Latest Acquisition—2009-vintage Marlin 1894C

I own a real Marlin 1894 P.





It's a lot of fun.

Here is a pic of my JM stamped Model 1895ss. Rifle, box, manual, and the most important accessory for shooting a 45-70.


Receipt says 1-14-94 and a mere $339.00



I would love to pick up a Marlin 1895 in 45 Long Colt. But if I ran across one in 44 mag i might have to buy it, sell my Ruger Vaquero in 45 LC and buy a 44 mag pistol of some kind.

Pudge

Pudge said:

I would love to pick up a Marlin 1894 in 45 Long Colt. But if I ran across one in 44 mag i might have to buy it, sell my Ruger Vaquero in 45 LC and buy a 44 mag pistol of some kind. Pudge

Click to expand...

Well, I didn't have to sell the Ruger Vaquero. I finally found a deal I couldn't refuse on a Marlin 1894, actually a Remlin, in 45 Colt. Got it for $499.95 shipped with a discount coupon. When I picked it up at the LGS, he said "I saw what you payed on the paperwork I got". Then he pulled up one of his distributor's web site that had the lowest price. The same rifle was $566 plus shipping his price. He said I got it cheaper than he could even get one in the shop.

So here is my tribute to the venerable 45 Caliber. 45-70 45 Colt 45 ACP




The stock grips on the Vaquero were very slick and didn't offer a very good purchase on the gun. So I got some grips with a little more grasp.




Pudge

Over the years I have cooked up 45-70 loads from mild to hot. Even tried some black powder (actually Pyrodex) loads as the original 45-70 Govt loads were black powder as was the original 45 Colt ammo. Unfortunately my Marlin 45-70 has the micro groove rifling. With micro groove, black powder was a disaster. Mild (low velocity) also does not like micro groove. What micro groove is good for is med to high velocity copper jacketed boolits.

So basically I just leave the 45-70 for jacketed boolits. That is why I wanted the 45 Colt lever action. That will be my fun gun. All 1894 Remlin pistol caliber lever actions have have Ballard 6 groove deep cut rifling. Great for lead boolits or coated lead boolits.

So, I like your idea of Trail Boss powder that will fill up the 45 Colt's deep cartridge. Most of the other smokeless powders are dense and leave a big air space in the cartridge. This can be bad because some powders are position sensitive. Meaning they like all the powder stacked at the primer end as opposed to lying flat the entire length of the cartridge. Or even worse, have the powder stacked up and the boolit end and nothing but air at the primer. Trail Boss will fix that problem.

Thanks for the suggestion halfmoonclip. Now to find some Trail Boss locally.

Pudge