I own a Marlin 1895 which was converted to a 40-65. I am going to send it back to Marlin to get it converted back to a 45-70. Which barrel length and magazine length should I get installed? I was thinking maybe get the 18.5 inch Ballard barrel and the longer 6 shot magazine installed. What do you think? Should I look at the longer barrels? Is there anything else I should have done?

I suppose it depends on what you want to do with it. I like the longer octagonal barrels. I shoot better with them. I like the historic feel.

If you plan to carry it in the brush, a shorter barrel will be handier. If you are going to scope it, I don't see the advantage in the longer barrel.

I guess the real question would be ... why not trade it for what you want? I would imagine the conversion was costly. Surely someone out there thinks that 40-65 is a great idea and would trade it for a common .45-70.

This rifle was an old original 1895 with nice wood. I had Marlin check the serial number a long time ago. I wonder if the longer octagonal barrel would fit? I have no plans to scope this rifle as I own plenty of scoped rifles including a pre64 model 70 Winchester 375 H&H. I guess the longer barrel would tame the recoil better. I am not sure how I will use this rifle. I was thinking a nice light guide gun might be fun but looking at the actual weight of a loaded gun with extra rounds on the stock, the 45-70 rounds add a lot of weight, adding an extra pound for a longer barrel may not matter that much.
I am sure the conversion costs were high to convert it to a 40-65 but I have no idea how to sell a 40-65. I don�t know anybody who would want it, which is part of the reason to convert it back to a 45-70.

Since it's an oldie, I'd go with a long octagonal barrel and full length mag. Kind of keep it period correct. Or maybe a half oct/half round. On the other hand, as Strider pointed out, someone else is probably going to like the rifle as is, just because it's different. Sounds pretty cool to me. I'm assuming the conversion is an old one??? How about a photo?

I have included a couple of pictures of my 40-65. It turns out it is not real old but has nice wood. The barrel decision may be made for me as Marlin only has 18.5 inch blued barrels with 6 round magazines in stock.

PS. I am not sure the best way to resize my pictures.

Try this link for barrels.

McGowan barrels

Check over at the Marlin Owners forum too. Somebody might trade you a rifle that's ready to go. That's kind of an intriguing caliber - basically a .45-70 necked down to about .40-.41 caliber.

I think you would be money ahead getting rid of this one via a trade or outright sale and just getting what you wanted. If I was in possession of an 1895 45-70 right at the moment I would offer to trade you. That cartridge is just cool and would be fun to play with. It looks like a nice rifle too.

I do think that with a little advertising you would find someone interested in yours, and I'm sure you'd have less $$$ into the 45-70 you wanted.

PSH +1

I literally just bought another 45-70, right here on the 'fire, or I'd be interested too. That'd be a fun cartridge to handload, shoot and hunt with. I like that long barrel too - looks like 26-28".

LOL, yes it would be, and not everyone and their dog has a 40-65, that's what makes it really cool. If it were my rifle, I'd keep it and buy another in 45-70, lol.

coxhaus, if your Marlin is indeed a original 1895, they were chambered from the factory in .40-65

My 1895 was not an original 40-65. I checked with Marlin and it was an 45-70 originally. I will put the barrel and magazine up for sale here after I get it back from Marlin which will take a couple of months with their back log.

Do you have dies for the cartridge?I've got an older[1972] Marlin that I've shortened the barrel to 21 in.

I've also got a Douglas .458 blank that will finish to 28 inches.

Wanna talk trade?

I do have a set of Reddings 40-65 dies which I will be listing to sell also when I sell the barrel. I really don't need a Douglas .458 barrel. I know Douglas are very good barrels but I don't have a lathe to cut it on.