Author Topic: Just picked up a new Marlin 1895GS Guide Gun in 45-70 (Read 2339 times)

Redhawk1 · « **on:** July 21, 2006, 03:21:06 AM »

Well I just picked up a new Marlin 1895GS Guide Gun in 45-70. I Have had several Marlin rifles and loved them. I have had 2 of the 444SS models and one of the 444 standard length Marlins. I also had several 30-30's and a Model 1894 44 Mag. I sold them all for various reasons, last year I sold my old model 1895 in 45-70 to a buddy and he took a black bear with it on our last hunt to Maine. I felt out of place without a lever action in my gun safe so I pick up the new 1895 GS stainless steel 45-70. I think I will go to the range today and sling some lead down range today...

EsoxLucius · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2006, 03:48:38 AM »

Congrats! Lucky Dog!

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 21, 2006, 09:02:20 AM »

What a blast at the range. I shot 40 rounds through the Marlin. I was shooting clay peons at 25 yards and blowing them up, I placed my target at 50 yards and shot a couple of groups and made adjustment to my sights. I then started shooting for groups with open sights. At 50 yards I was getting 2 to 2 1/2 inch groups. I was shooting some rounds I had loaded for my Ruger #1 in 45-70. I was using the Barnes SSST 400 gr. bullets one at a time and some 400 gr. 458 Win Mag bullets that are pointed Barnes X. They were all loaded to the Marlin levels. I have not tried any 45-70 bullets yet. I have to load some up. But over all I am pleased with the Marlin.

I can't decide if I want to put a scope on it or just leave it with open sights. I have a silver Leupold 3X9X40 VX1 in the gun safe that would look read good on this gun. Decisions decisions...

TreyAzagthoth · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2006, 09:07:35 AM »

congrats! i want a marlin lever in 444 or 450 but i dont need it cause ill never go grizzly hunting as much as i want to, so unless they release some kind of large dangerous game near me that my 300 wont kill ill never own one.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 21, 2006, 10:10:26 AM »

Quote from: TreyAzagthoth on July 21, 2006, 09:07:35 AM

congrats! i want a marlin lever in 444 or 450 but i dont need it cause ill never go grizzly hunting as much as i want to, so unless they release some kind of large dangerous game near me that my 300 wont kill ill never own one.

I did not need it either, but what the heck, why not get one.

TreyAzagthoth · « **Reply #5 on:** July 21, 2006, 10:12:04 AM »

i think my better half would beat me

hell it might be worth the beating though

victorcharlie · « **Reply #6 on:** July 21, 2006, 12:38:34 PM »

I've been thinking about taking my 1.75 X 6 Leupold VX III off my 45.70 as I missed a shot at 5 yards as the deer went running by me.....any scope at all is to much at that range...........I really needed a bayonet........or .45 ACP!

For where I hunt, with a long shot being 20 to 30 yards, I think I'd be better off without it......

I had a williams ghost ring on it but took it off and put it on my .35 remington.........sweet setup for fast shooting with the .35..........I've been practicing from a standing position.....pull the gun up and shoot........got to where I can hit a folgers coffee can consistantly at 100 yards doing this with the ghost ring........

daddywpb · « **Reply #7 on:** July 21, 2006, 03:17:24 PM »

Just got an 1895 G in 45/70. Didn't need one, but got one now. Should be good for the hogs in the thick palmetto scrub around here.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #8 on:** July 21, 2006, 05:33:37 PM »

I put one 4x Burris on mine. Glad I did. Got my biggest buck ever in the last 10 minutes of day light at 120 yards in the jack pine forest of NW Wisconsin. I could not have made the shot with out the scope. Max charge of RL7 under a 350 grain Hornady. What a buck buster.

Cheese

Davemuzz · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2006, 12:27:00 PM »

I picked up my new 1895XLR last week. So far I've shot about 50 rounds thru it with just the factory open sights. My plan is to get the Williams peep sight mounted on it. I've just shot it with H-355 powder and 350gr Hornady's. I just got some 300 gr HOrnady hollow points and plan on picking up some H-4198 to put under these.

The 1895XLR is a fun one to shoot. Very accurate and the action is nice and smooth. My first lever.

Dave.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2006, 12:51:58 AM »

Well I decided to mount a scope on the 45-70, I have a Silver Leupold 3X9X40 in the gun safe and I order the mount and rings, should be here in a couple of days. Then back to the range and burn up more powder.

Mikey · « **Reply #11 on:** July 25, 2006, 02:40:36 AM »

Redhawk1: I'll bet that as soon as you get that scope zeroed in your groups will shrink to about 2" at 100 yds. I'll betcha. Mikey.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #12 on:** July 25, 2006, 08:51:06 AM »

Quote from: Mikey on July 25, 2006, 02:40:36 AM

Redhawk1: I'll bet that as soon as you get that scope zeroed in your groups will shrink to about 2" at 100 yds. I'll betcha. Mikey.

Yep....or better.....My 1895 will throw an occasional group right at 1".......and 1.5" consistantly......my bet is with handloads it'll shoot even nicer.........

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 25, 2006, 10:58:25 AM »

I can wait for my base and rings to get here, should be tomorrow, I won't be able to go to the range this week though, I am settling on my land in West Virginia Friday.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 26, 2006, 09:50:22 AM »

Scpoe is mounted, now I need to get to the range...

victorcharlie · « **Reply #15 on:** July 26, 2006, 11:32:22 AM »

Might as well come on down for a visit....seeing how your almost here anyway.......got a range about 10 minutes from the house........

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 26, 2006, 12:29:40 PM »

Quote from: victorcharlie on July 26, 2006, 11:32:22 AM

Might as well come on down for a visit....seeing how your almost here anyway.......got a range about 10 minutes from the house........

