Marlin model 96 44 Mag.
 

Picked up a lever action Marlin 44 Mag a while back, What kind of accuracy can I expect at 75 yards?? I'm putting a 1.5 x 4.5 Bushnell on it.
Can I expect 5 shots in a 3 in cricle at 75 yards.
Also anyone have any favorite loads for 44Mag rifles??

I'm just going to use it for deer in Wisconsin.

RE: Marlin model 96 44 Mag.
 

Where is the picture. I have an 1894 Marlin in 44 magnum(never seen a 96). I can keep all shots under three inches at 100 yards. My groups hover around two inches at 100 yards(3 shot group).

The Marlin lever's can be a bit picky. But normally the problem most shooter's have is cycling the ammunition. I have seen several that would not cycle any bullet over a 240 grainer. I cast for my rifle so I can not be much help to you on load's. However 2400 is my powder of choice for the 44 magnum. It gives good case fill. Tom.

RE: Marlin model 96 44 Mag.
 

I have good luck with H110 or AA1680 for magnum loads for carbines. I see NO reason why you can't get groups at least that small with just about any load.

RE: Marlin model 96 44 Mag.
 

I have an 1894 and I havent used it too much out to 100 yards yet, but at 50 yards it will group down to about 2 inches with a scope on it. Shooting free hand with open sights it only groups about 4 inches. That is with 240 gr. handloads though. Nothing to brag about, but then agian I just did try a scope on it last weekend to see just how tight it will group and that is where I got the groups down to 2 inches at 50 yards with light handloads.

RE: Marlin model 96 44 Mag.
 

I'm sure you can get better than a 3" group at 75 yards from a Marlin lever action. I did some tuning on one in .35 Remington, and it would shoot into 1" @ 100 yards with the Speer 180-grain flatnose. I took a little metal off the receiver end of the magazine tube (to keep the expanding barrel from changing the pressure exerted by the tube onto the receiver face as the barrel heated up), free-floated the barrel as much as I could, and reduced the trigger pull. I think the same or a similar treatment would improve the grouping of yours as well-if it indeed needs any improvement! Shoot it first-you may be surprised!!

I had a Win. M94 in .44 Mag., and used my revolver loads in it - 22 grains of Hercules 2400 and the 250-grain Keith 429424 semiwadcutter. I had to reduce the length of the cartridge-stop projection on the cartridge elevator so it would accept theis load-the overall length is longer than factory ammo. But after this change, the action functioned well. This load was really hell on armadillos!

(BTW, I'm aware of a Ruger M96 lever-action in .44 Mag., but have never heard of a Marlin M96... only the 1894.)