Marlin 1895 Guide Gun in 45-70 (Review & Accuracy) 

AZ Trigger, I live in England and I have just bought this rifle. I have to say that this is the most honest and insightful explanation of the 45/70 SBL that I have found. Congrats for that ! I will actually use this rifle mainly for big Red Deer, which I generally encounter at 50 to 75 yards in my woods so I will run mine with iron sights (for longer range I use a 308 with a scope), also I bought this for Wild Boar hunting in Eastern Europe where speed of target acquisition is the most important factor because those hairy chaps can really move! I really love this rifle, I own many more expensive much more fancy guns but this is my absolute best toy! (Well, at least since the Libtards have stolen our handguns, before that, it was my custom tuned 1911! RIP ). Anyway, love to all my American gun loving cousins! Long live the Second Amendment ! I am going to emigrate soon!

Just got a 336 BL in 30 30. Good quality out of the box. Fired well at the range today. Customer service was excellent. Marlin is doing much better.

Magnificent video. Detailed, analytical, and informative. Thanks for your effort. I may very well nickname you the Paul Harvey of RU-vid as your voice is pleasant and conversational.

Omg just the video I was looking for. You are very informative. You have earned yourself a new subscriber

Absolutely marvelous review. You pretty much answered all my questions so far.

Excellent video. My Marlin is an 1895 SBL, stainless, big loop, laminated stock. Wife required a silver scope (Leupold) to match the Jurrasic World rifle. Excellent fit and finish, no gaps or issues. Maybe a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday construction, excellent shooter, 3 rounds in a 50 cent piece at 100 yds. A work of art as well as deadly accuracy. Some recoil, not for little girls, about like a 12 gauge with 00buck.

Excellent review. I just picked up one of these yesterday. This is the exact model I bought. Thanks for the tips and detailed review.

I found an older straight stock Marlin 1895G locally and had a gunsmith turn it into this rifle (minus the big loop) but with a cut-down 16" barrel. He used a 1895CB mag tube and spring to extend the tube out giving me 5 rounds in the tube. Wild West Gun trigger, aluminum high visibility follower and Skinner peep sight finished it up. Oh, and had a leather cuff made to hold six more rounds on the buttstock. GREAT rifle!

Love the video! Very informative and i learned alot. Starting from the Brand history, the rifle pros and cons, maintenance of rifle, then to the ammo, and etc. Love it! Awesome job. Keep the great vids coming. Definitely subscribing. 👍

I got my 45-70 ammo from Cabelas. The thing some people may not know is Cabela’s will match some online stores. I saved nearly $20 on two boxes of leverevolution hornady doing this. Hope this comment helps someone.

I had to send my 336 back 3 times.....inside parts kept malfunctioning. Customer service was fine...gun was under warranty....all 3 times I got it back in 4-5 weeks. Plus they gave me updates on progress and shipping. Its had its issues but i LOVE LOVE LOVE my 336.

I'm in the market for one of these. Thanks for the comment about the customer service. 12 weeks is crazy! I had an issue with a Smith and Wesson revolver and took it to the gun shop. They overnighted it to Smith & Wesson, Smith repaired it in 48 hours and overnighted it back. Took it in on a Saturday and had it back by Friday, I was stunned.

I greatly appreciate your review. Very detailed and knowledgeable.

Hello, First I must comment on your presentation skills they are excellent !!! I feel qualified on commenting on your presentation skills as they are a significant part of my job description as an engineer at IBM. Also some who is extremely knowledge on a specific subject we call an SME, Subject Matter Expert. You are an SME. I concider myself very knowledge on many types of firearms including this one. But I have learned much from your presentation. Thank You !!! Like you, I've wanted one of these Marlin Large Loop Lever Guide Rifles for years. They always seem to be unavailable for a verity of reasons, i.e. no customer demand to stock them, there hard to get, our supplier does not stock them, etc. Some gun shops indicate they can order them with a 25% deposit but it will take quite awhile to get it in. Again, like you have a Marlin 30/30 336 which I love. It's in near new condition but it's about 34 years old. High Quality big time !!! I checked on and off for years looking for one. I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida where firearms are not a 4 letter word. But I lived most of my life in Los Angeles at a time when firearms was not a 4 letter word. While there I looked and searched for the guide gun. I had purchased the original Marlin 1895s in .45/70. I loved it. They has several variants of that model come out but I have the original model. I remember while living in Los Angeles when the guide gun came out. OMG, I wanted one in the worst way. For a little while they were available, but the price was way above what I could afford at the time (they have come way down in cost). Originally before Marlin came out with their guide rifle, there was a guy in Alaska that re-worked the 1895s and was making guide guns way before Marlin. The cost was $$$$$$$$$$. He even made a break down version and some models he made were magna ported. Anyway, when this guy came out with his version of this rifle, he called it a guide gun, making it for the Alaskan guides. Then Marlin started producing them, man I wanted one so bad. My earn abilities over the year grew and I was and am a collector and still trying to find a Marlin GBL, YEAH !!!! I found one on line from a gun store that had one in stock, in the configuration I wanted, just like yours. I installed a full picitinny rail, a UTG / Leapers Scout scope with illuminated mildot reticles and a ghost ring rear sight. The fit and finish on mine were perfect. I don't know if it's the lighting or camera or both, my furniture is a little lighter than your. Did you oil it in anyway? Like use lemon oil or some type of wood oil or polish. Maybe it was the gun wax you used.

