Probably picking up a Marlin 45-70 tomorrow...need advice...

[saturno_v]

I'm negotiating a used Marlin 1895 leveraction in 45-70


I need some tips from the experts...weak spots to look for?? Any year/serial number batch to avoid??
It should be very easy to tell apart a microgroove rifling specimen from a ballard cut rifling one right?? I obviously prefer the latter.

Thank you!!!

 

[Robert]

weak spots to look for

Not really as they are pretty solid rifles. How old is the one you are looking at? Is it pre Freedom Group? I forget when the Ballard rifling started but I have a 1895G from the mid to late 90s and it has the Ballard rifling. Which 1895 are you getting?

 

[saturno_v]

Not really as they are pretty solid rifles. How old is the one you are looking at? Is it pre Freedom Group? I forget when the Ballard rifling started but I have a 1895G from the mid to late 90s and it has the Ballard rifling. Which 1895 are you getting?

I have no idea...the person said, Mod. 1895 22" barrel, "only 10 shots fired or less"....brand new...I don't know if I believe it, I never saw the rifle so far....tomorow I will have the chance to look at it.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

aint ever owned one but thinking about a lever action .44 mag or .45-70 for going in after big, big hogs in my swampy areas. I usually carry a .44 mag or .45 colt revolver. just a thought.

 

[Robert]

So my SWAG is that it may be a fairly new, just pre or even post Freedom Group, rifle so it will have the Ballard rifiling. The Freedom Group guns have had some quality control issues from what I have read on here, but nothing major if memory serves me well.
http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/bigbore/1895.asp

 

[GooseGestapo]

The microgroove barrel has 12 lands/grooves IRCC. The Ballard has 6grooves. Not hard to tell the difference.
The biggest difference is with cast bullets. With the MG barrels, you'll need to size the bullets a tad bigger. ie: .461" vs .459".
Besides that, no real significant difference.
I've had both. I much prefer my current one, but it is an 1895GuideGun without the muzzle ports. I specifically wanted one without the ports.

Be careful about Marlins. They inflict a disease call "Marlinitis".
Just "One", becomes not enough. I've got a mild case. I now own just five:
A Mod-39D, a Glenfield M30 (plain wood mod336) in .30/30, a Mod336A in .35Rem, a .338MX, and the .45/70.
The .45/70 gets shot the least, however. My "favorite" is the .338. However, the .35 has killed the most deer, as it is the "luckiest" of the clan. Then of course the .22 gets shot the most, for obvious reason.....

BTW; only the .22 has "open sights". The .45/70 wears a Williams "Guide" reciever sight and "firesight" front blade. The rest have scopes. I can't bring myself to "hobble" the accuracy of these "shooters".

BTW; an 1895 made after ~1994 will not have the two screw holes on the left side for mounting a reciever sight. However, Williams makes both the "Guide" Reciever sight that uses the rear two scope mounting holes, and they make a specific version of the 5D and "Sourdough" that mount to the rear scope mount holes. Just need to be sure to order the correct one. Or, have a gunsmith drill and tap the reciever. Marlin before 2008 would do this just for shipping it to them, but now that they have been bought out by "Freedom Group", I don't believe they have the time or willingness to do so.........

 

[saturno_v]

Deal fell through

He told me yesterday that the rifle had a 22" barrel but today he figured out it was a 1895G with the 18.5" pipe which I do not want it.

Thanks for the info anyway!!

The hunt keep going on...

 

[Googleplex]

If you get a guide gun made before 2009, you will likely get a good one. The guide gun came out in 1998, the same year that Marlin went to ballard rifling. The 22 inch has been around since 1972. Before 2010, (and after 1972), Marlin had a serial number system in which subtracting the first two digits from 100 would give you the year manufactured. Avoid rifles made 2010 or later, and be wary of rifles made in 2009. 2010 and later will have MR at the start of their serial numbers.
If you want a 22 inch, 1998-2008 is the best way to go. Hope it helps!

 

[Robert]

it was a 1895G with the 18.5" pipe which I do not want it.

Man that's too bad. The "G" is a handy thumper.

 

[Hunterdad]

Man that's too bad. The "G" is a handy thumper.

+1

Its a great woods gun.

 

[hornet41]

Get a "G" and you will never look back!!!!

 

[stonecoldy]

Saturno_V, I like this model with the longer barrel also. I have two 1895's; one is the current pistol grip with a 22" barrel, 2008 manufacture, with an aftermarket big loop lever. The other is a straight stocked 1976 model. Love to shoot both of them!
Good luck in your continuing search. The nice pre-Remington Marlins are getting harder to find, it seems.