Hi all,

I would like to announce that, as of today, I am the proud owner of a Marlin 1895 Cowboy 45-70! I think I am in love. I'll try to get some pics posted ASAP. I also have a question. This is my first lever gun and I was wondering if there are any special things I need to do? Is there anything to do to make the action smoother? It is fairly smooth now, but it could be a little smoother. Will it just get smoother over time? Should I just work the action a whole bunch? Give me some pointers.

Naaaw, you're not in love, trust me, love will cost you, for better or worse, a helluva lot more than the Marlin.

Hope you enjoy your new rifle.

Working the action while watching TV will help a lot. There are always little burrs in the metalwork inside the action that could use smoothing. Be sure to check the screws from time to time as they will loosen.

You might want to change sights later but shoot it for now and let us know what you think. Marlin makes a good gun. The plastic cartridge follower is also a good candidate for replacement with a metal follower...but again, shoot it as is and enjoy it.

Here are a couple pics of me and my new baby.

Nice rifle there cowboy !
I have the standard 1895.
If you read in the instructions, it tells you how to take it down.
Real easy too. I worked the lever a bunch of times, and then I took it down and used real fine steel wool every place where i could see rub marks. I used a fine stone on a few parts too, just a very few pases. I took a pop cycle stick and used the steel wool to smooth out the groove in the bolt where the ejector spring rides.
It slicked her up real nice and only took about an hour...tj3006

Thomas,

Thanks for the pointers. That sounds like a great idea. I'll have to do that tomorrow.

Oh, and just so everyone knows. I didn't dress up for the pictures, that's just how I dress all the time. I guess I just confirm the stereotype that everybody in Texas wears boots and cowboy hats. But hell, I don't see the problem with that.

Congratulations on your new Marlin 1895 Cowboy. I may be buying one myself sometime.

Nothing wrong with the "lid" either.

Pay no attention to the man falling and staggering about in the avatar.

Cheers

I love mine!
Its my favorite 45-70...right now anyways.
I haven't changed anything on it either. I'm leaving it stock for now.
I'll get an XLR when I get back from this deployment and I'll probably customize that a little.

45grs of 3031 with a 405gr lead bullet is a EASY shooting load, plenty accurate and its lots of fun!

Enjoy your new gun!

Trigger kit from Wild West guns -- goes in easy, and suddenly, you get a great, ~2.5# triggeer. I also added the ejector and follower for the heck of it (the ejector is a big improvement over the stock, but I don't know if it's truely needed. Their big loop lever is nice if you have large hands and plan to shoot hot loads.