I bought A 336 35 Remington last year I am very pleased with it

Invaluable information. Thank you sir.

Awesome review! Thank you.

Fantastic review!! I bought the Henry 45-70 and absolutely love it and I am going to be getting the 1895GBL next week!

👍 I have an 1895S,bought it in 1982 or 1983.I do love the weight of this weapon-I use the original iron sights,no frills but hits as far as I can see lol at 100yds. I just don’t go beyond that.

Great job, amazing review.

Nice review and history. I have the SBL and love it and It is truly fun to shoot.

1895 ! I fired one these and it is sweet!

I bought one of the early .450M GG’s. Mine is factory ported. Great rifle! I hand load so it works for me. Short barrel makes it easy to move around to fire. I put a saddle ring safety replacement. I’ve taken deer and black bears with it. I was shooting a Hornady 350FP. Now with the unleaded laws I’m shooting Barns 300’s.

I just bought an 1895, I cannot complain about any defects at all. It is smooth and has a nice action.

I love Marlin guns too. My first gun was a Marlin .22 .

Outstanding video 👍🏻 - Thankyou

I got my GBL about 3 months ago and I love it..doesn't hurt to shoot ..not even hsm bear loads and buffalo bore. I have shot a Henry and the sbl..and truthfully I dont feel much of a difference..so everyone knocking this rifle..either have never shot one or just regurgitate things they read on the internet..or are just straight liars..or I just got lucky and no I dont live in grizzly country , so the person that was calling this a stupid gun design in the lower comments shouldn't knock something just because it's not a good fit for him...I say if you want this gun.. get it..if you want a Henry..get it..if you want a sharps..get it..if you want a ridge runner.. get it..either way get something that goes bang because who knows how our gun rights will be in the near and sad future.

Great review, and it’s a must have rifle if you need a rifle for bear country. My dad loves his 45-70 I load for him and one day it will be passed on to me 👊🏽🤞🏽

great review, thank you!

You can mount an optic on a Winchester without having some awkward side mounting system. There are mounting setups that allow for a more traditional scope placement without affecting the ejection of the cartridge. Also, a scout scope setup is easy and very effective as well.

I have a 1895 Marlin but mine is a lot different than yours, mine has a straight lever, no pistol grip just octagon barrel, and mine holds 10 rounds, and mine has no recoil pad. Thank You very much, great video !

Own it and love it(pretty much the same setup), so much, got 1895cb (45-70) with a 26” octagon barrel. 👍🏼🤠

I agree about the Henry rifles. I love their fit and finish but I will not buy one without a side loading gate.

Loving my GSBL and the Remlin folks got this one right. It’s a June 2019 made rifle and it’s perfect in every way. Took them long enough and this one is a keeper. It shoots better than I can hold it. You’re right about that wax treatment. I suggest carnauba paste wax or if you are ex army like me, then neutral shoe polish is your friend. Goes on with an older repurposed tooth brush and lightly buffed up with a rag or repurposed t-shirt. My GSBL has an OD green painted birch stock set and I love it. Walnut and a clumsily old fart like me in the woods don’t get along. My stainless treatment is a carburizing treatment that costs a little more to complete at the factory and I just fell in love with this slightly more expensive touch. Kinda like a custom shop rifle without the added price. Thank you Remington for turning out such a fine keeper of a 45-70. This is my forever carry hunter especially in the brush like I’m hunting. Got a Winnie 243 for longer range scenarios but mostly brush and this Marlin GSBL comes with me. I reload cast lead booolits that are copper plated so this guide gun is cheaper to feed. Peace Be The Journey!

