Mojave Lever Crew - Roll Call!

[bergmen]

Originally Posted by Spyder

Nah, I'm pretty confident it is 25-20 Improved. The fire formed brass looks identical, is the same exact length as regular 25-20, and those two are both WAY too long for it.

I'm almost convinced to send Hornady 3 pieces of fire formed brass and have them make me some custom dies for it, and just go with it from there. Should be easy to work up a load with.


And, because I think I forgot to put photos, here's some terrible probably too small phone pics to look at.

That's one beautiful rifle! Does it have a newer stock on it that is checkered? This is going to make a nifty project I'm sure. You've got a lot more powder capacity than the 25-20 case.

Keep us up to date!

Dan

[Spyder]

Yea, it should be a crescent butt stock. I'm thinking that at some point in the last hundred years someone put a later model straight butt stock on it. I like the look of it fine as it was done really well, but that hideous White Line red butt pad has to go! It was hand checkered (looks really good, but there's spots where you can see it wasn't quite straight and went a little over the outline of where it was checkered), which I kind of like for character, since it isn't all original.

My plan is to, for now, just put a Marlin pad on it and start loading ammo for it. I'll use it for squirrels and rabbits and steel. I'll keep an eye out for a proper stock set for it, but won't be the least bit disappointed in it if I don't find one for cheap.

Perhaps... https://cuttingedgebullets.com/257-70gr-esp-raptor ?

[BOBGBA]

Originally Posted by Spyder

Nah, I'm pretty confident it is 25-20 Improved. The fire formed brass looks identical, is the same exact length as regular 25-20, and those two are both WAY too long for it.

I'm almost convinced to send Hornady 3 pieces of fire formed brass and have them make me some custom dies for it, and just go with it from there. Should be easy to work up a load with.


And, because I think I forgot to put photos, here's some terrible probably too small phone pics to look at.

Looks like a nice rifle.

[golfish]

Spyder, that old Marlin is a beauty. Those old heavy barreled Marlins are built like a tank.
Please keep us updated on your progress...

Thanks for sharing

[Calif Hunter]

That sure looks like a .25-20 Improved of some flavor - Ackley, Mashburn, like a K-Hornet?



I have a 4 inch Model 57. I also have a lot of bullets for it, mainly 200 and 210 gr SPs. I will have to make an inventory and see just how many. I passed my 1970 Blackhawk along to my daughter and son-in-law and sold a Model 58 that was just too immaculate to shoot.

I always wanted a lever gun in .41 but they are/were hard to find and expensive when I was looking.

[W.R.Buchanan]

I would compare that cartridge closely to the .256 Win Mag. dimensions before I jumped off a custom die cliff.

It doesn't make sense to re-chamber a gun to an Wildcat Caliber when there is a factory cartridge that will do everything the wildcat will do and have Factory ammo available to shoot, and brass to reload.

I'd check that closely before I did anything else. I had a Springfield Sporter that I though was re-chambered in .308 Norma Magnum Which is 1/16th shorter than .300 Win Mag. However after trying to chamber a .308 Norma case the bolt wouldn't close. A trip to the Cartridges of the World Book revealed that the next shorter case with a belt was the .30 Ackley #2 Short Magnum which is 1/8" shorter than the .300 Win Mag. cases were made from .300 H&H shortened and blown out. I sold the gun along with dies I found on Ebay and 100 cases a friend made for me.

My point of telling you this is, you kind of need to be sure what you got as it is not always evident by a quick look, and why people and especially gunsmiths, don't stamp the barrel with the new caliber is beyond me. As soon as I fired the gun with light loads to form the cases I engraved the barrel with a vibro engraver so the next guys would know for sure what it was.

You should do the same after you figure it out.

Randy

[DueceMcGurk]

Another cartridge of that ilk was the .256 Win Mag

https://huntforever.org/2012/10/05/m...er-levermatic/

Brass can actually be made from 357 mag -- necked down of course.

[Spyder]

Look at the shape of the shoulder. I'm confident it's not 256.

[Spyder]

The 256 came around in late 50s or early 60s right? This thing had already been around for 50-60 years by then, lots of opportunity to have been Improved.

I'll figure it out when I have time. Too many projects not enough days off!

