1893 Marlin 38-55

[mroliver77]

I bought this gun two summers back at a local show. It is in pretty good condition except for some worm holes in the stock that someone filled with accra glass and then urethaned over it. When I got this piece I gave it a good cleaning and found the first 1/3 of the bore was "frosty" looking. I figured that it was from shooting BP loads early in its life as serial# check shows it made in 1895. I was working up some wimp loads to plink with and decided to use some grits as filler. After a dozen or so rounds I put a light in the breech and looked down the barrel. The frost is almost gone! Now I am not sure if it was damage or just some fouling left by some ancient bullets sent down the tube years ago. Being this is a soft steel barrel would the grits damage it being they are a tiny bit abrasive? This old girl is scary accurate and will only ever see cast.
Jay
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo189/mroliver77/DSC00150.jpg

[45 2.1]

Your idea about grits is probably right. I use ground corn cob to fireform brass besides useing it to polish barrels out that were rough. The rifle used to fireform brass has an extremely smooth shiny bore now.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Thats a seriously nice old rifle.

[mroliver77]

Nother pic. I was shooting a 200 gr .360 boolit paper patched to .381 over 13.9gr 2400 today. What a sweet plinking round. Action is very smooth with a very light and smooth triger. Sights are so fine that my eye needs lots of light to see them.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo189/mroliver77/Zues018.jpg
Jay

[izzyjoe]

:lovebooli that is a pertty rifle, i guess i'll be a looking fer me one, thanks.

[C1PNR]

That's a VERY nice rifle mroliver77!

The only Marlin I own is an old slab side 36 Carbine. It's not as nice as yours, but I like it. Lever action rifles, carbines, or what ever don't have round bolts!;)

[ktw]

There's a twin to that one at one of the local antique shops. He wants around $1100 for it. Bore doesn't look too bad from what I can see of it but it needs a good cleaning to know for sure.

I have been tempted, but am not sure I want one "$1100 bad". I haven't tried talking him down yet either ...

-ktw

[Buckshot]

...........Your rifle is very nice, and is a testement to the fact that they sure don't make them like that anymore. Shoot it with pride!

http://www.fototime.com/47DD87E404FADAE/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/9F5891A7D1FCEBE/standard.jpg

I bought this 1893, 38-55 back when I had my FFL, and it came from a gunshop in upper NY State. I paid $650 at the time. Whoever originally owned it used it, but took very good care of it.

http://www.fototime.com/5E8D3A65F0ED412/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/45BE569277920CB/standard.jpg

It came with this Old Leupold scope which is still crystal clear. The windage & elevation adjustment is via those 2 rings. It has a post and line recticle.

http://www.fototime.com/34A89A527939537/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/9B6139BD46243C8/standard.jpg

It's a very accurate rifle and my favorite load is the Saeco 225gr FNPB over 16.0 grs of 2400. It's a real shame that Marlin couldn't see their way to remake the '93 as I sure think the flat bolt action is MUCH more attractive then the 336. Maybe not as strong, but it was strong enough for the 30-30, 38-55, and the 32-40 :-)

.............Buckshot

[OldBob]

I have the twin of your rifle mroliver77, it was my first deer rifle and killed my first buck. Mine has an exterior finish about like buckshot's but unfortunately has a few pits in the barrel, but is still reasonably accurate and a lot of fun to shoot. One of my old hunting partners had one in 32 Special, a takedown, beautiful rifle. Give yours a try with .380 round balls and a light charge of Unique, lots of fun and quite good under 50 yds, you may have to size them down a thousandth or two to chamber easily.

[mroliver77]

Dang Buckshot you have some great guns!! I too prefer the looks of the slabside and they sure are smooth! I love old steel but only if it still is usable. I need a .380 RB mould!
Jay

[Just Duke]

I love these guns. We have a 38-55 in a Cowboy on the way. Thanks for all the pics.