Where are you located there victorcharlie?

TreyAzagthoth · « **Reply #17 on:** July 27, 2006, 07:29:31 AM »

i seen a marlin 1895GS in 45-70 at the gun show last week and that thing was sweeeeeet!

Demonical · « **Reply #18 on:** July 27, 2006, 02:14:29 PM »

Quote from: Redhawk1 on July 25, 2006, 12:51:58 AM

Well I decided to mount a scope on the 45-70, I have a Silver Leupold 3X9X40 in the gun safe and I order the mount and rings, should be here in a couple of days. Then back to the range and burn up more powder.

Redhawk1 I gotta opine that a 3-9X is overkill on a .45-70. A fixed 2.5X, 4X or else a low variable 1.5-5X or 1.5-6X is the ticket IMHO. Although I guess if you have "old" eyes the extra power might help...

I just bought another myself btw. I already have an 1895GS but I couldn't help myself and bought the new 1895XMLR. It's a freakin' beauty too.
On my 1895GS I have a Tasco Titan 1.5-6X with the 30mm tube. It's a decent scope. underappreciated I think. I put a Leopold 1.75-6X on the new 1895XMLR.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 27, 2006, 04:37:53 PM »

Quote from: Demonical on July 27, 2006, 02:14:29 PM

Quote from: Redhawk1 on July 25, 2006, 12:51:58 AM
Well I decided to mount a scope on the 45-70, I have a Silver Leupold 3X9X40 in the gun safe and I order the mount and rings, should be here in a couple of days. Then back to the range and burn up more powder.

Redhawk1 I gotta opine that a 3-9X is overkill on a .45-70. A fixed 2.5X, 4X or else a low variable 1.5-5X or 1.5-6X is the ticket IMHO. Although I guess if you have "old" eyes the extra power might help...

I just bought another myself btw. I already have an 1895GS but I couldn't help myself and bought the new 1895XMLR. It's a freakin' beauty too.
On my 1895GS I have a Tasco Titan 1.5-6X with the 30mm tube. It's a decent scope. underappreciated I think. I put a Leopold 1.75-6X on the new 1895XMLR.

No such thing as over kill with a scope. I have a 20 gauge slug gun with a Leupold 3X9X50 on it, works great. I do have a few guns with Leupold's 1.5X5X20 mm and 1X4X20 MM scopes, but I did not have an extra silver one in the safe to go on the Marlin.

Demonical · « **Reply #20 on:** July 27, 2006, 08:07:12 PM »

So then you admit you have "old eyes"!?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 27, 2006, 11:56:52 PM »

Quote from: Demonical on July 27, 2006, 08:07:12 PM

So then you admit you have "old eyes"!?

ea, I am getting older and a scope makes life better.

AkRvrrat · « **Reply #22 on:** July 29, 2006, 09:35:01 PM »

Redhwk get some H322 and some of Marshall Stantons .460"/425grnrs and you will be surprised how well that levergun really shoots!! It wasn't by chance my groups measured .7" @ 100yds. I mounted a Leu. 2.5x Scout on mine, eyes aren't what they use to be. What a brute! Have fun.

regards,

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 30, 2006, 05:45:31 AM »

Quote from: AkRvrrat on July 29, 2006, 09:35:01 PM

Redhwk get some H322 and some of Marshall Stantons .460"/425grnrs and you will be surprised how well that levergun really shoots!! It wasn't by chance my groups measured .7" @ 100yds. I mounted a Leu. 2.5x Scout on mine, eyes aren't what they use to be. What a brute! Have fun.

regards,

AkRvrrat, I am using H322, I am waiting for my 405 gr. Cast bullets to come from Montana bullet works. I just loaded some 300 gr. Sierra's to try out.

daddywpb · « **Reply #24 on:** August 12, 2006, 02:30:18 AM »

Congrats on the Guide Gun. I've wanted a 45/70 for about 30 years, and finally got one about three months ago. I put a Williams peep rear and Firesight front bead on it, and I'm getting groups about 3" at 50 yards. Works for me. I don't need it, but the local hogs are going to get a suprise this year. It's a light, easy to carry powerhouse - just the thing for crawling thru the palmettos in the mud after hogs. Even though my old eyes could do better with a scope, I can center the peep instantly, and shots over 50 yards are rare. I love it!

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 13, 2006, 01:05:19 PM »

Quote from: daddywpb on August 12, 2006, 02:30:18 AM

Congrats on the Guide Gun. I've wanted a 45/70 for about 30 years, and finally got one about three months ago. I put a Williams peep rear and Firesight front bead on it, and I'm getting groups about 3" at 50 yards. Works for me. I don't need it, but the local hogs are going to get a suprise this year. It's a light, easy to carry powerhouse - just the thing for crawling thru the palmettos in the mud after hogs. Even though my old eyes could do better with a scope, I can center the peep instantly, and shots over 50 yards are rare. I love it!

We are in the same boat, I did not need it, but it sure looks good in the gun rack.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #26 on:** August 13, 2006, 05:25:49 PM »

Redhawk, took my new 1895XLR to the range today with a new load (new for me) of the Hornady 300gr. HP over 64gr. of H-335.

With the factory open sights, I was getting 3" groups at 100 yards. My Williams Peep should be here this week (I ordered and received the wrong one last week

) and I am thinking this will help get the groups under 2". If not, it will still make it look good!

It's my first lever (well, not counting my Winchester Model 88 that I bot in 1972) gun and man,,,what a fun boomer to shoot.

Dave.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #27 on:** August 14, 2006, 01:00:43 AM »

Dave, not bad shooting at all with open sights at 100 yards. Let us know how you do with the new Williams Peep.