Marlin Lever action rifles?

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wannabemarine

Joined
Feb 28, 2006
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i thought id ask for some advice before i went out and spent good knife money on a rifle. im not as gunny as i should be so i need some pointers. i was thinking of getting a marlin lever action rifle, the standard 1895 model. i have handled some .22's made by marlin and they performed well, and this rifle has been recommended to me. more to the point for the same amount of money could i be getting a better rifle? im realy just looking for a gun to shoot occasionally nothing tactical. http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/bigbore/1895.aspx
thanks for the advice
 
They are very good firearms and I prefer them over Winchester lever actions. I would prefer to have one in 450 Marlin instead of 45/70 govt. That is just my personal preference though.
 
just based on your sig and avatar i know your right. at any rate there not too pricy so if i dont like it it wont be so bad. thanks for the help
 
I reload my own ammo so I can offset the price of 450 marlin ammo plus I can "bump" it up. Personally for a first lever action I would buy a Marlin 336 in 30-30. I also used to have a Marlin 1895 in 357 mag which went real well with my S&W 686 357 mag. With my ultra hot hand loaded 357 mag ammo I chronoed a few 125 grn gold dots at 2200 fps out of a 16 inch barreled Marlin 1895. I sold it though since it had a ported barrel and that made the rifle painfully loud.
 
A great rifle and a great cartridge !! The 300 gr factory loads work very well for deer. For big stuff you can load up or buy warmer loads such as www.garrettcartridges.com. People hunting with the 45-70 for the first time are always impressed . The rifle is accurate and strong .You should be able to get 1.5" groups or better .
 
i have the guide gun in 45-70. i love it. my favorite rifle. fun to shoot, will take pretty hot loads, built like a tank.
 
HERES A PIC OF MY 1895 HAVE OWNED IT SINCE THE EARLY 70'S BEST BRUSH GUN I'VE EVER OWNED AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE HANDGUNS .45LC MOUNTAIN GUN
DSCN1385.jpg
 
Good gun, bit pricy to feed but if you need that much gun you'll like the cartridge.

And I want to point out, "tactical" is determined by usage, not by appearance, unless you are a politician or a puppet.
 
wannabemarine said:
... for the same amount of money could i be getting a better rifle? ... http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/bigbore/1895.aspx
Click to expand...

Nope, that rifle is an excellent choice in my opinion. I have had an older version of that model for about 30 years, and it was somewhat used when I traded an outboard motor for it back then. Mine has a straight grip stock (with no checkering) and a matching straight lever, that same two-thirds length magaazine tube, open sights, and it's in the time tested .45-70 caliber. Mine was made long before all those damn corporate lawyers decided leverguns needed safeties on them, too. I'm just old school and can't help my attitude about such things.

If you get the rifle you referred to, you should find that ammunition from the mainstream cartridge companies (Winchester, Remington, Federal, etc.) does not kick too badly, and the lighter weight 300 grain bullets kick less than the standard 405 grain loads. Either will do a fine job on almost any game in North America, and a few smaller ammo companies make some super heavy duty loads for the biggest bears and certain large African species, as well. You will learn a lot if you will go to www.leverguns.com and read the articles there. Happy shooting!
 
I have a Marlin 1891 lever action .22 that has been passed down in our family since before the turn of the century (the 20th century not the 21st century). Other than the ejector pin (which I am manufacturing a replacement for now that I have the specs), this rifle still performs admirably. If I was looking at picking up another lever action rifle, I would definitely choose Marlin. I would probably go with the 308 caliber model simply because I already stock 308 ammo for some of my other rifles but the 45/70 is a GREAT caliber if you can either find the ammo or reload.

Moorcat (Apache Blade Works)
 
I have a Winchester 94 Trapper in .44 Magnum/Special.

I like it, but it has a major drawback compared to the Marlin, in that the average owner dare not disassemble his Model 94 because he may not get it back together again.

People who have familiarity with both the Marlin and the Winchester prefer the Marlin for its maintainability and general strength.

