Levergunners, Succor Me!

My Marlin 1895 has been pretty nice. I'd always heard how God awful the heavy loads were for it, but...they really didn't bother me much at all. Mine has the full 22 in. BBl, and I think I like it that way. It just seems to feel and balance better for me than the guide guns. I also like the increased muzzle burn.

If you REALLY wanna burn a chunk of money you could pick up a Co-Pilot from Jim West up here.:D (Not a big fan of his, but I gotta admit a cool rifle when I see one)

For a real deal user, I don't think you're gonna beat a Marlin in any caliber though.
 
Side note: I believe that all new guide models are NOT PORTED. This went into effect about a year ago.

I would really like to have a .358 model 99 Savage or Browning BLR. I think that it would fit your bill as well (not that there is anything wrong with Marlins or their cartridges ~ I like them too!)
 
Dave,
stevomiller is right. The new 45/70 Guide guns are NOT ported. There were enough complaints, (as I hear) about the excessive noise generated by the porting. So it was done away with. The Guide gun has to be one of the nicest choices you could make. I love shooting my friends. Plus the 45/70 has so many loadings and slugs made for it, you can match the performance of a lot of the newer cartriges. GUIDE GUN for sure. It most meets your stated paramaters.
 
munk said:
I got a 38/55 Marlin because I could not find a 375 any thing. If a Savage 358 showed up at a reasonable price I'd leap across this screen to get one.

munk
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Boy, do I have good news for you. Go to a gun show and find an old used Savage Model 99-A in .308....BUY it....send to any of the excellent gunsmiths in your area to rebarrell, and voila", instant .358!!! I wouldn't even install iron sights, just a low fixed power Leupold, and you're set. Cheap, cheap.
 
That Scout mount sounds interesting . I have to be careful with my Marlin/Tasco scope combination . I,m not small and If I relax into position I come more than a shade too close to that back eyepiece with my eyebrow .
I put a slip on rubber recoil reducer and that helps . It does ruin the looks of the rifle . I wouldn,t want to put anything permanent on as at least I can take off the recoil pad when I get sick of looking at it .
 
Jurrasic;
Rusty told me Gun Parts had a few Savage 358 barrels, and I went down to my local pawn shop to look over the .308 Savage lever they had. It was in bad shape and would have been a major project. I thought of it though. Seems like my energy for wildcats and custom smiths has waned over the years.



munk
 
Just so no one gets the wrong idea, the '94 isn't going anywhere. It was purchased as a fun gun and it is indeed quite a lot of fun to shoot. It's chambered in .44 Mag, though, and doesn't quite get out there like I want it to. (There's also an accuracy issue but I believe this to be ammunition related and I'm in the process of resolving this.)

Hornady isn't selling the new bullets to the best of my knowledge...at least, I haven't been able to find them for sale yet. Only the assembled ammo is listed on their website.

The Guide Gun sounds like the one for me. I'll look into it. Thanks for the advice.
 
Hey Dave did you happen to see what I offered up about magazine alignment ? Too bad , I,d like a 44 mag marlin . I wouldn,t give up my 30/30 though . I already have a 44 mag with a ten inch barrel . Its kinda like a rifle on its own
 
Kevin, we're talking about 5' groups at 180 yards. It's not that windy around here. I broke it down to parade rest after last weekend's trip to the range for a thorough cleaning so if there was any misalignment, it might be gone now. I'll take another look when I get the chance.

Truth be told, I think the loads are too light and the bullets were questionable. I stuffed some cases last night with 20.5 grains of H110 and stuck 300-grainer Noslers on top. I think this will solve the problem. Even if it doesn't, they ought to be a real hoot. I can't wait to hear what they sound like on the plates.

BOOM.
"Did you miss?"
"I don't think so."
"I don't hear any-"
Claaaaaaaaaaang.

Good times. :)
 
Dave its a bit like a math student trying to teach a calculus whiz . I know you have your act together so I tend to keep my mouth shut and my ears open . Its a funny thing . I often thought my Wesson 44 mag needed different ammo . Its hard to play with different rounds when everything is off the shelf . I have had good successs with the 22 lr and 30-30 . The 44 is relegated to flinch control duty .
 
Munk, I think you may have just defined my next project....although I may substitute a Ruger 77 for the Savage. A straight up barrel exchange hardly fits my definition of high end custom gunsmithing, and anything like the largely ignored .358 isn't a wildcat when Elmore's has a couple boxes of ammo just sitting there. Mac over in St. Anne, Illinois will do a swap for a lot less than a new rifle. Don't give up your dream just yet.....;)
 
jurassicnarc44 said:
Boy, do I have good news for you. Go to a gun show and find an old used Savage Model 99-A in .308....BUY it....send to any of the excellent gunsmiths in your area to rebarrell, and voila", instant .358!!! I wouldn't even install iron sights, just a low fixed power Leupold, and you're set. Cheap, cheap.
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Well now ! Lookie here !!!
A voice of reason ! :)
You got it dude.
OR
BLR Brownings also came in real calibers.
Chit.. Only 200 yards ?
Buy a Casull and learn how to shoot :cool:
 
The 45-70 Guide Gun is handy to a degree, but owning both an unported Guide Gun and an 1895CB, I always seem to take the CB to the range. For being so much longer it handles (to me) MUCH better than a Guide Gun. The stock and especially the forearm on the CB are much less bulky and really nicely proportioned. It cradles in the crook of your arm like it was made of that kind of carry. Loaded, the balance point is smack in the center of the forearm. I know that all sounds counter-intuitive, but once you handle both you would see what I mean. The CB holds 10 rounds with nine in the tube and one chambered:

zoom_1895_Cow.jpg


Just looking at it you get the impression of "sleekness."

Noah
 
They make the Cowboy in a lot of calibres. I'm fuzzy as usual, but the action for the pistol calibres is different than the 336 of the 45/70 and 38/55.

My Marlin 38/55 does not hold 10 rounds. The 45 Colt does.

I have the 1895 SS 45/70 and it shoots fine offhand, the pain being from the bench working up loads.



munk
 
Dave,

I think the full-sized Marlin .45-70 would be right for you. You won't mind the few extra inches of barrel.

John
 
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