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Recoil of Marlin 1894 44 Mag?

jdyer
I'm considering buying my son a Marlin 1894 44 Mag for Christmas. He's 11 years old, about med height, 115 lbs. I bought him a Ruger M77 Compact 16 1/2" Barrel 7mm-08 and it kicks his teeth out. He simply will not shoot it. How is the 44 Mag recoil in comparison to the 7mm-08, and would te 357 model be better? He will be brush hunting White Tail Deer. Thanks
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • v35
    I vote for the 357.
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  • iluvguns
    If not biased against a single shot, might want to look at a Handi-Rifle in 243. My 11 year old has one and loves it. One word of caution...they are HEAVY suckers and a good shooting stick is a must for my son. BUT..the weight really tames what little recoil there is in a 243.
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  • gskyhawk
    I have a marlin 94P in 44mag it has the 16 1/2" ported barrel , my son shot it when he was 11 and didn't have any big problems with it but did say it kicked pretty hard , he's 13 now and can shoot a m48 in 8mm with no problems even with the steel butt plate [:D]
    have you considered a marlin in 41 mag model 94 FG, more power than a 357mag but less recoil than a 44 , they're nice guns too
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  • Rogmatt
    I have an 11 year old son, and he shoots my Marlin 1894 in 44 Magnum with not problem. He loves it.

    Keep the Faith
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  • bperdue21
    don't see where a 44 mag in a 6-7 lb rifle would kick. a 20 ga slug gun might be ideal for brush. synthetic savage or remington in 243 wouldn't be a bad rifle. i started hunting with a .270 when i was 8, so i guess i have never had a problem with recoil. didn't even think about it, but they do make that reduced recoil ammo for some calibers. started thinking 270 and saw some for it, says it isn't worse than a .243.

    I'm not an expert, but i did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
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  • gotstolefrom
    It is quite possible that the 44mag will not cause any problems, but approach this with caution.
    What is managable for some may be unpleasant to others. If you can do it, have lighter ammo for practice, or go with another gun altogether.

    Practicing with something even slightly unpleasant will help a youngun develop bad habits. You have to make this descision for him, he may have the impression he is lacking in machismo if he says a guns kicks to much. As all know, a well placed shot is the first step in a clean and quick kill. He has many many years to go, start him out lighter, maybe without him knowing it. Handloads or 44 special for the 44 may be the best way to do this, or consider the 243 . The shots made while hunting are few, and we never remember feeling them anyway.

    ENJOY your time with your boy.

    If we do not hang together,
    We will most certainly hang separately.
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  • rsnyder55
    You may try getting him used to the 44 mag by shooting 44 specials and then work up to 44 mag loads.

    NRA Life Member
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  • gunzforever
    you should just get a recoil-pad for his 7mm-08 instead of getting a new gun no offens but when i was eleven i could handle a .308 150 grain no problem and then i only weighed about 100 lbs
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  • young n dum
    I almost want to second the idea of a good recoil pad but with a word of caution. As the others have said this is the time when habits will begin to form......I would get a very good reoil pad and then if there were ANY signs of discomfort I would move down to a .243 ( handi rifles are said to be very good shooters, they are inexpensive [$200] and a single shot may help influence good tendencies in shot choice )

    imay not know it all.....but at least I know that!
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