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There's a gorgeous example at the local toy store retailing for $800 and change. Octagonal barrel. Case-colored. Good sights. Beautiful wood. Balances off-hand very well and is steady as a rock.
Handled it. Fondled it. Caressed it. I want it. Period.
So...how does the falling block action compare strength-wise to the modern Marlin 1895 action? I've been reloading for the Marlin, keeping loads in the mid-range. Nothing near max. I'm assuming that the classic falling block would still be comparable to a modern Ruger #1, correct?
Although I'm a Marlin fan, my 1895CB just hasn't floated my boat in all honesty. I've decided to put it up for consignment after the holidays and pick up one of those Uberti's. The Marlin just hasn't seen the action that I thought it would, for various reasons. I haven't been able to find a really good load, the cross-button safety bugs me to no end, and the grip just doesn't feel right to me after growing up with a curved gripped 336. I packed it around the woods last deer season and that straight grip just felt awkward while wearing gloves. Oh well.
But that High Wall makes my heart go pitter-patter and I'm seriously considering a swap-out.
Some people just need a sympathetic pat on the head.....with a hammer. Repeatedly.
I don't know about the heavy loads in it but I would think it would hold all the 45-70 power you need to take any game there is, plus it would sure be a fine piece to hunt with. That would be a real class act.
JerryB II Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
The Uberti Hi Wall 1885 is designed to handle all factory loads. They've got a good reputation for accuracy, and should serve you well for hunting, or just fun shooting. Of course I LOVE singleshot rifles, so I'm a bit biased!
Stew71,
The Uberti HiWall will stand Loads stouter than the Marlin, but short of the Rugers. I would have bought one a yr. and a half ago ,but none were available then. I had to take a Browning 1885, .45-70 for $800. It will shoot 5/8" groups all day long with a scope.Less than 1" most of the time with iron sights. The Ubertis are fine looking rifles. I would have bought one, but I'm glad I have the Browning. I did buy the Browning tang and globe sights for it, $400+ extra . Group size at 100 yds.
Those Uberti's are nice, and they'll swallow loads that'll make a Marlin puke.
Before you commit to the Uberti, swing over to Gallery of guns .com and take a gander at the limited run of WInchester Highwalls available again on a limited run.
Good info gents. Much appreciated. Another shop here in Sacramento has a Browning 1885 in 45-70 going for $900 and the local Sportsman Warehouse has one equipped with a tang sight going for just over $1000. Both have been in the rack since late last spring...not surprising the economic scene lately.
Those Winchesters and USRAC model over on GalleryofGuns are very nice indeed. More options to consider.
Thanks again!
Some people just need a sympathetic pat on the head.....with a hammer. Repeatedly.
I wanted the Uberti, but the Uberti/Barreta rep that I spoke to told me they are designed for BLACK POWDER cartridges only. I was about to go to the Browning 1886, but every lever action gunsmith I spoke to told me that the Marlin had the strongest action. So.. I'm building a custom gun from the marlin. If you already have the cowboy it would be less expensive to get the safety kit (wich eliminates the cross hammer safety) and get a custom high quality barrel. Then you'll have the strongest lever action rifle that will out-shoot any manufactured gun.
I have owned an Uberti 85. It was a very nice rifle. I can not attest to it's strength. I would guess that it should handle modern Marlin level loads but it would only be a guess. I would think that if the Uberti was designed for black only it would be roll stamped on the barrel. The modern Winnie 85 .45-90 and modern Winnie 86 .45-90 have black powder only roll stamped on the barrel. This is because there is no SAAMI pressure spec for the .45-90. This is obviously not the case with the .45-70. 1886.
Last edited by 1886 on Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
ob1coby wrote:I wanted the Uberti, but the Uberti/Barreta rep that I spoke to told me they are designed for BLACK POWDER cartridges only. I was about to go to the Browning 1886, but every lever action gunsmith I spoke to told me that the Marlin had the strongest action. So.. I'm building a custom gun from the marlin. If you already have the cowboy it would be less expensive to get the safety kit (wich eliminates the cross hammer safety) and get a custom high quality barrel. Then you'll have the strongest lever action rifle that will out-shoot any manufactured gun.
