Finally got bit by the Lever bug. Think I want a Marlin.

I just bought an SBL last month. My only complaint was the checkering could have been better. The accuracy is great with the short barrel and I can hit the 220 yard gong with the ghost ring sights no problem. The action is very slick too.
 
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I have a mod 1895 (walnut/blued 22" barrel) in stock at the Crappy Tire I work at. It was bought on pre-order and our Marlin wholesaler doesn't have any on hand at the moment, but you should be able to find the odd one at a Canadian Tire.

While each store sets it's own selling price and it would be inappropriate for me to post our price (plus corp would slam me) they should generally sell in the $700-900 range depending on whether they were acquired before/after the dollar took a dive.

What any CT could get you right now (wholesaler has in stock) is the Model 1895 GBL (big loop with 18 1/2" barrel in 45/70).

Again, would "ballpark" that one in the mid/high 800 buck range and they could have it for you (if you have a local one that carries guns) in less than a week.
 
I had my 45/70 Marlin, and 686 in .357 out at the range last week, and it was great.
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I bought mine from a friend who was looking for a wheel gun of his own. Something about having a "mechanical" day at the range makes me smile.
The action of the lever and the revolver slows me down, which helps the consistancy of my shot.

Too bad the 45/70 blew my steel target right off the rack!
 
Fit and finish on my marlin 45/70 1895 Guide Gun was good enough for me for the price. I kind of wish I had gotten the longer version to tame some of the muzzle flip when shooting for fun off a bench.

A lever in .357mag is right up there on the things to get next list.
 
razorbeck said:
Browning BLR in 450 Marlin, more convenient clip system and better quality.

If you really want to go full crazy get the light weight take down http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?fid=003B&cid=034&tid=018
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X2

If you don't know what your doing as far as checking your gun for defects and functionality you as a levergun newbie can get stung buying a Rossi or a Remlin (Remington made Marlin).
I've fixed up some real junker Rossi and Remlin rifles.
If you can find a good "JM" stamped Marlin (pre Remington takeover) that isn't a worn out beater for a decent price that would be the way to go.
I have a Browning BLR take down in 450 Marlin.
Superb fit/finish, workmanship, very smooth action and flawless functionality.
You can also load spitzer type bullets in your reloads because the BLR is box rather than tube magazine fed.
My gun is scoped with a 2-7x33mm Leupold which is perfect for the caliber.
I'm good out to 300 yards on big game with the Hornady 325 grain FTX bullets in my BLR 450 Marlin.
 
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6MT said:
Levers are just sooooo much fun! I have 2 Henry's. I don't shoot them very much anymore. I'd go broke. One is a Frontier in .22WMR and the other is a Big Boy in .357Mag.

You probably shouldn't......you'll go broke. But you'll die smiling.
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You're missing the basic Henry 001 in .22LR (15 rounds) (and .22 short -- 21 rounds.)
Extra smooth trigger and accurate right out of the box.

And you won't go broke (not for the cost of a cartridge but if you're not
strong-willed enough to load on Sundays and not shoot all week, you might go broke.)
 
I got bit by the .45/70 bug when Marlin introduced the original Guide Gun. With the short ported barrel, it was a delight to drop the hammer on handloaded 400gr hard cast bullets with enought Re7 to pass the chrony sky screens at 2000fps! I've since sold that little package and now play with a Marlin 1894SS .44Mag (JM stamped) One day I'll try some 300gr handloads for fun. Those .44Special's are a hoot in the little lever :)

Here's my pair of .44's
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I have one of the early SBL's, a JM-marked one, and it is one of my favourites. When they first came out, I took one look at them and scoffed. Who in his right mind would defile a levergun by making it out of stainless, let alone adding a rail and a laminated stock? Then a low-mileage, like-new specimen showed up at the local shop, and I looked it over. The price was right, I took it home planning to hate it and sell it off quickly...and I fell in love. Mine is set up with a couple of scout scopes and a conventional scope, all in QD rings and instantly interchangeable. I will never sell this gun, while a bunch of other more traditional levers have gone down the road.

Sure, get a Winchester 1894 in .30-30...it'll make you that much more appreciative when you get the real deal: a Marlin in .45-70! :)
 
The Remlins (REP) aren't bad but not up to par with the JM Marlins in regard to fit and finish and the checkering sucks on a lot of them and they aren't quite as smooth cycling NIB.
The off centre sights and other glaring defects common in the early Remlins have pretty well been eliminated from current production Remlins.
 
jjohnwm said:
I have one of the early SBL's, a JM-marked one, and it is one of my favourites. When they first came out, I took one look at them and scoffed. Who in his right mind would defile a levergun by making it out of stainless, let alone adding a rail and a laminated stock? Then a low-mileage, like-new specimen showed up at the local shop, and I looked it over. The price was right, I took it home planning to hate it and sell it off quickly...and I fell in love. Mine is set up with a couple of scout scopes and a conventional scope, all in QD rings and instantly interchangeable. I will never sell this gun, while a bunch of other more traditional levers have gone down the road.

