Olympus
Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2008
- Messages
- 4,212
I just had to roll the dice and try out one of these new production Marlin (aka Remlin, aka Marlington) 1894 level actions in 44 Magnum. As I said before, this was the first rifle I ever carried with me in the deer woods. It was the older version and that was some time ago. I was too young to remember but just a few vague memories of the gun before my dad sold it or traded it for something else. I never had the chance to shoot a deer with it. So I decided I'd get a new production model to shoot and carry with me for deer season this year. I know there were some quality issues when Remington first took over production, but from what I'd read online those models were specific to the first few years after the buy-out and they have since re-tooled and started making better guns. So I took a gamble and ordered one. It arrived today.
When I opened the box, I was immediately struck by how handy the gun felt. Aside from a Henry Goldenboy I have to plink with, I've never really spent much time with a lever action gun. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the wood grain the stock was simply FABULOUS! The kick was that the wood was SO dry. It was chalky looking and rough feeling, but the grain figure was phenomenal! The metal to wood fit is very nice and evenly fit. The fit and finish on the barrel and receiver are also nicely done. The action was surprisingly not as stiff as I've read most people have experienced. While not the slick as butter feeling that my Henry action has, the Marlin action is still relatively smooth. No rough spots or hitches in the giddy-up so to speak. A quick wipe down and applying some of my own gun oil, it smoothed up fairly nicely. I'm thinking that with some use it should prove to be a very nice action. I measured the trigger pull right out the box at exactly 5lbs. Not too bad considering what I'd read from others on their guns like this. For a lever action gun with no scope, I would call that sufficient. And again, it might well lighten up some with use.
As for the stock, I have decided to use some 0000 steel wool and lightly rub the stock, paying attention to stay well away from the steel. I have already applied one coat of Minwax Antique Oil Finish and the grain is really starting to pop and the surface is starting to smooth up. I will keep rubbing the wood with the steel wool and applying one coat of the Antique Oil Finish per day until I get the desired satin finish to the stock. But I would be lying if I said I was not immediately impressed with this gun. I'm looking forward to getting the components together to start reloading. I bought some Hornady 200gr XTP bullets that I'll use for hunting and I'll get some lead or plated bullets for pllinking.
When I opened the box, I was immediately struck by how handy the gun felt. Aside from a Henry Goldenboy I have to plink with, I've never really spent much time with a lever action gun. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the wood grain the stock was simply FABULOUS! The kick was that the wood was SO dry. It was chalky looking and rough feeling, but the grain figure was phenomenal! The metal to wood fit is very nice and evenly fit. The fit and finish on the barrel and receiver are also nicely done. The action was surprisingly not as stiff as I've read most people have experienced. While not the slick as butter feeling that my Henry action has, the Marlin action is still relatively smooth. No rough spots or hitches in the giddy-up so to speak. A quick wipe down and applying some of my own gun oil, it smoothed up fairly nicely. I'm thinking that with some use it should prove to be a very nice action. I measured the trigger pull right out the box at exactly 5lbs. Not too bad considering what I'd read from others on their guns like this. For a lever action gun with no scope, I would call that sufficient. And again, it might well lighten up some with use.
As for the stock, I have decided to use some 0000 steel wool and lightly rub the stock, paying attention to stay well away from the steel. I have already applied one coat of Minwax Antique Oil Finish and the grain is really starting to pop and the surface is starting to smooth up. I will keep rubbing the wood with the steel wool and applying one coat of the Antique Oil Finish per day until I get the desired satin finish to the stock. But I would be lying if I said I was not immediately impressed with this gun. I'm looking forward to getting the components together to start reloading. I bought some Hornady 200gr XTP bullets that I'll use for hunting and I'll get some lead or plated bullets for pllinking.
