Bout a year ago I bought a 1894 marlin in 44 mag. One of the best deer guns I've ever had. She's a little partial to certain types of ammo but for a 100 yd gun I don't think there's any better for deer.

Well I went to the gun show yesterday looking for whatever I might find. Kinda had an eye for a Ruger 77/44 but was keepin my options open. I came across a young man with a 1894c which was chambered in 357 mag. It was looked new. He said that he'd had it for about one or two seasons but that he wanted one of the HR Sluggers in 20 or 12 gauge. Now I've been looking for another Marlin for a while just for something to plink around with or to give to my father because he liked my 44 so well when he hunted with it last season. I offered him $350 and he took it. I took the other $150 I had on me and put a 4x weaver scope. I figure I'll have her spittin 1" high at 75 yards. If memory serves it'll put me close to on at 100 yards.

I know the 357 seems a little small for deer but I had a Puma in 357 for a few years that I still have ammo for. I killed several deer and coyotes with it and even used the gun with 38 sp ammo a few times for pests, rabbits, and squirrels. So I'm pretty excited about it.

On the flip side, I had some one offer to trade me for a 7mm Rem Mag made by the National Rifle Company for my Ruger 270. The guy said it was a custom rifle and I was intrigued but I didn't know the company so I passed on the deal. Just wondered if anyone had ever heard of the gun company.