Lever Action Rifle

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ahamburg said:
I’ve been doing research for a long time and have decided on the 45/70.

I want the Custom Wild West Guns Marlin 45/70.

Is there something else avaiable that will perform just as well, if not better, than that gun in 45/70 for cheaper or a little bit more expensive? (Trying not to go over the WWG price)

Reason I especially like that one is because of the ghost ring sights and custom trigger work. However, I don’t like the tactical rail.

Would I be better off ordering a custom gun from marlin?

Any advice will be gratefully accepted.

Btw I will be using this gun for hunting, hiking, homedefense, and recreation.

I want this end all do all gun to be worth every penny.
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No suggestion from me, but welcome to the forum...
 
Choctaw said:
Yep, I'm the same way. I'm not particular to what I use on pigs.
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Ditto. We mostly kill them with handguns. If I'm going to use a rifle it will be one chambered in .44 magnum, and I own a number of much more high powered rifles including a 1980 444 Marlin that I would never use on hogs unless it was the only gun I had with me and I've killed some big Russians.
 
What about a 30/30 and add peep sight? Or find one in 35rem if you want more power.
Do an action job and add skinner or Williams sights.
 
wmgeorge said:
I just purchased a Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag/44 Special and I love it. I was aware of the QC issues with the new Marlins and did a complete Inspection of the gun including the bore before I purchased. Functions fine and looks great. I need to get a low power scope on it and get out to the range for some sighting in.
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Same with me. I went with a 1-4x20 VX2 scope. I think the .44 spc/mag 1894 is a much better rifle for what the OP asked about than a .45-70, but I can't fault a guy for liking what he likes.

From what I saw on the Wild West Guns reality show I would not let them touch my grandkids' Nerf guns let alone a real firearm. And their prices seem over the top. Seems like 50% Vegas hype and 50% "Polish the trigger/sear and charge the customer $500 premium" business model.
 
Alright thanks for the replies everyone.

I have my heart set on the 45/70, nothing is going to change that. From what I’ve read, ghost sights and good for lever action guns.

I should add some more information for what I’m looking for.

Lever action
45/70
Ghost sights (or if there is better sights that someone recommends then those instead)
Big loop lever
Non wooden stock (normally I like those but not in this case)
Smoother action than your average lever gun
More accurate than your average lever gun

Also, I will reload down the road. Any recommendations for reloading parts/kits?
 
I have a reasonably new Marlin guide gun (bought it in 2015) that I'm really happy with. You could always go that route, but a set of XS sights on it (thats what I did, couldn't stand the factory sights) and then eventually send it off for the trigger work and take down conversion.

just a thought, i love the 45-70, and have zero regrets buying one, but if I think i should have given the 444 Marlin a closer look, since it shoots a little flatter, and I like that. Im pretty sure i still would have gone with the 45-70 though ;)
 
As far as reloading goes, i haven't started yet, but be advised, the hornady lever evolution brass is shorter than normal brass, so if you buy a box of that and shoot it, and want to reload it, you will need the Hornady dies.
 
kayak-man said:
I have a reasonably new Marlin guide gun (bought it in 2015) that I'm really happy with. You could always go that route, but a set of XS sights on it (thats what I did, couldn't stand the factory sights) and then eventually send it off for the trigger work and take down conversion.

just a thought, i love the 45-70, and have zero regrets buying one, but if I think i should have given the 444 Marlin a closer look, since it shoots a little flatter, and I like that. Im pretty sure i still would have gone with the 45-70 though ;)
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The 45-70 has a charm all its own but if I could only have one it would be my 444 marlin. Awesome hunting cartridge. I've been looking for one of the old marlin 444's to add to my single shot 444.
 
My first Marlin was an 1895G, I put a Williams firesight on it and it's been an amazing gun. I have since added .357, .44, .308, .30-30, .35 & .444, all JM stamped. But the .45-70 hardly leaves the safe anymore as the first two choices have become the .308 & .444. You can't go wrong with any of the big bore Marlins, but I'm not at a point where I'd recommend a post Remington one yet.
 
ahamburg said:
Big loop lever
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I'm sure I'm in the minority here (as if that counts for anything) but I have no use for unnecessarily bulky and (subjectively) ugly "big loop levers". I wear extra-large gloves and have never found it a problem to access "normal" size loops on any of the many lever-action rifles/carbines that I've handled over the past half century or so.
I have no problem whatsoever, of course, for the many who like them and want them. Great that we have choices in this great country of ours and each to their own.
 
I don't know exactly what WWG charges for one of their guns, but given a choice I'd much rather have an 1886 than a Marlin. 50KPSI max pressure vs. 40KPSI and a max action OAL between 2.75" and 2.8" vs. maybe 2.6" for the Marilin. If you want performance, ream for .45-90 (or 2.8" .45-70) to take advantage of the longer action.

WWGs are also by most accounts difficult to deal with. I generally try to avoid that when looking at custom work. I don't like having my money hostage with difficult people.

If what you want is a Marlin 1895 with a peep sight and a trigger job, you can put that together yourself without having to deal with WWG (or just using their trigger).
 
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Other than wild west guns and mpi, nobody makes synthetic marlin stocks (except that 1 ramline stock for a 336) easier to find a laminate.
Xs, Williams, and Skinner are the only folks I know of offhand that make peep sights for Marlin's.
Accuracy is luck of the draw and how good your ammo is. Smooth action is pretty easy to achieve at home. There are tutorials and I have posted on it before.
I recommend a Lee turret press, auto drum powder drop, and Lee dies for reloading. You can spend more, but you won't get more.
 
Alright. Last questions.

What gun

Who makes the best custom lever

Who makes the best parts (I don’t mind doing it myself)
 
Turnbull doesn't do action work, as such, and they're not truly a custom "to order" business.
They certainly don't make parts.

Take a look at Brockman's Gunsmithing.
He'll do a .45-70 Marlin to your specs (maybe not the stock).
Denis
 
I have a Winchester/Miroku 45/70. The fit/finish is awesome and yeah, kicks like a mule. 405 gr hard cast are monster slugs!!! At the time, Remlins (5 years ago) had outrageously poor workmanship.
 
I have zero hands on experience with them, but Ranger Point Precision down in Texas does what appears to be some cool work with lever guns.
 
My marlin didn't need any action smoothing. I was expecting to have to but it's smooth as butter. It did need a trigger job though but any competent gunsmith can do that. It's very accurate, totally exceeded all my expectations on that.
 
Llama Bob said:
I'd much rather have an 1886 than a Marlin.
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Not so fast...

I've owned both... a Browning 1886 SRC, and a Marlin 1895 LTD V. I stupidly sold my 1886 some years ago, it is That Rifle I Regret Selling after all these years over any other long gun... it was a fantastic rifle. I recently caught the 1895 from an internet friend and while it doesn't have the fit and finish of the Browning, it's all the 1886 is and more. I don't have both rifles to compare, but the 1895 feels lighter, is much more svelte (I still have my Browning 71 to compare it to...) and just handles better, even with the longer barrel (vs the Browning's 20" (?) ) The side-ejection is a plus (those big .45 coffee cans would occasionally bonk me on the head...) and the Marlin is already tapped for a receiver peep (the 1886 was not, my 71 is.)
 
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