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by Scott Crawford - July 29, 2024 This is one of the first Ruger-made Marlin 1894 SBL's off the assembly line from the Mayodan, NC factory. Excellent wood to metal fit and the finish on the stainless steel is amazing for a production unit. Right out of the box I was very pleased with the overall look of this rifle. The slimmed down forearm and cut checkering were a nice update for the fresh new Marlin. And that square bolt - just amazingly smooth on cycling. This is the second 1894 in .44 magnum that I've received from the Mayodan, North Carolina plant and like the first (1894 Classic), this Marlin makes a huge statement that they are back in a big way. And the great news is that there are more 1894 models being introduced as I type this review! 
The Ruger-built Marlin Model 1894 SBL
So, let’s get down to business. The SBL models are currently available in .45-70, .30-30, .357 mag and .44 mag. For this review, we're focusing on the 1894 SBL in .44 magnum. A caliber that can be used for deer, boar, bear or moose. So, this small, compact package can handle just about anything in North America and look good doing so. 
The Ruger-built Marlin 1894 SBL Stainless Bolt The Ruger-built 1894 SBL is indeed a re-release of a previous Marlin design that was hugely popular, especially for folks making the trek where big furry animals wander. It was also hugely popular because it was a great looking product that met many needs of today's big game hunter. Sturm Ruger just elevated the design & functionality to meet even further needs of today's lever action hunters. From the factory threaded barrel in 5/8 x 24 threads that will accommodate suppressors & muzzle brakes to the more aggressive checkering and slimmed down forearm, and even the incorporation of Ruger's hammer-forged rifling, this rifle means business. Beyond functional improvements Ruger has added some design enhancements that just take the looks of the rifle to a new level. These include the updated bullseye in the stock to include the Ruger red color and the inclusion of the laser engraved Marlin logo in the bottom of the pistol grip. There is no mistaking this version of the rifle with any previous versions when one handles it. Additional changes made by Ruger include the even shorter barrel at 16.10". There are however unseen changes inside the Ruger made Marlin such as improved thread timing of the barrel with the receiver, ensuring proper alignment of front and rear sights, better machined hammer notches providing a more consistent engagement with the sear and a crisper, lighter trigger pull. They have also improved the chamber design requiring fewer machining operations. This is a big deal - if you've ever talked with a gunsmith that has worked on "JM" or Remington built Marlin chambers you'd know that the chambers were sometimes rough to say the very least. Not the case any longer with Ruger's approach! 
The Hawke Optics Vantage 1-4x20mm IR scope mounted on the rail The engineering team at Ruger/Marlin have really improved the already great Marlin firearms design & functionality and this model release proves that they are performing at an elevated level. I'm impressed with the fit and finish and the overall quality of the rifles they are shipping from a "production" line.  The Picatinny rail and rear Ghost Ring sight The stock and forearm are constructed of durable, laminate wood which is finished to a beautiful color. Improved finish on the stock and forend and sharp checkered grip panels provide superior grip in all weather conditions. Something I’d be proud to tote through the woods on a deer hunt or backpacking trip. The red & white Marlin Bullseye in the stock is a nice continuation of the Marlin history with an updated color change.  The Hawke Optics Frontier sight The metal fit and finish on this particular model is very crisp, clean and well done. The polished finish of the stainless is perfectly executed and from a production environment, this is done very well. The sights sit plumb on the barrel, not canted to one side, the hardware isn’t scratched or mangled from assembly processes.   The rifling twist on this model is 1:20 Right Hand which works well for a heavy .44 caliber projectile. My earlier "JM" models were 1:38 twist that couldn't stabilize heavier bullets well. I found the accuracy and repeatability quite good for a short, barreled rifle. Although I was using various hand loads which I didn’t tune specifically for this rifle I felt the rifling and new hammer-forged barrel worked well providing good groups for lead or jacketed bullets.   Now let’s talk ammo. I shot three different hand loads through this rifle. One load used coated cast 250-grain from a good friend of mine over Shooters World Ultimate Pistol powder. The other two utilized H110 powder under either a 180-grain Sierra jhp or 210-grain Hornady jhp. Unlike my earlier "JM" 1894's, the SBL liked both cast and jacketed. In fact at fifty yards, all three bullet types/loads grouped under 1.25" with the 180-grain doing the best at just under .812". Very impressed with the overall accuracy of the hammer-forged, six groove rifling on this big bore rifle.  At 6.3 lbs., naked, this model is on the light side for a big bore Marlin rifle sporting a shorter barrel than standard rifle length of 22" or 24". At 33.25" overall length this rifle is short enough to be utilized comfortably in a ground blind or in a tree stand. The stainless-steel barrel & receiver coupled with the laminated stock & forearm make this package perfect for hunts in wet weather. This size would also make a superior "truck Gun". While some may balk at the Marlin $1,529 MSRP price tag, if you look back to late 2018 when Remington first introduced their version of this model it was selling for $1,132.00 and it didn't have all the features of this new version from Ruger. Do yourself a favor and look into a Ruger-built Marlin if you’re looking at lever action rifles. I was extremely happy with the quality of the build, the level of performance and handling of the rifle. 
 I wanted to summarize what I thought of the overall package compared to my "JM" built 1894P, .44 magnum rifle. This rifle is almost identical in barrel length, .1 lbs. heavier, and carries the same round count of 8, .44 magnum rounds. The overall length is almost identical as well so from dimensional and capacity aspects the rifles are the same. That's where the similarities end. Rather than American black walnut stocks, the SBL sports a pistol grip stock in gray laminate and of course the SBL is in stainless steel versus the 1894P bluing. While the 1894P was factory ported, this new SBL comes with a threaded barrel which gives the opportunity if wanted to add a muzzle brake or can for less drama when firing. The wood to metal fit is better on the SBL and the action is much smoother right out of the box. I would also add that the trigger pull is now lighter and crisper and today's loading gate is a dream to load through. Lastly, the SBL of course sports a big loop lever which I appreciate so much with bigger hands and the ability to wear gloves while hunting. Overall I'd say the recently released Ruger-built Marlin 1894 SBL handles very well, provides better grouping than my earlier 1894 "JM" Marlins and ranks as another favorite model of mine. Marlin is back in a big way. Yes indeed, I had to add this rifle to the 1895Gunner Gun Room vault. I couldn't possibly send this one back to Ruger after testing. New Improvements
Features
Technical Specifications
  1895Gunner shooting the Ruger built Marlin 1894 SBL 
IN THIS ARTICLE Marlin Firearms
1894 Owners Manual
Ruger Firearms
Starline Brass
Shooters World Powder
Hawke Optics
Hodgdon Powder
Sierra Bullets
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