Who has experience w/the Marlin 1895 45-70?

[Honestly Evil]

I am very interested in acquiring the Marlin 1895 in 45-70 config. Does anyone have any experience with this gun?

[CLAYPOOL]

J.M. STAMPED Buy now still going up in price. Learn the codes for date of manufacturer, BUT some late ,ones still O.K. They are for the most part VERY well made and slick to operate. Same for H & R's. There is a large amount of info about both on the net. I think they are a wise investment, BUT you decide what you want out of life.. I too worked all my life from 14. NOW wore out and NEVER will make the Rockies for elk.. SUPERMAGS gone out of site and Money...

[RKJ]

I've got one one of the new "Remlins" and it seems well built and a decent shooter. I can't speak for the sights as I put a 2x scope on it as my eyes aren't that good any more. The wood to metal fit looks good to me. It shoots 300 JHP (factory) well but am having trouble with a LEE 340 GC cast to shoot well at 100. I'm PC'ing them and am not using a GC on it, so I expect it's me or the bullet/charge instead of the rifle. I got mine for a real good price (clearance at Walmart) but am pretty pleased with it. I'll get it wrung out soon enough, I imagine.

[Duckiller]

Have a 26" CB. It is fun especially with with minimum loads of Trail Boss. Have not hunted with it. Can't use cast in Calif. Factory sights are accurate at soda cans and other similar wild game. It is a light gun so I don't want to shoot heavy loads.

[osteodoc08]

There are several variations. My favorite is a JM stainless guide gun. With a 405gr and full tilt load of Varget it’s a ragged hole shooter at 100 yards if I do my part.

[3leggedturtle]

Have a 22” blued version. Love it. Bought mine new in 2007. 1.5” groups at 100 yards with peep sights using Laser cast boolits. Todd/3leg

[hp246]

Yes I have one. Shoots good enough for me to go out to 250 yards with a shortened 1.80" case for hunting in Michigan. Initially had problems with the dreaded Marlin Jam. Even with SAAMI Spec ammo. Took it back where I bought it under warranty. Since I got it back, it functions flawlessly.

[sghart3578]

I have a brand new 2018 1895CB with a 26" barrel. Accurate, light and smooth.

What's not to like?


Steve in N CA

[Maineboy]

I've had one for about 20 years, and have put many cast boolits through it, especially in the first 10 years I owned it. It has accounted for 2 deer and a moose and it will be with me until I can no longer shoot. Mine is very accurate with everything I have put through it except the Lee 340 grain boolit. For some reason I can't get decent groups with it. I initially used a Williams peep sight on it but now it wears a Leupold FX II 2.5 power scope. It's a great combination!

[Harter66]

The action is a little short but the 2010 I shoot is otherwise ok .

[pietro]

.

I've owned/shot/hunted with several different .45-70 Matlin 1895's over the past 40-odd years.

They were an early Sporter (22" bbl), a Guide Gun (short bbl) & a later Sporter (22" bbl)) - all of them had Ballard type rifling ILO Marlin's Microgroove rifling.

The Guide Gun was factory ported to help fight recoil with it's short bbl & commensurately lighter weight.

As much as I liked the GG, I much preferred the 22" barreled Sporters (I used to change guns like I changed shoes).

I found that the 22" bbl was just as handy while hunting as the GG, and I felt that it swung (on running game) better than the GG.

I would, however, recommend a CB model (Cowboy) with it's 26" octagon bbl, for target shooting, as the long bbl can be more accurate, and the extra weight is a great recoil mitigator.

After many years of shooting .45-70's, I will now refuse to shoot one with a boolitt weight of over 300-305 gr. (YMMV)



.

[If1Hitu]

The only experience with the Marlin 45/70 is I brought one three weeks ago.I haven't taken it to the range yet.

[wv109323]

Fine guns and a lot of fun. Boolits need to be oversize with microgroove barrels( if you get a used gun. all the new ones have Ballard rifling). With heavy bullets they can be uncomfortable to shoot. Of course they are not a long range rifle or a varmint gun.

[Rick R]

A couple friends bought straight up vintage 1895s when Ohio began allowing rifles for deer. I have two Guide Guns, one blue and one stainless. A friend bought a Guide Gun then years later sold it to another friend.

