Marlin 1894 vs Henry Big Boy

[Grizzly]

Marlin JM for me. The red dot is for my AR but adding it to my 45-70 has transformed the fun factor.

[dromia]

Not really not easy to fit a scope to the Rossi which is what you will have to do to be competitive in T&P, multi target and Bianchi, etc.

I now know how far UK shooting has fallen when I see a line of lever actions all equipped with optics. Competition, gun handling and manipulation has been led astray by the mentality and overspecialization of target shooting.

No doubt there will be individuals who will assume that I am expressing a harsh, derisive opinion, nevertheless, if you derive some sense of satisfaction and enjoyment from playing those type of games then who am I to judge? We all have different activities that we enjoy.

Just not my cup of tea and one of the many reasons why my club has designed practical & dynamic courses of fire where optics are wholly unsuitable (you require a gun that can be reloaded quickly (loose rounds from a pouch or belt and no fancy speedloaders) and you may be required to "load one shoot one" which is a burden with a Marlin against the clock).

Many of us have purchased Rossi carbine's and short rifles. In two years it's eaten 10K+ rounds. The two parts I've replaced have been the ejector and ejector spring with no other faults. Although, I have always fancied an Uberti 1873 short rifle but find it difficult to justify the price.

You have a point about the "disciplines" however it is more about the type of shooter and their attitude to their guns. People like me enjoy guns for what they are, their differences and the challenges loading, shooting and understanding them gives. To the competitor who thrives on competition then the gun is a tool to help them compete and win but the competition is the driver, obviously there are people with feet in both camps as well, so in getting recommendations for guns it is always best for people to understand what they want from the gun. If it is plinking away for your own satisfaction, which I would argue is the biggest "discipline" in UK shooting, then the choice is wide, however if you are a keen gong hunter and competitor then the field will be narrowed to guns that are competitive in the chosen discipline. Game shooters can also be the same seeing their gun as a tool for gathering quarry and second to the "chase".

Each approach is valid as is all points in between, so in recommending any particular firearm you really need to state what it gives you for the recommendation to be meaningful. Saying that Marlins make up the field in gallery competitions for instance could indicate that they are indeed the best for that niche shooting but not that they are the best underlever in absolute terms, my three under levers are Ubertis and to my criteria of interesting calibres, good barrels for accuracy, well made with good fit and nice materials, shame about the varnished wood though, iconic historic firearms and being top ejects being a lefty this is important to me, then they are far superior to Marlins of the past couple of decades. Neither view is wrong just different from each other. Vive la difference!

[DaveB]

To each his own. I have rifles that wear optics, bolt-actions mostly with the odd AR thrown-in, but my lever actions are just as John Moses Browning designed them. I wouldn't clutter up a lever action with optics. I won't even own an Angle-Eject model, or one with a stupid safety. Might consider a tang sight but that's as fast as I would go.

[lapua338]

I discovered an Uberti 1873 Competition rifle for sale and took the plunge. You're a long time dead so what the hell?

Collected it today and looking forward to trying it out this week.

My next consideration is "no-drill" stock cover and sling as there's a need to safe carry the gun.

[GeeRam]

I discovered an Uberti 1873 Competition rifle for sale and took the plunge. You're a long time dead so what the hell?

Collected it today and looking forward to trying it out this week.

Welcome to the '73 Comp Owners Club

Bashed out quite a few rounds from mine for the first time last Sunday - and what a wonderful thing it is to use

[lapua338]

Test shot mine today and here's my mini review.

Somebody at the Uberti factory was paying attention when they regulated the sights. With the rear sight on it's lowest setting the gun shot precisely to point of aim (at 25 yards) and perfectly central with no windage adjustment required. The notch of the rear sight is deep and wide which gives a good sight picture.

The action is smooth (no angle feed) as the cartridge is pushed straight into the chamber by the bolt. The trigger is tuned to a very light press and gun is very fast to manipulate with the short-stroked action. With a mild load there is no recoil to speak of. The ejection could be a little stronger and I think the action could be even smoother (it's smooth but could be better) but other than that it's very nice.

Just need that sling for the safe carry. Something similar to the image would be appropriate. It's so much more convenient to carry the gun across my back to facilitate patching, resetting targets, walking, etc. Jon at Gunstock Cover has a two month lead time.

I have the Brass Stacker harnessed rifle sling with cartridge bandolier for my Rossi 92 but they won't ship outside the US any longer.

http://brassstacker.com/Harnessed-Rifle ... ifles.html

[greenshoots]

nice to see other levers other than the very common and everyones got one marlin

i almost forgot try october country that where i had my sling for my rossi

greenshoots

[GeeRam]

Somebody at the Uberti factory was paying attention when they regulated the sights. With the rear sight on it's lowest setting the gun shot precisely to point of aim (at 25 yards) and perfectly central with no windage adjustment required.

I guess the person at the Uberti factory that did mine wasn't paying much attention.......

Mine was shooting about 10 inches high to point of aim on it's lowest setting at 25m (but close to perfectly central).....

[Malcy]

I bought the Marlin 44 about 9 months ago and have had no issues with it at all. Great fun to shoot and I believe all the problems they had just after the swop over have now been resolved. Easy to gets parts.

[Fridge]

I love my .44 Henry.

First full bore rifle, seems very well made. I did stick a Skinner peep sight on it.

Don't get too use it as often as I'd like as my home range is rimfire only but I use it every chance I get!