45/70 Marlin 1895SBL

Hi, just got my bush .308 sorted and ready to sight in so now I’m planning on my next rifle.

Just putting money aside at the moment but want to know peoples thoughts on the 45/70 Marlin 1895SBL in Stainless laminate. Anyone got one on here?

Pros and cons? I’ll use it as a bush rifle as well, thinking 1-4ish Leupold Scope, strong rings and not too much else.

Really like the look of it and assume the 45/70 round is a bit of a sledgehammer? Bit of a dinosaur problem around here (a la Jurassic Park!)

Thanks.

@Masperjay

I'd encourage you to read up a bit on the history of the round - but basically most factory ammo is still made to be safe to fire in the very old guns that can't handle the high pressures that a modern Marlin can, let alone a Ruger #1. The reduction in performance is significant and takes it down from being a sledgehammer to something more like a rather large sized mallet.

If you reload, you can load anywhere from rock hammer to Mjölnir, you just have to know the limits of your rifle and your shoulder.

Thanks for that, I’ve done a small bit of reading about it, was originally black powder wasn’t it? 45 cal, 70 grains of black powder??

I thought modern ammo (hornady leverevolution for example) would be loaded fairly warm for modern rifles?

I will eventually reload for it, I want it to punch hard.

But as I say, just testing the waters at the moment while I save money so thanks for your input. Appreciate it.

Love mine so far. It's heavy and it boots like a dominatrix as you climb the ladder of load development. Shoot 405g lubed lead loads and 400gr Speer jacketed, both flat nose. Both are great. Using benchmark 2 powder. A challenge to shoot prone or bench on hotter loads, but I haven't done any light loads yet.

This will be my scrub gun. Mostly for pigs without dogs. Zero image attached is 100yds at half book max for 400gr, with the factory ghost ring sight. Book max just as accurate but more booty than I need.

A real good fun gun to shoot offhand with. It's like every muzzle blast throws out testosterone. It's a hoot.

Haven't shot an animal yet but when I do it is going to be emphatic.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c69764dd39.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...dea66588c6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...bea8c1b17b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...dd18223f89.jpg

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Exactly. The leverelovution ammo looks pretty stout, 325gr @ 2050fps apparently. I've worked up a 300gr up to 2425fps and every extra fps just makes it that much more violent once you start going past 2150fps.

Thanks for the feedback guys, definatly made me want one more.

Feral, love the quote “boots like a dominatrix!” That’s exactly what I’m after!

Good to know you run a 100 yard zero. Obviously accurate enough for that. Might have to rethink the low powered scope tho, can see it getting friendly with my eye brow region!

Wrong rifle/caliber, but I just finished scoping this Marlin with all Leupold components. Marlin quality control is not what it should be and the alum picatinny rail was skewed, so hence the windage base. Interestingly Leupold stuffed up the turret clearance between the base/ultra low rings, so I had to file some clearance beneath the scope.
Attachment 126390

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Originally Posted by FRST

Wrong rifle/caliber, but I just finished scoping this Marlin with all Leupold components. Marlin quality control is not what it should be and the alum picatinny rail was skewed, so hence the windage base. Interestingly Leupold stuffed up the turret clearance between the base/ultra low rings, so I had to file some clearance beneath the scope.
Attachment 126390

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Is that a new Marlin? I've got one of their 336 Dark models and it is very well made, I did hear they were rubbish a few years back when Remington initially took over but they have since got a lot better.

Nice looking setup there. I have heard about stuff like rails not being on point on the Marlins, can be fixed tho. Was it the screw holes misaligned that caused the problem you had?

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Originally Posted by dvk-kp

Thanks for the feedback guys, definatly made me want one more.

Feral, love the quote “boots like a dominatrix!” That’s exactly what I’m after!

Good to know you run a 100 yard zero. Obviously accurate enough for that. Might have to rethink the low powered scope tho, can see it getting friendly with my eye brow region!

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Yeah I'm a little torn with the scope thing myself. I think I'll keep it open sights. Big fan of the scene in the movie Wind River using the 45-70 SBL scoped.

https://youtu.be/h7GkWwaIR9Y

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Awesome scene! Going to have to watch that movie again. Didn’t show the rifle in that clip!

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Originally Posted by dvk-kp

Awesome scene! Going to have to watch that movie again. Didn’t show the rifle in that clip!

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Nah but they showed sex pests getting pole-axed by it ;)

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Originally Posted by Feral

Nah but they showed sex pests getting pole-axed by it ;)

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Gees it was effective!

45/70 is a fun and effective Cartridge.For Rabbits and cheap plinkng consider buying a 300 grain bullet mold and use small charges of Pistol powder.

I do this in my 45/70 and 45/90 and makes for a fun and inexpensive day at the range.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dvk-kp

Nice looking setup there. I have heard about stuff like rails not being on point on the Marlins, can be fixed tho. Was it the screw holes misaligned that caused the problem you had?

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Yeah pretty badly. 1.5m off at 50m out. Nothing a windage screw base can’t fix. Not sure on the vintage of the rifle, I’d have to look up the serial #, but with the parkerising and lam stock it can’t be that old.

I have the 1895 SBL , the 1895 Dark , and the 1894 CST.

Where to start.

The 325gr leverevolution Flextips I have used in them go well on deer, I shot three at 25m, 85m, and 100m respectively last Sunday and they all dropped like like a tonne of bricks. (One was a very messy headshot)

The boot honestly isn't that bad when shooting at animals - from a bench it's a punisher.

I threw a DPT can on the Dark , and honestly I can say it has almost no effect on perceived noise the only difference being reduction of felt recoil and muzzle rise.

Haven't tried Subsonics yet, but that is on the cards eventually.

Build quality is excellent , and I have to say the stainless is extremely weather resistant , whereas the Dark is not so much and requires more oiling.

The 1894 is fun little plinker, too. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4f403808fd.jpg

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Very nice. I like.

Nice collection Masperjay! Very envious.

Definatly on the cards now, rung the local shop to get a price for one, just waiting to hear back.

Actually looking forward to some stout recoil, should surprise other people when they have a shot with it!

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Originally Posted by Masperjay

I have the 1895 SBL , the 1895 Dark , and the 1894 CST.

Where to start.

The 325gr leverevolution Flextips I have used in them go well on deer, I shot three at 25m, 85m, and 100m respectively last Sunday and they all dropped like like a tonne of bricks. (One was a very messy headshot)

The boot honestly isn't that bad when shooting at animals - from a bench it's a punisher.

I threw a DPT can on the Dark , and honestly I can say it has almost no effect on perceived noise the only difference being reduction of felt recoil and muzzle rise.

Haven't tried Subsonics yet, but that is on the cards eventually.

Build quality is excellent , and I have to say the stainless is extremely weather resistant , whereas the Dark is not so much and requires more oiling.

The 1894 is fun little plinker, too. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4f403808fd.jpg

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Have you tried PPU/Highland ammo in the 3030 Dark? It wont eject properly in mine and someone else's I know. It's a shame as it is good brass.

I got my brother in law to compare a bunch of PPU/Highland cases to other brands and their rim is slightly different.

Hey mate, the dark is a 45/70

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Originally Posted by Masperjay

Hey mate, the dark is a 45/70

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Oh right so you have two 45-70 and a 357/38?

Those laminate stocks are beautiful. The only problem I find with the Dark is with a 1-6 vx6 Leupy it is quite hefty. Looking at replacing the handguard with one of those lightweight mlok ones 556 is bringing in.