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Sidearms & Scatterguns Marlin's current quality?

gunjunkie45

gunjunkie45

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    • Nov 28, 2009
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    I have a hankering for a 45-70. Just curious what Marlins are like since Remington took them over. Thinking either the new dark series, or more likely the 1895sbl. Anyone have either? Good, bad, ugly? All my current lever guns are older than I am.
     
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    A former boss of mine bought an 1895 SBL a couple years back. It shot well but several feet to the left of aim with the irons maxed out in the right direction. It went back and I think they replaced the barrel twice, the warranty invoice said "replaced bent barrel".
     
    TonyTheTiger said:
    A former boss of mine bought an 1895 SBL a couple years back. It shot well but several feet to the left of aim with the irons maxed out in the right direction. It went back and I think they replaced the barrel twice, the warranty invoice said "replaced bent barrel".
    Click to expand...
    Well that's not reassuring....
     
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    Some comments on the recent military arms channel video says that they gone to shit. The video is actually of a bushmaster, but freedom group got brought up in the comments and the rightful shit talking started.

    Why not a Henry? Been eyeing a 45-70 from them in brass. Nor sure if they have updated it though with the side loadng gate like some of their other offerings.
     
    loveha said:
    Some comments on the recent military arms channel video says that they gone to shit. The video is actually of a bushmaster, but freedom group got brought up in the comments and the rightful shit talking started.

    Why not a Henry? Been eyeing a 45-70 from them in brass. Nor sure if they have updated it though with the side loadng gate like some of their other offerings.
    Click to expand...
    Henry doesn't sell anything with peeps and a rail and scope mount options appear to be shit.
     
    rth1800 said:
    Why not locate a quality used one you can inspect?
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    A good option.
    I took a chance 5 or 6 years ago and bought the 45-70, 22” 1895. Just because. Also because my home state finally allowed straight walled cartridges.
    I realize it’s not recent as you asked and I scoped it (eyes are fading a little) and it shoots pretty well. It’s accounted for 6 or 7 deer since from spitting distance to 140 yards, no issue.
    My load is H4198 and Alaska Bullet Works (Kodiak) 350 SP at a hair over 1950 FPS. Could go faster but accuracy is there.
     
    myronman3 said:
    Freedom Arms took over marlin? Must be a different freedom arms than what i am thinking of.

    Find yourself a JM stamped gun. They’re all over gunbroker. Shouldnt be all that hard to do.
    Click to expand...


    I meant since remington took over and I for some reason had freedom arms in my head instead of Cerberus.
     
    I just bought an 1895 Dark and it is worlds better than the 1895 SBLs I bought two years ago in fit and finish.
    I have not shot it yet but everything looks great on it.
     
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    loveha said:
    Some comments on the recent military arms channel video says that they gone to shit. The video is actually of a bushmaster, but freedom group got brought up in the comments and the rightful shit talking started.

    Why not a Henry? Been eyeing a 45-70 from them in brass. Nor sure if they have updated it though with the side loadng gate like some of their other offerings.
    Click to expand...
    Henry's look like a quality lever, but I cant get over dropping rounds down a tube to load a center fire rifle.
     
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    They are making some with a side loader now. Not sure if they have made that change to the 45-70 though.
     
    Henry hasn't gone to side ports on the big ones yet. Marlin is the only option for a side load, side eject thumper. I've got my eye on a dark series as well. How do you like the painted wood? If they're gonna go all black, I'd prefer they just use fiberglass or something. I really like the laminated stock on their GBL t-rex gun, wish that were an option on the dark. Or a threaded barrel on the other.... Either way.
     
    I’m sorry guys, I spoke too soon praising this Marlin 1895 Dark. I just got to shoot it the other day. Accurate but ejection was HARD. I finished getting it zero’d and came home. There were some marks on the brass that didn’t look right. Well I cleaned it and I found the reason for the hard ejection. The chamber has “chatter” marks in it near the end of the barrel. I hoped it was something, anything other than a messed up chamber but it is.
    I’ll be sending it back to Marlin next week. After I take my trigger out of it.
    See attached pics
    115F8290-9DC8-4B0A-91E9-40ACA390FEFA.jpeg
    41D27537-5A55-426A-9561-A9C245BCF7CE.jpeg

    690D4A62-EA21-4285-ADC8-128D3E634D36.jpeg
     
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    Or find a jm stamped marlin.

