Trying to get edumacated - Marlin 1895 Cowboy
Posted: 19 May 2017 19:59
I stopped into a LGS a couple days ago that had a selection of Marlin 1895's. I recall Ranch Dog's comments about switching to the Rossi Rio Grande because he was tired of lugging a heavy 1895 classic rifle or guide gun (model G?) around the campo. I could not miss the heaviness of these models .... but I was quite surprised at the handiness of a model listed as the 1895 CB or Cowboy. I coon-fingered a 26 inch barreled model and was impressed at it's weight and handiness, even with long barrel. I also liked the slimmer handguard - more Winchester-like. Made the wheels in my head start turning ...
My experience with Marlin levers is very limited. I have friends who have older classic rifles and guide guns and seem to have a lot of secret handshakes and passwords to make these run accurately with cast boolitz. Special bell mouth dies, oversize boolitz, nose length, etc. There is also all the undercurrent about how the Remington made Marlin levers have serious quality issues, but perhaps most current production which had been moved to Kentucky or Carolina may be much better.
I can't find much info on Marlin website about these models. Ballard type rifling ? What are the chambers and bore specs ? I am really only interested in an accurate cast boolitz shooter.
Do the new Marlin 1895 chambers handle cast boolit loads with less fussing than the Rossi Rio Grande ?
I am not keenly informed about issues of quality, oversize chambers, etc. of Marlins, especially after Remington absorbed them. All of the models I looked at this week had Ilion, NY roll marked on barrels, none said Kentucky or Carolina. Are there new models coming out of a new factory in the south or are Marlins still made alongside Remington rifles.
Has anybody had direct experience with these cowboy models ? I liked the 26" barreled model, but I also think the 18.5" barrel model intrigues.
Help me understand the new Marlin 1895's ...
My experience with Marlin levers is very limited. I have friends who have older classic rifles and guide guns and seem to have a lot of secret handshakes and passwords to make these run accurately with cast boolitz. Special bell mouth dies, oversize boolitz, nose length, etc. There is also all the undercurrent about how the Remington made Marlin levers have serious quality issues, but perhaps most current production which had been moved to Kentucky or Carolina may be much better.
I can't find much info on Marlin website about these models. Ballard type rifling ? What are the chambers and bore specs ? I am really only interested in an accurate cast boolitz shooter.
Do the new Marlin 1895 chambers handle cast boolit loads with less fussing than the Rossi Rio Grande ?
I am not keenly informed about issues of quality, oversize chambers, etc. of Marlins, especially after Remington absorbed them. All of the models I looked at this week had Ilion, NY roll marked on barrels, none said Kentucky or Carolina. Are there new models coming out of a new factory in the south or are Marlins still made alongside Remington rifles.
Has anybody had direct experience with these cowboy models ? I liked the 26" barreled model, but I also think the 18.5" barrel model intrigues.
Help me understand the new Marlin 1895's ...