Range report, Marlin 1889

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:16 pm

I have been running pistol caliber lever action silhouette at our IHMSA Field Pistol matches. I have been using my old Marlin 1889 in 44-40 and have been doing reasonably well. I thought it would be a good idea to check exactly how it shoots at 100 yards so I took it to the range Tuesday. I was surprised just how well a 116 year old gun will shoot! The top group of five at 2.2â€

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:18 pm

That's good shooting brother.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:52 pm

They don`t mak em like that no more. Many will shoot as well but not with the class.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:56 pm

Borregos,

That is good shooting.
May I ask where your point of aim was?

Joe

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:18 pm

What kind of crimp? & Nice shooting BTW

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:25 pm

Joe, point of aim was center of mass.

Ben_Rumson, I use a roll crimp on this load, but only light.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:16 pm

No problems with that fine old classic!

Marlin .35 · Post by **Marlin .35** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:22 pm

That is mighty fine shooting!!! Good luck wiwth your matches!!!! Art

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:46 am

Good shooting! It would be nice to see a picture of the rifle, too!

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:34 am

Here you go claybob 86, hope this works ok, still getting used to this photobucket thing

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:54 am

Ooooh, that's pretty! Looks like it's been well taken care of for those 116 years!

Cherokee · Post by **Cherokee** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:24 pm

Great looking old Marlin. They can shoot really well and so smooth. I have a pair of 1889's in 32-20.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:36 pm

Borregos,

That's great, she shoots to the sights. Can't beat that at all.

Would it be too much to ask for a close up pic of the front and rear sights?

Joe

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:39 pm

You are right Cherokee, it has a real smooth action, better than all my modern ones, I guess its broken in!!

Joe, I will post pictures of the sights later, in a bit of a rush now.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:47 pm

Thanks, I'll watch for them.

Joe

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:13 am

Joe, here are the sight pictures.
When I first shot the Marlin it grouped way low and I could not raise the rear sight high enough to compensate and when I tried moving the little sheet metal piece with the notch in it up I found that the sight was cracked at the bottom of the buckhorn and the piece with the notch in it would not stay in place. (I intend to get my welding wizard neighbor to repair this for me sometime).
So I replaced the rear sight with one from a 444 Marlin that I had to change because it grouped too high! This new sight is just about perfect with the load I use.

Original sight

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:56 am

Nice gun & good shooting Borregos!

I like the 89 Marlins alot & have 2.
I see those sights for sale pretty often lacking the elevator if your interested in replaceing it.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:41 am

Very cool!

cowboykell · Post by **cowboykell** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:46 am

Nice old Marlin. That rear sight is a Winchester, but the harpoon elevator is Marlin...I've seen them go for $30.00.

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 12:46 pm

cowboykell wrote:Nice old Marlin. That rear sight is a Winchester, but the harpoon elevator is Marlin...I've seen them go for $30.00.

You sure? I got what looks like the same one on an 1893 Marlin that I believe is original. Maybe Marlin & Win used the same ones.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 12:58 pm

Pete,

Thanks for the sight pics.

Joe

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:47 pm

Joe, you are very welcome

Leverdude, yes I would like to replace the rear sight. Where have you seen them for sale?

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:48 pm

speechless

Nath.

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:00 pm

Borregos wrote:Joe, you are very welcome

Leverdude, yes I would like to replace the rear sight. Where have you seen them for sale?

Watch the auctions. I usually see them sans the elevator.

http://www.auctionarms.com/
http://www.gunbroker.com/
http://www.ebang.com/
E-bay if they dont bother you.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:03 pm

Very good. That's some good shootin'! Nice rifle also!

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:18 pm

Wow! great post.

Where in Ontario is it warm enough to go to the range?

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:03 pm

Old Time Hunter,
range is close to Cambridge but it was by no means warm, it was white and cold but no wind! Just bundled up and gritted my teeth

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:48 pm

Borregos,
Very nice old 1888, but you may want to reconsider shooting it in matches, or actually putting that much ammo through it! There are only 266 model 1888 Marlins in the records with round barrels!
That's an extremely rare gun to take a chance of wearing out or breaking! Just my opinion.

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:01 pm

I think its an 89 Vall.
Thats what he called it anyway, I cant tell with the glare in the picture for sure if its side or top eject.

cowboykell · Post by **cowboykell** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:21 pm

Sure looks like an 1889 to me.

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:23 pm

It is, its got a lever latch, the 88's didn't. I dont think anyway.

1886 · Post by **1886** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:26 pm

Nice old Marlin. Great shooter too. 1886.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 7:28 am

I believe it is a 1889, it has side eject, it also has "patented April 2 1889" on the barrel.

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 9:18 am

Yep, its an 89.
The 88's had a very similar profile but were top eject.
It should have an 1887 & 1889 patent date on it. Every one I ever looked at did. If I spot a sight I'll give you a heads up.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:58 am

Leverdude, yes it has both 1887 and 1889 patent dates on it.
Thanks for keeping an eye out for a sight.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 6:11 pm

Oops! Should have read closer!