They all have fired loads using my NOE/Ranch Dog 350gr boolits with great groups and taken deer. That’s my favorite, but I also have 405gr and 420gr cast, 350gr Hornady and 400gr Speer bullets on the shelf. The .45/70 can be loaded from wild to mild and still take any North American critter. It’s a grand old cartridge.

Marlin went thru a low period, got sold, moved to the Remington factory without tooling or experienced labor. It’s safe to buy most older Marlins and I’ve read enough to be comfortable buying a new rifle that I got a chance to inspect.

[Ateam]

I have a JM 1895G (non ported) that is an absolute hoot to shoot, have taken more than a few deer with it. I put the xs peep and blade on it and love it. Shoots cast (gould 330 grain), j word, and barnes mono equally well. Way overkill on deer, but puts them down like thors hammer.

[gpidaho]

The kids bought me a new Marlin 1895 Cowboy 45-70 for fathers day. By S # it was built in 2012. Very nice gift until we scoped the bore and found that there were several CHUNKS missing out of the lands about four to six inches down from the muzzle. It was sent back to Remlin for a new barrel but what we got back was a target shot by someone somewhere with some rifle that had about a three inch five shot group and a note that the gun shot just fine and they saw no reason for complaint. Old JM Marlins, I love them, but you won't see me doing anymore business with Remington. Their products are junk and their customer service is worse. Gp

[Jack Stanley]

Their customer service encouraged me to not buy any more new ones as well and that was over twenty years ago . I do have some Marlins made long before that and I'm happy with them , I've just lost interest in anything new they have .

Jack

[Texas by God]

When I think 45-70; the Marlin 1895 comes to mind first and the CB model is the pick of the litter in my opinion. I custom built a Guide Gun from a new model in 1981. I cut the barrel to 18" and hand filed a new dovetail. Yes I miss it. Love Marlins when they're built right Remlins included.

[john.k]

If you go to buy a gun,any gun,take a USB bore camera with you,and have a look. And a couple of styrofoam peanuts......Then you will not get caught with a bad bore and it wont matter if the gun was made by JM Marlin or Eli Remington..I know that lots of buyers used to complain about new Remington 700s having chambers not concentric with the bore........The time to look is before you buy,not after......then you can say "Id like to see another one,please"........not beg for the defect to be fixed in your new rifle.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Bought mine on close-out for $125 in 1980. Straight-grip, Curved buttplate quickly replaced with recoil pad, 22" barrel -shot my first elk with it (a5x6) and many more since then, wife has shot a few elk with it also two others friends, one a fine 7x7. A moose and just a few deer, I usually use other rifles for lighter game like deer. Longest shot taken was a 5x7 bull at 340 yards on ranch where I practiced my long range shooting, at 9500 feet trajectory is much flatter than the low country. If/when I start thinning my herd of rifles, it and a Savage 99 358 will be the last. I had a Leupold 2.5x20 on it for a very long time, upgraded to 1.5-5x20 Vari-Xiii and now have a 1.76-6x32VariX 3i. I shoot a 300g RCBS Flatnose Gas Check for fun over 5744, a 300 gr Barnes Origin. It has been and is just a reliable companion and comfort in the back country of Colorado and Wyoming. Not many rifles more comforting in bad country, horseback or afoot. Oh yeah, now the dinosaur guys(Jurassic World) and the movie Wind River have them in starring roles. Just got an 1895 Cowboy when Marlin/Remington did the rebate, it is well done and accurate, I will shorten the magazine to 3 Rounds and the barrel to 23", add another 1.75-6x32 and have a back-up that is just a little bit unique. I have a dozen or so Marlins but my old 45-70 is special, 1st elk taken, I was alone with my saddle horse and a pack horse back in the West Elk Wilderness, Colorado. Yeah the 1895 Marlin 45-70 can be really special.

[Bigslug]

The Factory Repair Center did an excellent job replacing the cracked stock and fixing the faulty lockwork on my dad's early Remlin that was made just after making the decision to take over producing Marlins with zero assistance from the original workforce. That aside, it was a tack driver from day one (when it fired). Afterwards with the addition of a few aftermarket enhancements (ejector, safety deletion, and shortened mag spring) it's been wonderful. Got to watch him kill the same deer twice inside of ten seconds after the reaction to the FIRST heart shot was misinterpreted. :mrgreen:

[Gtek]

I have a few but there is one that is the "ONE". Every year for years it is pulled out and cleaned, wiped and admired, and taken to range prior to season with his matching little 30-30 brother and his bolt buddies. With Hornady Gummies it is a solid <1.5" all day, does not string if three fired repeating at a 100 and yep same every year, back in case. It is my tight cover and sitting on line tool, and a well place shot really eliminates any needed tracking skills, DRT! Harvested the biggest buck in Tucky a few years ago, slapped 240 lbs. ninety degrees, tail swirl and night night. Usual Marlin walk through on internals is a great move if you are inclined, polished up they are night and day to out of box.

