I think my buddy has finally convinced me to by a 1895 in 45/70. He is drooling over this new version as it has all the tweaks he has or would like to do. Has anyone got their hands on one yet?
I noticed on Marlin's website, that this model is the only 1895 model that doesn't list Ballard grooving for the barrel.

Your thoughts please.

I handled one and fired it as well with Hornady factory ammo. It handles great, very LOUD but well made, the loop I particularly liked very much. I do not think it handles better than the XLR version for fast follow-up shots.

quote:

Originally posted by wsquared:
I think my buddy has finally convinced me to by a 1895 in 45/70. He is drooling over this new version as it has all the tweaks he has or would like to do. Has anyone got their hands on one yet?
I noticed on Marlin's website, that this model is the only 1895 model that doesn't list Ballard grooving for the barrel.

Your thoughts please.

I had a .450 Marlin Guide Gun, as well as a .45/70 Guide Gun. I now own an 1985XLR.

I did appreciate the short barrel for carrying and sneaking through the brush.

My thought on the SBL model is that it's almost perfect.

I like the stainless steel and laminate stock. I like the stock design over the straight grip Guide Gun stock. I like the enlarged lever loop as I do hunt wearing gloves or mittens. I like the Ghost Ring/Scout Mount sighting system.

It does have many of the things that I've either added or wish to add to my 1895XLR. What I don't like is the short barrel.

It seems to me that the shorter "Guide Gun style" barrel causes more muzzle jump than my XLR with the 24" tube.

Now if they offered the SBL with a 22" barrel, I think that would be the best of all worlds.

I also like a longer barrel. I've got one of the short limited guns with a 16 inch barrel and it just does not balance as well as a 22 or 26 incher.

quote:

Originally posted by Shof:
...I did appreciate the short barrel for carrying and sneaking through the brush.

My thought on the SBL model is that it's almost perfect.

...It does have many of the things that I've either added or wish to add to my 1895XLR.
What I don't like is the short barrel.
It seems to me that the shorter "Guide Gun style" barrel causes more muzzle jump than my XLR with the 24" tube.

Now if they offered the SBL with a 22" barrel, I think that would be the best of all worlds.

Well of course the 18.5" barrel causes more muzzle jump than a 24" tube.
When I first saw the 2009 Marlin catalog several months ago this was the model that caught my eye.

For it's intended role as designed, "Destined to be a top choice of Northcountry guides" it is perfect.
It was designed as a "back-up" weapon. Every back-up weapon I've ever seen was short and light.
This model was designed primarily to be carried much and shot little (or maybe never, if things go right).
Short and light.

I have never seen a back up .38 with a 4" or a 6" barrel.

But Flippy, while the rifle is "destined to be the top choice of Northcountry guides," isn't it possible that would still have the same "destiny" with a slightly longer barrel?

If you look at the number of people that are going to use it purely for a backup/protection weapon, versus those that are going to use it as an overall hunting rifle, wouldn't it make sense to make the rifle more "shootable" by building it with a 22 inch barrel?

As it is right now, there is only 1/2 pound difference in weight between the 1895XLR and the 1895SBL, so it's not like there is a huge weight penalty between the bob-barrel version and one with some additional length to make it more easy to reacquire the target for the second shot.

quote:

Originally posted by Shof:
As it is right now, there is only 1/2 pound difference in weight between the 1895XLR and the 1895SBL, so it's not like there is a huge weight penalty between the bob-barrel version and one with some additional length to make it more easy to reacquire the target for the second shot.

If a half a pound of weight is going to make a significant difference in the shootablity of this rifle, mount a red dot or a 1.5X scout scope on it and call it good. The longer tube will do nothing but make it less worthy on it's intended mission.

My Savage 99F is one of the easiest guns to tote around in the woods.
Short, light (and kicks like a mule on crank with 180g bullets BTW.)

If you are MY guide AND you need to get off a shot, I hope to hell you hit the (insert dangerous animal here) with the first shot. More than likely you are only going to get one shot.

I will take short, light and agile (easy to carry) over "easy to get a follow up shot" any day.

I have an 1895M and the XLR in 450, the guide gun is super accurate - the barrel is stiff and mine is a tack driver.

Also have Marlin 45-70s in the LTD V and LTD III - the 1895M (450) is the most accurate.

I think that new 338 Marlin sounds interesting....