Not to take this post in a different direction than it's author intended but the smiths you spoke with gave you incorrect info. The modern Browning 86 in good working order is a bank vault. No flies on the Marlin and to each his own but perhaps the gents you spoke with misunderstood you and thought you were referring to an original Winchester 86. Even then, an original 86 in good working order is probably every bit the equal of a modern Marlin in the strength category. It is really academic as either action will take any reasonable load with aplomb. Regards, 1886.
Last edited by 1886 on Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.
ob1coby wrote:I wanted the Uberti, but the Uberti/Barreta rep that I spoke to told me they are designed for BLACK POWDER cartridges only. I was about to go to the Browning 1886, but every lever action gunsmith I spoke to told me that the Marlin had the strongest action. So.. I'm building a custom gun from the marlin. If you already have the cowboy it would be less expensive to get the safety kit (wich eliminates the cross hammer safety) and get a custom high quality barrel. Then you'll have the strongest lever action rifle that will out-shoot any manufactured gun.
That's odd that the rep would say they are for blackpowder, when their web site says their guns are designed for smokeless or blackpowder.
I am a big fan of Marlins, but anyone who tells you a modern Marlin is stronger action than a modern 1886 is someone I wouldn't trust to work on my guns.
ob1coby wrote:I wanted the Uberti, but the Uberti/Barreta rep that I spoke to told me they are designed for BLACK POWDER cartridges only. I was about to go to the Browning 1886, but every lever action gunsmith I spoke to told me that the Marlin had the strongest action. So.. I'm building a custom gun from the marlin. If you already have the cowboy it would be less expensive to get the safety kit (wich eliminates the cross hammer safety) and get a custom high quality barrel. Then you'll have the strongest lever action rifle that will out-shoot any manufactured gun.
That rep you talked to didn't know his hat from a litter box, they offer those rifles in non black powder cartridges like the 348 amd 405 winchester.
The so called gunsmith ( sounds more like a gun parts changer) apparently doesn't understand much about leverguns either.
You might want to check out the articles by Mic Mcpherson on some of the stuff he has done to the Marlin 1895's. I have one he did his magic on and it is great. He is a master in building them the way you may want them. Nice guy as well. Good Luck
Again not to take this post in a direction than it's author intended but many Marlin 95 CBs wear Badger barrels. Marlin does not advertise this for obvious reasons. Many 95 CB Marlins will shoot bug holes right out of the box. Certainly many things can be done to improve upon the accuracy potential of many factory rifles and the Marlin is no exception but the barrel is not where I would look. My apologies to the post's author but I had to comment on replacing the 95 CB's barrel for accuracy improvement. Regards, 1886.
Wow, stirred the pot there didn't I? Look, I'm a newbi so I'm not going to pretend that I know more than I do, but this is what I've figured out in the past three weeks and about 75 phone calls.
1st, I just looked at Uberi's website and it would appear that the rep that I spoke to didn't know what he was talking about, unless they have changed something in the last year in order to accept smokeless.
2nd, I wanted the biggest, most accurate, long-range repeater possible with a 26-30 inch Hex or Oct barrel, full length tube mag and full power, smokeless rifle cartriges. That is why I was looking at the Uberti and Browning. to be honest, the Marlin seemed so light that it felt like a cheap toy. It soon occurred to me that to get the gun I wanted, I would have to have a custom rifle built with the looks of an older lever action. The lever action builders that I contacted ( I think) are experts with leverguns and EVERY ONE OF THEM without hesitation blurted out MARLIN as the gun to buy to build the gun I wanted, and everyone of them told me that because the bolt with the Marlin enclosed style receiver was the strongest design with the strongest steel. They said that the Browning was a great gun and several others, but that Marlin was the strongest.
I'm not trying to pee on anyone's cheerios here and I'm not trying to say that any other manufacturer is weak. In fact they may be stronger than they will ever need to be, but I think the companies I contacted are reputable lever action experts and they all said the same thing so the Marlin seems to be the strongest of THE STRONG. I'm just the messenger here. Take that for what it's worth.
