Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin Talk Marlin 45-70 to 40-65?

Has anyone converted a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 to 40-65? If so, what barrel and twist did you use and who did the work? A couple of us are thinking this might make an outstanding walkabout rifle. Thanks.

There was one for sale on Gunbroker a couple of weeks ago.

Have and original Marlin 1895 in .40-65 and love it but I personally would never spend the effort and money to convert a .45-70 to one (although the conversion shouldn't take much to do and I would select a 1:20" twist just in case I found some heavier bullets that I wanted to stabilize - I believe that the original was 1:26" for the 260 grain bullet). For these basic reasons: 1) can load the .45-70 down to the .40-65; 2) bullet selection is VERY limited for the .40-65; and 3) ballistics of the .40-65 are on par with a .41/44 magnum so for a "walkabout" rifle I would take the Marlin 1894 in .41 or .44 over the heavier 1895.

Those are the "logical" reasons not to.....of course if that's is what you want to do it would be pretty unique and I am not trying to talk you out of it as I have done similar things way too many times to count .

PennDog

I have one in the process of being rebarreled to 40-65. Left it with gunsmith this weekend, Kinnear Rifle Company, Dennis Prendergast, of Kinnear, Wyoming, 307-856-6414.
Using a McGowen barrel, 1 in 20" twist 24" long.
I believe this will make a very nice rifle, the rifle is one of the older ones with a straight grip. A former owner had magna ported the barrel, not my cup of tea. The 40-65 properly loaded will take anything most of us hunt.
Rich

Why not just get a .444? What does the 40.65 do that the .444 will not? Just curious.

not to be snide but the first thing that came to my mind was "what can a red head do that a blonde can't?" just a different itch to scratch

True and i know this is an old post, but the redhead would get me in trouble with the blonde at home...my 45-70 wouldn't mind a 40-65 next to it in the safe!