Been to the Range twice in the last three weeks with a couple "men" that outta two different Marlins couldn't shoot them worth a Chitt........... Would love to see groups from those that claim they shoot!!!!!!!! post 'em... Seems like a pipe dream to me. Couple big boys with big shoulders they are. I almost bought into it. Bears over bait. Thick timber elk blah blah blah. To each his own. Granted the only 45-70's Ive ever been around. Seen enough to not ever wanta scratch that itch again. I'm 6-2 230 and nothing about it was fun. JME YMMV Good Luck! If ya can't put it where it needs to go it ain't worth a pinch of chitt. Try shooting one in field conditions before you buy one. If I'm outta line I apologize...
Had my 45-70 and 375 Marlins at NRA Whittington Center, shooting the steel range. Was hitting the rams at 600 four-out-of five with both in 40MPH crosswinds. (Had to hold on the next ram to the left.) Shot both regularly at 300 yards with a ~22" drop at local range, easily hitting 6" target with all shots. Dropped a nice 6x6 bull elk at lasered 213 yards the day after taking a buck mulie at a lasered 197 yards.
Still have both, along with a .30-30 that shoots well, too.
Here are some notes from my reloading spreadsheet. Velocities are from chrono. All are JM Marlins.
Range is 100 unless otherwise noted.
Format is 'Brief load description -- Comments'.
Marlin 1895 (.45-70)
Lasercast 300g FP BB, 1566fps -- Lee crimp. 0.42" for 3 shots, one hole, 50 yards, 4x scope, 12.5fps S.D.
Speer 300g JHP, 2247fps -- Lee crimp.1.55" with 3 of 4 in 0.70", 50 yards, 4x scope, 10.1fps S.D.
North Fork 350g FN, 2181fps -- Roll crimp in top groove as separate operation with RCBS crimp die. 1.2" group for 4 shots, 100 yards, 7x Scope. 3.6fps S.D.
Marlin 375 (.375 Winchester):
Hornady 220g @ 2230fps -- Very accurate. 2.9" @ 200 yards. 3.4fps Std. Dev.
Speer 235g @ 2071fps (load 1) -- 3-shot avg, 1.60" group. 100 yrds. 15mph wind, 4/8/2018
Speer 235g @ 2071fps (load 2) -- 3-shot avg, 1.67" group. 100 yrds. 15mph wind, 4/8/2018
Marlin 336C (.30-30)
Speer 130g FSP @2351fps avg. -- Ladder - 1.35" for 35.0g, 35.5g, 36.0g
Speer 130g FSP @ 2438fps -- 0.95", 100 yards, 3 shots, 39.8fps STD, 4x scope
Speer 130g FSP @ 2504fps -- 0.14", 100 yards, 2 shots, 7x scope, 38.5g and 39.0g. 1.75", 100 yards, 5 shots, 38.5g, 13.2fps, STD PREFERRED LOAD
Speer 150g FSP @2305fps -- 0.50", 100 yards, 3 shots, 7x scope, 35.5g, 36.0g and 36.5g. 3.35", 100 yards, 5 shots, 22.9fps
Hornady 160g FTX @ 2274fps -- Consistent 0.95" to 1.00" w/ 33.5g, 34.0g, 34.5g Varget
Speer 170g FSP @ 2069fps -- 0.90", 100 yards, 3 shots, 12.3fps STD, 4x scope
Speer 170g FSP @ 2133fps - 1.0", 100 yards, 5 shots, (2 targets combined), 7x scope. 1 @ 30.0g, 2 @ 30.5 and 2 @ 31.0g.
Yup, Marlins suck.
