

[Ojaileveraction]

I have nothing against Marlins safety button. It would not stop me from buying a rifle.
I have a couple.

[Mistered]

The crossbolt unfortunatly gets misconstrued as a quality issue with the 'Remlin' era of the Marlin rifles and this is not the case.
The crossbolt was added in 1984 while Marlin still carried the 'JM' brand and quality still very good.
While the crossbolt is a detractor the advantage is the rifles with it are typically less than the earlier, non-crossbolt models but still have the quality the 'JM' versions are known for.