Marlin Guide Gun

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2010 10:44 pm Post subject: Marlin Guide Gun

Last Thursday I took my Marlin 1895 Guide Gun out to verify my scope settings. I fire three rounds consisting of a 400 grain Speer SP over some IMR-3031, goes about 1600 ft/sec according to the book. I was shooting from a bench using sand bags, range of 100 yards. Here's what I got...

I measure it at just under 0.7"! The squares on the target are 1". Not bad for a lever gun and low powered (4.5x) scope!

tikkat3 · Super Member Joined: Jul 30, 2006 Posts: 800

Great gun
Great load
Great fun

slimjim · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 8:07 am Post subject: Re: Marlin Guide Gun

Pumpkinslinger wrote:

just under 0.7"!

Pumpkinslinger, you have to love it when a rifle system comes together like that! What is your objective? Moose?

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 10:44 am Post subject: Re: Marlin Guide Gun

Slim, I originally got the Marlin(s) thinking of bear and boar, if I get the opportunity to go after them. However I think it will handle anything I'd ever get a chance to point it at! I've killed a couple of deer with it so far.

slimjim · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 11:44 am Post subject: Re: Marlin Guide Gun

Pumpkinslinger, is that a heavy-duty load? I shoot minimum trapdoor loads out of my 1868 Remington Rolling Block and get 1450 fps (41.0gr H4895). However, its a 28" barrel vs 18.5".

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:15 pm Post subject: Re: Marlin Guide Gun

Slim, its hotter than the factory loads but not maximum for the 1895. MAX load is 53.0 grains of IMR 3031 and I'm loading 50.0 grains. I haven't chronoed the load, the velocity is a SWAG. Here's the rifle, with a Bushnell Elite 1.5-to-4.5x scope.

slimjim · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: Marlin Guide Gun

Thanks for posting, Pumpkinslinger. Its a sweet rifle!!

I see you had a beautiful day, one good enough to take your prize possessions out for some fresh air. I've seen that tree trunk before.

Vince · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 10:32 pm Post subject: Re: Marlin Guide Gun

That is damn good shootin' Punkin...from both you and your rifle mate. Well done.

Cheers, Vince

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 11:26 pm Post subject: Re: Marlin Guide Gun

Slim, yep, that tree is just outside the kitchen door. Makes for a decent backdrop! It was either that or the storage building again.

Vince, thanks! Off a bench I can shoot OK, most of the time... But I must admit that I'm pretty tickled with the rifle's capability!

gelandangan · Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 11:57 pm Post subject: Re: Marlin Guide Gun

Great gun Pumps..
with that you can do all from rabbit to buffaloes!! Very Happy

Elvis · Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 12:44 am Post subject: Re: Marlin Guide Gun

444 marlin I presume??? great shooting and a fine looking set up.

slimjim · Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Marlin Guide Gun

Marlin website lists only a .45-70 in that model.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:13 am Post subject: Re: Marlin Guide Gun

Oops! I guess I never did say that it was a .45-70! Years back when I first got interested in a big bore lever gun I looked at the .444 Marlin but fairly quickly decided that the .45-70 was what I really wanted. The .45-70 bullet weights start where the .444 ends and the cartridge has so much history behind it.

tikkat3 · Super Member Joined: Jul 30, 2006 Posts: 800

I tryed to get a 45.70 but the bloke wouldn't part with it so I bought his mates 444, Ported Guide gun, looks similar to yours.
I'll post photo later.
Short barrel and have shot it out to 200 metres.
Its nearly as accurate as my Tikka

Elvis · Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 12:22 am Post subject: Re: Marlin Guide Gun

tikkat3 my ears are ringing from here...