[McGuiver]

Originally Posted by DueceMcGurk

Another cartridge of that ilk was the .256 Win Mag

https://huntforever.org/2012/10/05/m...er-levermatic/

Brass can actually be made from 357 mag -- necked down of course.

I love the article. I picked up a Marlin model 56 with steel receiver a while back.



It did not come with magazines, and once I found out how rare a steel receiver vs aluminum receiver was I purchased it. I had to search for mags, but found some new old stock. The steel receiver was only made for the first year of production. Aluminum was for the rest of the production years.

My model 56 is a tack driver in 22 LR. It has a 22” long barrel. Thanks for your post. Please add me to the list of members of MLC.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[200Apples]

McGuiver

I picked up a Marlin model 56 with steel receiver a while back.



It did not come with magazines, and once I found out how rare a steel receiver vs aluminum receiver was I purchased it. I had to search for mags, but found some new old stock. The steel receiver was only made for the first year of production. Aluminum was for the rest of the production years.

My model 56 is a tack driver in 22 LR. It has a 22” long barrel. Thanks for your post. Please add me to the list of members of MLC.

Holy Toledo! Ohio... a DBM lever in 22 LR and made by Marlin! Good gawd. Another! rifle to add to the armory one day. Congrats on your rare steel receiver score!

Thanks for your post -and- WELCOME! to the Mojave Lever Crew, McGuiver.

[Horsewright]

Originally Posted by McGuiver

I love the article. I picked up a Marlin model 56 with steel receiver a while back.



It did not come with magazines, and once I found out how rare a steel receiver vs aluminum receiver was I purchased it. I had to search for mags, but found some new old stock. The steel receiver was only made for the first year of production. Aluminum was for the rest of the production years.

My model 56 is a tack driver in 22 LR. It has a 22” long barrel. Thanks for your post. Please add me to the list of members of MLC.

Congrats on that Marlin. Gorgeous wood on that stock!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Congrats on that Marlin. Gorgeous wood on that stock!

[Spyder]

Dang. I didn't know that one existed. Very cool!

[DueceMcGurk]

Great lever. I have the 989 M2 and love it. No lever of course.

[200Apples]

Alright, everybody... bust out your BREAK-actions.


But, seriously... no, it doesn't, but since you're such a high-ranking member (as are we all) of the MLC, you may feel free to post any and all photos of your personal weapons, personal game-getters, clays-busters and hunting rigs as your heart desires.

[Killer Bee]

It's a free-for-all! - Ted Nugent

[theLBC]

winchester model 88 in .308

[bergmen]

Originally Posted by theLBC

winchester model 88 in .308

I have a magazine for the 88 that I have no need for. If you want it, it's yours. PM me for details.

Dan

[golfish]

That price is crazy high.

[elSquid]

Originally Posted by BOBGBA

Buuuuuuuuuuut, it takes a lever to open it. I know, I know, it's not a lever action. I was just trying to get this thread moving.

In other late breaking news, here's an update on that B92 some of us are might still be interested in.


Attachment 900794

Like I wrote, pretty sure that rifle will sell for more than $750.



-- Michael

[golfish]

I wonder what the price would be if it were a 44 mag....less than $700.00 ?

[Spyder]

Originally Posted by 200Apples

Alright, everybody... bust out your BREAK-actions.

Hmmm. My Parker Bros is leaned against the wall by the heater vent right now...

[Spyder]

Cerrosafe ordered. I'll get this thing figured out soon.

[200Apples]

Originally Posted by golfish

I wonder what the price would be if it were a 44 mag....less than $700.00 ?

The .44 Miroku 92 typically goes for +/-$900.

[Killer Bee]

Originally Posted by theLBC

winchester model 88 in .308

nice pre-64!

suggested reading for all model 88/100 owners

Winchester model 88 & 100 Information top to bottom, great info..

mine are both 1971 .308 with pressed basket weave stocks..

Japanese Tasco 3-9x40 model W39X40 on Weaver rings and base


Bausch & Lomb BALFOR A fixed 4x on Kuharsky Bros. plunger mount

[Horsewright]

Originally Posted by theLBC

winchester model 88 in .308

Nice rifle! My wife is from the LBC! Now look at her all cowboygirl uped!



Sorting our cattle two two Sats ago and popping ground squirrels with her Henry lever this Sat. It's what she wanted to do for her Bday.

