Marlin 1895...which one you got?

[Ridgerunner665]

Not trying to start any arguments or debates...

Just wondering how many of us use the standard 1895 vs. the Guide gun. I'm curious because I looked for 3 months trying to find one and ended up ordering one I found on Gunbroker yesterday, $507 shipped to my FFL + $10 NICS check = $517 total, not bad. (my Gunbroker account was locked last year because a seller lied to me about shipping time and I refused to pay him...long story).

I swore I'd never use Gunbroker again, but I got tired of looking...and had to resort to "plan B"...found the gun on Gunbroker and called the seller directly...leaving Gunbroker out of the deal.

The point (or question) is this...are so many people buying them that Marlin can't keep up or is Marlin just not making them because nobody much buys the standard 1895's?

I very much prefer the 22" barrel.....handles better, balances better, just heavy enough to take a bit of the edge off the recoil, and most importantly, the longer barrel offers a considerable reduction in muzzle blast.

 

[wayne in boca]

I have the full rifle as well.The .45-70 cartridge is capable of a lot in a full barreled rifle,whereas I believe you're selling it short in a carbine as short as a guide gun.

 

[Rob96]

I have the Guide Gun and love it. Even with the 18.5" barrel, you still have enough to hunt anything on North America as well as a lot of stuff in Africa. It makes for a very handy rifle to carry around and still hunt or to use on stand.

 

[jmr40]

Mine was made in the early 70's right after Marlin reintroduced them. It has the longer 22" barrel, but the straight grip like the guide gun.

 

[rogertc1]

I Have a set of 45-70 stainless GG myself.

 

[achildofthesky]

Don't sweat the guide gun length.It will be fine for anything you will ever see.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I've got an 1895 CB that I cut to 22". That made it a better handling rifle. I agree that 22" is about the perfect length on an 1895. I voted for the CB but it needs to be cut.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Don't sweat the guide gun length.It will be fine for anything you will ever see

I know that...its not my eyesight I'm worried about with the GG, its my hearing.

And there IS a difference in muzzle blast between the two.

 

[dodge]

I have a blued model and yes it is load but for use in the brush you can't ask for a quicker rifle to bring to your shoulder. Even with the short barrel it's very accurate as I have had several groups with rounds touching each other.

 

[eastbank]

this is not a marlin 1895, but a winchester timber carbine in 444 marlin with a 18" ported barrel(its also a hearing killer to) and it to will kill 99 percent of the animals on earth. i got it as its lighter than the marlins. eastbank.

 

[Wanta B]

Back home I'va got a standard Stainless GG and one of the 16.5" Trappers with the black/grey laminate straight grip stocks and firesights...Great fast little gun.A blued .450 Marlin GG that has been rebarreled to .458x2 1/16",so I can use cut down magnum brass,5 shot magazine.

The one I am currently carrying is a customized stainless GG that now has a 6 shot magazine,barrel just over 20",tritium ghoast ring sightswith guard "ears",synthetic straight grip stock,teardrop lever loop and is gun coated a light dark earth.It also wears a tac-light.

Plans for doing .416x2 1/16" and .375x2 1/16 Rugers when I get back state side.

 

[MCMXI]

Ridgerunner665, I have a pair of Marlin 1895s. A Guide Gun and an XLR both in .45-70. The XLR has a 24" barrel which I notice is not an option in your poll. Anyway, I've shot the same loads through both and I haven't noticed any significant difference in muzzle blast but obviously I'm wearing hearing protection at the range and it's possible that most of my focus is on controlling the recoil. The biggest difference to me is the pistol vs. straight grip. The pistol grip is vastly superior in terms of ergonomics.

I should add that all the rounds fired have been my reloads consisting of Remington 405gr JSP bullets and VV N130 powder.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

1858, (good lookin rifles)

Yes I left the XLR out, no ffense to any XLR owners...I'm kinda picky, 18.5 is a bit short...24 is a bit too long, for my taste anyway.

I have an old 1895 that I've had for years...I bought another one because...well, just because. (before they decided to stop making them due to lack of sales)

There is a difference in muzzle blast...a big one. The pressure at bullet exit is far lower on the longer barrels...some may notice it, others may not.

I noticed it...

And I wholeheartedly agree about the pistol grip stocks.

 

[Badlander]

Buy A cowboy and cut it to the length you like.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Have to say the guide gun is handier than the cowboy but the 100th anniversary model with the half magazine is probably the best of the bunch for an all around hunter.

 

[Wanta B]

Just purchased one of the 1895 SBLs !! Problem is I will not get to try it out till spring when I get home...Still,one more to the .45-70 collection .

 

[chas08]

I bought the non-ported Guide Gun back in November. Mine was about $525 out the door, so you got a good deal. I would love to compare the Guide Gun to the full length barrel at the range. Mine shoots Hornady Leverevolution 325gr. good enough for me. It will group under 1.5"moa at 100yds and under 3"moa at 200yds I popped a Doe Whitetail high in the neck with it at about 80yds from an elevated stand needless to say, DRT. I'm very pleased so far and can't wait to get into a sounder of Hogs with it.

 

[bikerdoc]

18.5 " is my favorite.

 

[moooose102]

i have a guide gun as well. i debated long and hard between a guide gun, and a cowboy model. i really had not made up my mind, when i ran across such a deal on a new guide gun, i just had to buy it. i still like everything about the cowboy model, EXCEPT dragging around all that extra weight around through the woods!