Modifications to a Marlin 1895SS

[bubbawitha4570]

I am posting messages from www.luvtohunt.com/forum about my mods done to one of my Marlins. I think that you guys should enjoy some of the pics and ideas of what can be done with these excellent rifles. I was thinking about my Short Barrelled Distributor of Badness (SBDB) when reading/posting to psychos' .450 Marlin posting.

Enjoy!!!

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The Marlin 1895 SS that I purchased recently has underwent one modification already. I have had a Limbsaver recoil pad installed. The next modification will be to shorten the barrel. I am thinking something in the neighborhood of "shorter is better" so we will see. Cool There are more mods planned to bring this toy to life, and I will be keeping all of you guys up to speed on my mods when they are done. I will try to get pictures out of the changes so that you can see the progress...

This will be F U N !!! Even more so when it is finished.. Wink

[bubbawitha4570]

Beings I'm so technically advanced in my abilities, as soon as Doc gets done sizing my pics down to a usable size I will have them posted here.

I'm just glad that I don't have any probs with figuring out which end of the gun goes BOOM!! when the trigger is pulled.

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From Doc: ( I couldn't get my pics to work for whatever reason)

Here they are kiddies, enjoy. Dont drool to much, he is trying to kepp them as rust free as possible.




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[bubbawitha4570]

First off, Thank You Doc. You have done something that defies my second, smaller, brain cell.


The top one is my first 1895, the one that I've done all my hunting with. The only change to that one is a Pachmyer Decelerator pad. This one shouldn't be going through any changes. In case anyone is wondering, the buttstock shellholder is custom made by Bubba Inc. I couldn't find exactlly what I wanted, and proceeded to make it. It is a piece of leather for backing (stock wrap around) and cloth for the actual case loops/backing area. By using cloth for the loops, I eliminated the verdigris problems when brass/copper comes into contact with leather. Now, I can leave shells in the holder indefinitely without worrying about anything. I did have leather lace originally, but I wasn't happy with the performance of the lace. I switched to boot laces, and am very happy with my results; I can get it tied down tighter. That black case on the sling is a 357 ammo dump pouch from a police belt rig. I found that they work great for either 3 rounds of 45/70 or a Zippo lighter, you can imagine any other uses for spare areas of carry.

The bottom one is the "fun" 1895. As you might have noticed, the recoil pad has been changed out already. This is the Limbsaver grind to fit version. If you are very observant, you will notice the hammer looks different because there is an offset hammer spur on it that will be getting removed (98% sure on that one).

In subsequent pics I am going to try to keep the two together so that you can clearly see the changes occuring in the life of Marlin. If everything goes right, the next pics should show the shortened barrel and buttstock.

Any questions, class??

[bubbawitha4570]

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 6:41 am

I should be picking up the shorty today from the gunsmith. Hopefully he has received the proper tool this time to do the crown correctly. Hate it when the hacksaw won't put in an "automatic" crown while cutting. Razz

Whenever I can find a digi camera to take pics, I will post them (or get someone to do it for me Rolling Eyes , right Doc? ) so that you will see the changes taking place with my toy.

[bubbawitha4570]

I have it back. And boy am I one happy boy!!!

Imagine a 45/70 that is shorter than a Red Ryder BB gun. This is what I now have. The overall length of the rifle is now 35 inches exactly. I had the barrel cut to 16 1/4", it stops just 1 3/4" in front of the magazine. In fact the front sight ramp now ends just behind the end of the magazine tube, that is just how short the barrel is. My, oh my....the handling characteristics are awesome for a carbine type of weapon. Even my father made the initial comment "that would be really nice inside a house" at first sight of the toy. Let's just say that was NOT what I was expecting from him. He is not really the most "tactical" thinking individual, so you can assume what kind of thinking this carbine evokes.
Friday May 12, 06

Now comes the testing at the range. I wish that I could catch some firing/flamethrowing shots like on the webpage of a gentleman who has done this previously. They are awesome!!! to say the least. Here's the link: www.cylindersmith.com/45-70.html go to page 3 and you will see what I mean about wanting to have some cool firing pics.


