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01-03-2011, 04:23 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: S.F. Bay Area
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Lever gun Range Time
Took both my lever guns out for a spin today, an 1894 in .44 and an 1895 45-70 guide gun.
Did some fine tuning on the scope with the .44, holy Zots - it's a shooter! I'd heard the stories about microgroove not working with cast, but no problems shooting my 265g boolits. I only size the grease grooves, always done it that way. I read a Skeeter article years back and since then I leave the front driving band as cast. Apparently it's working with this Marlin.
I was able to get cloverleaf groups at 50 yards and then I beat the gongs like rented mules at 100 yards. Real handy size rifle and lots of power.
Cleaning time and I found the spring in the ejector broken. Still ejected, but I got on Brownells and ordered a Bear proof ejector since they were out of OEM ejectors. I'll eventually find a spring and repair this one and have it as a spare.
45-70 was a hoot! I shot 80 of my own reloads in both trapdoor and lever pressures. I had 350 and 420g home cast boolits and both weights were loaded at the two power levels mentioned.
My shoulder felt like someone worked it over with a hammer. That said, being on the business end would definitely be less pleasant. When I worked over the gongs with the 420g lever loads, the flaps went horizontal.
I watched guys with bolt guns in .308 hit 'em, but the 45-70 showed 'em how it was done.
My favorite loads were the 420g at trapdoor power (1400fps) and the 350 at lever power (1800fps). The 420g at 1650fps were harsh, but I could see where they would work for the right application. The 350g at 1400fps just didn't seem to have the bite, but they hit hard just the same.
The 45-70 is a GBL and I mounted a 2.5 power Leupold Scout scope on it. Perfect for pig or deer out to 100 yards or so or heavy brush. The .44 has an old Leupold 2x7 and that 's really nice too.
Got home, cleaned the rifles and reloaded all the brass. Now I'm ready to do it all over again... as soon as the bruise on my shoulder goes away.
In fairness, the GBL had a butt pad and it wasn't until shot # 30 rolled around that my shoulder felt like a veal cutlet. Only 50 more shots to go...
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01-03-2011, 04:06 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
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I had my Marlin 1894 .44mag out the other day. As you said, very light handy rifle and a very good shooter.
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01-03-2011, 04:43 PM
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I've read so much about inaccurate .44mag 1894's not being able to hit the side of a barn from the inside that I had buyer's remorse for the few weeks after I bought it - until I shot it.
Apparently microgroove and .429 boolits aren't a match made in heaven, but in my case it isn't an issue. Maybe I got lucky or maybe not sizing the front driving band plays a part here.
Any shot on game out to... say 200 yards and the 1894 .44 shines. Short, handy, light to carry, big slugs making big holes, large magazine tube.
1:38 twist doesn't appear to make a negative impact IMO.
Truth be told, today my arm/shoulder is a mess. I tried to fill the coffee machine this morning and the rotational pouring motion... ARRRGGGHHHH! So, Advil it is. I'll limit my shooting to 30 rounds or so next time. That or shoot more trapdoor loads if I'm going to be tossing lead. Save the high power for hunting and sighting in.
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01-03-2011, 04:55 PM
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I found out the hard way that light levers in .44 mag will really pound the shooter. My shoulder is still smarting from shooting a '92 Browning with .44 mags a couple of months ago! Thank gosh these will also take .44 specials!
John
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01-03-2011, 05:06 PM
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Truth be told, it wasn't the .44 that put the hurt on me - it was 80 rounds of 45-70.
Those 420g boolits at 1650fps were not a party as were the 350's which were only marginally less punishing at 1800fps.
I can see why trapdoor loads are so popular.
I was piling on with the .44. I only shot 42 of those - 265g @ 1800fps and a plastic butt pad. My 1894 is a 1978 manufacture and that's the way they came. While it has force, I don't find the .44 too bad and I also shoot specials in it - just not yesterday. Specials are like a black powder load with almost no recoil and real downrange authority. Very nice.
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01-04-2011, 03:09 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
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Leverguns............
I had to do some re-arranging the other night................Darn old things shoot too.......
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01-04-2011, 09:23 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
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I love lever guns. Thats a nice selection
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01-04-2011, 10:49 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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I only have two: A winchester 250 in .22 S-L-LR anf Marlin 1894 CS in .357. Love 'em both.
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01-04-2011, 11:01 AM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Louisiana
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The Marlin 1985 Guide gun in 45-70 is exceptional. Mine is topped with an Nikon 3-9 scope with the bullet drop compensator feature.
This year I bagged an 8 point at 122 yards; a 4 point at 210 yards and a bobcat at 174 yards.
I get good groups loading the Hornady 350 grain jacketed Flat Point with Reloader 7, new Starline brass and Federal Match primers.
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01-04-2011, 08:35 PM
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My Marlin M1894 in 44 Magnum wears a slip on recoil pad when I fire full power loads.
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01-04-2011, 08:51 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Ohio
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I only have one - a Marlin 39A with a Skinner peep sight on it. Shoulder problems prevent me from having the large caliber ones.
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01-04-2011, 10:21 PM
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I have a small collection of lever guns: Marlin Carbines in 44 and 357 mag, 45/70, Browning 1895 in 30-06, Winchester 94s in 30-30 and 45 Colt. I firmly believe they are some of the best all around rifles/carbines around. I can take all North American game with them, and most other game in the world also. If you can't put it down with an 06 or 45/70, you probably shouldn't be hunting it. Oh yeah, I have Browning 1885 High Walls in 30-40 Krag and 45/70. Kind of like the single shot concept too. Just to round things out got a Ruger #1 in 458 Winchester Magnum, and a #3 in 45/70.
Even if I don't do CAS, I like the old time gun actions. A lever gun is pure Americana, and the single shots will make a real rifleman out of one.
I use Williams receiver sights on most of them, none is scoped, although I am thinking about a red dot for the 458 Magnum.
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Tags
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44 magnum, brownells, browning, colt, compensator, ejector, hornady, krag, rifleman, ruger, scope, skeeter, starline, trapdoor, winchester |
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