[starnbar]

I have a guide gun got it from a buddy who owed me some money it was made early 80s ballard rifling i shoot a 385 cast with it running about 1850 fps more or less down here where we hunt in the swamp 100 yds is a long shot most are 50 yds and some right up next to you.

[6pt-sika]

I've owned seven of them in variouse configurations ALL made before Remington screwed up the works !

I've killed a bunch of deer with them using both jacketed and cast bullets .

My favorite molds have been the Lyman/Ideal 330 grain Gould HP , the Ranch Dog 460-350GC , Ranch Dog 460-425GC and the BRP 462-465GC . Ranch Dog made a 460-300GC towards the end of his mold making that I played with some but never did kill a deer with (sold off all the 45-70's and went exclusively 444).

[6pt-sika]

I have a guide gun got it from a buddy who owed me some money it was made early 80s ballard rifling i shoot a 385 cast with it running about 1850 fps more or less down here where we hunt in the swamp 100 yds is a long shot most are 50 yds and some right up next to you.

Actual Guide Guns didn't hit the market until the late 1990's . If your gun is from the early 1980's has a 22" barrel straight grip stock and a curved plastic buttplate you have the first model of the "New Model 1895" , the New Model 1895 was released in 1972 and was that configuration until if memory serves around 1983 or 84 .

[wrench man]

Have the standard 22" rifle and a LTD "I", no complaints here.

[W.R.Buchanan]

I have an 1895 CB with 26" bbl. it was made in 2005 and needed a bunch of internal smoothing to work well. I did all this with instructions found on Leverguns.com. Not hard at all. This gun was made from left over parts during the transition to Remington but is marked JM>

The new guns I have seen are excellent. The fit and finish are far above ANYTHING JM ever made, and they are consistently made now.

You can't go wrong here unless you buy one from the transition. So just go buy a new one and make sure it is actually not one that has sat around in the back room for years. Run the SN before you buy unless you are buying a new model that wasn't made before!

Randy

[Honestly Evil]

J.M. STAMPED Buy now still going up in price. Learn the codes for date of manufacturer, BUT some late ,ones still O.K. They are for the most part VERY well made and slick to operate. Same for H & R's. There is a large amount of info about both on the net. I think they are a wise investment, BUT you decide what you want out of life.. I too worked all my life from 14. NOW wore out and NEVER will make the Rockies for elk.. SUPERMAGS gone out of site and Money...

I know they arent cheap either gun or ammo. I love the lever action and have always wanted one which is why i want to do my research. I kind of like the styling better than the Henry too.

[Honestly Evil]

There are several variations. My favorite is a JM stainless guide gun. With a 405gr and full tilt load of Varget it’s a ragged hole shooter at 100 yards if I do my part.

Now thats what i like hearing!

[Honestly Evil]

Yes I have one. Shoots good enough for me to go out to 250 yards with a shortened 1.80" case for hunting in Michigan. Initially had problems with the dreaded Marlin Jam. Even with SAAMI Spec ammo. Took it back where I bought it under warranty. Since I got it back, it functions flawlessly.

Do you know what they did to fix the issue?

[Honestly Evil]

I've had one for about 20 years, and have put many cast boolits through it, especially in the first 10 years I owned it. It has accounted for 2 deer and a moose and it will be with me until I can no longer shoot. Mine is very accurate with everything I have put through it except the Lee 340 grain boolit. For some reason I can't get decent groups with it. I initially used a Williams peep sight on it but now it wears a Leupold FX II 2.5 power scope. It's a great combination!

This is exactly what i wanted to hear. I want to use it for hunting as well.

[Texas by God]

America's Cartridge since 1873. It'll work in New Jersey just like eerily similar East Texas country.
Shout out to Galloway!

