is my 1895 a microgroove?

[hornsurgeon]

i have a 1895 45/70 from 1975. it is not stamped microgroove, but the rifling appears to be. there are lots of lands and grooves. were these microgrooves and just not stamped on the barrel?

also, this is the straight gripped rifle, not a carbine or pistol grip. the metal is in 98%, the stock 90%, and all original. did i do ok paying $450 for it, with a cheap bushnell shotgun scope on it?

[EOD3]

Can't help you on the price. :|

The Ballard rifling looks (sorta - kinda) more like micro-groove than typical lands & grooves.

[bhn22]

Lack of barrel markings is no guarantee. Microgroove rifling is a series of many small grooves, hence the name. 10 to 12 of them IIRC.

[woody1]

1975 Marlin 1895 Specs Barrel: 22" with rifling designed to give maximum performance with both lead and jacketed bullets (8 grooves). Note: does not say Ballard rifling or Ballard type.

Microgroove standard was 12 grooves then.

Regards, Woody

[hornsurgeon]

well, mine has 12 grooves, so i guess it would be a microgrove that was not marked that then, correct?

[woody1]

well, mine has 12 grooves, so i guess it would be a microgrove that was not marked that then, correct?

Beats the heck outa me. Are you sure it's a '75? Of course Marlin like others changes specs midstream and oh, yeah, without notice. One reference I have says the only year the early '95's had cut rifling was the first year ('72). The '75 specs don't say cut rifling, neither does the '76. The specs for 1976 says the same as '75 EXCEPT (12 groove).

Go over to Marlin Owners and ask about it.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php

Regards, Woody

[BABore]

The first year of the current 1895 series was 1972 with a "B0" serial #. The first 6 months of 1972 production used cut rifled barrels with 7 grooves. Rumored to be Douglas bbls. The rifling depth is 0.0045 to 0.0050 deep. During the second half of "72", Marlin went to the MicroGroove style rifling. These rifles, and those that followed all used MG rifling. They weren't always marked as such and the # of MG's changed from what I've heard. Most with 12 grooves, but some with more. Later rifles were marked MicroGroove and had 12 grooves. Groove depth on MG bbls run 0.0030 to 0.0035 deep. In the 80's Marlin went to the so call "Deep Cut" Ballard rifling that has 6 grooves. I say "so called" because the new rifling runs the same 0.0030 to 0.0035 deep as the older MG rifling.

[excess650]

The year of production will be 2000 minus the first 2 digits of the seial number, ie 2000-25 would be 1975.

The 45-70s of that era had deeper rifling than typical microgroove. Regardless, it should be good with cast bullets, so just size 'em in a .459" or .460" sizing die.

Mine is of that era with the straight stock, but not first year. I'll have to check the number of lands and grooves, but it really doesn't matter. They're good cast bullet rifles.

My 357mag and 35 Remington microgroove barrels have decidedly narrower lands and shallower grooves, but also shoot cast very well.

BTW, the price sounds reasonable to me. I think those straight grip 22" barreled rifles bring a slight premium vs the later PG stocked rifles. Likewise, I prefer the 22" over the later "guide guns" shorter barrel.

[hornsurgeon]

this is definately a 75 based on the serial number starting with 20 like excess said. it is the straight stocked with 22" barrel. i've got the ranch dog 350 tl mold and just got the GB 350 ranch dog copy with standard lube groove. i can't wait to get to the range with this one.

thanks for the info guys!

[jh45gun]

These guns seem to hold their value so I suspect 450 with a scope is ok. I paid 550 for a new guide gun.

[Box13]

last summer I paid 475.00 for my 1895. A 72 with a bo serial and 7 lands and grooves.This rifle seemed to be in almost new condition except it for being dropped on the butt and having a chip missing from under the buttplate,which by the way is hard rubber...ouch...No safety and no micro-groove or warnings stamped on the barrel either.I figure I got a good deal and I dont think you were hurt any either.I wasnt the biggest marlin fan before but this rifle really won me over.I just cant shoot more then 15-20 full bore rounds without a pad of some kind...Robin

[LVRFAN]

Its microgroove and you got a good deal.

[6pt-sika]

In the 80's Marlin went to the so call "Deep Cut" Ballard rifling that has 6 grooves.

The 444 went to Ballard in 1998 and I was told the 1895 went at the same time . If my memory isn't playing tricks with me I've seen several Marlin 1895's that were made after 1990 that were marked "Micro Groove" on the barrel .