We have one more week of Marlins, then we’ll give some other guns a chance. However, after the 336 crushed the Model 94 Winchester in last week’s voting I am eager to see what happens in today’s Gun Fight. It’s an asymmetrical matchup: the Marlin 1894c squares off against a Glock 10mm pistol. Which is the better walking gun for pigs and whitetails?
Introduced in 1894, the Marlin lever carbine was chambered for a variety of handgun rounds but today it comes in .357 magnum/.38 special only. Ballistically, as Greg Hart points out, the 18.5-inch barrel supercharges the .357 magnum velocity-wise, making a cartridge already effective to 50 yards or so even more effective. It’s light at six pounds and it holds a lot of cartridges. And, as a bonus, you can load it with 38 special for inexpensive, low-recoil practice or plinking.
The Glock 20 dates to 1991 and it is not going to win a beauty contest with the 1894c. It is lighter and handier than any carbine and it holds 15 rounds which should be enough for anything. Handguns are – I find anyway – a lot harder to shoot straight than any long gun, although a dot sight does make it much easier. Still you would have to practice, pick your shots, and limit your range with this rig or you might have a very angry pig on your hands.
Lynn Nelson’s Glock/Lone Wolf Model 20 10mm
Custom Glock/Lone Wolf Model 20, 10mm long slide with 6″ stainless barrel.Topped with a Burris Fast-Fire II red dot which is recessed in the Lone Wolf stainless frame.
It is my preference as a side arm for hunting whitetails and Russian hogs in southern Arkansas. Packs a big punch with 180 grain JHP’s and 200 grain HCFNGC lead bullets. Paired with a 15 round magazine it is very comfortable to shoot, and is more accurate than I can ever be. Fits comfortably in my Yaqui Slide holster for all day wear. Just awesome!
And…kudos to Phil for giving me the idea from his piece on the S&W .357 with Burris Fast-Fire II red dot from a year or two back. —Lynn Nelson
Greg Hart’s .357 Marlin 1894c
This is my go-to gun for deer and pigs. In the densely wooded, hilly terrain I typically hunt, its small size makes it easy to carry and point quickly. At short ranges it really doesn’t give up much to a .30-30 and the longer barrel really makes the .357 cartridge come to life, typically picking up another 400 FPS or so.
It has a capacity of 9+1 rounds and the lever action allows for fairly quick follow up shots, if need be. Ammo is inexpensive, and there is a wealth of data and components available for reloading.
Finally, being a pistol cartridge, I can practice with it at any indoor handgun range. —Greg Hart
Which is it: classic carbine or “plastic” pistol for deer and pigs?
Source: http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/gun-nuts/2013/05/gunfight-friday-deer-and-pig-guns