Personally, I prefer a straight stock over a pistol grip, in this type of rifle, and that means a Marlin 1894:

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/1894Centerfire/1894.aspx

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/1894centerfire/1894SS.aspx

The .44 Magnum has more recoil than does the same rifle in 30/30, but at carbine ranges the .44 Magnum has considerably more punch, too.

This same rifle in .44 Special makes a nice learning and plinking round, with very low recoil.

A friend (an LAPD Detective) has the .357 Magnum version and likes it very much; in fact, preferring it in every way to the .44 Magum version.

Still, if Marlin offered a straight stock version in 30/30, I'd probably go with that.

Some years ago, Jeff Cooper wrote a very compelling article in which he praised either the Marlin or the Winchester in 30/30 as a Police Carbine and as the best all-around rifle for the occasional hunter and the homeowner who has self-defense and home-defense in mind.
 
Marlin rifles are great. One of the things I like best about them is the ability to clean from the breach, like a bolt action. My favourite has been a Cowboy model with 24 inch octagonal barrel in 45 colt. With a Williams peep on the rear and a firesight on the front, it is deadly out to 100 yards. Target practice with light loads is not much different than shooting a 22 but it can be loaded up to very impressive performance within its range limitations.
 
If you're looking for something fun to shoot, I'll second the 336/.30-30 recommendation. Less expensive to feed, easier on your body to shoot, and if you later decide to hunt with it, it'll do that too very well.
 
I have been deer hunting for over 50 years in the thick Piney woods of South Arkansas. Probably killed around 150 deer, at least 100 of them taken with an old model Marlin 336 in 35 Remington. I own over 30 guns, and when deer season opens this fall, the old 35 will be in my deer stand on opening morning.
Check one out, I think you will like it.
 
flournoy said:
I have been deer hunting for over 50 years in the thick Piney woods of South Arkansas. Probably killed around 150 deer, at least 100 of them taken with an old model Marlin 336 in 35 Remington. I own over 30 guns, and when deer season opens this fall, the old 35 will be in my deer stand on opening morning.
Check one out, I think you will like it.
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Quite a testament to the .35 Mr. Flournoy.:thumbup: Given your experience I would like to invite you to visit the Wilderness & Survival Skills forum for a discussion of terminal performance of the .35 vs. other calibers you've used. Always a good topic with Fall approaching.:)
 
The Marlin lever action 30/30 is the gun of choice in my family for deer hunting. Both of my grandfathers, my dad, my uncle and myself have all used them to great effect for many years. In the woody mountains of Virginia and West Virginia, where ranges are generally short, there's nothing better. A Marlin lever gun is handy, potent and accurate enough for the task, and gives fast follow-up shots if needed. It's also hell-for sturdy, and can take a beating and not lose zero or reliability. They're great, classic guns.
 
I have hunted deer up and down east Texas (mostly woods) for the better part of the last 20 years with an old Marlin 30/30. I bought the weapon used from a "friend of a friend" quite literally out of a pickup in a parking lot. The rifle has been used and abused and shows it. There are even some rust pits along the barrel which for me is a rather embarrassing situation for one of my firearms. However it is a reliable and accurate weapon and so I keep using it. Yea … I would recommend one.
 
Moorcat said:
If I was looking at picking up another lever action rifle, I would definitely choose Marlin. I would probably go with the 308 caliber model simply because I already stock 308 ammo for some of my other rifles but the 45/70 is a GREAT caliber if you can either find the ammo or reload.

Moorcat (Apache Blade Works)
Click to expand...


A note of caution:

I, too, have a pile of .308 Win, but I think the .308 Marlin Express refered to on the Marlin website is a bit different: I don't think the ammo is interchangeable, nor can .308 Win be used in a lever action as I understand it. However, I know I've been wrong in the past, so if anyone has any thoughts on this, I'd love to hear from y'all! :confused:


PS: I've also got a Marlin like this one; http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/1894centerfire/1894SS.aspx , and love it!!! Actually find the .44 magnum quite pleasurable to shoot... but it is kinda pricey!
 
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