The wildcat .416 Barnes (45/70 necked to .416) was mentioned in a earlier post as a wildcat chambering for the 1895. Is this possible? The .416 Barnes COL is about 2.90". Can the Marlin 1895 be "opened-up" an additional .400"?

The owner's manual for my 1895 Marlin says 2.55" max OAL. However, Ken Waters said in his Pet Loads article that he was able to get away with 2.57". The best I could do in my rifle was 2.56".
Paul B.

One of the limiting factors is the "step" on the elevator, but if that step is trimmed back then when the shell is lifted
the "timing" between the bolt and the elevator could allow the bolt to override the lifted shell... so there really isn't any room to open up the action to any significant degree....

You could get mabey 0.030" is you worked at it real hard...

It's easier to use flat point bullets and seat the bulets deep enought to fit the action.

I'd really like to see Marlin come out with a longer action than the 1895/336 as that would allow the use of 45-70's seated long, 45-90, 50-110, etc...

AllanD

About .500" longer sure would be nice. Ken Waters ranks the newer 1895's right up there with Ruger single shots and Siamese Mausers for strength and it would be nice to put it to use. Also surprised the 336 is no longer chambered for the 307 and 356...no market I guess.
I have a "micro groove" 1895 that I want to re-barrel. Been looking for a wildcat based upon a 45/70 case with 1 deg. taper and necked down to 8mm, 338, 350, or 40 cal. I guess it would be a shortened version of the 416 Barnes or a 38/56 with the no taper. The COL limitations would keep bullet weights down to around 200-275 grains but even with the shorter case it should come close to, or equal, the 348 Winchester if most of the taper is removed.
Agree, .030" more length is hardly worth the trouble. Thanks for the comments.
Jon

Mic McPherson describes the modifications to get a Marlin 1895 45-70 to cycle 2.67" cartridges in the October 1998 issue of Precision Shooting magazine.

An additional .120" IS a significant increase. I'll see if there's a way to get a back issue of the magazine. You have a good memory! Thanks for the lead.
Jon

.120 is a huge increase, but how do they get the cartridge to make the turn through the loading gate and into the magazine tube?

I imagine it's POSSIBLE with a cartridge that's smaller up front, but on a .458 dia cartridge?

AllanD

Jon,

Are you stating, based on Ken Waters statement, that the 1895 can be loaded to pressures greater that Marlin's recommended 35,000 or so psi./cup? I keep 420gr hard cast to about 1800 fps but from what your stating I can maybe go another 100-150 fps by increasing the pressures to say 50,000 psi.. What does everyone think about this? Bad idea? Playing with fire?

The literature suggests the safe operating pressure of the modern Marlin 1895 45-70 is 40,000 CUP or around 43,000 PSI. Increasing the cartridge overall length increases case capacity, nothing more. The safe operating limits of the firearm remain unchanged.

Allan, I did'nt mean to imply the Marlin 1895 is fully as strong as the Ruger & Mauser. I believe what Ken Waters is saying is that it's much stronger than than the 1886 Winchester and, of course, the rolling blocks, Sharps, trapdoors, etc. The way I read it the Marlin 1895 is somewhere between the Win. 1886 and the Ruger/Mauser's. You really need to read the article in "Pet loads" to understand the issue in the right context.

Did a "cut and try" with my Marlin 1895 (over, and over, and over, cuz I didn't want to do anything really stupid)'til I got the increased length from Mic's advice. To help, I reshaped the loading gate opening slightly, beveling everything so that the longer cartridges loaded smoothly. Also, with the allowable increased length, couldn't use the crimping groove in most available bullets. Polished the expander down (again, over and over) until I got sufficient and reliable neck tension. Was it worth it? For me, yes.

A Lee Factory Crimp Die crimps independent of case length and cannelure position.

Jack: How can a crimp die ...crimp a round independent of both case length and cannelure location (OAL)...just asking?

The Lee "factory crimp" die uses the leverage of the reloading press to close a collet. It will easily form a "new" canneluer in a jacketed (or lead) bullet in any location on the bullet shank. It's a great tool and it's only about $10 bucks.

Hmmmmm. Dern yer hyde, Jackfish. Naow I'mma gonna have to spen' sum money cuz a you!
Sounds great. I'm putting one on order tomorrow. Thanks