I like the Marlin 1895 45-70s. My wife thinks that they are cool too. She says that since I was good for Valentines Day I can get one. Great wife eh? The problem is which one would you get? The guide guns are sweet. The standard is nice has a longer barrel, most likely higher velocity too and the pistol grip stock is a bonus. Then there is the Cowboy with the octogon barrel and higher capacity. What are some other things that should be considered?

Thanks for the help guys,

Jay

I'd go cowboy in a second, 26" hex barrel is nice & added velocity is certainly worth it.

Get the CB, I bought one for my youngest boy last summer. He fell in love with it immediatly. I shoot an 86 so what the hell. I wound up putting a kick eze recoil pad on it along with a Williams WGRS receiver sight, that with a 425gr HCGC from Leadhead he can hit clay targets at a 100yds quite often. Regardless which one you choose I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Just remember if you shoot factory rounds keep swapping them around till you find the one that shoots the best in your rifle and if you handload for it do the same thing with different compnents. When you hit on that right combination stick with it. Lever actions can and will give you fits trying to find that right load but once you find it you'll get many hours of enjoyment out of it.

Go with the Cowboy model, I have two that were built up that way and they handle a lot better,put a Lyman tang on it and have fun

I vote for the Guide Gun, especially the stainless version. It is one handy rifle to shoulder and my was very accurate. Make sure you get the 2003 model to avoid that cheesy porting on the barrel. Good luck.

Question for you guys,

I saw two Cowboy rifles in the rack at the local gun shop both had checkered stocks. The Marlin catalog shows the Cowboy 45-70s with smooth finished stocks whats up with that?

Jay

IMO, the standard size rifle with the 22" barrel and pistol grip stock is the quickest and easiest handling rifle of the bunch. The coolest looking is definitely the Cowboy version, but I don't think it handles as smoothly. To me the Guide gun is just too short, too loud, kinda stubby looking, and a bit awkward feeling.

It really depends on what your intended use for the rifle is. Deer hunting and general 'plunking' around? The Cowboy version would get my vote. If it were for a trip into DG country, the standard 22", checkered pistol grip stock gun would be my pick for sure.

DEPUTY 450, what you might have seen are Marlin 1895 Limited production rifles produced for Davidsons. They came in Ltd. I through V.

I would get a Marlin 1895G and send it to Marlin for a rebarrel to the 22" barrel for $140. I like the 22" barrel but this would give someone else the flexibility to cut and crown for a barrel somewhere between the 18.5" of the 1895G and 22". Then replace the recoil pad with a Pachmayr Decellerator.

The one I have now; the Limited Edition IV. Straight grip, 24" octagon barrel with full length (8-round) tube magazine.

George

I've gotta go with the guide gun. I love my two.

I went back to the GS today to look at that 45-70. It was a Limited V model. It has a half octogon and half round barrel. They had $719.00 on it is that a lot for one of those? Which of the two lever designs do you guys like better the shotgun grip or pistol grip?

I have the standard 1895 with the 22" barrel and I love it. It is well balanced and the 45/70 caliber just kills so darn good. I also love the looks of the stainless model, but would you get galling of the stainless action in a lever more so than a bolt gun ???

Deptuy, I have one of each,but tend to shoot the pistol grip one more it just handles better for me