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Glad to see your here Toms. I to would like to buy more Marlins but my wife has a few places that she wants to spend some of my (our) money. Like a new patio and rugs for the house, ahh.... the list is too long. That new stainless sure would be nice....oh well I can dream.......deadeye

Lever fans: A friend and I are getting a SS .45/70 Guide Gun as soon as they are available (April according to an earlier post here). This will be strictly for bear protection while fishing in the Alaska back country. Do you recommend the Ashley Ghost Ring sight? Any words of wisdom on bullets, powder, cases will be appreciated. FYI, MPI stocks in Portland OR makes a fiber glass stock for them. Ol Grouch

Levergunz... (one of the coolest handles going!) Thanks. Now, let me bring you up to speed. The stainless bolt action 22 is unavalable where he gets guns from, so I asked him to check into a stainless guidegun, now it seems as the guide guns won't be available until April! Well, I will notify my buddy of GZangers, and get me a stainless M92, like I originally wanted! <BR>Phone number for Gzanders? Web site? Thanks, Toms ~~~Suluuq (please, please, Lord, let me have a stainless levergun!)

Ol Grouch... the guide Gun is a fine rifle to have for bear protection. You can use Buffalo Bore Ammo, Garrett's, or Corbon ammo for this purpose if you don't hand load. If you do, I suggest a hardcast bullet with a wide meplat(flat point), like Cast Preformance bullets. Some shooters favor ghost ring sights, like the Ashley set, for quick sighting. I favor a standard set of iron sights, using a square notch rear, patridge front. Keep us posted of any bear encounters and the results. ~~~Suluuq

Hey Rusty,I read tour post today at work.I got the info for you after work.Gzanders has a site <A HREF="http://www.gzanders.com" TARGET=_blank>www.gzanders.com</A> or your dealer can call 1-800-851-4373.The Navy arms aren't cheap so expect to pay probably 450-500 for a round barrel and 500-550 for a octagon barrel.Stainless steel of course.They are a copy of the win 92.I was looking at Navy arms web site.Gzanders is located in ILLINOIS.I hope this helps.Good luck!~~toms

Rusty,I even got part numbers for you.(for gzanders)all these numbers are stainless guns and 45 colt cal.GS92S45 FOR OCTAGON 20",<BR>GC92S45 FOR ROUND 20",GR92S45 FOR OCTAGON 24 1/4 BARREL.~~~~~`Have fun shopping~~~toms

Youper, I'm sorry I got in here a little late. The Marlin you have is the 1895T. Microgroove and straight stock. I've had mine since 1977 and obviously love it. I just bought my second order of 1000 405gr Remingtons which I believe are the best all around bullets for this gun. They don't shoot as well as the 300gr but boy do they perform. They expand to an inch in diameter and hold together real well with up to 99% weight retention. They might fall apart too much on big bear but for deer and elk in timber they are dynamite. 405gr Rem, 55gr of H322, WW cases, CCI-350 primers, 2.54" COAL, 1900fps.

Levergunz... thanks. We are checking with Ganders tomorrow! Wish me the best. I want one so bad, it feels good! ~~~Suluuq

Rusty,Good luck with your purchase.The dealer said Gzanders has all the numbers i listed for you in stock(at least 3 ) as of feb 1.~~~I just ordered my 1894 cowboy 45 yesterday.It should be here next week.Isn't it nice to have friends in "just the right places"~~~~~~~~~toms

Jackfish, When I load the 405 gr. R-P's in my Marlin, they end up being a touch too long. Even when seated to the second cannelure in trimmed cases, they will sometimes fail to cycle thru the action. I have to then go thru all sorts of prying to get the round out of the action. Apparently, you don't have this problem. Are you doing something special to make them feed? My rifle was made in 1975. Are the action lengths different now?

Toms... i called them today, and they are out of the round barrel version, but do have the "short rifle" octagon barrel. the price quoted me is $445.00. I don't know if it was Dealer or Customer price, though. The fastest Ican make the order is tomorrow, but most likely on Monday. I hope thys don't run out before I can claim one! Thanks, friend, you've made my life a happy one. ~~~Suluuq

Rusty,it's the least i could do to help a friend and a fellow Marliner.I knew for quite some time it was a wish of yours to get a stainless levergun.I'm just glad to help.I've never owned a 45LC of anything.I'm glad my new 45 cowboy is finally almost here.My new rifle should be here mid next week.I can hardly wait as i'm sure you can hardly wait also.I almost got a trapper winchester but at the last minute i decided to get the marlin CB.KEEP ME POSTED~~~toms

Rusty,I can always cut the barrel down on my cowboy if i feel the need to have a trapper version.~~~toms

WPA, I don't seat it to the second or top cannelure. Notice the thin crimp above the top cannelure, seated to this you get an OAL of about 2.54" which feeds very well through the Marlin 1895. You can still crimp the bullet sufficiently as well.<p>[This message has been edited by jackfish (edited February 04, 2001).]

I have two Marlins: a 336CS in 30-30 and a 1895SS. The 30-30 has factory sights and the 45-70 has Ashley peep sights on it. Jackfish, do you not find that 405gr bullet at 1900fps rather stout? I loaded some up at 1700fps with 50 gr of AA2495 and decided they were too much. I went to 31 gr of XMP5744 but have not chronoed them yet. I'm guessing they are around 1400 fps. I haven't shot a deer with my 45-70 yet, but I can't wait to see how it performs. -kgonzo<P>------------------<BR>

kgonzo, yes the 405gr at 1900fps is a full power load and is stout. However, I have added a recoil pad to this rifle which makes it bearable in the field. Actually I don't even notice this recoil when shooting at game. For extended shooting on the bench I place more padding between the rifle and my shoulder and actually set the scope back to accomodate this. Oh yeah, try using a slower powder, that can help. H322 is one of the slowest powders that work well in the 45/70.<p>[This message has been edited by jackfish (edited February 05, 2001).]

Jackfish, sorry it took so long to get back, I was out of town. So rate of powder burn influences perceived recoil? I had wondered about that but I figured that muzzle velocity was what mostly determined recoil all else being equal, i.e. bullet weight. Is that what some refer to as a hard long shove versus a sharp smack when describing recoil? Which pad did you put on your 1895? Thanks for all the info. -kgonzo

Yeah, I guess it is the push effect instead of the sharp jolt effect. Pachmayr Presentation Deaccelerator. It was $29.95 for the pad (list for $32.95 now) and I had it installed ($15) to to my length of pull and to the original curve of the butt. Very nice. I also sanded off what was left of the 1977 mar-finish and oiled the stock, really brought out the beauty of the walnut.<p>[This message has been edited by jackfish (edited February 07, 2001).]

Thanks for the lever action forum.I own 7 lever actions.Marlin 1895g,Marlin 1895SS,Marlin 1894P,Marlin 1894S,1894cs,Marlin 336cs(30/30)and a Marlin 39A.I plan on getting two Marlin cowboy rifles in the near future one in 45/70 the other in 45 colt.

Welcome to the Lever Actions board, 45/70 Marlin, you and your seven leverguns. i only have one so far, a stainless 45LC Navy Arms short rifle, having sold my marlin 45-70 some weeks ago. The stainless Guide Gun looks so fine, its on top of my list. ~~~Suluuq