Very informative and well though out review. I'm just getting a 336-35 Remington made in 1974 with an old weaver 3x scope. I think I'm going to be getting a 1895 Marlin/Ruger Guide gun. I believe I'll be putting a Leupold 1.5x5 on it. They look nice, Thanks for the great review. 👍

Midwest Industries makes an awesome rail system for this gun I just did a video on it for my marlin 30-30

First of all, totally agree about the side loading gate and the henry's. I did have to send my 1895 G in for service because it was lightly striking the primers of my rounds. The turnaround wasn't all that slow, pretty typical if I remember (about 6 weeks). However, when I received the firearm back they didn't include my front sight hood, or the screw that holds the butt stock on. They were quick to get it back to me but cmon! Also, it didn't like cycling hornady FTX (lever evolution) rounds which was fixed by gently applying increased pressure on the extractor (pulsed) with a flathead screw driver. Everything works great now!! I really love this gun, its super handy in the type of hunting I do which is mostly woods hunting here in Wisconsin. If you handload, the rifle becomes even better as most factory loads are designed to be able to be used in lower pressure trapdoor rifles. thanks for the video!. I also have the diamond D leather butt sleeve - he aint lyin, its real nice

Great review. I love my 1895 GS 45-70. One BIG issue for me was a skinned nose every time I fired it. The scope would just come back and scrape my nose. I finally changed out the scope for a red dot. Problem solved. I do (solely) use Garrett ammo which is hotter (and better in my opinion) that the more popular brands. Overall, this would be the last gun I would sell; as if that were to ever happen. Good review.

Good review, tks !

As others have said, key to affordable shooting of 45-70 (and many others) is to get into reloading. 45-70 is a bit odd in that most factory ammo is loaded to be safe in the old trap door Springfield’s, where new model Marlins and other modern levers with a bolt lock design can handle significantly higher pressure. Reloading data will often list loads for these rifles, with the caution that such loads are not safe in a trap door or toggle link gun.

Bought a 1895SBL at a pawn shop recently. Whomever had it replaced the safety with a stainless saddle ring. Came with 150 rounds of ammo (40 of them LeveRevolution), sling, and long eye relief scope. $850, flat. Made in 2015. So far I've put over 200 rounds through it (I reload) and it has been 100 percent reliable and with the scope pinpoint accurate! Ghost ring is 'bear accurate'.. 1 inch group at 25 yards standing. I use Remington 405 grain soft points with a good load of Varget powder (you can hit 2000 fps but I keep it down to 1600 fps!) Not bad at all. And after watching 'North Woods Law' were one of the Game Wardens was moose hunting and he took a shot at a big moose and all he heard was a 'click' (he still had the safety on) I am quite happy the ex-owner replaced that thing! Can you imagine a bear charging and you hear that 'click' instead of a boom!

Gun Stock Wax. Great idea! I've never heard of it but will check it out thanks to you!

The Diamond D butt cuffs are amazing and worth every penny. I have three of them on my rifles. One on my Henry 45-70, one on each of my 7600 pumps.

I will be getting the stainless version with the XS 1913 rail:)

I bought a Benelli SBE3 recently and had to send it back for warranty work and it was stated at 10 week repair time. The gun was $1700. They got it back in about 2.5 weeks. I guess my point is that maybe they’re just covering their butts incase the repair is extra difficult.

Load your own if you can, I’ve been loading some ftx 325 gr bullet with h4198. Loaded them mild a couple grs from max, and they felt great a little recoil and they hit the target 🎯 hard! 💪🏽👍🏽.

I bought a gbl few weeks ago, its a fun gun

I used this gun calibered in 44 for deer. Killed 3 deer at 80+ yards all heart shots. I bought one in 45/70 but have not shot a deer with it yet. I tagged out with my bow last year. Gonna use it this year if I make it that far into the season. Thanks for the info

Marlin must have improved customer service I purchased a 336w a broke the forearm stock screw a piece fell out the other stayed in the gun that I couldn’t remove sent the gun back it was returned to me in just over two weeks

I bought a Marlin 1895 Cowboy, I also looked at Henry rifles but wanted the side loading gate. On my gun the fit and finish are good, I put a Skinner sight on it and accuracy is dead on. I shoot 300 Grain lead on 15 Grains of Trail Boss, nice to shoot, the commercial loads give more recoil. Was`nt sure about Marlin at first but no regrets now.

As stated by some of the commenters the older models are the ones that you want. The quality from the past is greater, so one is better off buying an older model. I would much rather have an old Marlin than some other gun that falls short of being the best. It is true that not everyone can afford to have all the things in life that they want. I suppose that some of us have to choose which tools we want over others. I finally got my used Marlin and I love it. I will take the shorter tube of the older model over the poor quality of the newer models and would never be happy with out the loading gate. I imagine that if I really felt the need for a longer tube and a big-loop lever I could install them, but I am happy with what I have, just the way it is.

