Ruger Guide Gun vs Marlin 1895 Guide Gun

[Johnn Peterson]

The Ruger in 338win and an old canoe paddle stock, remove the brake and put the tread protector on and a nice low power Leupold scope with QD rings.

It's a step in the right direction, although a very small one. It amounts to putting make-up on an ugly woman. Still ugly, just in a more colourful wrapping or fashion. Do it right. Put a decent stock on it and rebarrel with something of a more traditional nature to get rid of the thread set-up just to ensure another 'strainer' can't be reinstalled at a later date.

 

[contaucreek]

Marlin. The Ruger needs to have the barrel tidied up and then if it lost the corrective footwear looking butt then it would be more appealing to me.

 

[jjohnwm]

When the Ruger Alaskan (now Guide Gun) was introduced, it made the Marlin Guide Gun obsolete.

Yeah...right. The Marlin Guide took off like gangbusters right from the start. Then the Alaskan appeared and "made it obsolete"...then the Alaskan disappeared, the Ruger Guide appeared, and that is supposed to "make it obsolete"...hmm.

When the Ruger is discontinued in a year or two...will the next replacement also make the Marlin "obsolete"? Geez, how many times can the same gun go obsolete?

 

[gwes2003]

Not even a close contest. Marlin 1895 is in a class all its own! No other gun manufacture will come close to making something so wonderful

 

[Gatehouse]

All the attributes of the Marlin (compact, handy, powerful) have been included with the RUger, plus the Ruger is a very sturdy and reliable bolt action and chambered in 375 Ruger, is a more versatile cartridge than the 4570. The 4570 enjoyed a surge in popularity a few years ago and the Marlins are good rifles (or used to be?).The Marlins have been popular for a long time and they deserve to be, although it seems far more hunters own them than actually hunt with them.

The Ruger is appropriate for shooting a moose at 400 yards or stopping grizzly bear charges at 4 paces, and everything in between. It simply outclasses the Marlin in the roles of Guide Gun and hunting rifle.

 

[jjohnwm]

Sadly, I am forced to concur...if you consider 400-yard shooting within the purview of a "Guide Gun" then the imitation H&H is indeed superior and more versatile than the .45-70 round. If I thought that shooting at that range were in the offing, then I would pass on the Marlin as well.

So you'd better hurry out and grab a Ruger Guide now! God knows, within a year or so it'll be history, and something new'n'shiny will be along to replace it and make the Marlin "obsolete"...again!

 

[Kevan]

The Ruger is appropriate for shooting a moose at 400 yards or stopping grizzly bear charges at 4 paces, and everything in between. It simply outclasses the Marlin in the roles of Guide Gun and hunting rifle.

I certainly hope you are referring to your own personal 375 Gatehouse, because I can assure you my Ruger 375 is THE LAST rifle I would want in my hands in the event of a Grizzly charge... it does not feed well enough to be trusted for anything but a slowly cycled round.
On the other hand, my 602 / 375 H&H, my CZ550 / 9.3, my 404, and especially my 458 would be my choice for a life saver.
Hell, even a 45-70 Marlin and I'm not a Marlin fan...

 

[rem338win]

I love Marlins but not the best choice in adverse conditions...cold..ice..dirt. when the chips are down.

Then you've never worked one in adverse conditions. They function very reliably; equal to the M77 at least. And for a stopping gun I would far rather carry the very fast and pointable Marlin stoked with 450gr LBT Hardcasts than any .338-375 cartridge.

 

[BigUglyMan]

Nothing against that Ruger rifle in general, with one exception and that is the 'strainer' attached to the end.

Johnn, it's called a manure spreader. As much as I hate it, I've run a bolt for a long time and it's second nature to me. I've always wanted a guide gun (Marlin, that is) but for versatility I'd have to go with the turnbolt. The stock is hideous and brakes on hunting rifles are for wimps and dicks, but those things can each be remedied. And at the end of the day, the bolt is just more well rounded.

 

[Gatehouse]

Sadly, I am forced to concur...if you consider 400-yard shooting within the purview of a "Guide Gun" then the imitation H&H is indeed superior and more versatile than the .45-70 round. If I thought that shooting at that range were in the offing, then I would pass on the Marlin as well.

Been quite a few guides who have had to finish off client wounded game that was heading for the hills, so I would say that the versatility of the 375 Ruger cartridge cannot be beat with the Marlin 4570

I certainly hope you are referring to your own personal 375 Gatehouse, because I can assure you my Ruger 375 is THE LAST rifle I would want in my hands in the event of a Grizzly charge... it does not feed well enough to be trusted for anything but a slowly cycled round.
..

Was the Ruger service contractors unable to get your 375 to feed properly? Mine and the others I've played with feed incredibly well, as demonstrated on the video I posted here some time ago. Smoother than any lever rifle I've used, for sure.

Johnn, it's called a manure spreader. As much as I hate it, I've run a bolt for a long time and it's second nature to me. I've always wanted a guide gun (Marlin, that is) but for versatility I'd have to go with the turnbolt. The stock is hideous and brakes on hunting rifles are for wimps and dicks, but those things can each be remedied. And at the end of the day, the bolt is just more well rounded.

Exactly. If you don't like the brake, it's an easy fix- just unscrew it. Don't like the stock? Order one of the many after market stocks available. The laminated stock should work fine, just like the Hogue stock, but if you don't like them, you have options. A 375 Ruger with a 20" barrel and a Macmillan stock will kick any lever rifles ass, any day. Event he supplied iron sights on the Ruger are superior to the Marlin sights.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Johnn, it's called a manure spreader. As much as I hate it, I've run a bolt for a long time and it's second nature to me. I've always wanted a guide gun (Marlin, that is) but for versatility I'd have to go with the turnbolt. The stock is hideous and brakes on hunting rifles are for wimps and dicks, but those things can each be remedied. And at the end of the day, the bolt is just more well rounded.

You cut a little closer to the bone than I do. I was trying to be diplomatic. And yes, that stock does, leave a lot to be desired. There, more diplomacy..

As I implied in an earlier post, if you have to 'rape' the Ruger or change half of its characteristics as it was pictured, to make a decent rifle, it doesn't seem that this example then is a wise choice. As such, what it does accomplish is to make the Marlin Guide Gun shine by comparison.

Admittedly, there are a few lever guns I like and I have to fill certain 'needs', but I agree again as I have the same #1 preference for bolt guns.

 

[Ardent]

Ruger RSM .375 H&H

It had the looks. The features. The chambering. And makes a damn fine club when all five greased lighting H&H rounds have left the chamber.

 

[dahs]

I'll keep my Marlin.

 

[crazy_davey]

 

[Edward Teach]

A 375 Ruger with a 20" barrel and a Macmillan stock will kick any lever rifles ass

Now if only they offered it in a PROPER .375, such as H&H, I might be interested.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

 

[BigUglyMan]

Best post EVER!

 

[Gatehouse]

 

[Cleftwynd]

Rofl!

 

[bearkilr]

A 375 Ruger with a 20" barrel and a Macmillan stock will kick any lever rifles ass, any day.

McMillan on that Ruger? Lipstick on a pig! For $500 bear defense, I'll choose a used Marlin Guide Gun over a fiberglass club.