Cheers but I need to put in for a variation so it will not be for a while.I have a Marlin 1895 SBL I could sell let me know if your interested
Thanks this seems like sound advice. The older Marlins seem to be more often wood and blue than the newer ones so I'll put in a variation for 45-70 and look for one of those I think. Thanks for your advice.The Henry levers are very well built guns . If you're looking at a used rifle , the older Henry's loaded through a port in the magazine tube , not through a side gate ( Kings patent ) like the Marlin and Winchester levers . It doesn't bother most people , and to be honest , it does make unloading easier , but I prefer the side gate . Early Remington production Marlins , Remlins , did have issues . The later production rifles were fine , I've had two and both are very accurate and reliable . I still have an 1895 Guide Gun that is a consistent 1 moa rifle , my other standard 1895 Remlin is now in Wales with stalker308 . He took a very nice Black Bear with it when he was out hunting with us a while back . He became a convert and took it home .
The new Ruger production rifles are very well built . They sell for about $2000 CDN here so you can expect to pay the same , or more , in pounds sterling , pricey . I'd keep an eye out for a used 1895 Marlin , even a Remlin , and go from there . There are a lot of inexpensive , and useful , upgrade parts and accessories available for them and they all ship to the UK . It's easy , and fun , to put together exactly what you want . I have no idea what the prices for a used Marlin is like in the UK , but I'm sure others on the site can help you out with that .
AB
Sounds like funI had a Marlin 45-70 pre Remington and I loved it. I used it on a few driven boar trips and it rolled em over very well. I wish I still had it .
Just one thing, fitting a moderater is heracy.
Tusker
They look all wrong and just don't need it, like any other rifle really. Just a fashion accessory really.One thing that appeals to me about these is they look fairly short and well balanced. I guess putting a moderator on one would spoil that.
The Marlin "Dark" and (I think) Henry X- Series have a threaded muzzle and the front sight set back a bit from the threading so you can use an "end of barrel" moderator.Plus I want to have use of the iron sights
I like 444 and have build a few custom single shots in that chambering. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the following of 45-70 so if longevity is your goal, the 45-70 is a better choice. ~MuirThe Marlin .444m is a much nicer rifles to shoot than the 45-70 in my opinion and for boar and deer will do everything the 45-70 will with a flatter trajectory.
Mine is doing 2300 fps with 265 inter locks .
..... and quite fancy casting my own bullets so 45-70 would pose no problems around ammo availability.
I saw that some of the current Marlin and Henry rifles came screwcut but the older pre Remington ones don't seem to and I'm not sure there would be enough metal in front of the front sight to screwcut it. Can't find a big enough picture to tellThe Marlin "Dark" and (I think) Henry X- Series have a threaded muzzle and the front sight set back a bit from the threading so you can use an "end of barrel" moderator.
Do you prefer it because it recoils less than the 45-70? Most 45-70s look like pretty light rifles so I guess you'd really notice the recoilI like 444 and have build a few custom single shots in that chambering. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the following of 45-70 so if longevity is your goal, the 45-70 is a better choice. ~Muir
I didn't say I preferred it. I said I liked it. I actually prefer the 45-70.Do you prefer it because it recoils less than the 45-70? Most 45-70s look like pretty light rifles so I guess you'd really notice the recoil
Recoil doesn't bother me too much either and my thinking was that recoil would be fairly noticeable from any .45" ish chambering in a 7lb rifle, so may as well go 45-70.I didn't say I preferred it. I said I liked it. I actually prefer the 45-70.
The 444 is fun for handgun shooters who shoot and cast for 44's because you can use those bullets with varying degrees of success. For versatility on game I prefer the 45-70. As far as recoil: "Go big or go home." You don't get to shoot big bores without paying some kind of price. ~Muir