Marlin 1895 cowboy 45/70.

[76shuvlinoff]

Folks,
Today I took delivery of an 01 Marlin 1895cb, 26" barrel. I have no experience with this rifle or round, it just intrigues me, Frankly all levers intrigue me. I have several over the counter loads coming in the mail.

405 gr flat point lead @ 1250 fps - Blackhills
300 gr semi jacketed hollowpoint @ 1810 fps -Remington
325 gr Leverevolution @ 2050 fps - Hornady

Since I am sitting around waiting for FedEx I am wondering what to expect from these loads. I don't hunt I'm just a tinkerer and plinker. How do these perform at 100 to 200 yards? Beyond? Accuracy with irons? I am expecting some stout recoil, Does anyone use a decelerator pad in their 45/70?

Thanks!
Mark

 

[Jlr2267]

I'm sure you'll get some good info here. Another good forum for that particular gun is the MarlinOwners forum.

 

[StrawHat]

For just plinking and target work, the 405 grain lead will do great. The other rounds will do that but are geared to hunting.

If you are a plinker/hunter get a reloading set up and make your own. The 405 hollow base bullet was the original bullet andmolds are still available if you want to cast your own. Black powder is still a good propellant but there are some smokeless powders that will also work in the 45-70. If I were just plinking, I would look at a 300 grain lead bullet. Less lead, less recoil. If deer hunting were in the picture, a 300 grain hollow point. Larger animals, 405 and heavier.

My 2 cents.

 

[jmr40]

I wouldn't change out the pad with those loads, especially on the cowboy. They are quite heavy and I don't think it would look right. Expect about the same recoil as typical 12 ga shotgun loads. If you were going to hunt really large game with it and planned on using some of the really hot loads you'd need it.

 

[cpt-t]

76: My Son and I both shoot a Marlin 1895 CB with 26" Barrels. And we find the 45-70 round intrigueing also. My Son likes the hot rounds that you can buy, but I find them uncomfortable to shoot to say the very least. The load we shoot the most and I reload for is 35grs of IMR 3031, 405gr hard cast LRNFP bullets 1250 to1300 FPS and standard LRP`s. Very comfortable to shoot, and I use this load on every thing, Cowboy Shoots, Plinking, and Hunting also. We shoot 200 yd steel targets at our Clubs Rifle Range. And find this load peforms very well and fun to shoot. Try a Past recoil reducer pad that you wear under your shirt rather than a regular recoil pad that you add to the stock. You are going to love your new rifle. I use mine for most everthing and even take it for walks in the woods. Any questions that I could ansewer for you, I would be happy to do so.
ken

 

[76shuvlinoff]

All, Thanks for the responses.

cpt-t

I have been surfing around and it seems many 1895cb owners do use the 1250 fps 405gr "cowboy" load for a lot of their shooting, including hunting. That's good to know. On my property about the longest I could set up for is 200-250 yds and with these eyes that is a challenge.

I have a buddy a few miles up the road that says before the crops come up we could try from 300 to 1000 yds. He shoots fast flat stuff. Now I am not kidding myself about hitting at those ranges with this rainbow round without a ton of study and work but it was nice of him to offer. I may indeed be coming back to you for advice. Thanks

Jlr2267,
apparently I am already member of Marlin Owners Group. I have 2 posts since 08 I must've joined about the time I picked up my 1894c.



Mark

 

[Coltdriver]

I shoot the Marlin 1895 in a 22 inch barrel with 405 grain loads at just under 1500 fps. Just tolerable for me. The Hornady 325 FTX at around 2000 fps is similar and is ok to shoot for me.

I have loaded up the original 70 grains of black powder under the 405 grain bullets and they are easy to shoot. Around 1350 fps. If you can figure out the arc of the round they are devastating on anything they hit. At 100 to 120 yards the round is easy to shoot with, beyond that and the drop is significant enough that you need to learn it to be effective with it.

The 45 70 is like a grown up version of the .22. It is a very versatile round and a ton of fun to plink with at 300 grain rounds.

Probably the most fun rifle to shoot that I own. That cowboy version with the octagonal barrel is really nice looking too.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

No offense to anyone but with the 26 inch barrel it reminds me of an lever action Kentucky rifle. I've got it all polished up and I am itching all over to shoot it. Like I said above I have ammo coming but maybe a little Sunday drive tomorrow might me score a box of something just to hear the boom.

If I keep it maybe somewhere down the road I'll get it shorted to 22. What would I lose, one round? two? These Marlins are hard to come by, not sure I would really want to cut it so maybe I just need to add another.



.

 

[cpt-t]

76: I think You will really like the 26 in barrel. My Son and I have a couple of short barrel Guide Guns, and I think the 26 in barrel shoots better for me and carry`s much easier. My Son and I disagree on this point some times. To change from 50 yds, to 100 yds, to 200 yds the notches on the rear sight really work for me. I know what You mean about eyesight going south, I just turned 70 not to long ago. but can still ring the steel gongs at 200 yds if I do my part. Hard Cast LRNFP bullets seem to shoot just fine in our rifles. I am pretty sure that they have Ballard type rifling.
ken