HOW ACCURATE ARE THE MARLIN GUIDE GUNS?

[coopershooter]

I'M LOOKING FOR A CARBINE IN 45 COLT. I HAVE A ROSSI PUMA SS IN .357MAG. AND ITS VERY ACCURATE. SHOULD I GET ANOTHER ROSSI OR IS THE MARLIN BETTER?
  THANK YOU!

[Castaway]

Watched my buddy shoot a 1.5", five shot group with open sights using a Remington 405 grain bullet and a generous dose of IMR 3031

[jd45]

If it were me, I'd stick with a known quantity & get another Rossi....just my 2 cents, JD45

[Cottonwood]

Marlin doesn't make a .45 Colt Guide Gun, but they do make a Model 1894 Cowboy Competition Carbine (45 Colt).

If you want a Guide Gun model such as the 1895 models you'll have to get it in 405 Marlin, 45-70 or the .444 calibers.

[steveb3006]

I have never owned a Marlin,but I do have two of the rossis,the actions are as slick as snot,and they are both good shooters.As others have mentioned get the rossi.

[Thebear_78]

I've been very impressed with all of the marlin lever actions I have shot.  I currently own and use a Stainless guide gun more than any other gun.  I have also shot several whitetails with a 1894 in 357 mag.   They are very accurate and dependable.  I like the side ejection over the rossi top ejection.  Here is pic of my guide gun and some average groups at 100 yards.

[Leverdude]

Theyre pretty acurate IMO. I dont shoot paper much but the center target in this pic was shot offhand at around 70 yards with PMC's 45/70 405 hardcast factory load.


From a bench cloverleafs are common with my gun at that range.

[millwright]

I have never owned a guide gun, but a friend of mine has one in 450 marlin.  I have shot it with factory ammo, 350 gr., from a kneeling position at 100 yards with factory sights maintaining about 2 inch group.  I own a new model 444 Marlin with a 22" barrel.  I have re-worked the rear sight with a flat file to help these old eyes.  I have also coated the front sight with blue mirrobright fingernail polish.  With the factory Hornady 265 gr. flat point at 100 yards, in the kneeling position, I am maintaining groups less than 2" and am very happy with this gun.  I am getting ready to reload for this rifle, but I don"t think that I will be able to do any better accuracy wise.  Maybe a younger man could.

[Cabin4]

I get 1 to 1.5 inch groups at 100yards with my marlin GG in 45-70. I use Winchester factory 300grainers with the nosler bullet and a 1-4x20 scope. This is off the bench. Not bad at all!!  Love the gun and have taken a coups of bears a deer with it.

[realidahorock]

The guys in the shooting match I was in were using 1x4 scopes and shooting 5 shot sub 1" 100 yard groups. Same thing with open sights at 50 yards. Imagine that with any rifle! 5 shots and the worst of the five is what is measured. 1/2" to .75" groups were common and the targets were officially measured. I think they were all using Marlin 1895s. I believe that the marlin guide rifles will almost always outshoot the shooter. That's what I saw. realidahorock

[Win94]

...........here is my guide gun with a scope that is boresighted and not zeroed.  three shots at 50 yards.  I have since put a ghost ring setup on it.

[Camp Cook]

I know this is a little bit of an over kill but I have been using my Marlin 1895GS 45-70 with 300gr Hornady HP's and 405gr RNFPGC's to shoot a few gophers lately.

I have it set up with XS Sights Ghost Ring Backup sights and a 2-7X Leupold Compact scope when I remove the ghost ring from the rear scope base.

My average shots with the scope are around 75 yards and I hit them in the head every shot.  :wink: