Lever Action 45-70

75-B

75-B

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
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Location
Alberta
http://henryrepeating.com/rifle-45-70.cfm

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/bigbore/1895SBL.asp

I wanted to treat my self to a new firearm. Anyone out there have any experience with these rifles ? I am kind of leaning towards the Henry. I have heard that the Marlins have gone down in quality . The Marlin does hold two more rounds then the Henry but I am more interested in the quality of the firearm. Any suggestions ?
 
I'm also doing research on a 45-70 lever. The Henry factory went underwater during the floods, and they are at least a year away from fulfilling the backlog of orders.

I think the Marlin SBL is the way to go because of stainless, short barrel and mag capacity. I would just advise giving it to a gunsmith to smooth the chamber, feeding gate and action and making sure everything else is okay. Also get the shop to inspect it before they send it. I'm not a fan of the tube feeding system of the Henry, even though it's probably more reliable. I think the side loading is part of the charm of owning a lever action.
 
I would highly suggest any of the numerous Miroku offerings, either the former Brownings or the newer Winchesters. You stated you were interested in quality, well neither option you presented even comes close in quality to the Mirokus. And I believe the Henry isn't priced a whole lot less. I have a Miroku 92 and the quality is as good and possibly even better than the dozen original Win 92s I have. I have also handled several of the 86s made for Win and Browning by Miroku and the quality is second to none, it is in my opinion the finest quality levergun made today. There are several models out there in 45-70 and I think Win is even offering a 45-90, or were. If I wanted to hunt with an 86 clone I would buy the 45-90 and use 45-70 brass. The cartridge OAL is a tad longer for the 45-90 and this allows you to seat your bullets out to the second cannelure and improve the 45-70 ballistics significantly. The bullets must seat way to deep in the 45-90 case and in my original 86s I can't use even the forward cannelure on the Rem 405 gn I have to use the forward driving band to crimp over. This is solved using 45-70 cases and allows more powder than the 45-70 chamber and longer COAL but a better crimp situation than the 45-90.
 
c-fbmi said:
I would highly suggest any of the numerous Miroku offerings, either the former Brownings or the newer Winchesters. You stated you were interested in quality, well neither option you presented even comes close in quality to the Mirokus. And I believe the Henry isn't priced a whole lot less. I have a Miroku 92 and the quality is as good and possibly even better than the dozen original Win 92s I have. I have also handled several of the 86s made for Win and Browning by Miroku and the quality is second to none, it is in my opinion the finest quality levergun made today. There are several models out there in 45-70 and I think Win is even offering a 45-90, or were. If I wanted to hunt with an 86 clone I would buy the 45-90 and use 45-70 brass. The cartridge OAL is a tad longer for the 45-90 and this allows you to seat your bullets out to the second cannelure and improve the 45-70 ballistics significantly. The bullets must seat way to deep in the 45-90 case and in my original 86s I can't use even the forward cannelure on the Rem 405 gn I have to use the forward driving band to crimp over. This is solved using 45-70 cases and allows more powder than the 45-70 chamber and longer COAL but a better crimp situation than the 45-90.
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what's an internet source for these delicious firearms? I am interested in quality too.
 
I checked out the Chiappa (pronounced Kee-uppa, coz it's Italian), and there's bad reviews on the gun as being unreliable. Too bad because it has a nice chrome finish all over.
 
c-fbmi said:
I would highly suggest any of the numerous Miroku offerings, either the former Brownings or the newer Winchesters. You stated you were interested in quality, well neither option you presented even comes close in quality to the Mirokus. And I believe the Henry isn't priced a whole lot less. I have a Miroku 92 and the quality is as good and possibly even better than the dozen original Win 92s I have. I have also handled several of the 86s made for Win and Browning by Miroku and the quality is second to none, it is in my opinion the finest quality levergun made today. There are several models out there in 45-70 and I think Win is even offering a 45-90, or were. If I wanted to hunt with an 86 clone I would buy the 45-90 and use 45-70 brass. The cartridge OAL is a tad longer for the 45-90 and this allows you to seat your bullets out to the second cannelure and improve the 45-70 ballistics significantly. The bullets must seat way to deep in the 45-90 case and in my original 86s I can't use even the forward cannelure on the Rem 405 gn I have to use the forward driving band to crimp over. This is solved using 45-70 cases and allows more powder than the 45-70 chamber and longer COAL but a better crimp situation than the 45-90.
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I checked all those lever rifles. None of them have all these features:
1. Stainless
2. Full length magazine
3. 45-70
4. 18.5" barrel

I think that after making sure everything works and looks right in the store, making sure it is current production, then getting it to a gunsmith to smooth everything out, the Marlin SBL is still the best working rifle. The only unfixable problem with the Marlin SBL is that the stock isn't a perfect fit to the receiver, but if you want a rifle primarily for function, the Marlin SBL stands above all the other options out there. I would gladly consider another rifle up to double the cost of the Marlin if it had the above 4 features, but I can't find any. I want a brush gun, not a wall hanger, so fit and finish is secondary to function.
 
I can't find those Mirokus for sale . The local gun shops in my area do not have any of theses firearms so I can't even go in to put a visual on them. I will have to make the purchase online. The Marlin does hold more ammo . I can get the Henry a bit cheaper . I think the sights are of the same style. Just wish I could physically hold it before I put the money down.
 
75-B said:
I can get the Henry a bit cheaper. Just wish I could physically hold it before I put the money down.
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Where are you seeing anyone selling a Henry? They are sold out across North America. There's a HUGE backlog of orders across the continent.

Check out chickencat's review on the 1895:
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/24569/marlin-model-1895-gbl-lever-action-rifle

I think it pretty much sums it up for me. When you get the rifle, assume you have to bring it to a gunsmith to have it operating buttery smooth, or you can smooth it out yourself. I've heard that some people just work the action a hundred times and that loosens up the action.

