Do the Marlin Lever Actions still have problems?

[pennstater]

Marlins are the easiest lever actions to clean and maintain hands down. Nothing even comes close, especially Henry. And I have both. Current Marlins are as good as any mass produced Remington. They come from the same factory. Only thing I don't like about the new Marlins is the billboard serial number on the side of the receiver.

Henry's actually clean the same as Marlin's. Open lever about half way, take lever screw out, remove bolt, Presto, easy cleaning. Oh, as with Marlin's, careful with that ejector. They're pretty simple.
A lot of great and interesting things going on in this thread. One of the better ones.

MLC

[elk hunter]

In order to get the FT Hornady bullets to work right in my lever guns except my Winchester 95 I had to shorten the cases. Because of this my FT slugs are designated for use only in a single shot, I'm not going to cut back a bunch of cases to accommodate these bullets.

[200Apples]

Thank you, I think it's best I start looking at other rounds then. I have only put 20 rounds through mine, just 1 box of the Leverevolution. Trying to stay lead free which is very limiting, since I hope to hunt with it and don't plan on plinking a lot. I figured I'd just solely shoot the rounds I hope to hunt with. Actually almost seem like the prices would be better or similar with the copper stuff... Barnes seems decent, and just watched a guy who shot a bear with the Underwood Xtreme Hunter 305gr +P and he said it went all the way through and obliterated the lungs and made a huge hole in the heart. He seemed very impressed with it. A side note from the video, his hunting partner was having trouble with his Henry and the Leverevolution. Just pushing me further from it.
Would it be best to use copper solvent in the bore using any of these pure copper rounds?

For the record, there are many folks out there that have had no problem with the Hornady Leverevolution polymer-tipped stuff. I was using their commercially-loaded rounds, so the cartridge LOA was in spec.

If you handload for the Hornady Leverevolution bullet, you must shorten your brass to maintain proper LOA, then use that brass *only* for that bullet.

If you don't yet handload, then I'd say stick with the Barnes' loaded cartridges using their 250 gr and 300 gr TSX FN stuff. Folks like the Barnes' for their stability in flight, the resulting increased accuracy and for their effectiveness.

Yes. A pure copper projectile will work better in a bore fouled with pure copper (as will a jacketed bullet perform better in a bore fouled with gilded metal, as will a lead bullet perform best in a bore fouled with lead). When I say "fouled", I don't mean "dirty".

[SigSauerP226]

Interesting, I hadn't come across the casing info before. I don't handload yet, but I think I may eventually. Definitely thinking reloading will be another project to start up when my current stuff slows down

[splithoof]

If you don't yet handload, then I'd say stick with the Barnes' loaded cartridges using their 250 gr and 300 gr TSX FN stuff. Folks like the Barnes' for their stability in flight, the resulting increased accuracy and for their effectiveness. :

Apples makes a very good point about the TSX bullet; while I don't hunt with a .45-70, I do use them in a few other calibers, and will never go back. With a well placed hit, wild things don't move much further that straight to the ground in most of the cases I've seen personally.
As for accuracy, in .30 caliber, I have found the Barnes 168 TSX to be equivalent to a Sierra Matching of the same weight inside of 300 yards, from a variety of rifles.

[SigSauerP226]

Ya my co-worker loves Barnes bullets so I figure it'd be a good choice, and non-lead so I can hunt with it, if I ever do.

Forgot to mention, in the spirit of this thread, my stock iron sights were way off at approx. 25 yards. I was hitting maybe 2 feet low.

[Spyder]

I don't recall having any leverevolution problems in my '78 1895. I have only fired 50 or so rounds though it.

[200Apples]

Remember that even though pure copper bullets aren't as heavy as some of their caliber counterparts, there's both a reason for it as well as a happy ending:


Copper isn't as dense as lead, and since we can't have the projectile grow larger (other than by obturation in the bore), the bullet must be made longer for caliber... but a bullet can only be so long to preserve necessary case propellant capacity.

The good news is that copper bullets tend to stay whole in target, retaining 98, 99% their weight, *effectively* acting as a heavier lead or jacketed lead bullet (which can shed weight in target). Add to that their greater inherent stability in flight, increasing accuracy.


So, the good news, the silver (or, rather, copper) lining in any Non Lead hunting law, is that the copper projectile may be seen as an advantage. Almost a win/win, save for their higher cost.

[200Apples]

Hahaha! A55 flies! indeed. Those are the truly ignorant ones; the ones Cooper used to call "Bambiists". They don't realize that management of game has been a centuries-old tradition. It must be! in order to preserve species.

I can't wait to try some 300-grain copper rnfhp (round-nose, flat-hollow-point) TSX at, get this! a 2100 fps *starting* load. Barnes has published a 2301 fps for max loadings using Vihtavouri N120 from the exact gun, an 18.5" Marlin 1895 GS (and their 250 grain version goes 2378 to 2558 fps, starting and max loads).

Meanwhile, I *plink* using some Speer 400 gr sjfp at the leisurely speeds of +/- 1250 fps from my 7.25 lb GS.

[200Apples]

[200Apples]

Forgot to add that the 1895 doesn’t need to use modified brass for any popular (worthwhile) jacketed or pure copper rnfp.

[200Apples]

What sights/optics are you using?

Factory buckhorn irons. They’re well sufficient for 50 and 100 yard distances, but as my eyes begin to act their age I think I’ll better enjoy a scout scope for distances greater than that.

If I do the scope and rail, then the irons would become the XS ghost ring and front post. It’s a great setup on my ‘94 SBL.

[pennstater]

Velocity/gun weight/recoil point taken, and I mention those Barnes’ loads only as the high end.

There isn’t a critter with teeth and claws native to North America that can remain upright after a .458” 300 grain copper slug @ 1500 fps hits ‘em... if I do my part. Load development will be an entertaining endeavor.

I need my own chrony.

Chris, a chrony is beneficial to load development. Ought to give 'em a look.

MLC

[200Apples]

I want the Ohler 35P.

It’s only money, right...

[pennstater]

That will be the only one you'd ever need. Less of course you shoot it!