Marlin 1895 CB and CBA - Should the Barrel Lengths be Different?

[Old Stumpy]

I am planning to buy a Marlin 1895 CBA in .45-70 which has an 18 1/2" tapered octagon barrel.

From handling my Marlin 1894 .45 Colt Cowboy, I know that a tapered 20" octagon barrel is pleasantly light and balances better than the equivalent 20" round barrelled 1894 carbine that I also own. It's actually difficult to really tell the difference otherwise.

The thing is that for a traditional .45-70 the 18 1/2" CBA barrel just seems too short, even if it looks good, and is handy on this rifle. I'm sure that it never existed on the original 1895 in this length as either a saddle ring carbine with a round barrel or as a tapered octagon short rifle.
Except possibly as a rare factory special order or as a rare gunsmith-shortened version.

The 26" CB barrel, on the other hand is very traditional and correct and was the most popular standard length of barrel for the original larger-frame 1895 Marlin and Winchester 1886 rifles throughout itheir production.

The thing is that IMHO 26" just seems too bloody long and awkward, especially with the smaller Marlin 336-derived receiver, rather than the larger original 1895 receiver.



My preference would be for an in-between version made with the standard 20" barrel length common to the standard Marlin 336C and 336T .30-30 and .35 Remington rifles. It just seems like the best balance between being a handy length and being suitable for a big bore carbine.
Perhaps called an 1895CBB ?

When Marlin and Winchester did produce saddle ring carbines with their Models 1895 and 1886, they both chose to fit a standard 22" round barrel. Probably because it just suited the proportions and appearance of the bigger receivers.



I'm interested in what you think.
Do you think that Marlin should have gone with a 20" tapered octagon barrel on the CBA?

Do you think that they should have just split the difference and gone with a tapered octagon 22" barrel on the CB instead of the 26" version and not bothered with the CBA at all?

And, wouldn't a color case hardened receiver like the original be great?

 

[TxRoadDog]

I do tend to feel that maybe they should have gone with a 20" octagonal barrel on the CBA, but ONLY because that is the route they took on the 1894CB's for several years and Remington still does. With that being said, you also have to remember that the 1895G And GS are 18.5" barrels and these rifles have gained quite a bit of respect as a deer, hog, bear etc... all around handy North American game rifle. I don't feel at a disadvantage at all with either of my guide guns... a 405gr. boolit moving in the 1300fps range is no slouch and I doubt a deer will know the difference in the 2" or not.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I just bought an 1895 CB and it is so light you forget the barrel is 26”.

I honestly would prefer a 24” barrel as that is what I find ideal for looks and balance on the 1895.

Also I would prefer a 24” barrel on the 1894 CB instead of the 20”. They used to be made on the old JM 1894 Cowboy Limited. I understand that a 24” barrel is unnecessary for the cartridges it is chambered in but it could still be a nice touch.

As far as handling, I think the CBA will handle faster. I got to handle one at a different store and it felt very lithe on the hands. I preferred the balance of the CB though....plus it was a JM from 2007.

 

[Old Stumpy]

I don't feel at a disadvantage at all with either of my guide guns... a 405gr. boolit moving in the 1300fps range is no slouch and I doubt a deer will know the difference in the 2" or not.

Mainly, I think it's esthetics and tradition more than anything else. As you say, the inch and a half won't make any difference in any practical sense. It's just a matter of preference, I suppose.

I also have to agree about the ballistics that you cite.
I really don't see the need to magnum-ize the .45-70 in most cases.
If you can drop a whitetail with a .44-40 or a .45 Colt from a carbine, then you can surely drop an elk or a moose within 100 yards with a bullet that has twice the mass and a bit more velocity.

 

[Old Stumpy]

I just bought an 1895 CB and it is so light you forget the barrel is 26”.

Tapered octagon barrels are all quite well balanced I guess, even longer ones.