I'm looking to buy a new marlin 1894css been saving my money for sometime now, but after reading some disturbing news about new marlins, dont know if that is what I want now. Have not been able to find the stainless anywhere for months now, so called marlin and they said the new tooling would not be in place until next year. I guess I would like some advice about what direction to go in, but I really like the marlin.

I'm buying the Marlin 336 XRL, 24 inch barrel next year too! I'm having a FFL look into the cost. I also am buying a Range Officer 1911. Let me know what you find and I will post what ever the FFL comes back with.

If you have your mind set on a short stainless .357 levergun that you're going to scope, the Marlins are pretty much it. Rossi makes a stainless .357 Model 92 in Trapper and rifle lengths, but scoping one is not convenient. Winchester doesn't have a stainless levergun and wants a fortune for their blue ones.

True, the current "Remlins" are getting some bad press, and some pix and descriptions posted on the various forums certainly show that some pretty bad rifles are making it out the door. The upside to that seems to be that most of the issues can be corrected by someone who enjoys tinkering with his rifles, and (with few exceptions) Marlin's customer service seems to still be interested in making things right.
Some will choose to not take the risk and will just walk away, others (like me) who enjoy working on their guns will roll the dice, betting that we'll get a rifle that's basically sound and just needs some patient smoothing, honing and adjusting.

If your local FFL will work with you, I'd roll the dice. Detail stripping the rifle can be done in a few minutes with a couple of screwdrivers when you go to pick it up.
If it's a truly bad rifle with some of the horror stuff I've seen posted (stripped screws, etc.), I'd refuse to accept it and have your FFL send it back. If it looks good initially, but proves to be a dog (barrel installed crooked, etc.), then you're betting on Marlin's customer service to make it right. Everything else (gritty action, lousy trigger, etc.) can be fixed by you.

You shouldn't have to do that, and I absolutely agree with those who will jump in and pound their fist and exclaim that those crappy rifles shouldn't ever have made it out the door in the first place, but the fact remains that those of us who want something only Marlin makes are kinda stuck with that reality.

Personally if I was you I'd get a Rossi stainless lever gun and then install one of Steves Gunz peep sights that replace the needless bolt safety. For the range of a .357 rifle no scope is needed and a quick aiming peep sight would be just the ticket. A broke in model 92 or one thats been given an action job is the slickest action you'll ever have in a lever gun.

Here's the link for the Rossi peep site larry mentioned:
Adjustable Bolt-Mounted Peep Sight Safety Replacement - $59.95 : Steve's Gunz Web Store, The Home of the Rossi 92 Specialist

I'll second his enthusiasm for the '92: they are handier and slicker than even a Win '94, which is handier and slicker in turn than the Marlin '94 (even pre-Remington). Truth be told, I'm not a fan of scoped leverguns: even the smallest and lightest scope takes away from that delightful balance and handiness they have.

Thanks for all the replies found a new pre remington 1894c today at LGS its blued but got it anyway didnt want to rick getting one stamped from carliona's just ordered XS sight systems ghostring sights so I will try and post an update

Good find! You'll be pleased with both the rifle and the XS sights.
If you want to do a bit of slicking-up, here's a nice tutorial:
TUNING MARLIN LEVER ACTIONS

...I've got a stainless 336 on order, Thanks for all the info. Will be taking neccessary action before I start putting rounds threw it. Thanks Again, I'll keep you informed on what I did.

bubba the roach; Glad you picked up the 1894c... They are great rifles...

Have one of the ones you were looking for.. A 1894SS LTD

Love it!

I did have a regular 1894c and it was a pleasure to shoot also (Just could not justify have two... )

Shoot straight and safe!

Lateck,

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10/22-TD, Mini-14, M77-GS, LCP, LC9, SR9c, SR40c, GP100, SR1911.

Another option is a Winchester 1873 replica in .357Mag. I acquired one in a trade deal several years ago and just shot it once for function. Yesterday I took it to the range and shot some cast and jacketed through it. What a pleasure to shoot. It's a "short rifle" version of the '73. It was so much phun I think I'll install a Lyman or Marble tang sight and use it deer hunting next fall.

FYI.

Longhnter, aka Jim Finch is a cowboy shooter and, among other things, a Marlin expert gunsmith. I believe you can order the rifle from him and he will do an action job then send it your FFL.

Jim has an outstanding reputation nationally, if not internationally. I am not aware of rifle prices. Can't hurt to call.

COWBOY ACTION FIREARMS - LONG HUNTER SHOOTING SUPPLY

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