Thinking of a Marlin guide gun in 45/70

wbaad

wbaad

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Hey all,
I've been thinking of picking up a Marlin guide gun in 45/70 and I'm wondering if people have been having issues, or if they are a solid buy. I've been soured by my last new gun purchase and don't want a repeat.
Are they all Ballard cut rifling now?
Thanks!
 
They are all ballard rifling now and most of the quality control issues have been resolved at this point. Be sure to inspect it in person just to be safe
 
mike t said:
They are all ballard rifling now and most of the quality control issues have been resolved at this point. Be sure to inspect it in person just to be safe
Click to expand...

Unfortunately that is not an option... Will probably purchase from wolverine supply as they have always been good to me. They will resolve any problems should it come to that. Have not seen many for sale used.
I had handled one about 10 years ago and was not impressed with the quality so I kind of forgot about them. Good to hear they are back on track.
 
A fellow at the work site relayed an interesting story about 3 weeks ago. I don't agree how he put himself in the predicament but this is what he explained to me...
His brand new 45/70 he reasoned would be that much cooler if he blooded it with the first shot, dispatching a "domestic" buff on his Dad's farm. Standing on the bottom metal rail of the pen, he he attempted to cap the bull in the head but hit poorly. Racked the lever and it jambed when trying to bring it back up with the carrier under the rim of a protruding cartridge.

There was some significant mayhem and the buff was dispatched after getting the Old Man's rifle from the truck.... He was able to get the jamb to happen too often while testing at the ranch after the fact. It was brought back and exchanged for another manufacture entirely.

Could well be a one off, and I covet my Dad's early 70's 336 so not a hater, just that your thread twanged me after just hearing the above story over coffee....

D.K.
 
If you have to mail order make sure to take it completely appart when you get it and check it over. The marlin forum has a checklist of things to check. I bought a new guide gun a few weeks ago that looked great and had an awesome trigger but was missing 2 lands in the bore.. I returned it and looked at 2 more in the store that had the same problem. Third one I looked at had them all which is the one I bought. The lever also had issues on the first one I bought.
 
I recently purchased a used jm-marked 45-70 after looking locally for a new model. The quality has gone up from the early days of the remington take over but every now and again issues do surface. The nee ones I looked at had minor issues with checkering depth and quality along with blotchy finishing. . There were also minor fitment issues between the stock and the tang. Not deal killers but noticeable if you were looking for it. The actions for the most part were good and would smoothen more over time. I was only looking at the GBLs. Not sure if the SBLs would be different in quality. I'm sure wolverine will take care of any issues however but is still inconvenient to have to go through. A guy at our club had to send his in 3 times to get his cosmetic stock issues resolved. Marlin took care of it but it still didn't get fully fixed and settled for a discount.
 
I've been looking for a jm. I've seen a few of the curved grip 1895, but I greatly prefer the straight grip of the guide gun. One if the cowboy ones would be perfect with the longer barrel, but I have not seen one at all.
 
I have a 2002 Marlin 1895GS and I love it. It's my go to hunting rifle for sure. I put a Williams fire sight on the front and replaced the recoil pad. I've shot anything from 350-550gr. Enjoy!
 
I bought an 1895 back in 2010 and was not initially impressed. It did not operate as the 336's did, never an issue. For whatever reason it would only chamber rounds occasionally...

So I took it back, but, as they were going through the rifle to see if anything was wrong physically (ie other than my dissatisfaction) a guy came up and said "great gun, they're tanks"... He then continued to say that you need to be "rough" with them and so I gave it another chance. Took it home and put a little more elbow grease into chambering rounds. Now the gun works flawlessly and I absolutely love it. Great bush gun! Very robust and very solid!
 
I have had a number of Marlin levers, from .30-30's to 444's to a JM stamped .45-70 guide gun. All of them were exceptionally good shooters. The guide gun had the porting and after the first shot I took hunting in tight cover, I promised myself I would immediately sell it as soon as my hearing returned. The fact that they now put those stupid push button safeties on them is beyond asinine. The old 444's I had were the best combination of power and accuracy I think I have had in any rifle ever. I loaded 300 grain Speer soft points that regularly penetrated through both sides of moose and left fist sized holes in the off side. I don't think I will buy another though as I have seen quite a few new ones with brutal wood, poor fit and workmanship and that awful safety. If I am going to dump a pile of cash on a new lever, it would be the new Henry .45-70. Held one in Cabelas and just about took it home. The tube mag was pretty cool too.
 
Well I bit the bullet and bought a guide gun. Had to do it before the prices jumped up ;) will report on it when it arrives.
A coworker has one and he was so pleased with it he wouldn't sell it, so that's a good enough sign.

BTW if anybody is looking for one, wolverine has about the best delivered price on blue, and bullseye London on stainless. The stainless was just over $800 delivered, but I don't think it's right to have a stainless lever gun....

Now to find a peep sight!
 
Glad to hear you picked one up. I have a Remlin 1895GS and a JM 1895CB and love them both to bits.

For good peeps I highly recommend these guys:

h ttp://www.skinnersights.com/1895_sight_4.html
 
I have had my 1895 GBL since Dec 2010 and it is an awesome rifle, I've put a pile of ammo through it and never had a problem. I put a XS Sight Systems winged ghost ring sight on mine, similar to the Skinner and another option to consider. With the price of 45-70 ammo reloading is almost a must, for cheaper shooting I use Berry's 350 grain plated bullets.
Henry at Budget Shooters sells them:http://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/frame.cfm?ItemID=257&CategoryID=44
 
blueoval56 said:
Glad to hear you picked one up. I have a Remlin 1895GS and a JM 1895CB and love them both to bits.

For good peeps I highly recommend these guys:

h ttp://www.skinnersights.com/1895_sight_4.html
Click to expand...

I would love to get the 1895CB. Seems they are pretty hard to come by up here
 
Took a look at a new blued and a SS Marlin 45-70 at the local gun shop. They seemed OK, though I'd always try for a Pre-Remlin first.
 
trebor2880 said:
Took a look at a new blued and a SS Marlin 45-70 at the local gun shop. They seemed OK, though I'd always try for a Pre-Remlin first.
Click to expand...

I looked at one of the stainless sbl and saw that it was already starting to stain from being handled on display... Which was not too impressive to me for a stainless gun. I'm hoping the qc issues are good. My track record for new guns is aweful. Last 2 I bought, one was a return and one warranty, so maybe the third times the charm!
 
I recently purchased an SBL from Wolverine...great service from the folks there! ..... had it about a month now. I asked them to have their gunsmith thoroughly check the rifle over for any obvious defects as have been noted on the internet.

Aside from the checkering being pretty poor, everything else is great. No issues in terms of functionality, rifling, front sight timing, machining, wood to metal fit, cycling, etc.

Mine cloverleafs at 50 yards with my 400 grain handloads.

Do it!
 
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