[theLBC]

Originally Posted by Killer Bee

nice pre-64!

suggested reading for all model 88/100 owners

Winchester model 88 & 100 Information top to bottom, great info..

mine are both 1971 .308 with pressed basket weave stocks..

Japanese Tasco 3-9x40 model W39X40 on Weaver rings and base


Bausch & Lomb BALFOR A fixed 4x on Kuharsky Bros. plunger mount

nice! i need to get some kind of butt pad. thing kicks like a mule.

[Killer Bee]

Originally Posted by theLBC

nice! i need to get some kind of butt pad. thing kicks like a mule.

a Pachmayr Decelerator Slip On Recoil Pad would be handy on your model 88 until a custom pad could be fit..

Bolsa Gunsmithing installed this pachmayr decelerator on my model 70 .300wm.. even with magnaport, good pad still mandatory



now this 742 Woodsmaster in .30-06 really needs a pad, I just haven't decided what to do with it yet..

[200Apples]

Horsewright

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NICHOLE!

[Horsewright]

Drinks and ceegars all around! She took the pic, those are her feet on the fire pit.

[cannon]

You all have some great guns!

[golfish]

Originally Posted by BOBGBA

Buuuuuuuuuuut, it takes a lever to open it. I know, I know, it's not a lever action. I was just trying to get this thread moving.

In other late breaking news, here's an update on that B92 some of us are might still be interested in.


Attachment 900794

Somebody must have been stimulated pretty good to want to pay $1375.00 for this gun.

[RayPDA]

Alright guys - a turners used ad...for a marlin 375 (lake forest):

https://www.turners.com/info/online-gun-rack

Thought they only made them for a bit in the 80s, so I’m assuming this ones been modded with the lever rail, stocks, and a shortened barrel?

Tempting...but I think I should hold back - someone on here buy it!

[Killer Bee]

Originally Posted by RayPDA

Alright guys - a turners used ad...for a marlin 375 (lake forest):

https://www.turners.com/info/online-gun-rack

Thought they only made them for a bit in the 80s, so I’m assuming this ones been modded with the lever rail, stocks, and a shortened barrel?

Tempting...but I think I should hold back - someone on here buy it!

not for me but dang, includes over $400 ammo for only $700

https://www2.turners.com/gunrack/gundetail.php?id=25212

[200Apples]

That is very tempting... but I have my hands full with my current handloading dance card! Too, the .375 Winchester cartridge today is somewhat redundant, when there are .30-30 and .45-70 brass and components so readily available...

The 200-gr. bullet still loaded for the .375 by Winchester really offers no better performance on game than a 170-gr. bullet from a .30-30 or 200-gr. bullet from a .35 Remington shot at the same speed. Those cartridges have well-filled the “brush cartridge” niche. Ammunition and handloading components for the .30-30 and .35 are also readily available.

Only when shooting heavier bullets does the .375 offer anything superior to some other short-range hunting cartridges. The heavy-hitter .45-70 Gov’t, though, has staked out that position. And once again, with existing ammunition and handloading components.

So while I praise the .375 Win., except for hunting rifle fanatics, the cartridge is most likely no more.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/art...ter-cartridge/


But wait! StarLine is making brass for it...https://www.starlinebrass.com/375-win Oh, Gawd...

Somebody grab this before I do.

[Spyder]

I am quite glad that there is no Turners near me that they could ship it to, because I would be tempted AF. I've got a bunch of 375 brass that needs a rifle.

[splithoof]

Originally Posted by Spyder

I am quite glad that there is no Turners near me that they could ship it to, because I would be tempted AF. I've got a bunch of 375 brass that needs a rifle.

Might be better to sell off the brass, or trade it for other components. That cartridge is going down like the "short magnums" of a decade past. I really don't see any need for it that other existing (and plentiful in both factory offerings & components) cartridges don't already do as well, end of story.

[Spyder]

I originally got it to make 375 SuperMag brass out of, so keeping it is important!

[golfish]

Its kind of hard to "watch" them when prices are so high..

Thanks for posting these Bob

[wolfmann]

For the Marlin fans out there here is a nice one at Turners,I would go for it myself but just bought a new bike
https://www2.turners.com/gunrack/gundetail.php?id=25231