Marlin 1895 Guide vs Marlin 1895 Cowboy both in 45-70

firemannw · August 6, 2009, 08:00 AM

My question is this does the greater barrel length on the 1895 cowboy (26") vs the 1895 Guide (18.5") both in 45-70 give it great range. What other pros and cons can you guys come up with. I'm suddenly wondering if I should have paid the extra $150 dollars and got the Cowboy with the greater magazine capacity. I can still trade in the guide and pay the difference. I value your opinions since I am new to the lever action and the awesome 45-70, so lets hear them.
Thanks,
Noah

Joat · August 6, 2009, 08:53 AM

The longer barrel will give a slight increase in muzzle velocity (typically 100-200 fps/inch if I remember correctly).
The far greater benefit of the longer barrel (for long range matches anyway) is the longer sight radius. With a shorter sight radius it takes a smaller error in the sight picture to produce a larger error on target.

Joat

arcticap · August 8, 2009, 02:57 AM

About the longer sight radius is true, but sometimes the shorter barrel can be shot more accurately because there's already slow lock time due to the external hammer fall, and if the bullet can exit the shorter barrel before the muzzle moves when shooting off hand, then the shot has a better chance of staying on target.
So it does depend on which barrel length can be held steadier for the duration of pulling the trigger, waiting for the hammer to fall and the bullet to exit the bore.
Longer barrels may also produce more barrel torque when shooting long heavy bullets because there's a longer length of rifling to produce it. Thus another source of potential barrel movement at the instant after the round is fired.

CraigC · August 8, 2009, 09:02 AM

The Marlin 1895 Cowboy is one of the lightest (for what it is) and best balanced rifles I've ever shouldered. Don't know why I don't own one. I don't consider the barrel length to be a hindrance at all in the field. The Guide Gun just doesn't trip my trigger.

firemannw · August 8, 2009, 03:26 PM

Well I'm sticking with the Marlin guide gun, in the end I like the more compact size. I shot 10 rds down the barrel and it kick harder than any rifle I've shot, I love it. The only problem was I couldn't kept remotely tight groups to save my life. I don't if it was the kick or me pulling when I shot the rifle, I guess I will have to shoot the heck out of it to get use to the rifle

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August 6, 2009, 08:00 AM	#1
firemannw Member Join Date: September 14, 2008 Location: MISSOURI Posts: 37	Marlin 1895 Guide vs Marlin 1895 Cowboy both in 45-70 My question is this does the greater barrel length on the 1895 cowboy (26") vs the 1895 Guide (18.5") both in 45-70 give it great range. What other pros and cons can you guys come up with. I'm suddenly wondering if I should have paid the extra $150 dollars and got the Cowboy with the greater magazine capacity. I can still trade in the guide and pay the difference. I value your opinions since I am new to the lever action and the awesome 45-70, so lets hear them. Thanks, Noah

August 6, 2009, 08:53 AM	#2
Joat Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2008 Location: Dayton, TX Posts: 383	The longer barrel will give a slight increase in muzzle velocity (typically 100-200 fps/inch if I remember correctly). The far greater benefit of the longer barrel (for long range matches anyway) is the longer sight radius. With a shorter sight radius it takes a smaller error in the sight picture to produce a larger error on target. Joat __________________ All things being equal, fat people use more soap. (I know I am one.) High speed, low drag does not even come close to describing ME.

August 8, 2009, 03:26 PM	#5
firemannw Member Join Date: September 14, 2008 Location: MISSOURI Posts: 37	Well I'm sticking with the Marlin guide gun, in the end I like the more compact size. I shot 10 rds down the barrel and it kick harder than any rifle I've shot, I love it. The only problem was I couldn't kept remotely tight groups to save my life. I don't if it was the kick or me pulling when I shot the rifle, I guess I will have to shoot the heck out of it to get use to the rifle.

August 8, 2009, 02:57 AM	#3
arcticap Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2005 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 3,166	About the longer sight radius is true, but sometimes the shorter barrel can be shot more accurately because there's already slow lock time due to the external hammer fall, and if the bullet can exit the shorter barrel before the muzzle moves when shooting off hand, then the shot has a better chance of staying on target. So it does depend on which barrel length can be held steadier for the duration of pulling the trigger, waiting for the hammer to fall and the bullet to exit the bore. Longer barrels may also produce more barrel torque when shooting long heavy bullets because there's a longer length of rifling to produce it. Thus another source of potential barrel movement at the instant after the round is fired.

August 8, 2009, 09:02 AM	#4
CraigC Junior member Join Date: November 28, 2001 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 4,300	The Marlin 1895 Cowboy is one of the lightest (for what it is) and best balanced rifles I've ever shouldered. Don't know why I don't own one. I don't consider the barrel length to be a hindrance at all in the field. The Guide Gun just doesn't trip my trigger.