Marlin 1895CB, Hand Biter??

[Remmy4477]

Picked up a JM marked Marlin 1895 cb a couple of weeks ago.

Was finally able to take it for a walk yesterday, Put 50 rounds through it.
40 rounds of commercial reloads, 350grn lead at 1350fps, and some jacketed hornaday 350grn at 1500fps. Both worked out well with manageable recoil for the most part.
Then 10 rounds of Lyman 457193's (395grn) with 60grns of American Pioneer ffg.
This ones a thumper!

Before the walk I added a decelerator slip-on recoil pad and that worked real good, no ill shoulder pain this morning. Recoil was manageable with all loads.

But that lever and trigger, ouch! Darn edge of the trigger alone tried to cut my finger, fingers sore this morning. And the edges of the lever also tried tearing the back side of my hand up, not so much while working the action but during the recoil!!!
By the 25th round or so I was holding that lever over the outside to keep from getting mangled! Yes I had a firm grip on it either way, still bounces you around a bit.

So I'm certain I am not the only one to experience this, whats the fix other than lighter loads, bullets, etc.
Lever wraps? My thinking they'd hold moisture and slowly rust up the lever. Maybe smooth down the edges some way, sand paper, files?

Like the rifle but eating my hand while shooting it, not an option!
222278

[Dusty Ed]

I use leather lacing But I soak it in Olive oil for a few days before wrapping I have quite a few lever guns an never have rust. Olive Won't spoil or get moldy

[Dan Cash]

You solved your own problem by holding outside of the lever.. If trigger continues to chafe your finger, apply a file to the offending area.

[Hickok]

Watch the loading gate too. After owning my 1895 for several years, I managed to push my finger into the loading gate while loading a round. Dang thing was sharp as a razor blade. Stupid and painful move on my part. I removed the gate and dulled the edge with a ceramic rod.

[ReloaderFred]

I have lever wraps on over a dozen Marlin lever rifles, and not one of them has rusted. I apply a good rust preventative prior to installing the leverwrap, which probably helps, but I live on the coast about 2 miles from the beach. If any gun was going to rust, it would be here.........

My deep woods hunting rifle is a Marlin 1895, and I installed an soft buttpad on it, which made a big difference. It still bounces you with full power 405 gr. SP hunting loads, but now it doesn't leave a bruise.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[MostlyLeverGuns]

All my Marlin leverguns get the loading gate/receiver gate deburred/smoothed, the lever edges rounded/smoothed, and the triggers rounded/smoothed ,with the pull polished/improved. This includes multiple pre-safety Marlins from the 60's and 70's. If you run a lot of rounds (50,100,200) through most any firearm at a single outing, you will find something that can be improved for your comfort/pleasure. You can fix it or or suffer. If you don't fix it, please suffer quietly and don't WHINE.

[pietro]

.

I would suggest that you might not be pulling the butt back/into your shoulder firmly enough to prevent the rifle from moving back towards your shoulder & effecting your fingers.

With a very solid hold, the shooter's body (including the trigger/lever hand) should rock/move back with the rifle's recoil, and not separately.


.

[FergusonTO35]

I keep my pinkie outside of the loop on all my rifles. I have big hands so I don't really have a choice.

[Stan_TN]

Leather wrap and smooth off the trigger sides works for me

[smkummer]

Once you shoot a pistol grip lever rifle, you won’t go back. My 22’ Marlin 1895 45-70 sporter with pistol grip is comfortable with trapdoor loads. I haven’t shot a higher power load yet and maybe won’t have a need to do so.

[john.k]

The Marlin square ended lever is a PITA.....many times I thought of cutting and welding on a round end.....my theory is that 150 years ago,men were smaller than today,and hands were smaller too.Winchester used the square ended lever too,so it must have been OK once............As to the trigger,I used a die grinder to round the edge on mine without taking it out of the gun.The blue was already worn off,so no loss.

[BigEyeBob]

My Marlin was a finger chewer , space between the pinky and the next finger was always chewed by the lever ,I took the lever off and cut it through and added an inch of small square keysteel , weled in with tig ,then filed it back to the same profile as the original , I can get all of my fingers inside the lever and no more chewing on the pinky gap . Lever is a good inch longer than standard . If I had to do it again I would make it like a big loop ,but not as large .

[wrench man]

.

I would suggest that you might not be pulling the butt back/into your shoulder firmly enough to prevent the rifle from moving back towards your shoulder & effecting your fingers.

With a very solid hold, the shooter's body (including the trigger/lever hand) should rock/move back with the rifle's recoil, and not separately.


.

THIS!
I don't think I will EVER understand the wrapped lever!??, all I can imagine it doing is shredding the hide off of the backs of your fingers while cycling the lever!?, NICE SMOOTH steel vs ROUGH leather?:???:

[Gray Fox]

I cut 3/8" wide tanned deerskin thongs and wrap my Marlin levers with them and they don't abrade your fingers. GF

[Rick Hodges]

I have a Stainless Guide gun. Debur and break all edges on the lever, trigger, and loading gate that your hands are exposed to. I shoot with the little finger out of the lever. There is not enough room in there for all of them comfortably. I don't understand the leather wrap, it just makes the ID of the lever smaller and more cramped.

[indian joe]

THIS!
I don't think I will EVER understand the wrapped lever!??, all I can imagine it doing is shredding the hide off of the backs of your fingers while cycling the lever!?, NICE SMOOTH steel vs ROUGH leather?:???:

+ 2......

[HangFireW8]

I hold on the outside of the lever as well, for thumper loads, anyway.

Also curl my trigger finger and use just the tip. If it hits the trigger guard it just bends backwards.

[robg]

Loading gate on mine bit me once ,edge was like a razor it got deburred right then once I'd got a plaster on my thumb .the lever on my slb is plenty big enough for my hand.

[Bazoo]

If it were mine... like the ones I have had previously..., Id sand the sharp edges with 600 grit sandpaper.

[bigted]

Hence the answer to the question [ "WHATS UP WITH THE LARGE LOOP LEVERS?"]

I absolutely love my SBL 45-70. The large loop lever along with the pistol grip is THE most comfy big bore lever i have ever had and shot.

My hands are large and when i owned a CB Marlin it chewed my hands up like you describe. Doubt the leather wrap would help, but there are a couple large loop levers you can buy for your CB. Not the HUGE loops mind you, my 444 shorty 1895 wears one and made all the difference.

These aftermarket loops were the answer for me. There is NO reason to have a hard recoiling rifle that cuts and bruises your hand. Your shoulder should be all that gets buffeted with these bruisers. Not your hands that possibly will be needed to work the action under dire circumstances such as a charging Grizz or a snot blowing bull moose.