Last edited by ob1coby on Sat Nov 15, 2008 6:41 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Welcome ob1coby. It is easy to step on one's privates. Lots of devout, knowledgeable fellas lurking here. I am confident that the smiths you referenced recommended the Marlin because it is so plentiful and therefore cheaper. I can not speak to the other smiths but I have known Mic McPherson for years. He and I have done many lever projects together over the years. I quite confident Mic did not tell you the Marlin action is stronger than the Browning 86. Mic is well aware of the virtues of the 86. He probably referenced the Marlin for the above stated reasons. Welcome and hope to hear about your projects soon. If you do choose the Marlin I am sure you will be happy with it just do not replace that barrel without careful consideration. Next time you speak with Mic ask him about the Marlin CB 95 barrel. Regards, 1886.
Thanks for the welcome. Im amazed at how well I have been welcomed into levergun forum since my first several posts so thanks.
Macpersons is a local gunsmith that I trust very much. I tried to find Contact info for Mic Mcpherson for this project, but I had no more luck than his address. If you know him that well maybe I could talk you into PMing me his phone# or email address? I took out the list of gunsmiths because it may be the wrong thing to have in my post since I can't directly speak for them.
If your right and they all told me that for cost or availability reasons I'm going to be upset. I spent a lot of time researching this project and I never gave anyone the impression that I was trying to spare expense. What I want is the VERY BEST foundation to build my gun on. I will follow up and let you know what I come up with. Thanks again.
The very best might well be a Shiloe Sharps, but expect to start around 2K and work up with options and sights.........
If your right and they all told me that for cost or availability reasons I'm going to be upset. I spent a lot of time researching this project and I never gave anyone the impression that I was trying to spare expense. What I want is the VERY BEST foundation to build my gun on. I will follow up and let you know what I come up with. Thanks again.
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ob1coby wrote:Thanks for the welcome. Im amazed at how well I have been welcomed into levergun forum since my first several posts so thanks.
Macpersons is a local gunsmith that I trust very much. I tried to find Contact info for Mic Mcpherson for this project, but I had no more luck than his address. If you know him that well maybe I could talk you into PMing me his phone# or email address? I took out the list of gunsmiths because it may be the wrong thing to have in my post since I can't directly speak for them.
If your right and they all told me that for cost or availability reasons I'm going to be upset. I spent a lot of time researching this project and I never gave anyone the impression that I was trying to spare expense. What I want is the VERY BEST foundation to build my gun on. I will follow up and let you know what I come up with. Thanks again.
Mic's contact info is available at the lever action gunsmiths portion on the main page of the forum. Mic and I just finished a B 86 .45-90 saddle ring rifle project. The rifle looks like a special order Winchester that may have come out of the factory a century ago. He also built me a B 86 short rifle .45-70. So he certainly knows his way around the 86. He occasionally hunts elk with an original .40-82. If you like the Marlin, go with the Marlin. If you like the Browning , go with the Browning. Either will make a fine platform for your project. Good luck. 1886.
1886- Mic's contact info is an address unless I've missed something. I just don't have the patients to send a letter, Which is a shame since he seem like possibly the most knowledgeable. Thanks though. I'll figure it out someway.
BlainG- I like Sharps A LOT, and eventually I'll have one, my first CB gun though will be a lever action. That is what drew me to Stew71s post, I was comparing the exact same two rifles. Which lead me to all of my research to come up with the perfect lever action (for me) . I thought I would have some great input but instead I've just about hijacked Stew's post.
Well, not to beat a dead horse, but after this topic I was questioning what I knew so I contacted several lever-action experts again. I'm not going to list them here, but I guarantee that if I did no one would question as to weather or not they know what they are talking about. Here is what I THINK I know.
Marlin may or may not have the strongest action, but It is as strong as any. The major difference is that all custom builder said they will guarantee the best accuracy out of a Marlin. Maybe that is because there are more parts availible for the Marlin, but that is what they said.
Stew71. I'm sticking with my original post. If you don't like the way your marlin shoots, I'd send it to one of the custom builders to have a new barrel and accessorizing job and the safety kit. Take it for what it's worth.
stew71, the High-Wall is a rather strong action. On their factory site, Uberti offers the gun in .348 and .30-40; the former would really stress the action, with its big fat case. In both Europe and the US, the proof ratings for the .45-70 are barely above BP pressure levels, so this may be to what that rep. was referring. In Europe, the .348 is rated to 46,000 psi (not CUP), so an 1885 in .45-70 is likely good to at least that pressure, even if it wasn't proofed for it.
As an aside, while I want it, I haven't bothered Uberti with a request for the price of their solid silver 1866.