Yes I am a huge Marlin fan but how Winchester has sold 1 lever gun since Marlin started manufacturing is beyond me ! I bought my 1895 in 1982 , has been refurbished many times ( I paint the metal work with flat black VHT automotive paint and used CRC GUNCARE all over. )and worn factory sights, Williams peep sight and a 1 to 5 Tasco scope mounted in their rings and bridge mount. Handloaded 300grn Sierra's for boars and 400grn Hornady for Asian buffalo and scrub cattle. Loaded to the max it must have shot around 3000 rounds and still going strong. I could hit a small plate sized target freehand at 100meters and seeing I did most of my shooting in semi scrub, woodlands it was perfect for my needs. Great rifle!

I like my 444 marlin. Bought it in the early 80's. Tac driver then and still a tac driver to this day. 100- 200 yards it deadly.

I had to change my sights as well. It was always shooting low

I am the proud owner of an original 1895 in 38/40 caliber and is still a finely tuned working rifle. It is hard to find ammunition in a store but you can still order as much ammo as you want. Believe it or not I still hunt deer with it every once in a while. It's a lot handier weapon than the original Model 1873 Winchester that I have.

Just bought a black knight marlin 1895.. sweet

SWEET!

Love mine. That's why it's the top 5 grizzly guns

XS is a good sight system. But personally, my Marlin sports Skinner sights. I've got to say I'm happy with them'

Probably already mentioned, Winchester model 94AE angle eject levers were available as far back as the 90's, maybe earlier? I've seen a few RU-vid videos on lever guns where it's mentioned that "Marlins have the angle eject and the Winchester's are top ejects so they weren't good for scope mounting". That was only true up to a point. The 94AE Winchester models are drilled and tapped, at the factory during manufacturing, for scope mounts.

I have a nos from 72 in the box. Gonna give it to my nephew on his 21st birthday

Outstanding review - I'm convinced this is my next rifle!

I have several Marlins and I really like them but to be honest the quality is lacking for what they cost. I could live with some issues for a $500 rifle but not for lever action rifles in the $700 - 1000 range.

I know this is an old review but for anyone interested in being able to mount a scope on their lever gun and retain the option to quickly revert to open sights use the Warne vertical split QD rings, they do return to zero. I think Burris has a similar ring set. They are excellent USA quality and very sturdy. Thank you for not spending your review time needlessly bashing Remington over made up issues.

My Marlin 1895 SBL in 45/70 with a Leupold silver scope is 3 rounds in a 50cent piece. Excellent fit and finish, excellent manufacture. The stainless barrel and black laminate stock is a serious show stopper at the range. The 45/70 is not for everyone, must have good trigger discipline, not for little girls.

Thumbs up on the wax. I'm in rainy Seattle. My 94 Win would rust up in one day out in the rain. Locals clued me in. Wax stopped that. All my guns and stocks get waxed. Any wood or metal wax will work. I use Johnson's Paste.

Hornady LEVERevolution 325 grain best I've used!

I really liked the old marlins they were well built and accurate, however several people I know have purchased the stainless SBL model and have had numerous problems! This is after Marlin claimed they had fixed the quality issues, I can assure you that the ones I’ve seen in the UK certainly have not been sorted regarding quality and for that reason I will not be buying one even though I really like the rifle. Just to add the rifles I’m talking about were purchased less than a month ago may 2019. Come on Marlin get it sorted and I’ll buy one in fact I might even buy two..

Thank you for a very helpful review. Do you strip the factory finish on the stock before waxing it?

I wish I would have gotten one of those... maybe next time.

For the .45-70 I prefer Marlin (capacity). For .357 and .44 mags I think I'd prefer Henry. The tube-loading isn't an issue with higher capacity. Honestly dropping cartridges into the tube is faster than shoving each round through a gate. But the tube rod event would get annoying if you had to do that more often than every 10 rounds or so. The stainless with gray laminate on the Marlin is a beautiful piece.

I have a 1895 Cowboy model 26" octagonal barrel. i reload myself, for 2 reasons. Here in Norway hunting is big, but 45-70 is very uncommon so hard to obtain stock ammo. but i find it actually not to expensive for ammo eaven here in scandinavia if you reload yourself. i load a hot buffalo load with cast 405grs bullets for around 1 dollar if i already have the brass. and i buy the cast bullets.

