Lightweight stock for Marlin 1894?

[mountaindrew]

I will be using my 1894 for some backpacking this year, and I am wondering if there are any options on the stock. Not only do I wand as lightweight as possible, I dont want to mess up my good factory walnut stock in the backcountry. The 16in 1894 is one of the lightest centerfire rifles I have seen at just about 6lb, but at least one pound of that must be the wood, and I think that could be reduced. any ideas?

 

[mountain_cowboy]

Brownells has some black synthetic stocks for lever actions. That would probably be best.

 

[Brian Williams]

Not to disparage the 1894 but look at the Superlite Handi Rifle from NEF or a marlin Papoose in 22lr

 

[mountaindrew]

The Nef is an option, as is the rossi rifle that is very similar because both are chambered in respectabe cartiges, but I am not intersted in a 22lr

 

[mountaindrew]

The lightest NEF /H and R is 5.75 lbs, or almost exactly the same as my marlin. And it only holds on shot.

The Rossi is 4.75 lbs, and that is with a 23inch barrel so could probably be lightened even further with a 16inch barrel and the stock lightened a little, but still only one shot.

The polymer stocks at Brownell are 1.2 lb, so are probably heavier than the original wood.

I guess i'm stuck.

 

[ddc]

What about purchasing a replacement wood stock set from Brownell's and putting it on a weight reduction program?

I'm sure there is extra wood that could be removed.

Especially in the buttstock area where you might do a couple of things:
1. Shorten the length of pull, i.e. where the buttcap attaches. You could probably take at least an inch off here without affecting handling to much. This will have the additional effect of making the rifle shorter and more easily backpacked.

2. Drill one or more holes into the buttstock where the buttcap attaches more or less parallel to the length of pull. Heck, you might get creative and use them for storage space!

Heck, speaking of the buttcap: leave it at home and save another ounce.

The forearm could probably be taken down a bit also.

That all sounds a bit scary but you will be returning the gun to its original state when you get back from your trip.

 

[mountaindrew]

I have actually thought along those lines, even more exterme. I have thought of cutting the stock off right behind the grip (on a spaer stock) and somehow attaching a. aluminum skeleton stock, posible made of two arrow shafts going staigh back and welded with some gussets to an aluminum "butt pad" made of of a thin plate. Then I could possibly lose the forend altogether (ala early henry repeaters) The forearm was only added because the rifle got hot during rapid fire.

The sceleton stock could also be removable so the rifle could break down.

Am I crazy?

 

[Kurt]

Have you given any thought to a big-bore revolver in a shoulder rig?

 

[mountaindrew]

As I just posted on my other thread on a similar topic, I have very little confidence in my accuracy with a handgun (even though I have been shooting hanguns longer than rifles)

 

[MrMurphy]

Ramline and others make synthetic stocks for leverguns, including the Marlin 1894.

 

[larryw]

Sounds like a lot of work for minimal (if any) weight reduction. Skeletonizing and lightening begs the question of durability; last thing you want is to be out in the boonies with a broken buttstock or bent magazine tube.

Also, replacing the forestock on a Marlin 94 takes some fitting, not free floated, but if you don't do it right, your gun will shoot funky.

There's something about dings on a gun's wood that were earned in the line of duty; gives it character, IMO.