marlin 1895 opinions or observations

AlbertanBound

AlbertanBound

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Hey guys
so I originally wanted a browning BLR in 30-06 but I realized I dont need something with that much range since I am mostly hunting in BC and to boot I am most likely not going to take a shot at an animal over 300 yards, (I am just not that good of a shot plus I am on the cautious side). Now I want to stick with a lever action since they have always been my favorite and Im bush hunting. This said I started pricing out levers. I found the BLR and its 900$ price tag. But I recently kinda took to the marlin, anyone have any opinions with em?
 
I just started a Marlin addiction. It should arrive next week :)

You won't be disappointed. 45-70 is a formidable round. Nothing beats the real lever feel ;)

What you hunting btw?
 
I have a marlin 336 and I like it. (It's a 30-30 however.) It is well balanced, easy to aim and easy to add a scope or other kind of optics/sights. I have put a skinner sight on mine.
I suggest you buy an older marlin, the marlington have a bad finish. Some of them even have sights not ajusted properly. If you buy a micro groove marlin just bear in mind that the barrel is a little bit more picky with cast bullet than the ballard rifling. If you absolutly want a new marlin then I hope you will get a nice one and won't be disapointed.
 
Out here on the island I'll hunt everything from bear to deer. I would like a new marlin, I have heard the finish on the new marlins can be poor but finding a newer marlin seems harder then finding a older marlin. I am not set up to cast my out rounds, what do you mean by ballard rifling, (sorry I dont mean to seem like a noob). What does the micro groove rifling mean?
 
.45-70 won't get ya close to 300 yards no matter what load though. Up close, let's say inside 200 yards, it will hold its own and hit like the hammer of thor.
 
AlbertanBound said:
Out here on the island I'll hunt everything from bear to deer. I would like a new marlin, I have heard the finish on the new marlins can be poor but finding a newer marlin seems harder then finding a older marlin. I am not set up to cast my out rounds, what do you mean by ballard rifling, (sorry I dont mean to seem like a noob). What does the micro groove rifling mean?
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Micro Groove refers to a style of barrel rifling that marlin used in the past. It was generally not suitable for cast bullets (some were OK). Micro groove rifling is not used in new Marlin rifles.
 
If you find an old micro groove for for a good price I wouldn't hesitate. I have an 1895 SS with micro groove rifling and so far it has digested everything I have fed it (cast and jacketed) with more than acceptable accuracy. Love my 1895, and it won't be going anywhere soon.

If you want the skinny on Marlins of all ilk try out marlinowners.com, tons of info there for anyone catching Marlinitis.
 
I have an 1895 in .45-70. I have tried a number of loads and have settled on a handload of a 350 grain Hornady FP ahead of a near max charge of H4198. It is accurate out of my rifle and pounds what it hits like the fist of an angry god. The only caveat is that more than a few rounds in succession off the bench ceases to be fun right quick. In other words, I would recommend the Marlin.
 
Well it sounds like for the most part people are happy, I can see the range being an issue when I move back to Alberta but I'll just buy another gun then haha As for now I think I am set on a marlin in 45-70!
 
Yeah marlin rifle are pretty good. You can get good accuracy with cast bullet as long as the bullet is one thousand of an inch bigger than your bore diameter. Do you plan to reload? There are LOTS of options for the 45-70.
 
If you're not set on getting a stainless gun or mounting a scope (which is the dumbest thing to put on a lever gun), save a few more bucks and get one of those new 1886 winchesters.

They're a better made gun by far.
 
AlbertanBound said:
Out here on the island I'll hunt everything from bear to deer. I would like a new marlin, I have heard the finish on the new marlins can be poor but finding a newer marlin seems harder then finding a older marlin. I am not set up to cast my out rounds, what do you mean by ballard rifling, (sorry I dont mean to seem like a noob). What does the micro groove rifling mean?
Click to expand...

Here is the old style Marlin rifling I believe is called "Ballard".

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Marlin%20336%2035rem%201955/DSC07154_zps81aa8954.jpg.html][/URL]

This photo is of the "Micro-groove" sort.

[URL=http://s614.photobucket.com/user/kamlooky/media/Marlin%20336%2030-30%201975/DSC02043_zpsfc42b27c.jpg.html][/URL]
 
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Pictures tell a thousand words, thanks man. Now I eventually want to reload but I keep buying guns instead of a reloading kit soooo....but as soon as I exhaust gun safe space I will end up buying the kit I think. It sounds like a ton of guys cast their own lead rounds, I wouldnt even know where to begin to buy lead and all the smelting equip.
 
At the moment, I still have my Marlin 1895GS in 45-70 although it will soon be going to a new home in the B.C. central interior where it'll get put to good use by my young son.



A great gun and with the ability to handle a wide variety of potent handloads and a match for any close to moderate ranges on just about anything that walks. If I have any criticism, it's the straight stock design or configuration. With the heavy bullets and hotter reloads it's capable handling, it can be a little hard on the fingers.

My Marlin 444S, which has micro groove rifling,



has no problem delivering decent accuracy with hard cast bullets, sized 0.001" to 0.002" over bore diameter.





 
AlbertanBound said:
Pictures tell a thousand words, thanks man. Now I eventually want to reload but I keep buying guns instead of a reloading kit soooo....but as soon as I exhaust gun safe space I will end up buying the kit I think. It sounds like a ton of guys cast their own lead rounds, I wouldnt even know where to begin to buy lead and all the smelting equip.
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You don't have to roll your own cast to shoot cast. There are a number of places in Canada that sell good cast boolits. Generally less expensive than their jacketed counterparts.
 
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wapitiwhacker said:
You don't have to roll your cast to shoot cast. There are a number of places in Canada that sell good cast boolits. Generally less expensive than their jacketed counterparts.
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Totally agree. While I like burning up ammo, reloading and testing, casting bullets has never been a task I was fond of. A friend close by is into it in a big way, makes a wide variety of good quality product and at a decent price. As a result, I now purchase all my cast bullet needs from him. Just to make sure I'm never tempted to cast again, I've sold what equipment I did have.
 
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