[hp246]

Do you know what they did to fix the issue?No, Sorry I don't. Knowing the Smith who did the work, I'm sure there was a bit of extra polishing and fitting done though.

[Jackpine]

The good news and the bad news can be that they are fairly light in weight, compared to say a Winchester. If you are going to hunt with it, they are a joy to carry. If you are going to shoot it a lot prone or off cross sticks with full loadings, the light weight is not exactly a positive.

The other good thing is that Marlins are real easy to work on, and much good help available online, in terms of smoothing and lightening actions, if you desire such.

[koger]

I will chip in my two cents worth. I Have had 4 different Marlin 1895 in different guises, still have the first year Guide gun, ported, ballard rifling.It will shoot cloverleafs at 100yds, with 4 different Jacketed loads, from 300 gr to 405 grains. It will shoot 8 different cast loads from 1" to 2" 3 shot groups at 100 yds. One day, I shot 12 different loads, jacketed and cast mixed, one shot each, same point of aim, and they went in a group just a little under 2" at 100yds!! That is hard to beat with any rifle. I have lined up four new 1895's, all with 22" barrels, all remlins this summer and spring for folks, as I do quite a bit of gunsmithing. Everyone had a 2x7 or 3x9 scope on them, and all shot very well, with factory ammo, all shooting into 1& 1/2 inch groups or smaller at 100 yds. I have taken several deer here in KY, out to 150 yds and have taken a 6x6 elk in Colorado, and a big black bear in northern Maine all with my guide gun, they balance offhand great. If I bought a new one, in any configuration, I would have it ported, as I can see a 300 gr load hit thru my 2x7 scope, before loosing it in recoil. I have also replaced the hard recoil pad with a Limb saver, that and with the barrel ported, no load is abusive even to the max loads with 405 grs. Cast bullet loads are very pleasant to shoot. Hope this helps, pm me if I can be of further assistance, or for my most accurate load data.

[Lloyd Smale]

228510 my dave clements custom built on a 26 inch cowboy cut to 18 case hardened by turnbul and stock by a good friend. Picture doesn't do it justice. Have a ported blued guide gun a stainless non ported guide gun and a 444 outfitter. The outfitter gets the most use out of all of them.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

Bought the first model straight grip, curved hard buttplate, 22" barrel in 1980(?). Shot my first elk and many more with it, also a moose. Still carry it when my wife is using the Savage 99 358. It's not 'pretty' anymore, all those years of bad weather and wet saddle scabbards, but it still goes under 1.5 MOA. Gone through several scopes, Leopold 2.5x, Leupold 1.5-5, back to a Leoplod 2.5 but matte finish. Bought an 1895 Cowboy 26" when rebate was on. Haven't shot it much, but it is close to MOA with no real load development. It is a finished well, maybe better than my 'original 1979 1895' was. The 26" Cowboy will be cut back to a 23" barrel with a 3 or 4 shot magazine with a two scope set-up. A leopold 3i 1.75-6x32 for hunting, a Burris 4.5-14x42 for load development and 'Fun'. I tried 350 and 400 grain bullets long, long ago. Too much recoil - 300 grain shoot much flatter at full power, take much less lead and give much less recoil for fun. I do use the 300 gr Barnes ORIGINAL for elk and moose. Broadside shots on elk usually go out the other side, even through the shoulders. I sight in at 150 yards with the 300 gr going 2100 fps for hunting, too much recoil for 'fun'. I did take down a big bodied 5x7 bull at 340 yards on familiar ground, my longest shot on elk. I practice do drop tests out to 400 yards. One year the rifle dropped 4 elk, 2 cows, my 5x7 and a nice 7x7 with 4 shots. They are effective for elk.

[If1Hitu]

Love my Marlin 1895 CB .45-70 26" Octagon tubular Magazine barrel 9 shot. I have had it about six weeks now.
228534

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

I have an 1895 Cowboy that is 10 - 15 years old. Really slick to operate, maybe more so than my customized 1873 win repro slicked up for CAS. It brought home the venison last year. A delight to carry, but it will let you know you sent something stout downrange at the light weight it is.

[robg]

got a remlin slb earlier this year shoots well feeds well,good trigger .put a nikon 2-7 scope on it .suprised me how nice it handles almost as handy as my win94 .

[Intel6]

Love my 1895 SBL, shoots great and a ton of fun.

Liked it so much I went and got a 336 BL in 30-30 to play with also!