Marlin 1894 SBL .357 Initial Impressions

[@garyturner8898]

Great review. Thanks for taking the time to thoroughly examine the 1894 SBL. I need to pay better attention, I did not know Ruger/Marlin released an SBL model of the 1894. It looks fantastic. Thanks again.

[@stoutdog56]

I got mine about 3 weeks before your video posted. The fitment was the first thing I checked and was impressed. I thought about the trapper too, but like the Pic rail which will allow other sights to be installed. I am so happy to finally having it. There is a KZbin video of a Marlin plant tour that shows why the build quality is as good as it is.

[@twofox7001]

FYI, the front sight has tritium which glows. You can get a rear sight. Nice rifle btw. You can use warren, Larue or some other quick detach scope mounts that will hold zero so you can go scope-less for home and scoped to hunt without a lot of fuss or re-sighting.

[@roosterfish3248]

I have the 45-70 ruger made trapper. An excellent optic set up is the leupold 1.5x4 scout scope with medium height warren quick detach rings. You can remove the scope, use irons if you want, and put the optic back on without losing your zero. I have the burris scout, and the leupold. I like the leupold way better. Seems like it has about 2 inches less eye relief than the burris, which makes the rifle balance better, and it does way better in low light. You are going to love that rifle!

[@212driller]

@@roosterfish3248 thanks for the info I'll look into that. It's the VX freedom one?

[@roosterfish3248]

@@212driller mine is the old vx2 1.5x5x28. It has been discontinued, and the freedom 1.5x4x28 took its place. I like the freedom better bc I think the glass has better coating, and the there is a lock ring on the ocular lens focus adjustment.

[@dasi2383]

throw a Riton X3 tactix 1-8x24 FDE, put one on my Marlin sbl 4570... can use code thedarkyota to save I think 20 or 25% 👍🏼

[@mybrotherscout3661]

Greetings from Texas, Thanks for the review. I have the 45-70 Trapper. My rifle has a couple of brown knots on the stock as well. Anyhow, I think I'll be getting a 357 as well. The 45-70 is nice but as far as ammo cost, its so expensive to shoot. The 357 should be fine for plinking and hunting. Take care and God bless.

[@81mrsmitty]

I am torn between a sbl and a trapper but also between 357 and 44. I owned Remington Marlin sbl in 45/70 and 44mag they were nice. Sold them during Covid.

[@steveholt3089]

Same here.. part of me thinks a small scout scope like the burris would add to the versatility of the rifle on the other hand there's something right about no optic on a lever gun. No scope will keep gun very light and trim and the trapper is 200 cheaper which could go towards ammo

[@emanuel5925]

Good video man

[@robertmazurek2725]

For the hammer squeak, put pepsodent toothpaste on it and cycle it about hundred times. Thoroughly clean then oil or grease. Squeak will disappear!

[@SabertoothDefenseSystems]

Interesting🤔

[@dougschaller2755]

It looks like there is a thread protector on the end of your barrel. There are flats and a line where the barrel stops and a thread protector would begin. Just something for you to check out. Sorry if someone else has already pointed this out.

[@212driller]

@@dougschaller2755 yup I mention it has a threaded barrel in the video. I'm not going to be putting any muzzle device on but great for people who can have suppressors!

[@dougschaller2755]

@@212driller My bad. I heard you say the Remington didn't and zoned out after that...

[@casejasnoch2533]

Great review. What are you planning to hunt with this?

[@212driller]

@@casejasnoch2533 deer, moose, elk, antelope, coyotes and wolves. Will be used for self defense in the wilderness as well.

[@casejasnoch2533]

Wow moose and elk. What load will you use for deer and distance?

