I “pulled the lever” – Marlin 1895 SBL

[Slick]

I have little doubt that this rifle is a bit “controversial” due to its features, so let me back up just a little bit about what it means to me before talking more about it..

I’m a huge fan of the .45-70 and have more rounds than I’d care to admit and avidly reload for the caliber. My first rifle in this caliber is one of the 500 Winchester (Miroku) 1886 takedown versions. It’s a wonderful rifle and it shoots everything I’ve loaded for it extremely well, but due to its “limited” production, it’s not a gun I’d be comfortable hauling into the field for extended hunting. For me, this rifle is “collectable” and cared for as such, but certainly sees plenty of ammo. Also, I should mention that I’ve been disabled for the past 11 years due to a spinal injury and I had a couple surgeries last month to correct some major health problems and it looks like I just might have a chance to go hunting (in about 12 – 16 months) for the first time in my life if my recovery continues well! While my medical condition weighs heavily into my shooting hobby, I’ve leave it at that.

I always drooled over the Marlin “Guide guns”, but never liked the look of brown furniture & stainless or the short magazine tube. When Marlin introduced the 1895 SBL, I didn’t like the rail or the pistol-grip & large loop lever, but the gray laminate & full-length mag-tube got my interest. Fine (I’m thinking) I’ll just take the rail off and switch to a straight-pull stock & standard lever. Well, after finally seeing the SBL in person, the lower tang won’t permit conversion to a straight stock. And seeing the rifle in person – it’s smaller than I thought – so the lever loop wasn’t so bad after all. I actually wound up taking a shine to that XS Ghost sight / rail combo and now like it.

In fact, after buying so many “rail attached” items from LaRue Tactical, I’ve decided to get a LaRue QD scope-mount and use it with a forward (scout) style scope. The best scope I’ve been able to find so far is this piece from Nikon->

http://swfa.com/Nikon-25-8x28-Encore-EE ... 11164.aspx

I like the extended eye relief and low power that I can still dial up to 8x. I have no experience with this scope – so I welcome any input that anyone may have.

Also, for a solid QD mount, I’m looking at mating it up with this LaRue mount->

http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactic ... .bok?no=42

Yeah – I know… $300 scope on a $200 mount seems a little “off-kilter” – HEY, if it would work well and give me the “return to zero” that LaRue mounts are so famous for, then I’d be happy. Still, the mount / scope combo at ~$500 is only about 50 percent of the investment on the rifle – so I feel OK with that…

So in conclusion, I know that not everyone likes (or would buy) a Marlin 1895 SBL, but for me – it really “fits the bill”. I have a classic & traditional 1886 – so this rifle (as much of a departure as it is) really fills out a whole new “dance card” for me. I hope that the criteria that I’ve mentioned here (to suit my needs) is understood even if your particular tastes do not agree. I get to pick this gun up in 10-days as my state thinks that I need to “cool off” even though my collection spans single shots to belt-fed guns.

Thanks for reading my “bloated” explanation and being my source of lever-gun folks! Also please knoe that I values any comments or recommendations in selecting optics. - Thanks once again!!!

Roger

[RKrodle]

Congrats, and there is no need to explain why you bought something you like. By the way I like them also.

[mescalero1]

If the boys don't like it, pass it by, real simple.
My way of thinking, you can't please everyone, so; you better please yourself.

[Nobody]

[AJMD429]

Some of the 'traditionalists' may laugh at your gun, but I'll just bet the view any game animals see from the muzzle end will be brief, and not humorous...

Sounds like a cool gun, but POST PICS...!

[Tycer]

Excellent! Can't wait for range reports!!!


What's the longest distance you plan on shooting that gun? I ask this because of the desire for an 8x scope. You may find that with the EER, 8x is near impossible to hold steady. I also think light transmission will be fairly low at magnification, so low light hunting may be hard. 2x might be all you need and Leupod's 2x EER is very nice.

[rjohns94]

there is a SBL at my pushers place and I like it. I have considered it. If it was take down and straight stocked ..... On my WWG I had a low power variable leopold EER scope. with leopold quick detach mounts. I would use that scope again.

[Blaine]

I love your set-up, but respectfully, reconsider that scope. What is good for handguns will not work, usually, for a Scout Scope....check out the Leupold or Burris dedicated scout scopes and you will be more than happy with them. You are not going to need more than the 1.75 or 2x of a scout scope.

[Slick]

Thanks for the input guys, – especially on the scope. I have 1-4x EER scope on one of my AR-15’s and plan to try it on the SBL as well as a Simmons 2-6x32mm pistol scope on my Ruger Super Blackhawk.

The exit pupil on the Nikon EER scope I listed is too small at maximum magnification. But I like the Nikon for the BDC reticle. That said I’d probably keep it set to the lowest magnification 99% of the time, so the exit pupil wouldn’t be a purchase-breaker.

I don’t really plan to shoot past 200 or maybe – 250 yards with this gun. I’ve always been a “recreational” shooter due to a disabling spinal injury. I had a couple of major surgeries on my lower back last month, so I may well have a chance to fulfill my desire to try going hunting (in a year or so). Because I already own a traditional and classic 1886 rifle, this unconventional Marlin seemed to really contrast well with what I have as I enjoy a diverse collection of firearms and want the robust features this rifle has for standing up to hunting.

Please don’t laugh – but my first thought on adding an optic was to put an ACOG on it… It would be an “ugly marriage” – but I actually think it would be quite functional. And while I haven’t ruled out using an electronic sighting device, I would prefer to use a more traditional scope – in a forward “scout” mount, as the rifle seems to “beg for such use”. The positive point this Nikon scope has is an eye relief of 9 to 30 inches – which would be about perfect for a scout-mount.

