MedServ60Driver
FNG
- Joined
- May 29, 2020
- Messages
- 53
For better than 10 years I've had an 1895 SBL in .45-70 on my dream sheet. Poor "Remlin" quality and the temporary demise of Marlin had me continually putting it off, but with Ruger's resurrection and some patience I was finally able to get one!
So, without further ado, let me introduce the newest addition to my collection: the Marlin 1895 SBL in .45-70, loosely inspired by the lever gun carried by Chris Pratt in "Jurassic World."
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Ruger really knocked it out of the park with this one. While it's clearly a production rifle, the fit and finish are leagues ahead of the Remlins I’ve handled—no tool marks, tight wood-to-metal fit, and excellent build quality overall. The lever action was stiff at first, and rough —or, as any garage machinist might say, “like a fat person in corduroy”—but it’s smoothing out nicely. The trigger is crisp, albeit heavy at around 5–6 lbs. (I'll definitely be addressing that down the line.)
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Nice touches include the red bullseye on the stock and a well-fitted cap over the threaded barrel.
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For optics, I deviated a bit from the movie gun and mounted a Leupold 2-7x VX-2 with a German #4 reticle in quick-detach Leupold rings—artistic license and all. The high rings just clear the rear peep sight.
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After a few weeks of the rifle gathering dust while I was away for work, I finally made it to the range today. I brought two loads: Hornady 405gr subsonics (1075 fps) and Hornady LeverEvolution 325gr (2000 fps).
I started with the 405gr loads, and they were an absolute joy to shoot. Despite poor lighting and an improvised rest, I got a solid 100-yard zero and managed a final 5-shot group that came in at a tidy 1.5 MOA. Not bad at all for a big bore lever gun:
image_cropper_7DE61533-C5C8-4D8F-A9D0-18C59E3B2252-73957-0000068600A5E877.jpeg (288.4 KiB) Viewed 88 times
Next, I switched to the LeverEvolutions. Let’s just say the recoil was a bit more than the 405gr subs. I got a little lazy on the first shot and nearly got kissed by the scope—but I recovered and managed another 1.5 MOA group. Worth noting: the 325gr loads printed a full 5 MOA higher than the 405gr subs.
image_cropper_DEE66A13-C97D-4BF2-8C3E-0BC79CF00199-73957-00000686ADD7F378.jpeg (291.25 KiB) Viewed 88 times
All in all, I’m beyond happy with this rifle and kicking myself for not jumping on this project 10 years ago. Ruger did a fantastic job resurrecting a true American classic, and this one’s proven to be a consistent 1.5 MOA performer so far. I’m really looking forward to putting more rounds through it soon.
So, without further ado, let me introduce the newest addition to my collection: the Marlin 1895 SBL in .45-70, loosely inspired by the lever gun carried by Chris Pratt in "Jurassic World."
Ruger really knocked it out of the park with this one. While it's clearly a production rifle, the fit and finish are leagues ahead of the Remlins I’ve handled—no tool marks, tight wood-to-metal fit, and excellent build quality overall. The lever action was stiff at first, and rough —or, as any garage machinist might say, “like a fat person in corduroy”—but it’s smoothing out nicely. The trigger is crisp, albeit heavy at around 5–6 lbs. (I'll definitely be addressing that down the line.)
Nice touches include the red bullseye on the stock and a well-fitted cap over the threaded barrel.
For optics, I deviated a bit from the movie gun and mounted a Leupold 2-7x VX-2 with a German #4 reticle in quick-detach Leupold rings—artistic license and all. The high rings just clear the rear peep sight.
After a few weeks of the rifle gathering dust while I was away for work, I finally made it to the range today. I brought two loads: Hornady 405gr subsonics (1075 fps) and Hornady LeverEvolution 325gr (2000 fps).
I started with the 405gr loads, and they were an absolute joy to shoot. Despite poor lighting and an improvised rest, I got a solid 100-yard zero and managed a final 5-shot group that came in at a tidy 1.5 MOA. Not bad at all for a big bore lever gun:
Next, I switched to the LeverEvolutions. Let’s just say the recoil was a bit more than the 405gr subs. I got a little lazy on the first shot and nearly got kissed by the scope—but I recovered and managed another 1.5 MOA group. Worth noting: the 325gr loads printed a full 5 MOA higher than the 405gr subs.
All in all, I’m beyond happy with this rifle and kicking myself for not jumping on this project 10 years ago. Ruger did a fantastic job resurrecting a true American classic, and this one’s proven to be a consistent 1.5 MOA performer so far. I’m really looking forward to putting more rounds through it soon.