[@jimdent351]

You've had no issues with Ruger? Wow, I have 3 Rugers and 2 are less than perfect. The American rimfire wouldn't even chamber rounds because there were burs on the throat of the chamber and the bullet hung up every time no matter what ammo. I have 2 brand new 10/22s that haven't been fired to know if they function, but the one has wood tear out at the bolt area from the machining process. I'm guessing the milling bit was dull. I didn't see it prior to purchase because you need to be in bright light for it to be noticeable and gun rooms are typically on the darker side but they light the guns up that are on display. In the sunlight though it's very noticeable. The american also had a good scratch on the top of the barrel. Again it didn't stand out much at the gun store due to lighting, and you don't look for these things on a brand new gun. Yes it was never handled before. The salesperson had to get it from the back and it was still boxed when I saw it, and it was inside plastic bags inside the box.

[@212driller]

@@jimdent351 sorry to hear you had an issue. I bet Ruger would take care of you if you contacted them. Frankly I've never heard of such problems!

[@harold42501]

I've had a few problems with a few rugers myself but the Ruger 1894 in 357 I just bought is as good or better rifle than any the JMs I have owned over the years

[@jimdent351]

@@harold42501 I picked up a 77/357 yesterday. Same situation where the dealer had to remove it from the box to show it to me. It too had a scratch on the front sight. It's about a 1/4 inch long along the flat where it dovetails into the barrel. Disappointing but not surprising to tell you the truth I bought it anyway because it was good other than that. While I was there I asked to see a Mossberg chambered in .410 that had a badly aligned recoil pad. Although I wasn't intent on buying the .410 yet it was bad enough to prevent me from it if that's what I was there for. I don't know where the pride in manufacturing is gone, but I also swear they send the rejects to us here in Canada because they know we can't return them to the dealer, and the cost of shipping them to an "authorized repair center" is too expensive so we learn to live it. There have been other such examples I've seen in the past too from Winchester and Remington both. Like I said, I swear they knowingly send them to us here. I'm glad to hear that Ruger has solved the Marlin issues but I'm fairly convinced that damaged ones will show up still. Hell this 77/357 even has a warning on the back of the box from Ruger to check it thoroughly before purchase because they have no control over damage once it's shipped. I think it's Ruger however that is damaging them but sending them out. I don't think border customs or the importer would ever have a reason to remove them from the packaging.

[@jimdent351]

@@212driller The American rimfire I mention was bought in 2014. It was bought on an impulse and put into the safe until last year when I noticed the chambering problems when I decided to finally sight it in. I was told by the "authorized repair center/importer" that Ruger would take care of it in spite of it's age so I shipped it to them in Quebec. Once they received it they told me it was too old to for warranty. That was in spite of the fact it looked brand new still. For the most part it now feeds almost 100% of the time but it will still hang up once in a while. I've only had one round now that has refused to chamber. They should have chamferred a little more material to act like a tiny feed ramp. The problem with us here in Canada is we need to send them to the repair center and that cost is on us. The 10/22 I mentioned with wood tear-out isn't that huge of a deal to be on the hook for shipping. Unfortunately it will be years before I can fire it because I bought it for my son right after he was born so as to gift to him in the future. As mentioned to the other commenter I picked up a 77/357 yesterday that had a scratch in the bluing of the front sight. The scratch obviously happened then they installed the sight. There is zero chance it could have happened anytime else. Edit: Upon closer inspection and under good lighting I've decided the mark on the 77/357 is because whomever installed the sight might have used a chisel or screwdriver to drift it into place rather than using a brass punch. Under better lighting it looks more indented than it does scratched because you can see that the metal has been displaced from impact.

[@harold42501]

Good looking rifle , except for that over size lever , those look cool in jhon Wayne movies but are very impractical

[@KonaLife]

I love the oversize lever.

[@brandtjustsayin]

If you have ever hunted in extreme cold with very large insulated shooting mittens or gloves, that stainless big loop (SBL) is very practical. Big puffy gloves or mittens gloves may not fit well in a standard loop.

[@harold42501]

well that is true but me myself I'm not going hunting in sub zero weather , but I didn't mean that comment S a negative, one the main reasons to own a lever gun is they besides being practical are also fun and cool Z heck and if you like that big loop we'll it is 😎

[@samdone2900]

Just cut an inch off this stock. It looks like you can grind that butpad down to fit it to the cut butt profile.