Walnut/Blued rifles

Explaining what a rifle looks like is very much like explaining what a pretty girl looks like! When it comes to explaining, it is difficult to describe the difference between a not so pretty girl and one that is, "Oh boy!"
Rifles are much the same. Other than the difference between blondes and brunettes, some of either variety just have that extra something that quickly turns heads. A recently acquired one of mine, rifle that is, is like that. It could be termed a plain Jane, run of the mill, Marlin 1895 in 45-70, but it just has that extra something that keeps growing on me.
Maybe in 1974 Marlin put some extra care in them, but it simply seems more sleek with just the right color and well designed seven and a half pounds.
To me she is a "Oh boy" keeper.
 
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myself, i can't stand the look of stainless... love the traditional blue/walnut combo. that being said.... i appreciate what stainless offers.. especially for b.c. weather. two of my hunting rifles a win model 70 extreme weather, and a ruger scout. have both been gun coated satin black... and the composite stocks are slowly growing on me.
 
 
H4831 said:
Explaining what a rifle looks like is very much like explaining what a pretty girl looks like! When it comes to explaining, it is difficult to account for the difference between a not so pretty girl and one that is, "Oh boy!"
Rifles are much the same. Other than the difference between blondes and brunettes, some of either variety just have that extra something that quickly turns heads. A recently acquired one of mine, rifle that is, is like that. It could be termed a plain Jane, run of the mill, Marlin 1895 in 45-70, but it just has that extra something that keeps growing on me. Maybe in 1974 Marlin put some extra care in them, but it simply seems more sleek with just the right color and well designed seven and a half pounds.
To me she is a "Oh boy" keeper.
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Me as well.:) I gave this to my young son in the B.C. central interior and I'm sure he'll put it to good use ;)with Dad's reloads.



I wasn't any too fond of the straight stock anyway. Can be hard on the fingers using high end loads.
Anyway, this is on the way as a replacement.



And, to keep it company, this, also in 45-70 is already here, in it's new home. A BFR.



I'm weak and couldn't resist.
 
Even Remington made some nice Blued & walnut guns in the 60 & 70s




Here is a Longbranch made presentation grade, out of longbranch plant in Ont
not many of these a round


 
To me, something just struck me right about this 1974 Marlin, only the second year they made the Model 1895, 45-70.



 
Even Remington made some nice Blued & walnut guns in the 60 & 70s




Here is a Longbranch made presentation grade, out of plant in Ont



 
Thanks Shooter.
And Johnn, I'm loading up some loads that will keep her tame. With the last Marlin 45-70 I had I found out that 16 grains of Unique and that door jam filler you told me about, resulted in some great groups, at pleasant to shoot velocities. Then, when I couldn't repeat them I thought the filler didn't work, after all. That was with either 400 or 420 grain cast bullets.
I'll give it another good try.
 
Living and hunting on the wet north coast of bc I prefer stainless and laminate/synthetic....since sept 1st of 2014 I think we have only had maybe a handful of days that is has NOT rained or snowed or both. :(
 
H4831 said:
Thanks Shooter.
And Johnn, I'm loading up some loads that will keep her tame. With the last Marlin 45-70 I had I found out that 16 grains of Unique and that door jam filler you told me about, resulted in some great groups, at pleasant to shoot velocities. Then, when I couldn't repeat them I thought the filler didn't work, after all. That was with either 400 or 420 grain cast bullets.
I'll give it another good try.
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With the testing I did, using a variety of fillers, that seemed to give me the best shell to shell uniformity and accuracy results. Components wise, cast and jacketed bullets, I've probably got a bigger variety for the 45-70 than any other calibre. With the cast bullets, that I get from a friend locally, the 420gr worked best, especially in those light loads & filler. Without the need for filler, TB is an option that I've also got good results with. As mentioned previously, I've got the BFR, a new Marlin is on the way, but I'm still thinking another Pedersolli Sharps might be;) 'needed'. I'll have to keep my eyes open for a 'pretty' one:p with 'GOOD'/ appropriate sights.
 
hawk-i said:
Living and hunting on the wet north coast of bc I prefer stainless and laminate/synthetic....since sept 1st of 2014 I think we have only had maybe a handful of days that is has NOT rained or snowed or both. :(
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I can second thatpreference as appropriate, here on the wet coast. I don't mind that combo and while it definately has its place here, my 'preference' is still blued steel and nicely figured wood. I admit, they require extra/additional care,;) but that's the beauty of retirement.





For the wetest and harsher conditions here, my AYA 3 1/2" 10ga. Mag SxS still gets the call for water fowl and gets the required extra care:).
 
Back to fillers, with low loads of powder, there is one thing noticeable. In the original, first copy, of the "bible" on cast bullet shooting, The Lyman Handbook of Cast Bullet shooting, which I think you also have, Johnn, it doesn't mention fillers, even once, in the entire book!
At least I couldn't find it and they have even a lesser amount of Unique for the 45-70 than I was trying both ways, filler or no filler.
But I will try it again. I will also try 4227 powder and maybe Lilgun, as well as Unique, in amounts that will be about the standard load for factory loadings in 45-70.
 
H4831 said:
Back to fillers, with low loads of powder, there is one thing noticeable. In the original, first copy, of the "bible" on cast bullet shooting, The Lyman Handbook of Cast Bullet shooting, which I think you also have, Johnn, it doesn't mention fillers, even once, in the entire book!
At least I couldn't find it and they have even a lesser amount of Unique for the 45-70 than I was trying both ways, filler or no filler.
But I will try it again. I will also try 4227 powder and maybe Lilgun, as well as Unique, in amounts that will be about the standard load for factory loadings in 45-70.
Click to expand...

With some of the load suggestions using faster burning powders, the only even close to indepth accuracy tests I did, with and without the use of fillers was with Unique. From what limited testing I did do, results did appear to be better with use of the filler in the reloads. To that end, I did end up using it with all the faster burning powder for lighter cast bullet loads. See;), I need another Pedersoli:).
 
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All stainless and composite for me other than grampa's 06 and two old Marlins. I like wood too but I don't like dings on fancy wood and fancy wood dings easy if I hunted more open country maybe I'd reconsider. I don't think I'd ever buy a new rifle wood and blued though would only do it for something older that I really wanted.
 
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