When I bought my Browning X-bolt, the bolt would stick in the last inch of travel. I just cycled the bolt 100 times and now it doesn't stick any more. And that's with a rifle made in Japan. I assume that cycling the Marlin a hundred times will also smooth out the action nicely. Another guy made the feeding gate better (less pinchy) by propping the gate open with a shell and leaving it like that for a couple of days - he said it makes it a lot better.
 
superlative said:
what's an internet source for these delicious firearms? I am interested in quality too.
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Pretty much anybody who sells Winchester firearms, Epps, no doubt Prophet River..................You can go right to Winchesters site to see what's being currently offered and you can check the EE and other used sites for the Brownings and Wins of a few years back.
 
75-B said:
http://henryrepeating.com/rifle-45-70.cfm

I have heard that the Marlins have gone down in quality . The Marlin does hold two more rounds then the Henry but I am more interested in the quality of the firearm. Any suggestions ?
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Check out http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/45-70-govt/ and read the experiences that the some Marlin owners are finding with their Remlins.

I purchased an 1895g last month. The front sight was not mounted properly and was crooked. I took them off and replaced with an XS Rail with front and rear sights. Also put a scope on.

I have to say that I really like the rifle. Put a box of 20 300 grain rounds through the rifle when I got it. There wasn't as much recoil as I thought there would be.

 
snackberry said:
Check out http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/45-70-govt/ and read the experiences that the some Marlin owners are finding with their Remlins.

I purchased an 1895g last month. The front sight was not mounted properly and was crooked. I took them off and replaced with an XS Rail with front and rear sights. Also put a scope on.

I have to say that I really like the rifle. Put a box of 20 300 grain rounds through the rifle when I got it. There wasn't as much recoil as I thought there would be.

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I've read about the front sight problems. I've ordered the SBL via internet, and when it comes into the store, I'm going to have them thoroughly inspect the gun and do a bore-sighting before shipping it. Hopefully that will prevent me getting a problem gun.

Did you do anything to the action to make it smoother? Did you do anything to the feed gate to remove the pinching?
 
snackberry said:
Check out http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/45-70-govt/ and read the experiences that the some Marlin owners are finding with their Remlins.

I purchased an 1895g last month. The front sight was not mounted properly and was crooked. I took them off and replaced with an XS Rail with front and rear sights. Also put a scope on.

I have to say that I really like the rifle. Put a box of 20 300 grain rounds through the rifle when I got it. There wasn't as much recoil as I thought there would be.

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Nice rifle.

If you chronied your factory 300 grain loads you might see why the recoil was less than expected. I chronied a box of 300 grain Winchester this summer and it was shooting 1625 - 1635 fps from a stainless guide gun. Five years ago I chronied some Winchester Silver Box 300 grain ammo and it was consistently at 1800 fps. At 1800 fps for a 300 grainer, it's fairly respectable, but 1630 is downright wimpy. Guys with 45 Colt carbines can do that with hot handloads, and a .454 Casull will do 1900 - 2000 fps.

You'll need to handload your 45-70 if you want loads that really get your attention.
 
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superlative said:
Where are you seeing anyone selling a Henry? They are sold out across North America. There's a HUGE backlog of orders across the continent.

Check out chickencat's review on the 1895:
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/24569/marlin-model-1895-gbl-lever-action-rifle

I think it pretty much sums it up for me. When you get the rifle, assume you have to bring it to a gunsmith to have it operating buttery smooth, or you can smooth it out yourself. I've heard that some people just work the action a hundred times and that loosens up the action.

When I bought my Browning X-bolt, the bolt would stick in the last inch of travel. I just cycled the bolt 100 times and now it doesn't stick any more. And that's with a rifle made in Japan. I assume that cycling the Marlin a hundred times will also smooth out the action nicely. Another guy made the feeding gate better (less pinchy) by propping the gate open with a shell and leaving it like that for a couple of days - he said it makes it a lot better.
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To be honest I have not been able to find the Henry or the Stainless Marlin anywhere. This could take longer then I expected.
 
Are you going to use this gun as a brush gun/ tool, or are you going to use this as a plinking wall hanger type firearm?

I intend to use it as a brush gun, that's why clearly the SBL comes out on top and why criticisms of stock fit are of no concern. As a plinking wall hanger type firearm, I think it's better to go with a non 45-70 lever action from Browning or Winchester. I like the Winchester 1886 for aesthetics, but it doesn't have a superior rubber recoil pad (which the SBL has - not just a rubber recoil pad, but a superior one), it has a long barrel and it's not stainless steel. I don't particularly care to have to oil the gun just to prevent rust; and as a brush gun, the 24" barrel and subsequent weight is not as practical.
 
Here s a Browning 86 carbine

83p1.jpg
 
chasseur said:
Here s a Browning 86 carbine

83p1.jpg
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Well, with guns like this being available - that's why the Marlin has gotten so much flack for their finish. I'd gladly buy an alternative and more expensive rifle that met my 4 requirements, but there is no other that does.

Many people have said that after finishing off the rough parts of the Marlin themselves, they love the rifle. That says something to me: the QC at Marlin has improved dramatically so there are now only minor fixable problems remaining.
 
superlative said:
Well, with guns like this being available - that's why the Marlin has gotten so much flack for their finish. I'd gladly buy an alternative and more expensive rifle that met my 4 requirements, but there is no other that does.

Many people have said that after finishing off the rough parts of the Marlin themselves, they love the rifle. That says something to me: the QC at Marlin has improved dramatically so there are now only minor fixable problems remaining.
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I regret selling my gbl as they are hard to find now.
 
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