M14 Forum

Steve k

Nope!!! Its my gun Vault
One that went bang Actually I dont remember what brand or type bullet. I mean it was 10 years a go when I shot that bear. I do beleive it was around a 350 grain bullet. I was alowed 50 rounds in to Russia. Shot 3 for ranging and one for the shot so I had 46 left. The rusians after I shot the bear were so impressed I let them shoot off the rest of the rounds. The funny part was they had never seen a lever action rifle before. They kept wanting to pull the hammer back after each shot rather than ratcheting the lever.

gatorshooter

Steve, I gotta tell you... admitting you have an addiction is the first step in healing. ......
Awsome gun vault. cool copilot, congrats on the bear.

Read an article in Ntl. Rifleman Oct. 2004, Ted Hatfield, took a SS 45-70 guide gun to alaska to hunt caribou. got two moving at almost 200 yds. used a traditional scope, shot both off a backpack frame. The native guide said that it was too much gun for caribou. dropped them cold.

dirtcowboy

I've modified an 1895 stainless for carry while O.T.J., on the down low, of course, since Uncle Sammy wouldn't approve. I shortened the barrel to 16.5 inches and the stock about the same, the gun now is the same length as my wife's Winchester '94 shorty. I had the rifle tuff coated and W.W.G'd, (big loop lever, bear extractor, trigger group and the W.W.G. sight package.), so it's very low profile now. I also shoot Garrett 540's out of it. Not much fun, but when big Grizz and I are in the same A.O. I ain't worried much. The rifle is such a hit two other Agents have done the same mods. Great gun!

dprice3844444

got me a nice ss guide gun in 45/70 in 16.5 inches from davidsons in az

cfish

I sold mine several years ago and bought its bigger brother. A model 1895 with 30" octagon barrel. It is a tack driver. I love the LBT's. This rifle shot 1 1/2" groups with Hornady's lever evolutionat 100 yards. Its as accurate as my M1a. I was very surprised at the accuracy of the lever evolution since the same brand tried in my 30-30's shot all over the place!

hammer 1

Had one and Im sorry I let it go, used 420 LBT over a bunch of4198. My brother had to have it. I sold it to him for a song, and he traded it a year later. Still have hard feelings.

sac troop

I've had the Marlin 444 for years. Good elk gun on the Olympic peninsula. Still everything the 444 can do the 45/70 can do better IMHO.

TheTinMan

I really want a lever action chambered in .45-70. Is the Marlin 1895 "Guide" rifle the best choice out there? Also, isn't there a cutoff date of sorts in terms of quality? I understand that QC went out the door when Remington bought Marlin but also got the idea that it had been sliding for a while before that.

Advice on shopping would be greatly appreciated...

byf43

I've got both the 1895G "Guide Gun" and the 1895CB "Cowboy Gun" in .45-70.
The Guide Gun is the only one that I've shot, sofar. (Long, boring story!)

I'm no expert on the Marlin/Remington take-over, but, I THINK that this was around 2008 or 2009.
Also, I am no expert on the guns, but, I've read a LOT of material on the company and their practices, since the take-over. (And I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express, last night.)

Marlin's serial numbers start with the 'code' for manufacturing.
Such as:
01 = 1999
00 = 2000
99 = 2001
98 = 2002
97 = 2003
96 = 2004
95 = 2005
94 = 2006
93 = 2007
92 = 2008
91 = 2009
90 = 2010
89 = 2011

I've read that now, the Marlin lever guns have an "MR" as a serial number prefix. (I've not personally seen any of these. Not really looked for them, either, btw!)

Generally speaking, the quality of the Marlin (aka/ "Marlington" or "Remlin") was going 'south' in late 2009 to 2010.
"The new company" wanted production to be 1 completed gun every 135 seconds, from what I recall.
I've read some horror stories about barrels not being installed correctly, to rough fit and finish, to 'o.k'.

Another way to tell who built the rifle is to look for the "Proof" mark.
The Marlin guns have a "JM" stamped on the left side of the barrel, very close to the receiver.
The Remington guns have an "REM" inside of an 'oval' on the right side of the barrel, near the receiver.
(EDIT to add: That Remington proofmark MIGHT be an "REP". I just can't recall. Sorry!)

Also, there are some Remington rifles that have the "JM" Proofmark, and they were built by "Remlin" at the Ilion, NY plant, from previously made parts.


As for my Guide Gun -
I took it on a wild hog hunt this past spring, and using Cast Performance 405 gr LBT style LWNGC bullets, pushed by a reasonable charge of RL-7 powder (bullet speed about 1,660 fps), a good friend that was hunting with me, said that when that 'slug' hit that hog, the hide looked like a big stone hitting a pond!! The 'ripple' was massive!
The hog shuddered, and fell over. . . DRT.
The hog weighed in at 320 lbs. and I got over 200 lbs of meat off of it.

I do highly recommend a GOOD recoil pad, if you are going to be shooting some stout loads.
I took the factory 'hard as a brick' recoil pad off, and put a Limbsaver® recoil pad on my Guide Gun.

Here is my Guide Gun, with some Federal 300 gr JHPs.
My youngest son calls this rifle, "Thor's Hammer". This rifle was built in 2000. Serial #: 0053xx

TheTinMan

Thanks for the detailed info on Marlin proof marks and serial numbers!

akjaeger

I've got one of the original "Guide Guns" a model 71 Winchester in .450 Alaskan.
I bought it from an old fellow who had it converted in the 50's. He said he took a brown bear and a polar bear with it.
I started carrying it while guiding brown bear hunters quite a few years ago. I've shot 7 more brownies with it.

24kshooter

Steve K - nice - very nice.