Looking for suggestions on a custom Marlin 45-70

HairyHook · Post by **HairyHook** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:45 pm

I am looking at getting a Marlin tuned up for a ucoming brown bear hunt. So far I am thinking I would start with a 1894 or XLR in SS, 20" barrel with a brake, tuned action, and a scout scope with a XS peep as back-up.

What I am looking for are any thoughts or suggestions that have worked well for others, or warnings of things that have not. Also, any recommendations for a gunsmith to do the work. I know that there are a number of quality folks out there, but I would greatly appreciate your help.

Thanks

HairyHook

HairyHook · Post by **HairyHook** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:55 pm

My typo - I meant a Marlin 1895.

Sorry

HairyHook

sore shoulder · Post by **sore shoulder** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:20 pm

If your going after bear, skip the XS site and get a Brockman. The XS is not pretected at all and if bumped has the possibility of bending or breaking off. Brockman can also tune it and install his proprietary brake.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:04 pm

Disc brakes have more power than drum brakes.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:28 pm

sore shoulder wrote:If your going after bear, skip the XS site and get a Brockman. The XS is not pretected at all and if bumped has the possibility of bending or breaking off. Brockman can also tune it and install his proprietary brake.

Frank, honestly, I have the AO (XS) and it's an anvil.........Not that the Brockman isn't good....

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:30 am

Buy some Reloader 7 powder and some hornady 350 grain FP's and start loading and do not stop until you break 2000 fps.

sore shoulder · Post by **sore shoulder** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:59 am

AndyM wrote:Buy some Reloader 7 powder and some hornady 350 grain FP's and start loading and do not stop until you break 2000 fps.

Pffft. I can do that with a 405gr and H4198.

Blaine, must be a mental thing with that ghost ring just sticking out there on the XS but I dont like it.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:23 am

[Blaine, must be a mental thing with that ghost ring just sticking out there on the XS but I dont like it.]

You musta never done any "streakin' " , Frank !

WCF3030 · Post by **WCF3030** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:23 am

XS work great.
Go with MicPherson as your Gunsmith.
A first rate man to deal with.

Coldfingers · Post by **Coldfingers** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:36 am

I guess I would just set it up with a Skinner peep, firesight up front, and spend the leftover money on Garret or BB ammo.

Grab a box o' feminin napkins and shoot er till your nose bleeds.

Burnt ammo will help get you slicked up to deal with one of them big boys in the pucker brush they frequent.

Invest a few cents in a good rubber "O" ring to lock the crossbolt safety in the off position. Very disconcerting to hear a click when you want a bang.

Them coastal brownies are impressive to say the least. Good luck.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:09 am

Check out: http://www.wildwestguns.com/

I'd love to have a Co-Pilot in 457 WWMagnum with their Kevlar furniture. Talk about a gun built for the elements. But really spendy.

encore4me · Post by **encore4me** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:50 am

My XS has wings too!

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ ... 0winged&s=

86er · Post by **86er** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:00 am

Use the Kodiak bullet in 405 gr. In a 18.5" barrel you can get them to go 2000 fps. Grizzly Cartridge will sell ammo witih that bullet all ready to go. Due to proprietary powder blending they can get the bullets going at 2000 fps + with much lower pressure than what we regular folks can cook up with what is available to us. We are taking a client for browns in the spring. Grizzly loaded his 450 Marlin with 405gr Kodiaks at 2070 fps and the pressure is the same as the commercial 350gr load off the shelf.

Buy the best QD scope rings you can get. I like Leupold, but there are some others that should be just as good.

I prefer the XS with the largest hole. It is bigger than any other brand offered and works great for quick shooting. A small colored bead will give you more target view and highlight making it easier to center in a snap. The blades are good but not quite as fast and easy to center when seconds are precious. The Williams Firesight is bright but small at .060. The Marbles is almost as bright but bigger at .090. For longer range or precision, the smaller one is more accurate. For close range big animals the bigger one is easier to pick up quickly.

Depending on whether you are spring or fall hunting, choose your powder wisely if you reload. 3031 is very temperature sensitive and doesnt like humidity too much either. RL7 tends to show a lot of deviation in velocity at any extreme temperature on either end. I don't have enough experience with other powders but 4198 and 4895 have a reputation for being stable throughout a wide range of conditions.

Get a bear claw extractor and an coated or titanium magazine plug. You might not need either, but the odds of either of them failing due to gunk, temperature or other matters is far less than the odds of the factory parts failing.

