Rebarrelling a Marlin 1895 .45-70?

[RG1911]

I have an older Marlin 1895 with the micro-groove rifling that refuses to produce anything resembling a reasonable group using CBs from 300 grains to 405 grains.

I've read that Marlin now uses a barrel with normal rifling.

Has anyone heard of successfully rebarrelling a Marlin 1895 with the newer barrel?

Thank you,
Richard

[osteodoc08]

The MG barrels like larger boolits. What are your boolits sized at now? I bet if you bump up the diameter, you'll have an awesome shootin Marlin.

I wouldnt waste the time or money and let Remlin touch an older JM Marlin.

[seaboltm]

Any properly equipped smith could do it, but it would not be cheap. Think along the lines of $500+ for a custom barrel. Cheaper to by a Remlin. They shoot fine, function fine. I have one. And yes, I have JM guns too. The difference are over stated in my opinion.

[RG1911]

The MG barrels like larger boolits. What are your boolits sized at now? I bet if you bump up the diameter, you'll have an awesome shootin Marlin.

I've tried .458 and .459 CBs without success. I recently bought some .460 that I've loaded but won't test until I can mount a good scope.

If these don't work, and if it would run $500 for a different barrel, I'll probably just stick to jacketed.

Richard

[Jack Stanley]

My rifle is an early seventies version and didn't start shooting well untill I used .4605" diameter bullets . Now it does as well as I can hold 'em and squeeze 'em .

Jack

[TXGunNut]

My Guide Gun is not MG but still prefers a .460 boolit. Accuracy was fair with the .458-459 boolits but Marlins seem to like fat boolits. Mine likes the Ranch Dog 460-350.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Along with the fat bullets, you might check the barrel crown. Cast bullets are much less forgiving of an imperfect crown than jacketed bullets.

[knifemaker]

You have a good chance of seeing improvement with a .460 dia. cast bullet. My 1895 prefers .460 dia. cast and shoots them into groups of 3 shots at 1 inch at hundred yards. I also use the Ranch dog 350 gr. gas checked boolit, but I use a Lyman 450 to size and lube at a .460 dia. Another trick I use for best accuracy, I seat my cast boolit to where the ogive just kisses the rifle lands. I have no problem with my 1895 feeding the longer lenght bullet.

[Nobade]

Yep, try whatever size is a slip fit into a fired case. Size that case just a touch to give some neck tension and have at it. I bet you will be impressed at how well it shoots.

-Nobade

[dubber123]

I have a newer 1895 CB. It gets fed .462" boolits. I don't know what it slugs to, but they fall freely into the chamber, and shoot better than anything smaller. Huge chambers and loose bores are pretty common.

[RG1911]

I did slug the bore, and it came in at .458.

In addition to the .460 CBs, I'll see how well a CB fits a fired case.

Much appreciate all the tips.

Cheers,
Richard

[Jack Stanley]

I'm sure it will work out for ya , My experience with Marlin barrels is they lean to the large side . Feed them bullets that fit right and usually they are OK .

Jack