AusVarmint

My new varmint gun
Had some pocket money left after good cattle prices this year, then blew 2 rear tyres on my old tractor in December- money gone.
A mate turned up outa the blue between Christmas and new year and bought my old xr250, so I acted quickly before the funds got swallowed by consolidated revenues .
Picked up a new Marlin 1895cb 45-70, 26" octagonal barrel, 9+1 shot a week or so back, was just waiting for some range time before I posted. Ran 50 rnds through on Saturday, trigger a bit heavy, will sort soon. cycled well , 2x 5shot rapid fires, all good. No great groups to crow about (4" @100 prone, iron sights) but gonna put in some bench time Wednesday week should see something better.
Shooting 405gr hawksbry rivers cast bullets over trail boss.
She can put half a pound of lead down range before reloading, not much argues with a 405 grain projectile

Absolutely unreal, if I had the coin spare I would have bought that exact model and cal. Something about the octagonal barrel does it for me

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Good bit of gear those Marlins, you would get a bit of barrel droop when she was loaded up.

Camel wrote:Good bit of gear those Marlins, you would get a bit of barrel droop when she was loaded up.

You gunna put a receiver peep or a tang on it Brett?

(very nice rifle, by the way.... )

Yeh, the 45/70 is kinda cool. My most carried rifle for the last few years

That is real purdy!

A creedmoor sight's got me interested, but maybe one of these skinners sight might get be the go
Iron sights for now ( for the "classic" lever action comp I shoot)

I preferred the Lyman peep sights when I had my lever guns, didn't try any others as there wasn't much available then.

4 inch groups at 100 with iron sites and pills the size of half a house brick. I would be stoked.

Really nice looking rifle

What trevort said, anything hit with one other those heavy suckers will be knocked into next week

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Yes those Marlins are sweet. A mate recently picked up a 39A from a deceased estate with a 24 inch octagonal barrel nice timber. I would say it had a restro at some point as it is just too tidy. When i dated it for him we were shocked to find it was built in 1897. The best $300 he ever spent!!! Guns of that era are getting good dollars in the US as are JM stamped Marlins in most every caliber.
I picked up a 44 JM last year that was never fired and sat in a cupboard all its life. To cover the light surface rusting the owner just painted it matt black, stock and all, then off loaded it. I then modified everything as i do.

Tony Z wrote:Yes those Marlins are sweet. A mate recently picked up a 39A from a deceased estate with a 24 inch octagonal barrel nice timber. I would say it had a restro at some point as it is just too tidy. When i dated it for him we were shocked to find it was built in 1897. The best $300 he ever spent!!! Guns of that era are getting good dollars in the US as are JM stamped Marlins in most every caliber.

Yes they are, but they bring good money in Australia as well, especially the octagonal barrel models. If the rifle your mate got was built in 1897, is not a 39a. The Model 39s and 39As started in 1922 and 1939. It is either a Model 97 (1897-1916) or more likely, considering your comment on it's condition, it is a Model 1897 Cowboy, produced in 1999-2002. The serial number will start with a 01, 00, 99 or 98 if this is correct.

It is hard to judge US gun prices against our own. Some are worth more here, some are worth more there. I have a Colt lightning that would be worth double should I sell it in the states. Some guns are worth more here, but not as many. Although a lot of the higher priced guns just sit and don't sell. On average, I would say the Americans pay 10-20% more, generally. It depends on the exchange rate at the time.

If it is a >20yo Model 1897 and is therefore not as old as you thought, don't despair, it is still a desirable rifle. If your mate wants to sell it and it's in good nick, I'll give him $1200 tomorrow. It's worth that if it's clean (bore especially). But he's better off shooting it and loving it for himself.

This link to Marlin Owners might help.....

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/marli ... t-pdf.html

cheers, curan.

That's a fine looking set "blued "wood on that 39.
Anyone seen or played with the Chiappa la-322 (marlin 39a copy) 22 lever action?
Do like the look of the case hardened receiver one

Backlog wrote:That's a fine looking set "blued "wood on that 39.
Anyone seen or played with the Chiappa la-322 (marlin 39a copy) 22 lever action?
Do like the look of the case hardened receiver one

I've only seen photos, and they look nicely made. It's a bit obvious that they've twisted the design of the 39a just enough to bypass patent protection, but what the hell.

My only issue is the 18.5" barrel. I would have to scope it for my eyes, as I wouldn't pull a good enough focus on the front bead.