ShunZu
member
Considering a Marlin 1895 cowboy (.45-70) octagon. Interested in owners voicing their opinions on reliability, looks, handling and accuracy. Thanks in advance!
Marlin 1895 Cowboy owners - Happy?
- Thread starter ShunZu
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Got The 1895's little brother. I inherited a near new 1894 CBC in .45 Colt caliber.
Have done quite a bit of shooting with cowboy .45 ammo, both commercial and reloads with no problems.
The 1894 competition carbine makes a super plinker with the mild cowboy ammo. Reliability and accuracy are fine with this .45 Colt chambered rifle. I need to whip up some slightly hotter ammo to see if this carbine might preform well enough to use as a short range deer gun since I'm really not into cowboy shooting.
Have done quite a bit of shooting with cowboy .45 ammo, both commercial and reloads with no problems.
The 1894 competition carbine makes a super plinker with the mild cowboy ammo. Reliability and accuracy are fine with this .45 Colt chambered rifle. I need to whip up some slightly hotter ammo to see if this carbine might preform well enough to use as a short range deer gun since I'm really not into cowboy shooting.
S&WKING
Member
its a marlin and thats all you need to know
JustsayMo
Member
I like mine and I'm considering buying/trading for another and having the barrel shortened to 20" for hunting rifle.
Accuracy is very good. 50 yard target picture : http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1239550
The long barrel seems to hang on the target very well. Very easy to shoot off hand. It is a secure feeling to have nine rounds of 45-70 cartridges on board. It also adds 100-200 fps compared to the same loads in my 18.5" Guide Gun.
When in the field but I've found that the extra barrel length is somewhat of a hinderence in the terrain I hunt the most.
My 1895 GS (stainless Guide Gun) was my favorite but the Cowboy is now my most used 45-70. If I manage to find another 1895CB to shorten I'll probably get ride of the GG.
Accuracy is very good. 50 yard target picture : http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1239550
The long barrel seems to hang on the target very well. Very easy to shoot off hand. It is a secure feeling to have nine rounds of 45-70 cartridges on board. It also adds 100-200 fps compared to the same loads in my 18.5" Guide Gun.
When in the field but I've found that the extra barrel length is somewhat of a hinderence in the terrain I hunt the most.
My 1895 GS (stainless Guide Gun) was my favorite but the Cowboy is now my most used 45-70. If I manage to find another 1895CB to shorten I'll probably get ride of the GG.
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mustanger98
Member
Re: post #2
Same here. That full buckhorn rear sight and gold bead front along with that long octagon barrel have made me feel real good about my shootin'... before I got into apertures, that is. Since then, I aquired a Williams Foolproof with target knobs which I've used to real good effect on this one on 100yd targets. My Daddy used this combination of rifle/sight and his handload of a Hornady 250gr LFP over 7.5grs of Unique to good effect group-wise in a cast lead match.
Now, to hunt with this one, I think I'd stick with the full buckhorn rear sight for being able to see more. I have some Hornady 250gr HP/XTP's loaded with IMR4227 to run 1250fps and they do quite well both in the Marlin 1894's long octagon barrel and my Winchester '94AE Trapper's 16" round barrel.
"Short range deer gun"... ummm, how short is short? This is quite accurate to 100yds... maybe 125yds, but it's dropping fast after that. I'm sure it'll perform quite well to that distance though.
Same here. That full buckhorn rear sight and gold bead front along with that long octagon barrel have made me feel real good about my shootin'... before I got into apertures, that is. Since then, I aquired a Williams Foolproof with target knobs which I've used to real good effect on this one on 100yd targets. My Daddy used this combination of rifle/sight and his handload of a Hornady 250gr LFP over 7.5grs of Unique to good effect group-wise in a cast lead match.
Now, to hunt with this one, I think I'd stick with the full buckhorn rear sight for being able to see more. I have some Hornady 250gr HP/XTP's loaded with IMR4227 to run 1250fps and they do quite well both in the Marlin 1894's long octagon barrel and my Winchester '94AE Trapper's 16" round barrel.
"Short range deer gun"... ummm, how short is short? This is quite accurate to 100yds... maybe 125yds, but it's dropping fast after that. I'm sure it'll perform quite well to that distance though.
Short range to me is 100yds or less. Probably 50yds or less actually.
My 1894 is what I guess you would call a short rifle. Set up with octogon barrel and rifle forearm, but just has a 20" barrel.
I notice the question on looks and handling. The Cowboys look great. My 1894 has beautiful case colors on the receiver, and just generaly a good looking gun. Handles perfect too, at least for me. Probably a bunch lighter than a long barreled large action .45-70.
If I were to complain, would mention the superfluious safty which really doesn't bother me that much. Would also mention the standard plastic buttplate. Buttplate just looks out of place on a rifle that is obviously made to replicate the "old timey" appearance. Both are non-issues with me, but have heard other shooters complain about those features.
My 1894 is what I guess you would call a short rifle. Set up with octogon barrel and rifle forearm, but just has a 20" barrel.
I notice the question on looks and handling. The Cowboys look great. My 1894 has beautiful case colors on the receiver, and just generaly a good looking gun. Handles perfect too, at least for me. Probably a bunch lighter than a long barreled large action .45-70.
If I were to complain, would mention the superfluious safty which really doesn't bother me that much. Would also mention the standard plastic buttplate. Buttplate just looks out of place on a rifle that is obviously made to replicate the "old timey" appearance. Both are non-issues with me, but have heard other shooters complain about those features.
JustsayMo
Member
I have an 1894 in 45 colt too. It might even be my favorite centerfire rifle. Digests everything, even long Keith style SWC's.
I took it Deer hunting this year and it was perfect for the mostly thick cover I hunted. 90% of the shots would be under 50 yards and most well inside of that. Saw a lot of does but no legal (3x minimum) bucks. It's handy length made crawling through and under trees easy. It was a pleasure to pack around still hunting. I used the Kifaru "Gun Bearer" attachment on my pack instead of slinging it. It worked very well. The shorter barrel doesn't impead my vision or make it difficult to use my binoculars.
The load I hunt with is a Lee C452-300 WNFP-GC bullet (cast weight of 315 grains) over a healthy dose of IMR 4227 or 2400. Gets me 1300-1400 fps over the crony with very good accuracy out to 100 yards which is as far as I've tested it. It's my Big Bore Lite round.
I took it Deer hunting this year and it was perfect for the mostly thick cover I hunted. 90% of the shots would be under 50 yards and most well inside of that. Saw a lot of does but no legal (3x minimum) bucks. It's handy length made crawling through and under trees easy. It was a pleasure to pack around still hunting. I used the Kifaru "Gun Bearer" attachment on my pack instead of slinging it. It worked very well. The shorter barrel doesn't impead my vision or make it difficult to use my binoculars.
The load I hunt with is a Lee C452-300 WNFP-GC bullet (cast weight of 315 grains) over a healthy dose of IMR 4227 or 2400. Gets me 1300-1400 fps over the crony with very good accuracy out to 100 yards which is as far as I've tested it. It's my Big Bore Lite round.
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