Sure, get a Winchester 1894 in .30-30...it'll make you that much more appreciative when you get the real deal: a Marlin in .45-70! :)
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Didn't I read somewhere that you where downsizing? As a matter of fact, I think I remember spending a significant amount of money to help you achieve that goal. Since you likely don't use the Marlin as anything more than something to fondle on a Friday night, I suggest that you say your goodbyes, and then put in a box with my name and address on it.
If I have to send you that info again, I will, along with a much smaller token of my appreciation then the last time.
She will be welcomed into a new and loving home. As a matter of fact, I'll even buy her a new gun safe to reside in with nothing but other lever actions to spend time with.
Now doesn't that sound nice. You want the best for her don't you?
 
Nipigon Jack said:
Didn't I read somewhere that you where downsizing? As a matter of fact, I think I remember spending a significant amount of money to help you achieve that goal. Since you likely don't use the Marlin as anything more than something to fondle on a Friday night, I suggest that you say your goodbyes, and then put in a box with my name and address on it.
If I have to send you that info again, I will, along with a much smaller token of my appreciation then the last time.
She will be welcomed into a new and loving home. As a matter of fact, I'll even buy her a new gun safe to reside in with nothing but other lever actions to spend time with.
Now doesn't that sound nice. You want the best for her don't you?
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Sorry, Terry, but that won't be happening. The SBL, along with my other surviving guns, is lolling about and enjoying the vastly-increased elbow room in my own safes, and it will continue to do so. I still use it (and, yes, fondle it...) regularly...I just Leverevolved a skunk this morning! I'm assuming that's the correct term to indicate shooting with Leverevolution ammo? :)

I have more guns to sell, yes...but I'm down to my last few levers, and they're all staying. It's a downsizing exercise, after all...not a fire sale! :)
 
I have 3 marlins, 336, 1894 (jm) and 1895gbl (new)

If i ever buy another lever it will not be a marlin.

While the 1894 is jm and quality of build is supposed to be better, the carrier issue with the 1894 was a pain. The first 1895gbl went back, this one shoots good but build quality is poor.

You cant beat marlin on price but quality is hit and miss.
 
I had a marlin 1894 cowboy. Very very bad out of the box, took me 4 hours polishing and deburring to get it where I liked it. But then it was buttery smooth. The chiappa 1892 was great, needed cleaning, the rossi was horrible. Took forever to get it to function reliably. The browning BLR are mint out of the box. Some say the trigger is too heavy and its hard to do but I came up with the "Bandit ' s 30 secod BLR trigger fix" push down on the hammer while squeezing the trigger, takes a few pounds off if you do it enough times.

Love my browning in 450 marlin all the way
 
bandit86 said:
I had a marlin 1894 cowboy. Very very bad out of the box, took me 4 hours polishing and deburring to get it where I liked it. But then it was buttery smooth. The chiappa 1892 was great, needed cleaning, the rossi was horrible. Took forever to get it to function reliably. The browning BLR are mint out of the box. Some say the trigger is too heavy and its hard to do but I came up with the "Bandit ' s 30 secod BLR trigger fix" push down on the hammer while squeezing the trigger, takes a few pounds off if you do it enough times.

Love my browning in 450 marlin all the way
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I'll try that BLR tiigger fix of yours.
I have 2 x BLR take downs (308 Win, 450 Marlin) and the triggers while satisfactory could be lighter.
Not many gunsmiths will tackle tuning up a BLR trigger.
Even fewer will do it successfully.

**that Hornady LeveRevolution 325 grain 450 Marlin FTX ammo is really accurate and relatively flat shooting in the BLR.
And it hits like a pike driver.
Piled up a big bull moose for me at 134 yards with 1 shot in Elk Lake last fall.
 
Gunoholic said:
I'll try that BLR tiigger fix of yours.
I have 2 x BLRs take downs (308 Win, 450 Marlin) and the triggers while satisfactory could be lighter.
Not many gunsmiths will tackle tuning up a BLR trigger.
Even fewer will do it successfully.
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That fix is the same one that can be used on H&R singleshots, which can have triggers varying from wonderful to abysmal. I tried in on a few and had reasonably good results, but read on an H&R forum that doing that can cause breakage of the trigger and/or sear. I don't know if the same caveat applies to the BLR...but I do know that my one remaining BLR has a terrible trigger, and I'm going to try this! :)
 
tetachuck said:
I have the Rossi .454 Cassull. It was as slick out the box as my Marlin 1895 Cowboy.
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I have an older pre-safety, pre-Taurus Amadeo Rossi M92 in 454 Casull with the 20" bbl.
If they're rough out of the box the quick fix if you're not confident enuf to strip it down is take the butt stock off and while holding the gun over a pail rinse the cosmoline and other crap out of the action with dechlorinated brake parts cleaner by spraying it into the ejector port while working the action.
Do this until the drippings run clear.
Then relubricate with a high quality spray gun lubricant like Remoil and cycle the shyt out of the action until it is smooth.
After about 500 cycles the gun will smooth out unless it has other mechanical problems.
My gun is smooth and slick as butter.
 
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