Make sure your stock dimensions are such that you can work the lever while keeping your head on the stock and the gun in your shoulder. Too long will make the forward stroke of the lever awkward and too short will pull the gun out of your shoulder (or make you get hit in the head with the hammer - been there done that).

FWIW - I use my 45-70 for my primary gun and to back-up clients on bears (any kind), buffalo (water, cape, yak, bison, watusi, longhorn), hogs and African large game. I shoot factory Grizzly Cartridge 405 gr Kodiak and 405 gr Punch bullets ammo. I had the Marbles orange bead but I just switched to the Williams. Either would do. I use an XS rear sight with the largest aperature they sell. My scope is 32mm and sits in Leupold QR mounts on a weaver two slot base mounted with 4 screws. I have 5 rounds available to deal with any situation.

Best of luck to you!

deerwhacker444 · Post by **deerwhacker444** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:23 am

Somebody on this board has one named "PUGSLIE"., hopefully they'll post a pic of it. If I had the time and money, I'd set one up just like that. IMO, it's just about perfect for my needs.

1886 · Post by **1886** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:55 pm

Here is another vote for McPherson. I have known him for years and we have done several projects together. Great guy and knows his way around the Marlin like few others. Regards. 1886.

rroberts · Post by **rroberts** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:08 pm

Do you have McPherson's contact information? Does he have a website?

sore shoulder · Post by **sore shoulder** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:06 pm

encore4me wrote:My XS has wings too!
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ ... 0winged&s=

That is a nice upgrade, they're gettin closer.

However Brockmans front site appeals to me more, and it's more like the one issued me by Uncle Sugar.

HairyHook · Post by **HairyHook** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:09 pm

Thanks for all of the help. I am learning a lot here.

Thanks again,

HairyHook

handirifle · Post by **handirifle** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:49 pm

Vince Lupo has hunted the Big 5, in Africa with his Marlin and had Jim Brockman do his work. He really doles out the praise for his work. The solid performance it gave him would be enough for me.

http://www.garrettcartridges.com/031001.asp

piller · Post by **piller** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:47 pm

I don't have a .45-70 yet, but I am glad to hear all of this advice. When I get my "economy stimulus package" I plan on buying a Marlin in .45-70. Thanks to all!

jkbrea · Post by **jkbrea** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:38 pm

HairyHook,
Here's my XLR that I sent to Clements Custom Guns. They cut it to 20", crowned the barrel and replaced the lever. I added the XS sights and Leupold scout scope with the quick release. I have no complaints. Whatever you decide, good luck.

WCF3030 · Post by **WCF3030** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:08 am

rroberts wrote:Do you have McPherson's contact information? Does he have a website?

http://levergun.com/

Montanan · Post by **Montanan** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:28 am

Now if you want to really upgrade??????

http://www.grizzlycustom.com/photos/Marlin_1895G_5/

But pricy

Personally all I am doing as I spoke with Tim Skinner and only live up the road bout 50 miles from him, is put one of his Skinner sights on the back end, keep the front since that is what he recomends for the 1895G, and be done with it. I roll my own for our part of the country

AkHunter45-70 · Post by **AkHunter45-70** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:19 pm

I am doing this very same thing but i've already made my choice. I have the Marlin 1895XLR in 45-70, installed the WWG's ghost ring and Williams front firesight. It's currently at my smith's place having a Bearproof ejector installed, trigger job, dovetail slot filled and bead blast. When I get it back I have some custom leather to add to it, a cheekpad with 5 bullet loops on the opposite side and a Slimline padded sling made by Lever at Levergun Leatherworks. I will also be shooting 420 grain Garrett Hammerheads through it. I thought long and hard about putting a scope on this rifle but I wanted something different from my bolt rifles. I've been scouting for over 3 weeks for a brown bear and have several spotted in my hunting area. Weather has warmed up considerably and they are starting to show themselves.

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:51 pm

I just did a few things to my Guide Gun:
http://www.gunblast.com/Leupold-Custom4570.htm

1886 · Post by **1886** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:51 pm

rroberts wrote:Do you have McPherson's contact information? Does he have a website?

You can find Mic's info on this forum under leveraction smiths. Good Luck and do let us know how you are faring. 1886.

Dan K · Post by **Dan K** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:02 pm

All of these sights are nice, but also get a good trigger job done, so that you can make good use of those nifty sights.

Dan

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