Hello guys. I posted about this gun I picked up last week for a nice price of $600. She was really dirty with real world use from the gentleman’s grandfather. He stated that the gun had less than 200 rds through it since his grandfathers initial purchase in 1980, but was carried a lot on hunts. That accounts for the used weathered look that I love. She is not a beauty queen, but is a hell of a shooter.

I was able to run close to 200 rds through her with 3 jams. All three were reloads that came with the gun. I believe I short stroked the lever and induced the jams myself as the lever was super tough to open and close at the beginning of the shooting session. By the time I was done, it was nice and slick. The lever opens and closes very smoothly now. Recoil was nothing and accuracy was outstanding at 25yds and great at 50 as well. The Federal 158gr SP were the accuracy winners. They were almost 1 hole groups at 25yds with the buckhorn sights.

Ammo used:

Federal 158gr SP (Most Accurate)
Aguilla 158gr SP (Very Accurate)
Winchested White Box 125gr (Still Accurate)
Reloads (Least Accurate)


I shot the below groups on top of each other to see changes in POI with loads. 5 shot groups @25yds.




Federal 158gr SP


Same target with Aguilla 158gr SP


Same target with 158gr reloads (not my loads)


Same target with WWB 158gr SP

Nice. That should make a dandy whitetail hunter.

As an aside, I would never shoot reloads that I didn’t load, didn’t come from a retailer, or come from I knew and trusted implicitly.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
Nice. That should make a dandy whitetail hunter.

As an aside, I would never shoot reloads that I didn’t load, didn’t come from a retailer, or come from I knew and trusted implicitly.

Thanks. I load my own ammo and do not usually shoot ammo from someone I do not know. I broke my own rule though.

After doing a little research, I’m pretty confident these are factory S&B 158gr .357 loads and not reloads. The red sealant on the bottom of the round gives it away. Anyway, they did not do as well as the other ammo.

What a great looking lever gun, with some good honest wear.

Damn, that is some really nice shooting.

If the bad guys ride into town ashoot'in. Takem down. If you run out of ammo and there is one left. Beat him with it

At least that is how they do it in the movies.

I assume you cleaned and lubed it before shooting.

What a Beauty. I love that squared lever. Good shooting too!

Gorgeous!

My .44 mag used to be able to do that with the buck horn sight out to 100 yds, then my eyes got old.

I love mine is not that old but is a JM. I put a weaver receiver sight on it decades ago, recommend that, one can use different diameter peeps and I use the stock bead front sight. The 45 70 Marlin has a red dot on it. Love the lever guns just want to swap out the magazine tube follower with the metal ones I acquired.

Are you taking her pig hunting?

Very nice. I love the older Marlins.

Great-looking gun. I lubs me some older Marlins.

Excellent group for buckhorns.

I LOVE A lever-thumper!!!!!!!