Lever Action Score!

[highpower]

I have been looking for a decent early lever action rifle for a long time. I was specifically looking for a Winchester 1873 in .44WCF, but in all honesty I would have taken one in just about any caliber if the price was right. Finding one at a price I was comfortable with has been hard as real nice ones seem to go for stupid money. I finally managed to remedy that today and even better I wound up with two early lever actions.

I stumbled onto a 1888 vintage Winchester Model 1873 in .44WCF and a Marlin Model 1893 chambered in .38-55 and made in 1900. I got them for what I consider to be a pretty decent deal for the pair of them.

The bore on the '73 is kind of so-so, but it does have reasonably strong rifling right out to the muzzle. The metal finish has no bluing left, but it does not have a heavy patina and the wood is in pretty good condition. Overall not bad at all for being 132 years old. I am probably not going to shoot it a whole bunch, but I will put a few rounds down the tube from time to time.

The real treasure is the Marlin. The .38-55 is a great round and the bore on this rifle is just pristine. There is tons of blue left on the barrel and strong traces of the original case colors on the receiver with some freckling on the left side. I would rate the wood as being about the same overall condition as that on the Winchester.

[elk hunter]

Couple of nice old rifles, If I remember right the old Safety Marlins were low pressure only. If so it's time to start loading some black power loads for the rifle's. Good on you for finding and buying a couple nice pieces.

[jigenax]

Wow, those are nice ones. Will you take them out to the range?

[highpower]

Wow, those are nice ones. Will you take them out to the range?

Yes I will. I have some .44WCF laying around, but I am going to have to order some .38-55.

[rdfact]

Sweet! I do enjoy lever guns.

[DirtyRussianAmmo]

Nice! Those are some classy old lever guns. Gonna be fun to get those to the range.

[bigbossman]

You scored a nice pair, there.

Might want to slug the bores on both, as those two calibers in particular are all over the map in diameter. I load for and shoot both, and you really need to get the right sized bullet for them to shoot well.

[otteray]

Couple of nice old rifles, If I remember right the old Safety Marlins were low pressure only. If so it's time to start loading some black power loads for the rifle's. Good on you for finding and buying a couple nice pieces.

Marlin made not only a high pressure steel barrel; but also a '"B" barrel, that was still of the highest quality. It was stamped on the barrel that it was for BlackPowder pressure loads. With this newly acquired rifle shown here not having that blued, BP barrel, moderate cast loads with Unique, SR4759, 5744 and similar powders should be fine.
In any case, those Marlin chambers usually are undersized a couple (or more) thousandths less that what you will want for a correct size bullet.
So, using BP and soft lead will definitely improve accuracy, or neck reamed cases with harder lead and smokeless, will work well,too. Chamber reaming an old rifle like this would devalue it quite a bit, and Marlin collectors would hate you!
Nice score!

[Skirmisher]

Nice classic rifles in classic calibers. You’ll want to read up on .38-55 ammo because current production uses a different diameter bullet than as used in 1900.
Congratulations!

Skirmisher

[bigbossman]

In any case, those Marlin chambers usually are undersized a couple (or more) thousandths less that what you will want for a correct size bullet.
So, using BP and soft lead will definitely improve accuracy, or neck reamed cases with harder lead and smokeless, will work well,too. Chamber reaming an old rifle like this would devalue it quite a bit, and Marlin collectors would hate you!

Adding to that, Winchester '94's in 38-55 have similar issues. In just about every case I've read about, reaming not only ruined the collector value, it also made the gun shoot like crap.

[highpower]

I avoid modifying any old gun I have. I ordered a box of .38-55 from Black Hills and will try that. Mostly I ordered it to get the cases as I will certainly load for it. Thanks for all the little tips to get this old Marlin shooting like it's supposed to.

[bigbossman]

I avoid modifying any old gun I have. I ordered a box of .38-55 from Black Hills and will try that. Mostly I ordered it to get the cases as I will certainly load for it. Thanks for all the little tips to get this old Marlin shooting like it's supposed to.

My Winchester would not load the Winchester brass properly, but Starline Works flawlessly. Just something else to look out for, sometimes brass mouth thickness is an issue in these guns. Also, they can be picky about bullet ogive.

[AR22]

I have a 1893 in 38-55. I reload for it. Mine likes a .381 bullet. I am betting the Black Hills ones are around .379. And will keyhole and not be very accurate. Slugging the bore as mentioned is a good idea to find out what you need.. Most Marlin 1893s in 38 55 will like a larger bullet. Almost guaranteed. Mine is 1896 or so and I use a 9.0 Grain unique load. Very mild load. And perfectly safe as long as the Rifle is in good condition.

Let us know how the Black Hills shoots through it. If anything you will have some brass to reload. I think they use good Starline Brass.

To me the Marlin is the Gem too.

[bigbossman]

I have a 1893 in 38-55. I reload for it. Mine likes a .381 bullet. I am betting the Black Hills ones are around .379. And will keyhole and not be very accurate. Slugging the bore as mentioned is a good idea to find out what you need.. Most Marlin 1893s in 38 55 will like a larger bullet. Almost guaranteed. Mine is 1896 or so and I use a 9.0 Grain unique load. Very mild load. And perfectly safe as long as the Rifle is in good condition.

Let us know how the Black Hills shoots through it. If anything you will have some brass to reload. I think they use good Starline Brass.

Mine sizes .379, and I use the Oregon Trail laser cast .380 bullets with great success. I use 10 grains of unique, and it is a very soft recoiling load. Accurate too, knocks the Rams down at 200 yards. I have won a lot of matches with that rifle and that load

[BrunRox]

Very Nice !!

Love those Octagon Barrels...