Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin Talk Straight grip vs Pistol on 1895 45-70?

Hey fellas do you guys prefer the straight grip or the pistol grip in the 1895 in 45-70?

Does one offer better control under recoil?

Or it is purely cosmetic/personal preference?

I was looking to purchase a stainless steel model; either 1895GS or 1895XLR.

Thanks!

I like the straight grip, but that's because I like the look. I have no idea if it makes any difference in recoil.

Oops. Double post.

They both look good to me and I've owned several (and still own one Winchester) straight grip lever guns. I currently own three pistol grip Marlin lever guns - 444, 45-70 & 39D. They're just more comfortable to me.

I doubt you're going to exert much recoil control with your back hand, regardless of the grip style. Drop at the comb is the same, so everything else being equal, there's probably the same amount of percieved recoil. The thing to consider is barrel length. Unless you buy one of the older straight grip Marlins, your straight grip rifle will have an 18.5" barrel. I think you could expect some increase in muzzle flip and blast compared to a 22" or 24" rifle. Still, you can load down to manage that recoil and blast.

I thought I wanted a GBL for a while, but ultimately decided that my 22" Marlins are plenty handy just as they are. I've carried my 444 all day, slung and in my hand, and never felt weighed down. Any of these rifles are more than up to whatever you want to hunt - the limiting factor being your own ability. I think it all comes down to what appeals to your eye.

I like the straight grip on the guide gun, and the pistol grip on the regular 1895. To me it's just looks.

Gotcha fellas!

Went with the 1895XLR, since I wanted stainless with pistol grip.

Gonna have the barrel chopped to 18.5" and it's ready to go!

Thanks!

Straight Grip fan here!

Straight grip for me. I don't like pistol grips on a lever action, they look wrong.

Tom

Love the straight grip on my guide gun. That being said, if you are gonna try to develop T-Rex loads, for the 45-70, the pistol grip might give you slightly better recoil control.


maddog

I'd buy that.

I discovered my shoulder didn't like t-rex loads, neither did my cheek bone. I started low and worked to pretty damn hot. Turned out my gun shot best with the 400 grain speer at just under 1600 which was about all my cheek and shoulder really wanted anyway. That falls just above trap door, right at the bottom end of the marlin lever action data. If I'd gotten accuracy with much warmer loads, I might be in the other camp.

Tom

I've been in the same boat on this. Can't decide between a guide gun and a GBL. I am leaning towards the GBL but only because of the laminate stock and 6 shot tube. But I don't know...

i absolutly love my guide gun, the feel, the look, i wouldn't trade it. I do have a couple pistol grip leaver guns and haveing short fat hands it is not as comfortable to me as the strait stock

I've had both in 45-70. I prefer the looks of the straight grip, but the pistol grip feels more comfortable to me. I like to pull the 45-70 into my shoulder fairly snug.

It's a comfort issue for me. I prefer the pistol grip. Have no idea as to recoil management between the two. I'd wager it's a minimal difference if any at all.

Shoot it a while before you have the barrel shortened. Sight radius suffers, so does velocity, more length of barel to burn the powder in. My 1895S pistol grip was comfy compared to the Guide Gun of my brothers, my 1895 Cowboy with the longer sight radius and heavier barrel shoots more comfortable and easier for me to hit with.

Think about shooting a snubby .357 or a 6 inch model, maybe not as big of a difference when going from rifle lengthed barrels but still noticeable to me. The weight of the rifle will have more to do with the recoil felt than the style of the stock.

My 2 Cents,
Mike

The straight grip 1895's have the small rectangular lever, and it really bangs my nuckles with stout loads. Lighter loads not so bad. The pistol grip levers shape is a lot more recoil friendly to me anyway. I don't think you'll go wrong with either.

I prefer the look of the straight stock.

I can't say I attribute any comfort during recoil to the stock shape. It might depend on the "size" of the shooter.

I like the straight-stock ... looks and handling.

Same here. I'm sold on straight-stock levers.....

I love my straight grip Guide Gun it feels pretty natural to me . Probably because I also shoot some English stocked O/U's & a Special Field 1100 . Recoil is not to bad with my current stainless non-ported Guide Gun but it was less with my original ported blued model . Love the function and look of the stainless but miss the looks of the blued one .