2017 1894CB .45 Colt Remlin.

Drydock · September 09, 2019, 06:21:23 PM

Just picked this up, brand new in the box, never fired. Action is stiff, needs a good clean and oil, but fully functional. Decent wood with good grain. Even brushed satin blue on flat surfaces. Good sharp edges on the barrel flats.

No gloss or shine anywhere. Not a show piece, but nothing to attract the attention of an enemy in the field either. We'll see what oil, sweat and powder does to it.

Drydock · September 10, 2019, 01:36:18 PM

Touch of BLO shows a VERY nice piece of walnut. Action was bone dry, Ballistol slicked it up quite a bit. Feeds .45 Colt just fine, does not like S&W brass. Extractor is not cut deep enough for the wider rim.

Drydock · September 10, 2019, 06:26:46 PM

Out on the farm today, shot one hole groups at 25 yards with my handloads (230 Lee TC over Red Dot). Elevation was on at this range, a bit left, need to drift the front sight. No hiccups in feeding. Don't really feel the need to modify this in any way right now, unless I open up the extractor for the S&Ws. I did take a finish file to the sharp edge of the elevator cam, bit of preventative maintenance.

I like it, am well satisfied.

Navy Six · September 23, 2019, 06:03:50 PM

Glad to hear you are satisfied with the new Marlin. I swore I'd never get another lever gun in 45 Colt after my early SASS experience with Uberti 66/73s in that caliber using blackpowder. However, I now have more 45 Colt brass than I could ever shoot from my pistols(did I just say that?) and have had good luck with two Marlins in 38/357, again using blackpowder. So maybe I will give the 45 Colt one more chance if I come across a Marlin.

Drydock · September 23, 2019, 08:02:13 PM

One of the reasons for a Marlin for me is the ease of cleaning BP fouling from the breach. Heavy bullets and full charges. Avoid SASSLite loads. Never had a problem with mine. (I began SASS with a Marlin 1894s .45 Colt Micro Groove back in 89. Worked great, wish I still had it. They only made 984 of the things. Did not know that when I let a friend persuade me to sell it to him.)

Major 2 · September 24, 2019, 04:37:15 AM

I had a JM Marlin 1894 cowboy .45 Colt it was my first SASS rifle in the 90s ....great point ability foolishly allowed it to go when I burned out of the 10-10-4 redundancy.

A few years ago , I made up in part by buying a NOS JM Marlin Limited in 32/20 , still would like the 45 back again too though .

Drydock · September 24, 2019, 12:17:17 PM

FWIW there is a guy on GB right now who has over 100 1984CB .45 Colts at $600. (Where I got mine)

Down to 37 https://www.gunbroker.com/item/842384035

Drydock · November 22, 2019, 11:40:28 AM

https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/sights/rear-sights/rifle-long-bullseye-rear-sight-prod105965.aspx

Put one of these on it. Great sight picture with the brass bead up front. The armadillo never had a chance.

Major 2 · November 22, 2019, 03:29:34 PM

My LGS sent me a Text message today ...he has a nice JM 94 Cowboy in .357 asking $800

Quick Draw McGraw · May 24, 2020, 02:11:53 PM

Been looking for one of these for some time. My hunt continues..

Drydock · October 06, 2020, 06:58:39 PM

FWIW Dept: I had loaded up a bunch of .45 CS BP cartridges, and decided to see if they'd cycle thru the Marlin.

They work just fine. If I decide to go to a big SASS match, It'll be that rifle, my Colts, and those loads, along with a Rossi Mule Ear.

DeaconKC · October 23, 2020, 11:44:21 AM

Quote from: Drydock on November 22, 2019, 11:40:28 AM
https://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/sights/rear-sights/rifle-long-bullseye-rear-sight-prod105965.aspx

Put one of these on it. Great sight picture with the brass bead up front. The armadillo never had a chance.

Is that sight SASS legal?

Drydock · October 23, 2020, 12:12:35 PM

Barrel mounted open sight, no colors. Don't see why not.