Gun Reveal and Range Report: Marlin (Ruger) 1895 SBL .45-70

[shotgunshooter3]

I teased a long-time bucket list gun in a recent thread (viewtopic.php?t=1682), and after what felt like an eternity of work obligations keeping me off the range, I finally had the chance to stretch its legs today.

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 our resident garage machinist would say, “like a fat girl 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:

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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.

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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.

[Orchidman]

That gets a 'You Suck' from me. I dont have a lever gun in any of my safes......but when I do ( its not an 'if, but a 'when') get one it will be very similar to yours.
Good shooting btw.

[Zee]

Yeah. That’s kinda stinking nice. Only thing I’d change would be a straight grip on the butt stock. But, that’s just personal aesthetics. You did well.
Question, you have a ring on the receiver and a ring over the barrel. Not sure how that scout rail is mounted. Is it all one piece? I assume so. And hope so.
Well done, Good Sir.

[Diver43]

Very Nice that one was worth waiting for.
When is your T Rex hunt scheduled?
Well done indeed

[Gene L]

Nice gun and nice grouping.

[shotgunshooter3]

Thanks everyone! I'm pretty pleased with how this turned out. In its immediate future I plan to add some sort of leather pad/wrap to the lever (further deviating from the movie theme, but it's "inspired by" and not a clone anyway) and clean up the trigger. Later this year I will probably try to work up a large volume, mild plinking load.

Possibly a suppressor further down the line, but that's pretty low on my priority list.

[shotgunshooter3]

Yeah. That’s kinda stinking nice. Only thing I’d change would be a straight grip on the butt stock. But, that’s just personal aesthetics. You did well.
Question, you have a ring on the receiver and a ring over the barrel. Not sure how that scout rail is mounted. Is it all one piece? I assume so. And hope so.
Well done, Good Sir.

Thanks! I personally prefer the pistol grip, but to each their own. The scout rail is all one piece along the length of it, mounting the scope the way it is was necessary to retain the ghost ring sight.

[Gene L]

What movie inspired this? I confess to be a non-movie fan.

[GrapeApe]

What movie inspired this? I confess to be a non-movie fan.

Jurassic World, Gene

Nice looking rifle Matt.

One of those is near the top of my list, if I buy any additional rifles

[Wambli Ska]

I must confess that my real love for lever actions seems to be confined to blue steel and walnut and strictly classic designs. BUT, that IS a beauty and I’m now tempted to stray further into your dino-killer world.

[Chiro1989]

That came out nice, I too like the new ones, I put one on the Lions Raffle I am in charge of

[Zee]

Yeah. That’s kinda stinking nice. Only thing I’d change would be a straight grip on the butt stock. But, that’s just personal aesthetics. You did well.
Question, you have a ring on the receiver and a ring over the barrel. Not sure how that scout rail is mounted. Is it all one piece? I assume so. And hope so.
Well done, Good Sir.

Thanks! I personally prefer the pistol grip, but to each their own. The scout rail is all one piece along the length of it, mounting the scope the way it is was necessary to retain the ghost ring sight.

By all means! It’s just a personal thing. Aesthetics, as it were. You did well and I’m happy and proud for you. Glad to hear about the rail. Just a bit of concern. But, I’m good now. Knowing it’s one piece.

Well done.

[sakodude]

That turned out nice and shoots to boot! Sad it made it's debut without us

[bullsi1911]

That is nice! Well done on the rifle, and the shooting!

I know that those LeverEvolutions will kill the heck out of central TX deer from experience. Not sure on T-Rex, though

[Freezer]

I really like it! The 2x7 Leupold is a great choice. The larger lever will be nice in cold weather.

[Wambli Ska]

That is nice! Well done on the rifle, and the shooting!

I know that those LeverEvolutions will kill the heck out of central TX deer from experience. Not sure on T-Rex, though

For T-Rex you have to do a “Texas Heart Shot”…

[Zsarvashere]

Very nice.

I have an older blued version fitted with a 1-4. I like it a lot. There is/was a safety delete I found years ago. I never got around to it I just fit a rubber o ring around it and it has worked nicely. There used to be a after market trigger available, but it was more than I wanted to spend. I found a polish job that you could do and got mine under 4lbs. I remember sending a link to Zee on the old board, but that was many computers ago for me and I would have to find it again. I will try to do so and send it to you, but I have no idea if it is still out on the interwebs.

[Bigslug]

Nice! Looking hard at the pistol caliber 1894 version of that. Had been considering the "Dark", but would prefer that setup in stainless. The SBL, plus Mag Pul's stock and forend, should get me where I want to go.

Then of course the safety-delete.

[Gene L]

I've got 20 rounds of primed brass. You can have them.

[Big Al1]

Keeping humans safe from T-Rex since 1873!

[shotgunshooter3]

Nice! Looking hard at the pistol caliber 1894 version of that. Had been considering the "Dark", but would prefer that setup in stainless. The SBL, plus Mag Pul's stock and forend, should get me where I want to go.

Then of course the safety-delete.

Elk Creek and Sako got me tuned back in to how fun lever guns can be. IIRC there is or was a JM stamped .357 at one of Andy's haunts. I may still have to add one to my collection.

I kind of like the idea of getting a "tacticool" lever gun, just because of the absurdity of it.

[shotgunshooter3]

That turned out nice and shoots to boot! Sad it made it's debut without us

I am as well, but unfortunately my Fridays are spoken for for awhile. I'm sure we'll put rounds down range this summer.

[Jayhawker]

Very nice...the only thing I would do( and did to my 1895 immediately upon getting it home) was to get rid of that hateful, superfluous ,lawyer inspired cross bolt safety...you already have one of the safest rifles ever built...all that thing does is encourage people to walk around with a cocked rifle....

$20.00 at Beartooth Mercantile

[Bigslug]

I kind of like the idea of getting a "tacticool" lever gun, just because of the absurdity of it.

Not much absurd about it really. The self-cycling and the quick change feed trough are about all the practical separation there is between an AR and a .357 shoulder arm for urban social studies.

I DO wish Nelson King had the foresight to put his patented loading gate on the left side of the receiver, however, and I DO wish one of the modern manufacturers would be sufficiently un-hidebound to move it there. . .

[shotgunshooter3]

That is nice! Well done on the rifle, and the shooting!

I know that those LeverEvolutions will kill the heck out of central TX deer from experience. Not sure on T-Rex, though

A T-Rex would probably call for some hot 400-500gr solids.