Marlin guide gun carry

[Dr. Fresh]

So I plan on buying one of these .45-70 beasts at some point.

My question is this: can it be carried with the hammer down over a loaded chamber and the safety off?

I plan on using it for wilderness defense, so quick deployment is a factor.

 

[Hoxviii]

For quickest deplyment I carry hammer cocked with safety on. A little slower, but still plenty fast is safety off, hammer down on a dead chamber. A quick cycle of the lever and you're good to go.

 

[Rob96]

You can carry it hammer down in thehalf cock position with the safety off. That way the hammer isn't resting against the fp.

 

[Rob96]

By the way, good choice in the Guide Gun. It is an awsome rifle.

 

[Dr. Fresh]

So I take it there's no handgun-style firing pin safety or anything like that? That's too bad.

Thingster: How easy is the safety to manipulate? It's just a cross bar, it seems to me carrying it cocked and locked might be unsafe if the safety can easily be taken off by bumping it on something. I didn't manipulate the safety at all last time I handled one in the store.

Rob96: Is the half cock trustworthy? I've never carried anything at half cock before. Can you drop it on the hammer safely? Not that I would do that on purpose.

I've also considered the empty chamber route, but that 4-round magazine gets me every time. I need that extra round, haha..

But ya, the minute I picked one up in the store I was hooked and I knew I would buy one one day. That day is approaching because I daydream about owning one all the time.

 

[moooose102]

i always carry mine on 1/2 cock with the safety off. it is the only lever gun i have ever had that has a real safety. i am sure it is there for the lawyers, but mine does not get used, except for when i am unloading the rifle. it is handy for that.

 

[MachIVshooter]

How easy is the safety to manipulate? It's just a cross bar, it seems to me carrying it cocked and locked might be unsafe if the safety can easily be taken off by bumping it on something. I didn't manipulate the safety at all last time I handled one in the store.

It'd be pretty hard to inadvertently disengage the safety. Along those same lines, a safety being disengaged does not automatically equal a discharge of the weapon.

The Marlin safety is one of the most positive, as there is no way for the hammer to hit the firing pin if it's engaged.

 

[dodge]

I carry mine at half-cock/loaded chamber, safety off but I was raised hunting with lever action rifles and yes it's a lawyer thing. I have had the safety get bumped on while hunting so it does happen It caused me to miss a buck about 3 years ago.

 

[alistaire]

Jeff Cooper suggested carrying in condition 3 with the butt on your hip. To shoot: 1) push lever open with strong hand 2) raise rifle to shoulder while closing action 3) line up sights and fire.

 

[X-Rap]

As someone who used a lever prior to the safety, I will go with the 1/2 cock on a loaded chamber. I'd say if you are hunting the noise of the action cycling will give you up, wilderness defense against 2 & 4 legs would be the same because only having to cock the hammer will save you if you are set upon by surprise.

 

[ECVMatt]

I am with Dodge...

I have always carried my Marlins on 1/2 cock w/ a round in the chamber. This is the original safety and a really good one. To fire, you simple thumb the hammer back and press the trigger.

I guess some folks have trouble when it comes to decocking the rifle. If the hammer slips, the rifle will fire, thus the cross-bolt. I have had a cb safety get knocked on and missed a shot. I remove them from all my newer Marlins. I would especially be careful on a rifle used for defense. Another option is to lock the safety in the "OFF" position by using the factory set screw.

All of these options are frowned upon my Marlin.

I unfortunately was not raised on leverguns, but once introduced, fell in love. It took me about 5 minutes to figure out how to lower a cocked hammer. I practiced with an empty gun. I have never had a problem.

I would probably recommend the safety to start with and see what your comfort level is. If you are good to go with the 1/2 cock then you can remove the safety or lock it in the off position.

Good Luck,

Great rifle as well.

 

[ECVMatt]

I forgot to add a third option...