    I’d love to like henry...they are made just north of me in a town i hold near and dear to my heart.....rice lake, wi. but there are too many plastic parts on the ones i’ve seen, and they ask more than a marlin with no plastic parts on it. the jm stamped marlins are excellent guns and i am glad i pounced when i did.
     
    Not a 45/70 but my made in Nov 2015 1894 in .44 mag LOOKS really good. Too bad it barely shoots minute of pie plate at 100 yards. Still good enough for woods deer I suppose but otherwise pretty disappointing. And yes I have tried everything as far as loads, bullets, etc. Finally found the reason when I slugged the bore at .433.

    :mad:
     
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    Cerwinski said:
    Not a 45/70 but my made in Nov 2015 1894 in .44 mag LOOKS really good. Too bad it barely shoots minute of pie plate at 100 yards. Still good enough for woods deer I suppose but otherwise pretty disappointing. And yes I have tried everything as far as loads, bullets, etc. Finally found the reason when I slugged the bore at .433.

    :mad:
    Click to expand...

    that’s a pisser. mine shoot very well...but they are jm’s.
     
    I have the 1895 sbl like my avatar, thing is badass and is an accurate rifle. I put a scout scope on it, love it
     
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    I have a JM marked 1895 in 45-70. Two major problems (from my viewpoint):

    1. It's a microgroove barrel.
    2. The bore should slug out at .457 so a .458 cast bullet would be correct. My bore measures .4595", so I would need a cast bullet sized to just about .462. These are not to be found and I would prefer to not add another bullet mold/size/lube setup to my collection.

    Accuracy is about minute-of-stop sign with either cast or jacketed.

    I could send it back to be checked, but I'm pretty sure they'd tell me the barrel is "within spec," and I would worry about the reports of Marlin quality following the Remington purchase.

    I would be interested in the Henry, but do not like the current loading system or a brass frame on a large caliber rifle.

    Richard
     
    BKSSNIPER said:
    I just sent it back to Remington/Marlin. We shall see what they do.
    Click to expand...

    I sent it back and they “honed the chamber and adjusted the extractor” yes that’s right, they enlarged the chamber on the rifle?
    Anyway examination revealed the same marks still in the chamber. Luckily I have a great dealer and he just gave me my money back instead of me having to fight with Marlin and maybe get a new barrel vs them arguing. I’m done with Marlin for a bit.
     
    I had a 45/70 Sharps for years, but as I got older found it too heavy for long treks in the wood. Thought about a Marlin, but got to handle a Rossi 454 Casull and fell in love with how it balanced and handled. I purchased a new one and reworked the action, trigger and furniture. It's a reliable and accurate rifle that packs a hell of a punch. I been more than happy with it for several years.
     
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    myronman3 said:
    Freedom Arms took over marlin? Must be a different freedom arms than what i am thinking of.

    Find yourself a JM stamped gun. They’re all over gunbroker. Shouldnt be all that hard to do.
    Click to expand...

    I think they meant Freedom Group and not Freedom Arms. I have two of the latter, an 83 and a 97, and they are some of the finest built revolvers available.
     
    If memory serves correctly (and it appears that it is starting to fade already), when Marlin was bought out a decade or so ago production moved, but the workers stayed. In other words big green took old blueprints and machinery and tried to slap new people on them. The result was what one would expect of this process...significant growing pains.

    As stated above, one's best bet is to look for an older model, the "JM" stamp being something that many people look for. It doesn't guarantee a fine rifle, but it does show that the weapon in question was at least put together when the labor force had more skill.
     
    Have you looked at the Winchester (Miroku) lever guns? If you can get over the fact that they are made in Japan, you will be very pleasantly surprised.

    I bought a model 1873 in .357 mag a year or so ago. Probably the best built production rifle I have ever owned and very accurate with both cast and jacketed bullets. Aesthetically speaking, it's a work of art. The fit and finish are perfection. The bluing and case hardening are the best I've ever seen and the wood (black walnut) is beautifully figured.

    They're a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for.
     
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