Long range shooting with a Marlin 1895CB?

[Jumbopanda]

How does the long range accuracy of a Marlin 1895 Cowboy compare to that of a Sharps 1874 or Springfield trapdoor? The Cowboy version of the Marlin 1895 has a 26" barrel and can be fitted with a Sharps tang sight and a globe front sight. How would this setup fare at 500-1000yd?

[NickSS]

I have one setup like that and can say that it will shoot as good or better than the trap door but will not do as well as my Shiloh Sharps at those ranges as the rifle is too light and the sight radius is not as long. I have fired all three at 600 yards using black powder loads and a blow tube. On a standard 600 yard target I shot a 94 5 X with my Sharps, An 86 2 X with the Marlin and an 85 3X with My 1884 Trapdoor. These were all fired prone with cross sticks on a calm day. By the way the Ammo was loaded with a 535 gr Saco bullet over 62 gr of FFG GOEX with a .030 fiber wad and a Winchester LRP.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
It all depends on the barrel, boolit fit, barrel attachment and that pesky bolt lining up the same every shot. Plus the other 50 some things or so....
But my jap Win 45-70 26 inch hex barrel shoots as good off cross sticks at 100 yards as my Bausky barreled roller. Probably if it had the sights my roller does it would do as well at 200+. But that is not what I have it for so I have never bothered. My other lever 45-70´s are not near as acurate for one or more of the multitude of reasons that plague leverguns.

[Don McDowell]

They'll shoot pretty fair, but with the trigger pull and the short chamber in those marlins, and not being able to use a real good long range bullet they may keep up with the average trapdoor, but a good sharps,hiwall, or roller will leave it in the dust.
Altho there are several folks running the Marlins in gong/buffalo matches that do pretty well.

[ammohead]

If that's what you got...shoot it and enjoy!

[Jumbopanda]

Good morning
It all depends on the barrel, boolit fit, barrel attachment and that pesky bolt lining up the same every shot. Plus the other 50 some things or so....
But my jap Win 45-70 26 inch hex barrel shoots as good off cross sticks at 100 yards as my Bausky barreled roller. Probably if it had the sights my roller does it would do as well at 200+. But that is not what I have it for so I have never bothered. My other lever 45-70´s are not near as acurate for one or more of the multitude of reasons that plague leverguns.

I don't know much about lever guns so could you educate me as to what these reasons are?

[jh45gun]

I don't know much about lever guns so could you educate me as to what these reasons are?

I have shot some lever guns that were very accurate. I think some got that rep because some folks just cannot shoot iron sights well for what ever reason and a lot of lever guns are just used wearing open sights. put a scope on them they are a whole new critter. I have three lever guns now a Henry 22 mag which is VERY accurate and a Win 94 30/30 wearing a peep sight which at woods ranges shoots where I want it to and now my Marlin guide gun which I suspect will shoot better than I can hold it at a 100 yards and a mite further.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I think the problem with most lever rifles is that there are a lot of points where there is or can be interference with the barrel, especially as it heats up (barrel bands, screws running between the barrel and mag tube, etc. The Sharps, Rollers and high Walls don't have as much as this and also have a longer sight radius, etc.

Having said that, one of the best long range cowboy shooters I know is a tiny guy who shoots a stock standard 1876 in 45/60. Sooooooooooooooo, you can be competitive in all but the really formal long range where the guys are really on the edge.

As my family have always said, you cut your cloth according to the width. If a Cowboy is what you have, a Cowboy is what you shoot. Like most guns, if you persist, you may get to the point where you will need a more 'suitable' rifle.

if you are going out to be the champ and beat everyone, you will no doubt need a more target oriented rifle. If however, you are like me (I always try to beat the big fella = me :) ) you will be trying to improve and having a good time and trying to beat your last score.

In cowboy shooting, I know several shooters who are about as good (or as bad) as me and I check my scores against them. I tend to use this system and not worry about the guys and gals up front.

[405]

I think you could do OK out to about 300 yds. No matter, have a good time at what ever range. I also think there is a lot of sage advice in what 4 fingers posted.

[Aggie Desperado]

Nick,

You said you shot a 535 grain bullet in the Marlin? Did you single load the ammunition?

[Whit Spurzon]

Last weekend I took my 1895 CB to a friend's place for some long range shooting. He has a Shilo Sharps and the Marlin did quite well. The sights and the trigger are fantastic on the Sharps but I had no problem (once I got the wind figured out) hitting the 400 yard dinger (20" x 32") 9 out of 10 times. Later we shot both at various targets out to 600 yards. It was great fun.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/hilo.jpg

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/400yarddinger.jpg

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/ind400yarddrooler.jpg
The firing line was on the front steps of the shop.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/400yarddingerhits.jpg
We had a steady crosswind left to right. With the Marlin CB using a 405 grain bullet over 25 grains of SR 4759 with the sight set on top of the rear sight elevator aiming at the left bottom edge of the dinger would make a very satisfying ding after a bit of a delay.

Here's a link to some video of my friend hitting the 400 yard dinger with this 114 year old Marlin model 1893 in 32-40.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3oo5RauLgA&playnext_from=TL&videos=IoI4rp6MGGQ

[NickSS]

Yes I single loaded them as there is no way they will work from the magazine. I want to say that the Marlins will shoot well and if you have high enough sights they will do well to whatever range you want to shoot it at. However, They are light weight and have short barrels (even the cowboy only has a 26 inch barrel). In addition, the barrels are thin. Take all of these features that mean nothing for a few shots at short ranges (200 to 300 Yards) and try to be competitive against a 12 pound rifle with a 30 to 34 inch barrel and set triggers equiped with a premium quality barrel and you loose almost every time.

[Twofin2]

While we're on the subject of the 45/70 1895 CB with a 26" barrel... But to deviate just a tad, Has anyone ever shot Nosler's 500 gr brass slugs from the CB?

[Just Duke]

Last weekend I took my 1895 CB to a friend's place for some long range shooting. He has a Shilo Sharps and the Marlin did quite well. The sights and the trigger are fantastic on the Sharps but I had no problem (once I got the wind figured out) hitting the 400 yard dinger (20" x 32") 9 out of 10 times. Later we shot both at various targets out to 600 yards. It was great fun.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/hilo.jpg

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/400yarddinger.jpg

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/ind400yarddrooler.jpg
The firing line was on the front steps of the shop.

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/400yarddingerhits.jpg
We had a steady crosswind left to right. With the Marlin CB using a 405 grain bullet over 25 grains of SR 4759 with the sight set on top of the rear sight elevator aiming at the left bottom edge of the dinger would make a very satisfying ding after a bit of a delay.

Here's a link to some video of my friend hitting the 400 yard dinger with this 114 year old Marlin model 1893 in 32-40.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3oo5RauLgA&playnext_from=TL&videos=IoI4rp6MGGQ


That's some good shootin! [smilie=w: