Marlin's 1895 Trapper 45-70 Gov't

 

The snow is gone, with the exception of drift accumulation, and now it is easy to see what outdoor work needs to be done. I don’t mind. It puts me out in the fresh air and makes it easier to get in those ten thousand steps each day without resorting to running like a hamster on a treadmill. There is a lot of brush cutting to be done, leaves need to be raked and flower beds need to be cleared and turned over, insect control, lawn prep…. Then there is a garage interior to paint and shelves to install, some carpentry work to clean up exterior trim, and a deck to clean and seal. Or… Or…. my wife and I can pack up the car, take a road trip vacation and visit family on the other side of the country. Tough decision.

 The Marlin Model 1895 Trapper

The Marlin Model 1895TSBL Trapper is one of nine models that comprise Marlin’s Model 1895 Big Bore collection. Within the collection, one model is chambered for the 444 Marlin, while the remaining eight are chambered for the 45-70 Government cartridge. Six of the Big Bore models have barrels 18 1/2″ or shorter, with the Trapper the shortest at 16 1/2″. For context, examples of major differences within the Big Bore collection appear on the table below. Other models not appearing on the table differ mostly in type of stock material or use of stainless steel versus alloy steel for barreled action.

Those who have experience with Marlin’s standard finger lever, may have found it to be a tight squeeze when wearing cold weather gloves. The Trapper has a larger loop lever that is a good balance in size between too small and so big that it gets in the way. The improvement is definitely noticeable, particularly when shooting from a standing position. I have this reoccurring dream where the woods are populated with hunters dragging shooting benches behind them, as they have lost the skill and will to shoot standing up. Yes, that is a hammer spur installed on the rifle. It is a tell that a scope was installed to shoot 100 yard groups. Even without the scope, the spur provides more purchase for the thumb.

The Marlin Model 1895 Trapper is equipped with a stainless steel Skinner Alaskan peep sight and 0.096″ aperture insert. The insert can be removed to create a 0.200″ ghost ring. Skinner offers 12-40 threaded apertures in sizes: 0.040″, 0.070″, 0.096″, 0.125″, and 0.155″.  Along with the rear peep sight, the Marlin Trapper is fitted with a rear sight blank at the standard sight dovetail location and a Skinner Bear Buster white face front sight. The latter machined from bar stock and 0.080″ wide. A clean system for this type of rifle and all working with standard Marlin mount points and dovetails so all Marlin and aftermarket sight system options remain in place.

A fan of Model 1895G carbines, the Model 1895 Trapper is quite different in a way that makes me think I need to own both. The shorter barrel and pistol grip make the Trapper faster to get on target and softer shooting… if that term could really be applied to any of these short barrel 1895s with modern high pressure ammunition. The Trapper’s painted, hardwood stock and much improved recoil pad take the edge off of heavy loads and the pistol grip gives me something to grab onto. The splatter finish is as effective as checkering and it covers more areas of the stock. The longer than Guide Gun magazine adds one more round to capacity for a total of five, which some hunters might need… see above reference to standing versus bench shooting. Parts finish and fit was excellent throughout on the subject rifle

The 45-70 Gov’t and the Marlin 1895

It took me some time to understand the potential of the 45-70 in combination with a stout lever action rifle like the Marlin 1895. With first exposure to the 45-70 Gov’t limited to then inexpensive relic trapdoor rifles and corroded, pre-1900 military surplus ammunition, the shooting experience was mostly waiting out misfires, inhaling clouds of acrid black powder smoke and watching 405 grain bullets traveling at slow pitch softball velocity. First impressions are lasting impressions.

So, based on early experience, I was in no rush to purchase a Marlin lever action 45-70 in 1972 when the Model 1895 model designation was reintroduced. While the Model 1895 provided a sturdy platform,  Marlin rated it for use with black powder equivalent factory smokeless powder ammunition and the 22″ barrel  gave it an overall length of 40 1/2″; a lot of rifle to lug around. I liked the idea of the combination, but stuck with a Marlin Model 336C chambered for the 30-30 as my lever action choice. If modern pressure factory and handloaded ammunition had been prevalent at that time, I might have had a different perspective.

Higher performance handload information has appeared in mainstream manufacturers’ reloading manuals since the 1960’s. In most cases, they were listed as an accommodation to the strength of the original Winchester Model 1886. Data was published in two categories, the old trapdoor Springfield rifles at original pressure levels and the Winchester 1886 with pressure not stipulated, but with velocity approximately 20% higher. The latter was a significant increase in velocity and associated kinetic energy at heavy 45-70 bullet weights. Additionally, the performance boost was understated as the Winchester data was based on a 26″ and the Trapdoor Springfield, a 32.5″ barrel.

Shortly after the Marlin Model 1895’s 1972 reintroduction, mainstream reloading manuals began listing the new Marlin 1895 in the “Strong lever action” section along side of the Winchester Model 1886. Some, like Sierra 5th edition, went on to segregate 45-70 data into three ascending categories of firearm strength: Original Trapdoor Springfield, Winchester Model 1886 and Marlin 1895, each grouped with similar strength firearms. For context, 300 grain top loads across these categories from the Sierra 5th Edition lists muzzle velocity as: 32.5″ long barrel Springfield @1700 fps, 26″ barrel Winchester @1850 fps and the 22″ barrel Marlin 1895 @2200 fps. So now, more than nostalgia associated with the 45-70, the cartridge had joined the ranks of heavy hitters for handloaders and the Marlin became the hardware of choice.

Popularity of the Marlin 1895 surged again in the mid-1980s when specialty cartridge manufacturers began creating factory loaded “Magnum” or “+P” versions of the 100+ year old 45-70 cartridge, a group that has grown with time: Buffalo Bore, Garret Cartridges, Grizzly Ammunition, Underwood Ammunition. Today, there is factory performance ammunition, like Hornady’s LeverEvolution, where refinement of powder types yields higher than standard velocity through pressure curve management, without exceeding standard SAAMI pressure levels. You don’t have to be a handloader to extract all of this potential from the modern Marlin Model 1895.

For me the right combination of 45-70 cartridge and Marlin Model 1895 came along in 1998 with the guide gun, lots of quality handload data, and with factory standard and +P ammunition and I have not been without one since. The Marlin Trapper looks to be another solid addition to the Marlin big bore line up.

Lively, live fire…

By product manual and by direct communication confirmation, Marlin does not condone the use of anything other than standard pressure 45-70 Gov’t ammunition in their modern Model 1895 firearms. I understand why. The SAAMI standard Maximum Average Pressure is 28,000 PSI as measured by transducer method. Marlin expects that ammunition manufactured by SAAMI membership companies will comply with that standard. Marlin can build and test their firearms, knowing how they will be stressed in use. There is no SAAMI 45-70 Magnum or 45-70 +P pressure standard, there are only pressure standards as determined by these independent ammunition manufacturers.

The companies noted earlier that produce, in their terminology, 45-70 Magnum and +P ammunition, are not fly by night operations. They have a perspective on specific firearm strength and they provide lists of acceptable firearms for each ammunition type. These companies pressure test, or have tested, samples from ammunition lots they produce. They have been in successful operation for a considerable period of time… in some cases 35+ years. From my perspective, I can’t speak for Marlin and I can’t speak for these ammunition producers. My perspective is that of a consumer and the decisions I make are my own.

The following ammunition types were tested to determine probable velocity and accuracy. None were tested for suitability in terms of pressure or stress. And, again, Marlin does not condone the use of 45-70 Magnum or +P ammunition in their firearms.Below, left to right, 45-70 factory loads as they appear, top to bottom, on the table that follows.

The SAAMI pressure loads were easy shooting. The Remington Core-Lokt is an all 45-70 rifle, meaning it is for use in even Trapdoor Springfield rifles in good working order. Remington also offers a 300 grain High Performance load for the 45-70 Government that is rated at 1810 fps from a 24″ test barrel. When I got to the 350 Grain Buffalo Bore ammo, some of the lyrics to, “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” came to mind, “I know a man ain’t supposed to cry, But these tears I can’t hold inside…” So I broke out the sled, threw on twenty pounds of shot and proceeded with the range work for the rest of the afternoon.

Recoil wasn’t that bad, there are lots of big bore rifles that kick a lot harder. Hunting, recoil would not pose a problem, nor would shooting from a standing position, but shooting from a bench over an extended time, both recoil and report have a cumulative effect. The groups indicated were shot with a scope mounted, but subsequent 100 yard shooting through the Skinner sights was rewarding. If I were hunting, the Skinner sights would definitely remain in place.

Conclusions? I’ve reached a few… Sinatra?

The 16.5″ barrel Trapper gave up little in velocity to my 18.5″ Marlin 1895 Guide Gun. The peep sight system is a solid improvement. The composite stock is more durable. The pistol grip and larger finger lever loop make for an improved hold and steadier when shooting from a standing position. The stainless steel construction is a bit more weather and corrosion proof. The additional round of capacity could be useful. Accuracy is a slim margin better with the 1895 G, but them I have a lot more shooting experience with it. The Trapper’s recoil pad was definitely appreciated. I can only conclude that I need to own both of them and to take time off to go hunting. Nice rifles.