marlin 1895 45-70 guide gun

I have heard they have gotten better but haven't handled a new one to say personally. I have a JM Marlin guide gun and will vouch for it being a terrific rifle for scratching that itch though.

I have an 1895G in 45-70 that was made before the move. Excellent rifle. Good shooter as well.

Picked up a stainless version about 1 1/2 years ago and have had zero issues with either the rifle's cosmetics or function. I too was a little leery about buying one after hearing the horror stories after Remington bought Marlin out.

I have a older GG and it is one of my favorite rifles. I love the size and power. You can load it mild for family shooting or crank it up and hunt just about anything. Mine is amazingly accurate as well.

I think Remington might have turned the corner with Marlin; they seem to be putting out good products now. I recently checked out a 1984 .44 and it was a very nice rifle.

X2 on the stainless with gray laminate stock ,it gets my vote.

Got one for Christmas last year, beautiful gun. Put a peep sight on it once I got it sighted in I had 3 rounds touching at 50 yards.

It's been a while since I delved into the nuances of Marlins versus Remlins. What I do recall is the most suspect guns were 2009 or so, serial numbers starting with 91.

Regardless, I've seen both good and bad examples from that time period. In fact I've had a few of both, but, I've gotten over the bad ones and have no hard feelings.

Fast forward to today, the new ones I've seen in the stores seem to be very nice guns. That is to say, none of a crazy issues like canted front sights, or the more benign stock fitment cosmetics, appear to be a thing of the past.

I was in a gun store recently when a deputy sheriff came in to pickup a 45/70 SBL he'd ordered and, despite me owning one already, I was green with envy when he walked out, it was a very fine lever action rifle.

Keep your eyes open for sure, but from what I can tell, Marlin is back on track.

Edit: may as well add a picture of my two favorites; a 2002 guide gun converted to pistol grip and big loop lever and a 2006 Trapper, .357 also converted to big loop.

I have one of the so-called Remlins. The wood/steel fit is not all there is to be desired.

Also installed a Williams peep site and it scratches my itch (from several years ago that remains to this day) VERY well.

YMMV
Greg

If you're looking at moderate .45-70 loads, a pre-Remington 1895 seems like a good choice. If you want to run very hot loads, a modern 1886 is much better but scope options are limited and the cost if you end up re-stocking a Browning is pretty high.

Given the current used market on JM Marlins, there's no way I would buy a Remarlin.

QUOTE: "...If you want to run very hot loads, a modern 1886 is much better..."

I happen to agree with your opinion but I'm wondering if you have any empirical evidence or write-ups to support this view? I haven't been able to find any.

SwampWolf said:

QUOTE: "...If you want to run very hot loads, a modern 1886 is much better..."

I happen to agree with your opinion but I'm wondering if you have any empirical evidence or write-ups to support this view? I haven't been able to find any.

Click to expand...

The fact that a Miroku 1886 can do it is evidenced by the fact that they're frequently chambered in .348 Winchester (as the Browning model 71), which is a 40,000 CUP (42,700 PSI) cartridge with a .50-110 bolt face. Due to the difference in bolt face sizes that has the same bolt thrust as a .45-70 loaded to over 50K PSI. I'm 100% confident this is safe and regularly shoot loads at about 45K PSI in a 1886 chambered in .45-90. That said you need to use chrono velocity as your pressure sign when working up loads as you won't get anything else before you stretch the action.

The fact that the 1895 cannot do the same is less well documented IMO, but I don't know anyone who recommends loading them above 40K PSI, and that's quite a lot in my personal opinion. The 1895 is a great gun, I'm just saying if you're hot rodding it would not be my first choice. For more conventional use it's arguably superior since it can be easily scoped, comes with a modern stock, and lacks the ignition problems the modern Winchester (but not Browing) 1886s have.