Anyways, disability pensions make doing any of this stuff slow and tedious – but I’m not complaining mind-you as I manage OK and did get the rifle! The optics combo will take a good bit of more time, so I can mull it over really well before taking the leap as it will be a while to save up the scratch for that. As mentioned, my medical condition will prevent me from using this rifle with any “real” full-power loads for a year or so – so I have time to consider all options.

And yeah, I really would consider putting an ACOG on this rifle, as it’s not in any way a “historic rendition” of a classic rifle like my 1886 takedown is.

Again, I want to thank you all for your thoughts on my project. All of the input does so much to make me think and consider options and ideas I’d have never explored without your ideas.

[Pete44ru]

It can be converted to a straight grip with a little file work on the lower tang, rasp work on the PG section of the stock, and a lever swapout.

I'm sure some erstwhile fellow levergunner would even be available, to swap their regular stainless lever for your semi big loop lever.

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[edwardyoung]

I may have been the only one that hadn't seen one. if not, here's a link to Jeff's Gunblast article about it http://www.gunblast.com/Marlin-1895SBL.htm

[Birdman]

I love my 44's, but I do think about a guide gun from time to time. If I do go that route it will be a SBL.

[Slick]

One more week until pickup – and man, I’m sure glad this place is open on Sunday as most gun shops in my neck of the woods are closed Sun-Mon. When a man is faced with a cooling-off period, it sure seems that life passes only half as fast? Maybe I need to get back to buying a new gun every month to preserve my perception of time??? Heh…!

Anyways I’ve pretty much decided to just “go” with the pistol grip, as I don’t want to make any modifications that could detract from any potential “future value” should they drop production and the rifle become “rare” for some reason. I burnt my own behind doing stuff like that before and have learned my lesson – even though this rifle is nothing like my 1 of 500 Miroku take-down 1886’s.

I’m still pretty well set on using that LaRue mount giving my extreme satisfaction with all my other LaRue mounts. I wish the Nikon scope started at 1.5 instead of 2.5 magnification, but I’m willing to spend the ammo to re-sight my Simmons 2-6x on my Super Blackhawk just to test it on the SBL and to see if having a forward “scout” mounted scope works well for me.

On another note – I haven’t ruled out using a sight that is electronic or holographic. I have them on my AR-15’s and they work great. If it fails (or the battery dies), the scope comes off in seconds (with the LaRue mount) and BUIS are ready to go. With that said, if anyone has a suggestions for an electronic sight – please feel free to recommend! I know – this is sort of beginning to sound like some sort of “tactical” (please forgive the use of the term) lever-action rifle, but that doggone rail begs to be used and I want to use it for all it’s worth.

Please keep in mind that for me, this rifle is (and was intended) to be well outside of typical “lever gun tradition” since I’m fortunate enough to have many old-school lever guns. And yeah - I do appreciate you folks that recognize that a gun owner needs to only do with their gun what makes them happy - so you guys definitely ROCK on that understanding. I don't think I’ve gone too far out of line so any ideas you all have will most certainly be well thought over by me, I’m just looking to do this one up right (and think that there’s a good chance that I’ll hit that mark. Again, thanks.

Oh yeah, I will post up what I finally settle on, and report results.

[Lineri]

I may have been the only one that hadn't seen one. if not, here's a link to Jeff's Gunblast article about it http://www.gunblast.com/tacticals/Marlin-1895SBL.htm

Thanks for sharing, really useful information, especially to me as a beginner

[AJMD429]

Welcome to the forum, and there's nothing wrong with a practical levergun...!

[gamekeeper]

Welcome to the fire
Beware of enablers we have more than our fair share here....

[Pete44ru]

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Thet sure sounds like a slick setup, Slick...…..



FWIW, I've a lot of experience with scout-mounted scopes, and have determined the deciding factors are:

* Ensure whatever scope will be adjustable to as low as 2x - a high-power scope is useless for hunting, unless you're going to attempt Billy Dixon's "Shot at Adobe Walls" (google).

* Before purchasing whatever scope, I would strongly suggest first determining exactly what YOUR eye-relief needs will be with a scope mounted on THAT rifle.




To wit:

1) Temporarily mount any scope you have handy atop the receiver with tape.

2) Move the taped-on scope back forth until you get a full sight picture when you mount the rifle to your shoulder (no partial or black sight pictures allowed)

3) Once YOUR ideal position is determined, mount the rifle to your shoulder and have another party actually measure (with a rule) the distance from the rear scope lens to your eye. (my eye distance is 9-1/2", YMMV)

4) With that measurement in hand, surf each prospective scope's tech specs, to find out each particular scope's factory eye relief, to see which prospects are compatible with your personal ergonomics (humans all have different neck lengths, face fullness/thinness, arm length, and vision requiremants, including color perception).



Most "rifle" scopes, normally mounted over the action, will have anywhere from 3-1/2" to 7" of eye relief.

Most "Scout" (IER) scopes will have around 6"-7" of eye relief.

All handgun (LER) scopes will have an eye relief "window" instead of a set eye relief, usually either 9"-17" or 11"-21".

In my case, what worked best for ME is a 2x28 Handgun (LER) scope with a 9"-17" eye relief (remember, my measurement is 9-1/2").





Working it out in advance will save a lot of scope buying/trying/selling ($$$), before arriving at your own personal solution.



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