New SASS MEMBER WITH RIFLE QUESTIONS

Paddy OFurniture · February 09, 2011, 08:56:40 AM

Hi Everyone,

Captian Paddy O'Furniture here. I am trying to decide on a rifle and have it narrowed down to two. Would you guys share with me the pros and cons of the Uberti '73 vs the Marlin 1894? I have sourced 2 locally that are reasonably priced, both in 45 colt.

Thanks
Paddy O'Furniture
AKA Trey Cranford

Christopher Carson · February 09, 2011, 09:20:44 AM

Have both, both good. M73 is said to be made to go faster, but both are faster than me. M1894 has an easily-fixable congenital defect (Google Maurader's website for discussion and pics). My '73 with 20" full octagon barrel weighs a pound more than the 1894 with 24" octagon barrel... and the Winchester balances a tad more forward than the Marlin.

Before you buy, suggest to you go a match, Pards will let you shoot both I you haven't done so already, pick the one you like.

-Chris

Camille Eonich · February 09, 2011, 09:26:02 AM

The '73 is the gun of choice for the top shooters as this time. It's a simple design which helps keeps it operating smoothly and with very little trouble. It's also very quick and easy to take a part and clean. There are may very good smiths out that that can make a '73 sing or just get it back up and going if something breaks and you can't fix it yourself. Really though the gun is so simple that if something breaks you shouldn't have any problem replacing any part of it. There are several categories that you must have either a '73 or a '66 to shoot in.

'73s are expensive.

Marlins are great guns as well. They perform well and there are several world champions shooting them. They are lighter than '73s and many women like them for that reason. They are less expensive than a '73. If you want to shoot B-Western then go with the Marlin.

Marlins are a little more complex than '73s but there are still several great gunsmiths that work on Marlins. I would talk to Widowmaker myself if I used a Marlin.

That's all I can really think of off the top of my head. I'm sure others will chime in though.

Paddy OFurniture · February 09, 2011, 10:56:37 AM

Thank you both for your replies. I have heard that if the Marllin Jambs, then you have to disassemble it to clear the jamb. Have anyone heard this? I am not scared of having to disassemble a rifle, I am a gunsmith.

Captian Paddy O'Furniture
Battery B
4th US Arty
Army Of Occupation
Piney Woods, Mississippi
1877

Camille Eonich · February 09, 2011, 11:03:42 AM

It just depends on where it jams at. There is the famous "Marlin Jam" but there's a fix out there for that that should be done to the gun before using it in a match I would think. People used to say that Marlins could be eventually outrun but Duece Stevens kind of put the idea to rest.

Christopher Carson · February 10, 2011, 07:56:53 AM

Quote from: Paddy OFurniture on February 09, 2011, 10:56:37 AM
Thank you both for your replies. I have heard that if the Marllin Jambs, then you have to disassemble it to clear the jamb. Have anyone heard this? I am not scared of having to disassemble a rifle, I am a gunsmith.

Captian Paddy O'Furniture
Battery B
4th US Arty
Army Of Occupation
Piney Woods, Mississippi
1877

Sometimes, sometimes not. There's "The Marlin Jam" and sometimes you can clear it with a thin instrument used to push the round in the magazine a tad forward, at which point the carrier will lift just fine. But sometimes that doesn't work, and you have to remove the lever, and maybe even drop the bottom plate. Removing the lever takes approximately 6 seconds. A few more seconds to drop the bottom plate. Absiolutely not something you'd do at the unloading table, but at the same time note rocket science.

There are a couple other wasy to jam a Marlin, mostly operater error. One is to allow the bottom plate screw to work loose. Synptoms are the same as above. Another is to use ammo too long or too short. Symptoms are sometimes different in that case.

All that said, The Jam is easily avoided with some easy preventive work. I say again, Google Marauder's website for complete description and instructions.

-Chris

Paddy OFurniture · February 10, 2011, 08:54:26 AM

Chris,

Could you give me a little more info on Marauder's website. I googled Marauder and all kinds of splendid non gun related websites came up.

Thanks!

Camille Eonich · February 10, 2011, 09:10:43 AM

Here ya go

http://marauder.homestead.com/Rifles.html

Paddy OFurniture · February 10, 2011, 09:38:40 AM

Thank you Ma'am!

Camille Eonich · February 13, 2011, 02:25:16 PM

You are every welcome.