Some guys put a small o-ring on the safety. It fits in the detent grove of the safety. This keeps it from getting bumped on while hunting. When they are done hunting, they simply slip the o-ring off and the safety is back to normal. You could use this method for unloading the rifle as well.

 

[jmr40]

Half cock on loaded chamber. Most of my levers have no safety, the ones that have them have been disabled with the "O" ring.

 

[MCMXI]

I replaced all three safety "devices" on my three Marlins (a '94 and two '95s) with screws from www.longhunt.com. If you look at the photos below, you'll see what half-cocked is and how safe it is in terms of having a live round in the chamber and the hammer in the half-cocked position. If you happen to the knock the hammer back, and your finger ISN'T on the trigger, one of two things will happen. The hammer will either go to the fully cocked position (if you knock the hammer back far enough), or it'll revert to the half-cocked position. Either way, you won't have an accidental discharge. Obviously, the absolute safest way to carry any firearm is without a round in the chamber, but practically, I have no problem with half-cocked and a round in the chamber and all the usual precautions.

 

[rcmodel]

Some guys put a small o-ring on the safety.

It wasn't some guy. It was me.
Far as I know, I invented it.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5318577&postcount=11

These photos were sent in to Rifle magazine several years ago, and were published then.
At the time, Dave Scovill, the editor, said he had never seen or heard of it being done before, or something to that effect.

rc

 

[Cocked & Locked]

cool, you dah man! what size O-ring do you recommend?

thanks!

 

[rcmodel]

Well, it's really hard to measure a little O-ring!

The ones I have seem to be .210" I.D., about .350" O.D., & .065" thick.

Whatever size that is?

I just went to a hardware store, opened the o-ring cabinet drawer, and bought some that looked like they would fit!

rc

 

[Asherdan]

I carry mine just like RC "patented". I like to carry with one in the chamber and half-cocked and the safety o-ringed off. When I get back to the truck I like to slip the o-ring off, shunt the safety on and cycle unused cartridges onto the tailgate. Don't really need to because I watch where my muzzle and my booger hook go (IMO more important than any other safety device) , but why ignore another layer?

As far as the safety of the half-cock position...I have had 0 issues with it through many slips, falls and stumbles.

Half-cock works great for me while still hunting, a little practice has made shouldering the rifle while acquiring the sights and earing the hammer back smooth and easy. Got this years deer that way.

 

[lonewolf_75]

Mine is a 336 but still applies. I generally carry with round in the chamber, half cocked and safety on. The safety is pretty easy to disengage while the rifle is shouldered, and I've found that even when I do intentionally leave it off, I will always double check with the forefinger while sighting in just to make sure that it's off. Using the safety all the time gives you that reassuring 'click' as it's turned off for sure before firing, avoiding slip ups.

 

[dat2]

half cocked bullet in chamber, can't go wrong

 

[rcmodel]

It's really hard for me to understand the need for a cross-bolt safety on a lever-action rifle.

We managed for 100 years to use Winchester & Marlin pumps & lever-actions without them safely.

Use the half-cock, or just pop the lever open slightly.
Either or both renders a lever-gun safe.

rc

 

[jkingrph]

I grew up using 1950's vintage Marlins, so I carry the newer ones with safety off, round in chamber and hammer at half cock.

 

[PT1911]

I want one of those SO BAD!!!!

also agree.. loaded at half cock...

 

[Dr. Fresh]

Thanks for all the great info guys!

I went back to the store today to pick up some 9mm and I just had to pick up the '95 and handle it some more. Now I just need the money. Hahaha

But yeah, sounds like I'll be going the half cock/o-ring route. Seems best.

 

[jdh]

Marlins have a two piece firing pin. The rear part of it pivots down so it cannot make contact with the front part until the lever is fully closed. The lever contacts a pin which pushes the rear part of the firing pin into alignment. The gun cannot fire unless the lever is fully closed. Serves the same function as a handgun firing pin safety just works in a different way.