Marlin 1895 Cowboy or Guide Gun in 45/70 ?

[Zerstoerer]

Does anybody have experience with both the Marlin 1895G Guide Gun
AND the M1895 Cowboy?
Both in 45/70 -the Guide Gun with a 18 1/2" barrel and the Cowboy with a 26inch barrel.
Interested in difference in velocity a 7.5 inch barrel length difference makes.
How about accuracy with/ without scopes, iron sights, tang sights?
Looking for that all-round rifle for hunting and target shooting with reloads.
Prefer the short one for packing but just love the looks of the Cowboy.
Can only buy one - not both.
Any suggestions, ideas, pictures, experiences, stories?
Thanks.

 

[Fosbery]

I've used the 1895 a little bit, and I've used the Guide Gun once. I don't think that's enough experience to give an informed opinion, but I did think the Guide Gun handled much better.

 

[timothy75]

I was just handling the cowboy yesterday and was very impressed. I dont really care for the guide guns, they seem like they would hurt you shoulder and ears plus I'm not a guide in africa. The long barrel of the cowboy wont deafen you if you plan to hunt with it and the barrel will take up some recoil. Plus even a cowboy load out of that thing will take anything in the US if you put the bullet in the right place for which that long barrel should shine. In fact I might go back friday and look at it again.

 

[dodge]

I have a guide gun and with my reloads a 350 gr FN is going 1800 fps. Out of the Cowboy I would guess maybe 2000 fps. The recoil isn't bad but because of the short barrel it sure likes to jump. When I had a scope on it I couldn't wear a baseball style hat because the scope would knock it off of my head. With the scope on it I was getting 1 - 1/2" groups at 100 yards. I since chaged the scope out for a set of Williams WRGS peep sights and at 50 yards my groups are about the same. My eyes ain't what they use to be but at 50 yards I wouldn't have a problem with hitting a deer if I can get one to stand still or walk slow. The only shots I've had so far are at deer moving a bit faster than a slow walk seeing how they are coming off of a drive.

 

[JustsayMo]

I have the 22" & the 18-1/2 Marlin 1895. The difference in velocity between the two is 100-200 fps depending on the load. Noise wise, they are both loud, especially with hi velocity loads.

If I was looking for a rifle for the hunting the woods or backpack hunting, I'd buy the Guide Gun. For everything else, the Cowboy is the ticket.

 

[MechAg94]

I have the Cowboy. It does have the 26" barrel. It is a very, very nice gun, but I am embarrassed to say I haven't shot it very much. It has a nice deep report and doesn't kick much compared to some surplus bolt actions. Never shot a guide gun.
There is a gun show this weekend. I'll have to buy a few boxes of ammo to go shoot. If any of my guns force me to finally start reloading, it will likely be that one.

 

[Zerstoerer]

What kind of accuracy are you getting out of your Rifles?

What kind of maximum range would you be comfortable to shoot while hunting?

I guess the 45/70 is good to 600 yrds or so - but what is realistic for the Guide Gun Or Cowboy ?

Thanks

 

[one-shot-one]

$0.02

if it will be carried more than shot then guide gun.
if shot more than carried then cowboy.

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

A good friend of mine has the Cowboy version. It is H E A V Y!!!! The thick-walled octogonal-barrel puts most of that weight at the muzzle, also. I like the looks but don't care for the weight or the balance (especially when the magazine is loaded )

Get the guide gun and a Sims Limbsaver recoil pad.

 

[JustsayMo]

The accuracy of these guns is VERY good. Check out Ranch Dog's Postal Match over at

http://shootersforum.com/forumdisplay.htm?f=72

The big bores do very well.

I've posted a few targets at

http://bigbored.onfinite.com/

A guy at our club took a deer at 237 yards (lasered) with his 45-70. My own personal limit is 100 yards or less but I rarely hunt where I could get a shot that long. I use the irons a majority of the time. I do plan to Scout Scope and test (on paper) it at longer ranges just for fun.

 

[MechAg94]

Has anyone gotten an aftermarket sight for the Cowboy? I was thinking of getting an iron sight of some kind, but haven't looked real seriously.

 

[Dean C]

I have a 1895 Cowboy. Bought it for Bear mostly. Alos a whim
Love it except as a hunting rifle you either need to carry it like "Davey Crocket" or in a scabbard on a horse. Well, I sacrificed the original appearance and put a sling on it. I got a forend cap for the octogonal barrell from Marlin. I also got the butt swivel from Marlin too.
I like the length and can put up with the weight. Weight helps with recoil.
My vote is obvious.
dean

 

[Dr.Rob]

My dad has a closet full of 45/70's.. all Marlins.

The GG is a handy light fun as heck rifle to carry around in the woods and is a sure thumper on all manner of north american game. My complaint... his GG is stainless and ported. The ports serve little purpose other than to make it louder. The fat forend helps manage the stout push of a 405 gr. Remington bullet downrange. The stainless is kind of shiny for a filed grade gun.

The Cowboy is a LOT heavier. No recoil pad, no sling swivels. The weight helps with recoil, teh lack of a pad cancels that out a bit. Dad installed Lyman tang sight for long range shooting but most of our shooting has been at life sized deer targets out to 200 yards.

That front sight will darn near cover the deer at 200 yards. I never needed the tang sight at 200 yards.

Both rifles will shoot a good 2-3 inch group at 100 yards with iron sights. Both will print cloverleafs at 50 yards. (all bullets touching). It's a tough rifle to hold still off the bench the GG.. it's rather short for that kind of testing. I'm sure they are more accurate than I am. (I've only fired a 100 rds or so of 45/70 at paper)

I like the fast handling of the GG... The CB is a more refined rifle. If I was going to carry one to hunt with I'd pick the GG. If I was going to pick one for long range cowboy shooting events i'd pick the CB... both will kill an elk.

But at the end of the day carrying the CB you'd have some tired arms.

 

[JNewell]

Curiosity here...if I were going to pick just one I might pick the regular 22" version. Have you considered that?

I want to add here that you may not like the pistol grip of the regular 1895, but many (myself included) find that it helps handle recoil better. I went to the trouble and expense of converting my GG to a pistol grip buttstock and am much happier with it. YMMV!

 

[JohnKSa]

Another vote for the 22" model with the pistol grip stock. IMO, it looks and feels the best.