Just bought my first lever gun.

[Evil One]

B0 serial numbered first year Marlin 1895 .45-70.
Good condition for a little over $400.
OK, its on layaway for a month or so... but I saw it and the wife wouldnt let me walk away from it.
So I guess technically she bought it for me as an anniversary present.
I LOVE that woman.
And since the forum likes pics... here are a couple of crappy ones from my cell phone.

Jim

 

[BarbC]

Very very nice!

 

[sigp220.45]

That's a great gun, and a really good price. Congratulations!

 

[Andy Griffith]

I believe that one is before micro-groove...
Great score indeed! Levers are like biscuits...you can't stop with the first one.

 

[Sprefix]

Now that's what I'm talkin' about.......a lever gun AND in .45-70!!!! Make room because it won't be your only one................-----http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/157387-ancient-really-old-45-70-govt.html

 

[Snapping Twig]

You did the right thing.

Now you'll need an 1894, they come in .357, .44 and .45lc.

 

[venomballistics]

45-70's never die ... they just blow away

 

[canoeguy]

That is an interesting looking Marlin 45/70, straight grip stock, longer barrel than a Guide Gun, short magazine like today's standard 22" barrel standard 1895.

Mine is a pistol grip stocked, 22" barrel, 4 round tube (five round total capacity), Ballard type rifling (no micro groove) so it shoots cast lead accurately. Bought it about a year ago and had a fun time experimenting with cast lead to find an accurate, pleasant shooting load. Found it favors flat base or gas check bullets (not bevel base), a good load is a 340 grain flat base bullet from a Lee mould, powered by 12.5 grains Unique, for about 1350 FPS. I also loaded some Hornady 350 grain jacketed soft points to 1850 FPS with 3031 powder, still accurate but you know you have some power in those rounds! It also shoots the Remington factory 405 grain jacketed rounds accurately...

The 45/70 is an excellent round, capable of taking any game from rabbit to Grizzzly Bear. I hope you are a handloader and can take advantage of the flexibility of this rifle and cartridge.

Anyway, good buy! We await a range report!

 

[Evil One]

I have wanted an 1895 for years... like, since my early teens.
I have been looking at guide guns lately, but we stopped in at the local pushers place and saw this one.
I knew it was older due to the lack of a crossbolt safety, however it wasnt till we put the $$$ down on it and got home till I found out it was a first year of the modern ones.
To say I am VERY pleased is an understatement.
For our anniversary I got the wife a .44 special snubby... she got me the .45-70 I have longed for.


Jim

 

[tbury]

Great Gun. The B means Ballard rifling so Cast bullets are fine. I bought B00000097 new in 1972.

 

[2152hq]

That is an early one!
I was working in the Marlin Repair Dept when these came out. They actually started making them in fall of '71. Very few had the 8 groove barrels. I don't recall if the early barrels were outside mfg'rd or if Marlin made them that way before tooling up for Microgroove in that caliber.
(Marlin even made some of Ruger's barrels up till the point they switched over to Micro Groove mfg exclusively in the mid 50's.)

The Model 1895/ 45-70 was responsible for punching through the then new factory's range backstop, outer building walls and on into the parking lot, damaging a couple of vehicles before someone noticed. The .444 had always been easily contained by the backstops.

I think the first model was the only one to keep the square lever profile. The later pistol grip models (80's?) went with a round loop lever.

 

[cowart]

B0 serial numbered first year Marlin 1895 .45-70.

Time to start looking for deals on 45-70 reloading supplies - they're expensive, especially the brass

 

[Evil One]

I already reload... and am looking VERY forward to cooking up some rounds for this beast.


Jim

 

[Evil One]

As to the rifling... from what I can tell it has a Douglas barrel with cut rifling.
I know that shooting cast in the microgroove has been figured out... but I DO feel better about not having to worry about it.


Jim

 

[tbury]

I bought mine the first month they were available. The first year or so of production with the B serial numbers had ballard or non microgroove barrels. When they first came out all the gun rags were touting about what a strong action it was and giving hot loads to try. I loaded some 300 grain jacketed bullets to 300 H&H muzzle energy. After blowing up gallon milk jugs of water at 100 yds I had the shape of the butt plate on my shoulder. I went out the next day and replaced the butt plate with a pad similar to yours.

 

[dave b]

My wife would probably let me walk away from most any gun deal. That said, 45-70 Marlins are cool. But they will kick your ass.

 

[NE450No2]

Marlin Levers are good rifles.

In your 45/70 try the following load.

Hornady 350gr bullet.
53gr of IMR 3031.

Not a max load, but it has been very accurate in seveal different Marlins.

I have seen this load kill deer, wild pigs and black bear.

 

[TACC1]

Nice rifle and pretty darn good pi, too.
My only lever-gun is in 30-30. What's the recoil like in 45-70?
I've found that my body no longer appreciates anything as stout as 12 ga. slugs. I'd like to try a 45-70 sometime.
TACC1

 

[ElToro]

nice piece. great price.

i passed on one similar early 70s but micro groove last sumer adn havnt seen one locally since.

lately ive had a jones for a shorty (16.5-17 inch) 336 and found what i think is a perfect 1975 vintage 336 pistol gripped in 35 rem, i want to make a short, handy piggy stomper. i cant find a marauder locally or online for a good price. maybe i'll buy the marlin and cut down my glenfield i like the 22 inch 45-70 like yours as well. Brockmans is the place for marlin magic

 

[Evil One]

I figure I am going to work up some plinking loads with unique, since thats what I load my .44s and .45s with... and then figure up some dragon slayer loads with lots O lead and some good powder.


Jim