I have heard lots of stories about the Remlins. I am looking for a 45-70 guide gun. Locals shops have the remlins. Is it worth it to wait and search for a marlin made product?

I'd say take any of them on an individual basis and don't pay too much attention to the internet.

I have an early 1895 GBL, that had to be near the tail end of Marlin production, but it does have a JM proof mark. The proof mark itself is screwed up, although legible.

The wood/metal fit is nothing to write home about. The bore was rough as a cob, I firelapped it and that cleaned it up. Before firelapping it would throw 405gr cast sideways at 100 yards due to crazy leading, and I was only pushing them around 1300 fps.

Long way of saying, Marlin or Remlin may be awesome right out of the box....or not.

I'll confer with that. The internet is a sourse of unaccountable opinion. The hotheads tend to scream loudly with their bad experiences while the rest are just using them.

Consider the individual rifle more than the name.

Remlins are different. Just look at them as a reproduction, much like comparing a Rossi 92 to a Winchester 92. Better or worse is dependant on the individual rifle. Opinions and experiences vary. It will never be an original, and should not be compared as such.

It's a gun. Buy it. If you like it keep it. If you don't trade it for the next one.

What I'm seeing, as far as comments on quality, is that Remington seems to be getting the QC thing back together. I've heard several reports of very satisfactory performance, accuracy and functionality-wise, from the latest production.

when I bought my 1895 last year, I paid more for the Marlin, and am happy because I did. As far as the internet goes I agree, lots of chit. But the vast majority of the posts are as stated above, each rifle is a little different. I have owned Remingtons all of my life and have more of them than any other. I would think hard about buying a new one.

Good advice was given on judging each gun on it's own merit. I bought an 1895 this past spring and it's a "Remlin". I already had a JM stamped Guide Gun and wanted the 22 inch 1895 also. I can't tell any difference in between the two functionally and fit wise. I did , however, buy a 1974 444 that I handled for a few seconds and wish I'd taken a little more time to look it over. The barrel indexing is horrible, both dovetails sit at 11 o'clock on the barrel. My rule now is that even if it's packing a JM stamp, check it thoroughly.

Thanks for all the advice fellas. I think i will order up a remlin 45-70 guide gun. Maybe bigloop maybe not.

Should be a good MN deer rifle for sure- and when i draw that MN moose tag i will be set

I have had several older 45/70 1895 and they were all shooters. I cant speak of the Remlins but I heard mixed reviews.

look on gunbroker or marlin owners for a pre-2007 guidegun. they go for about $5-600. whats a new remlin going for?

I picked up a new remlin guide gun for 550

are you happy with it? what year is it?

Fairly happy. Had one small problem with the filler screws stuck so i couldn't mount my scope. The trigger is about as creepy as a 80 year old stripper. Other than that it goes boom when i pull the trigger. I am replacing the trigger so that will help alot. For a MN deer rifle i think it will be great.

Just bought a new one thru Gunbroker from Buds.

The piece of crap doesn't feed. You have to double pump the lever to chamber a round, and the action cycles poorly even without a cartridge. I'm disgusted. I notified Buds and their response is to inform me to notify the manuf., nothing else offered, not even a retorical "anything we can do?".

Very poor product, very poor (so far -maybe they'll step u[p) customer service from Buds. I'm thinking I wouldn't suggest either.

I just bought a Remlin guide gun and am very happy with it. The fit & finish is nice and shoots, functions excellently. There is some minor "roughness" to the lever I notice when work it slow - not sure this is common or not (never had a marlin of any sort before), but it is not anything major and expect to smooth over use.

Lou

i think the creepy trigger is a marlin thing no matter the year. all of mine have about 1/4" of slop before it goes boom and they are all JM's. it never really bothered me. i never shot a marlin with what i would call a good trigger. maybe one of these days i'll splurge on a trigger job and see what i am missing.

Just finished the install of the wild west trigger. much improved. Took most of the creep out. I dont have a trigger scale but i would say that it did lighten the trigger pull quite alot. Still not near my rem 700's that were worked over or the kimber, forbes rifle triggers but pretty decent. i would recommend it. Fairly easy install.

I have a Remlin GBL that has worked flawlessy for me. Shoots 300, 350s, and 405's like a dream. Have had no ejecting issues at all. Fit and Finish is good too.

I would put in the time to find a New Haven version.

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I agree with 1minute, find a real Marlin. Serial numbers higher than 93XXXX (2007 to 2001), Remington took control in 2007 - 2008.


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I just got a new Remlin 1895 from Bud's... trigger is heavy but actually breaks quite well with almost no creep. Fit and Finish was better than I expected from my last Remlin 30-30. I am impressed. No problems cycling my handloads- have yet to give it the ultimate test of firing it. That will have to wait until this Sunday and I will report back here. The action does seem smooth and doesn't bind. Should get better with time.

Joe at RealGuns has done a couple of reviews on 1895's from Marlin and Remington - very insightful. Basically the ones coming off the line now are very good.

There was a time when Marlin was going under, the operation sold, and everything moved, that the 1895's were pretty poor (looked like something from China).

I have a Stainless Guide gun from around 2000. Other than a generous bore (only likes .460" diameter cast), it has been flawless - by far my favorite packing rifle for Elk.

thats good to hear. unfortunately there are a bunch of transition guns out there that will never be right. definitely going to be "buyer beware" on the marlin landscape for years to come.