I purchased a new Marlin 1895 with the 22" barrel last November, and it is as nicely put together as my 2007 1894 in .357. The metal to wood fit is tight, the sights line up perfectly, the action cycles smoothly from when I first tried it at Cabela's, no buggered up screws, etc. I now have around 70 rounds through it, both factory Rem. 405's and 300 gr. handloads, and couldn't be more pleased. The only changes I've made is installing a grind-to-fit Limbsaver recoil pad in lieu of the rubber butt pad from the factory.

Seems as they have turned the corner if mine and other one I was looking at at Gander back in November are representative. Sounds like the old, worn out Marlin tooling is gone and they've gotten their new machining centers and assembly cells dialed in.

ericuda said:

I like the look of he 1886 but is it worth twice over what the marlin is?

Click to expand...

IMO for firing SAAMI spec ammo, no

While I would prefer to buy that particular rifle local due to reputation, I don't think you will have to much of a problem with ordering through Bud's. their return policy is reasonable. You just have to make sure you look the rifle over very well before you sing the paper work and do the transfer. From what I have read of Buds return policy, if you refuse shipment for a defect your fine, but once you transfer the firearm, its between you and the manufacture.

Glad some folks are getting some good, new Marlins. The ones I've been seeing over the last few years have been awful, even worse than some Rossi's.

QUOTE: "...The fact that the 1895 cannot do the same is less well documented IMO, but I don't know anyone who recommends loading them above 40K PSI, and that's quite a lot in my personal opinion. The 1895 is a great gun, I'm just saying if you're hot rodding it would not be my first choice. For more conventional use it's arguably superior since it can be easily scoped, comes with a modern stock, and lacks the ignition problems the modern Winchester (but not Browing) 1886s have..."

Thanks for the info, Llama Bob. I've never heard of "ignition problems" with modern Winchester rifles. I guess I'm lucky in that I've never experienced any such problem with my modern "Winchester" (Miroku made) Extra Light Weight Model 1886 replica.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ericuda View Post
I like the look of he 1886 but is it worth twice over what the marlin is?

Llama Bob: IMO for firing SAAMI spec ammo, no

It all depends, I guess. I shoot only "SAAMI spec" ammunition and, though I'm not independently wealthy by any means, back in 2005 when I was looking for a rifle chambered in .45-70, I opted for the more costly Model 1886 repo ($725.00, new) over the Marlin Model 1895 because I was willing to pay more for the finish, smoothness of action and "looks" that I preferred. Though this was a choice predicated on purely subjective reasons, I have never regretted spending the additional money. That said, I don't think you'll ever go wrong getting the fine Marlin 1895.

SwampWolf said:

Thanks for the info, Llama Bob. I've never heard of "ignition problems" with modern Winchester rifles. I guess I'm lucky in that I've never experienced any such problem with my modern "Winchester" (Miroku made) Extra Light Weight Model 1886 replica.

Click to expand...

Some, but by no means all, of them have problems with the rebounding hammer setup. Because of that the Brownings (which are nearly the same gun but with the original hammer design) command somewhat of a premium for the same barrel configuration.

If yours works, there's no reason to mess with it.

my marlin 95 was made in earl 1973 #B001920. and my favorite deer load is a healthy dose of H-4198 and a 300gr hornady in my marlin and ruger #3. it shoots into 1-1.25" 3 shot groups at 100yds and kills deer like chained lighting. i shot one doe at 200-225 yrs that stopped at the edge of a burn out, i aimed a little daylight over the deers back and dropped the bullet into the middle of the chest, i got to see the bullet hit and the doe went straight down with a complete pass thru. eastbank.

I don't hunt, but I have always had an irrational lust for one of these thumpers. I'm glad to hear the new production isn't as bad as it was a few years ago.

Fiv3r said:

I don't hunt, but I have always had an irrational lust for one of these thumpers. I'm glad to hear the new production isn't as bad as it was a few years ago.

Click to expand...

I don't hunt either. But it's fun knocking over metal plate targets with 500gr bullets