Love my Marlin 1895. It hits like a sledgehammer!!!

beautiful gun, gbl 2016, lovely

I love this rifile

I love the 1895G, definitely the besr rifle I own. I agree about the finish, I Cerakoted mine in FDE which really makes it stand out. I think Marlin was purchased by Freedom Group which explains why they aren't as good as the rifles from the 1980's & 90's.

Just got mine today. Marlin 4570 22" barrel . 870$$ pricy! I have to wait for it now 10 days in California

Just FYI... Henry is now making a very nice rifle, chambered in 45-70, 38-55, 30-30 and 35 Remington and the rifle has the sideload gate. They retained the original tube load mag. rod also, y]ou can dump your rounds out of the tube without having to cycle them through the action to unload it.

Accuracy review without shooting?

I just bought a marlin 1895 gsbl . It came a nonfunctioning gun my local gunsmith Olson after 100.00 , machining work bending in two places polishing hot the feed to work and the lockup from nonworking to work , he said it poorest shape action for a new gun he has seen in 50 plus years gunsmithing works great now

Henry,makes a great firearm & i want to own 1 someday but price & no side loading gate holds me back...🤠

I have an older guide gun that I love. It only holds 4 rnds in the tube, but that don't matter because Ohio only allows 3 rnds to be loaded for deer anyways. I have never had a deer take more than 2 steps after shooting them with my 300 grain Speer handloads. Plinking is solved by casting 405gr flat points at 1350fps. I can load them for about 15 cents a piece. Glad I bought 1,000 large rifle primers last year though. Hope my brass lasts a while as I can't find any factory loads to shoot up to replace it. Maybe it will come back.

I'm going to have to plug outdoorlimited. They sell .45-70 ammunition cheaper than I've ever been able to find elsewhere. Midway USA right now wants $1.50-$2.00 per round depending. I picked up ammo just shy of $1.00 at outdoor limited. It's worth a look...

The Winchester 1894 has angle eject and has been capable of being scoped since the early 1980's. Just wanted to point that out.The 94 action is not big enough to handle the 45/70 but is available in .450marlin and is a good option if you want 45/70 power and don't care about the nostalgia and history of the great 45/70. True,Winchester's 1886 model is chambered in 45/70 and is top eject only but the 1886 is big enough to handle the more powerful 45/90! The 1895 marlin is not. I have several examples of each and love them all!

Henry now has a side loading gate option. I believe it comes with both.

Henry is doing great with quality fit, and finish, and performance. If you would rather have a side loading gate on a quality control issue rifle ,that's your right.

I’ll take the Henry side gate model. I do have to marlin 336 ‘s one in 30/30 one in 35 remington and both are from the early 60’s. You can keep the new remlins.

Henry makes plenty of rifles with the side gate. I just purchased a Henry 45-70 H010GCC.

What do you think about the new Henry's with the loading gate?

I have the “G” Guide Gun. How can you not like this gun? This is my go-to rifle. The open sights with practice can be capable. I remove the sight hood and have painted the front sight white. They key is practice.

I would love to have the .45-70. But that ammo cost is enough to make your eyes bleed. Unless of course you reload your ammo. Do you think the .44 Magnum would be great alternative? I have considered a Rossi. A couple of hundred dollars less. In stainless steel. Any thoughts on both?

I have heard that the fit and finish issue is not longer a problem now that Ruger has purchased Marlin and produces these rifles.

Your magazine tube looks longer than my 45/70 "Guide Gun". Can I purchase the same magazine tube and add it to mu Guide Gun and pick up another round in the magazine?? Also, appreciate all the links, but what about the scope you are using??

You have a lot of I prefer X, or I will only have Y, without explaining the reasons WHY you prefer or only have. I have Henry's in 45 LC and 357 Magnum, with tube only load. I have those beacause of the smooth action, and best bang for buck in quality. Side load is nice, for occasional top load, but it isn't hard with tube only. I also have a Big Boy X in 44 Mag, that has both loading (Best of both worlds). BUT I also have the Marlin 1895 GBL. I got the Marlin for 2 reasons, It was cheaper, and had a large capacity. I have had zero issues with original iron sites, or the rear peep I added.

I have a 2007 JM stamped 1894 in 44 magnum. I just got in under the change when they went to crap.

Henry by far is 3-400 more. Is why it has better wood and customer service. 1 week to return my a7 survival rifle at henry but as far as durability and power. The marlin. Is a plus thanks for the tip on the wax. I'll have to try it

the 336 also come ls in 35 remington a step between 3030 and 444/4570

Will you, or have done a review on the Henry 45-70. Thanks.

Great big loop.

Henry all weather 45-70. Fit, finish and accurate out of the box. $819. It’s competition is the Marlin SBL 45-70 at $1050+