Range Report: New 1895 Marlin Cowboy

[FatJackDurham]

I finally paid off my new Marlin 1895 Cowboy in 45-70!!!!!



The seller had lost the rear sight after mounting a scope for moose hunting, so, I am considering which sight to get, a full buckhorn or one of those Smith Enterprise ladder sights on BuffaloArms.com



At 100 yards, it shot about 2 1/2 inches. I was shooting Hornady LeverRevolution 325 grain FTX 45-70 Govt. Man, I forget what a violent round that is after shooting BP and cowboy loads out of my Springfield.

[pokey]

pretty nice,,,,,





[for a marlin].

[FatJackDurham]

Thank you!! After starting the long range buffalo shoot at Dalton, NH, earlier this year, I had been wanting a a 45-70 levergun, but only replica's and and 336 Marlins with short mag tubes were commonly available, and I couldn't afford an 1885 replica. However, I saw this rifle listed in the Green Mountain Trading post, and found out it was an octogon barrel, full length mag tube and 45-70!!!! It is the second REAL gun I own, after my Springfield. All my other guns are "replicas", but this is a real hunting rifle, powerful and accurate!!!! Wicked DECENT!!!!

[Pitchy]

Nice arn`t they, light and balance well, love mine.
Arn`t those bullets pointed and dangerous in a mag tube ?

[ollogger]

Great looking rifle

ollogger

[Mescalero]

Could you explain " paid off "?

[FatJackDurham]

Nice arn`t they, light and balance well, love mine.
Arn`t those bullets pointed and dangerous in a mag tube ?

The point is a soft rubber tip, designed to NOT trigger the primer, but pointed to add just a little aerodynamics in flight.

I have used them in my Rossi, but my twist rate is so slow in the rossi, they didn't stabilize well, so I bagged it. However, as a hunting round in the Marlin, I think its a great feature. Slightly higher BC than a flat point or hollow point, but upon impact, the hollow space behind the rubber tip still expands. Although, I seem to recall hunters should have a through and through shot to improve a fast bleed out, but I am not a hunter.

All I know is my shoulder is sore, and this Marlin is my most accurate rifle at 100 yards. I can,t wait to bring it to the 400 yard range and see how it does....

[FatJackDurham]

Could you explain " paid off "?

Yeah, the seller agreed to take two $200 payments every two weeks, and then a $400 payoff. I took three paychecks for me to buy. I was worried I was making the wrong decision, but after shooting, I know I finally have a real asset.

[wecsoger]

At 400 yards...

Do your reading on the .45/70 trajectory...it's not exactly like a rainbow arc but it's darn close.

I don't know if it can be termed a 'violent' round, guess it is if you're shooting the real fire-breather loadings. Even the old 'classic' rounds have proven track record on any critter in North America.

Even with the basic rounds, there's something tremendously satisfying about touching one off. Then swinging the lever open and throwing out a small cigar-sized piece of brass.

And if you're not by yourself at the range, guarantee you're gonna get the attention of those AR shooters a bench or two over!

[RIHMFIRE]

nice shoot'n....nice rifle too....
good look'n wood

[FatJackDurham]

At 400 yards...

Do your reading on the .45/70 trajectory...it's not exactly like a rainbow arc but it's darn close.

I don't know if it can be termed a 'violent' round, guess it is if you're shooting the real fire-breather loadings. Even the old 'classic' rounds have proven track record on any critter in North America.

Even with the basic rounds, there's something tremendously satisfying about touching one off. Then swinging the lever open and throwing out a small cigar-sized piece of brass.

And if you're not by yourself at the range, guarantee you're gonna get the attention of those AR shooters a bench or two over!

You ain't kidding. I read the Wolf book on the Springfield load, but, I need to work up a separate cowboy load for the marlin.

[DixieBoy]

That's a beautiful rifle. Congratulations !

If you're shooting from the bench (I'm guessing that's what you were doing with that target) 20 rounds of even the "standard velocity" rounds out of your .45 - 70 will let you know that you've been shooting a real rifle.

I think that, like all rifles, you might just find a sweetheart load that your rifle absolutely loves. Maybe shrink your groups down even more. It is SO satisfying when that happens. - DixieBoy

[Mescalero]

Oh.

[1894c]

that's a great levergun and cartridge...nice photos too...i shot the 45/70 for a while, enjoyed it, but sold it to a friend in order to pursue other leverguns and cartridges...have landed on the 30/30, in the end my favorite... :)

[Pete44ru]

Arn`t those bullets pointed and dangerous in a mag tube ?

Pitchy - FYI the Hornady LeverEvolution pointed soft-point/soft-tipped slugs were specifically designed by Hornady for use in tubular magazine leverguns to give better ballistics ( & accuracy ? ) w/o the danger of primer setoff, possible with harder bullet noses.

IIRC, the standard Marlin magazine follower should be switched out for one LE-compatible, to avoid last round FTF's.

I was shooting Hornady LeverRevolution 325 grain FTX 45-70 Govt. Man, I forget what a violent round that is after shooting BP and cowboy loads out of my Springfield.

FatJack - Just think how much more that puppy would bark, if it weren't as heavy as it is, with that 9lb weight, 26" octagon bbl & full-length magazine, why Marlin (& me) first thought porting a good idea on the 6lb, 18" bbl, 2/3 mag Guide Gun.

.

[FatJackDurham]

Yeah, that would be pretty loud. The guide gun is a great practical gun, and I looked at it, but since the magazine only holds 4 rounds, I wanted somethiing longer. Plus, the octogon barrel is so sharp!

[Pitchy]

Arn`t those bullets pointed and dangerous in a mag tube ?

Pitchy - FYI the Hornady LeverEvolution pointed soft-point/soft-tipped slugs were specifically designed by Hornady for use in tubular magazine leverguns to give better ballistics ( & accuracy ? ) w/o the danger of primer setoff, possible with harder bullet noses.

IIRC, the standard Marlin magazine follower should be switched out for one LE-compatible, to avoid last round FTF's.

I was shooting Hornady LeverRevolution 325 grain FTX 45-70 Govt. Man, I forget what a violent round that is after shooting BP and cowboy loads out of my Springfield.

FatJack - Just think how much more that puppy would bark, if it weren't as heavy as it is, with that 9lb weight, 26" octagon bbl & full-length magazine, why Marlin (& me) first thought porting a good idea on the 6lb, 18" bbl, 2/3 mag Guide Gun.

.

Ok thanks, i am not familiar with them.

[AJMD429]

Nice when a gun shoots that good, AND looks that nice...

[hightime]

I have one and I like it a lot. I shot three white tail the first year. Great gun, well built.

Owen