Marlin Lever Action Rifles

[lovestohunt]

How accurate are these guns, what ranges would they be effective at (obviously tell me what caliber/cartridge you are using). I don't necessarily have a use for this gun. We are in shotgun for deer, but they look they they would be fun to shoot with. Thanks for your comments.

Jess

[buckgitter]

I'll reply to this one Jess.....I have shot the 30/30, 35 and the 444. All shot fairly well. Less than 2 inch group at 100. The 35 belongs to a friend and he reloads for it...it shoots really good!!

Now with the new leverevolution ammo that is out they say accuracy gets better and you have more down range energy. Of all the cartridges available in this ammo they say the 30/30 had the biggest gain in advantage over the old ammo. I read an article where the author was busting plates at 300 yds with the 30/30 and the 444.

I witnessed a 248 yd shot ( range finder) with a 444 Marlin. It was bang flop. I asked my bud how in the world he hit that deer and he said he was shooting at the moon!!LOL

They are what this industry was built on and they will have a place in the hunting world for a long time.....

[Brembo]

How accurate are these guns, what ranges would they be effective at (obviously tell me what caliber/cartridge you are using). I don't necessarily have a use for this gun. We are in shotgun for deer, but they look they they would be fun to shoot with. Thanks for your comments.

Jess


Lever actions can be very good for hunting. I know how popular the 30-06 caliber is, but in Texas more deer are taken with a 30-30 than 30-06. Or so it was just a few years ago when I was keeping up to date on the numbers. I have a hunting buddy that uses 30-30, 45-70 and has recently purchased a 35 Rem. He has a 450 Marlin as his big game gun and this winter took a moose with it at 366 yards. Marlins are fine guns. I'm getting one soon to replace my Winchester (which is not loner made, so I prefer to hold onto it carefully). I can cycle a lever faster than I can a bolt action, so I always carry my 30-30 when I go hunting.

Effective range? I had my 30-30 sighted at 150, but when I changed to the ammo I am using now (Remington Core-Lokt 170 Hollow Point), I had the gun re-sighted for 200 yards. This last winter, friends went to Oklahoma or Arkansas to hunt and were talking about ranges of 300 yards. I know that some of these guys wait for the perfect deer, in the perfect shot, but I know some don't. They'll shoot it through the ***, standing on its head, juggling bowling pins, if it will get them the deer.

When I think about next hunting season, and talk about it to my wife, I always know that I will taking a new Marlin with me in addition to any bolt action I carry out the door. For me, after years of hunting, it has become natural to pick up my lever action rifle when heading out for hunting. Its just one of those things I do to be prepared. Like taking a revolver with me for back up.

My 2 cents...

[njmarek]

My first deer gun was a 336C in .30/30. It was a fine rifle and I still kick myself for ever having sold it. I now have a 336CS in .35 Remington with a 4X scope. I used to use it when hunting up in Osseo, WI and took several fine deer with it. The old .35 knocked them down in a hurry. I try to limit my shots to 150 yards (or less) using factory 200gr Remington loads. It groups about 2.5" at 100 yards with the scope. They are fun to shoot, good quality rifles.

[Cabela's Moderator]

.45-70 Marlin 1895 G + 350-gr. Buffalo Bore Ammo + Nikon scope = one ragged hole at 100 yards.

Dan
Forum Moderator

[njmarek]

Don't you mean "one BIG ragged hole at 100 yards", Dan??? Norm

[Cabela's Moderator]

Nah, just a cute little cloverleaf about an inch across. With good loads the 1895G is a tack driver out to 100 yards.

Dan

[Brembo]

Dan,

What's the longest range you've gotten game with that 45-70?

[Harry B.]

Sirs;
Very, very good rifles - I have a 45-70 and 444 in the 336 and they are superbly accurate.
Harry B.

[Cabela's Moderator]

Brembo,

Never had to take a shot on a deer with the .45-70 that was farther than 75 yards, but I'm confident enough with my setup to easily handle shots out to 150 with Buffalo Bore Ammo. It's mostly my "in the woods" gun where shots tend to be shorter. The 350-grain load in .45-70 is the only one I've seen lift all four feet of a deer off the ground and body slam it like a wrestler. Usually not even a twitch. They're DOA on the ground.

Dan
Forum Moderator

[sw41mag]

Using my Marlin guide Gun in 45-70 with my 405grain hand loads I feel comfortable hitting what i'm aiming at out to 150-200 yards with iron sites. Any further with the iron sites and I can hit it, and i'm pretty sure the 405grain bullets would have plenty of energy to put a big hurt on it. But it wouldn't be ethical for me to take a shot when i'm not certain it's going to be a really good hit.

[DblLung]

I have had both in 30-30. The Marlin was the much better firearm. I think Winchester let its standards fall quite a ways. In the last 10 years. The marlin was more accurate, smoother, better fit and finish. I would say they were both equal in reliability because every time I pulled the trigger they went boom. Winchester had the name and the old west to back it up. In modern form I dont think the winchester was anything like the days of old. I feel one of the reasons winny closed was they couldnt afford to retool their warn out tooling lines, just like back in 64. If you really want a good pre-64 you should look for a prior to 61 before those dies started wearing out.

[citori]

I have bought several Marlins of various stripes, I think they are more accurate than a Winchester as they can be scoped easier and I agree that the later Win 94s are not as well put together. 3'-4" at 100 yards seems to be a pretty common occurance with the later 94s, scoped or not. I can cut that down a couple inches with most Marlins and have frequently done 4" or less at 200 yards. I shoot a fair number of single loaded 150 gr Ballistic Tips through the Marlins, the new Leverevolution ammo appears to closely mimic these rounds. For a hunting rifle, these would be my overwhelming choice.
I had an 1895M for a while, it was an impressive gun but for what i would use it for, I already had the bases well covered. It wasn't a bad gun and with a scope or decent aftermarket irons, I guess 200 yards would not have been a problem. If I wouldn't have already had a BLR in 358 Win, I might have kept the Marlin as my blackbear gun and if not for the 375 H&Hs, it may have become my Alaska fishing gun.