The next steps of my plan will be to adjust the wood finish and then put some different sights on it. Not much more than that, but another buttstock shellholder would fit nicely on shorty. I'm thinking that I might just need to make another one.

[bubbawitha4570]

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 6:25 am


BB,

I'm planning on redoing the stock, removing the Marlin factory finish and going to an oil finish (probably Watco danish oil) and possibly sanding out the checkering. I just don't like checkering on my levers, but I DO like the fat forend of a Marlin. Man, I'm just the opposite of the rest of the world on these things.

As far as hacksawing off the barrel, I have no qualms about doing it that way. I just didn't have the tools to drill and tap new screw holes for the front sight. Dave at Dakota Gunsmithing Specialties (701.824.2734) was kind enough to owe me a favor in trade. I'm very happy with the results. He just needed a new reamer for the .45 caliber holes to finish off the crown. If I'd have done this to a 30-30, he could have done it right away for me. I've since been informed that on the .45 bores, you don't want too much crown. Anything much more than just breaking the edge/rifling does more harm than good, i.e.: putting on an 11 degree target crown actually does nothing for the 45 caliber rifle barrel as compared to the smaller bores (.22/.30). I don't know for sure, that is something that I've just been told yesterday (and not by Dave). Take it for what it's worth to you. There is something about the muzzel blast actually doing more harm to the bullet with excessive crown in the acccuracy department as it leaves the barrel than the "flat" cut with little crowning. The factory (Marlin) crown is supposedly actually more than needed according to this theory. Question I don't know, but Dave said that if my accuracy isn't good to bring it back and he will chuck the barrel into a lathe and put on a "real" crown. I'm happy either way, and it is nice to know there are guys out there who will stand behind their work. That is what I like about the three local smiths/dealers that I work with, they all stand behind their stuff/deals very well.

Almost forgot: I'm also putting on a different set of sights. I'm going to put on some Williams receiver sights with the firesight front. I'm pretty sure that the top mount receiver sight is the kind that I'm going with, as the side mounted receiver sight has a slight more chance of being bent/broken by rough handling. ...this is going to be a "beater" type of tool for me now; a very cool pickup gun. That is why I'm looking for a tougher sight. I'd love to go with Brockman's type of sights, but I don't quite have that much spare change laying around right now. They come out at around $200 for both, whereas I can fall into the Williams for under $50 bill. The Brockmans would be nice because I really like the military style of sights (AR-15/M-14) and this is exactly how they are set up. Can't have everything, just most of it.

[bubbawitha4570]

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:43 pm


And now a couple of pictures for you patiently waiting fellows.

Here's a picture of a standard 1895SS, a Red Ryder BB gun, and my shorty. I made especially sure that the buttstocks were as close to the same for barrel comparisons (in the second picture).




A different view.



A comparison of the barrel lengths of all three guns.




And here's both 1895 barrels for a close up comparison.




It is quite the little handler. It is almost FUN to hold.


And I finally figured this complicated picture thing out Doc!!!
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[bubbawitha4570]

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:51 pm


Well, BB, as of today there is a Williams receiver sight and Firesight set mounted on it. Pics to follow of these also.

And, yes Tony, I am definitely looking into at least just mounting up one of the XS Scout mounts on it. Even if I don't put a scope on it, just to have the ability to mount one up will do it for me. It is either that or putting a magazine light mount from Wild West Guns on to have the option on the bottom of the gun. This mount goes on the magazine, just ahead of the forearm. Looks to be pretty kick butt and UBER-TACTICAL. ....sorry, I just had a flashback to my black rifle days. Twisted Evil

Either way, as the title says, it is a project in the works. I don't know if I'll ever be completely "done" with it. There are quite a few things that I would like to try out.

[bubbawitha4570]

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:28 pm


"Short Barrelled Distributor of Badness"

I like that.

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Many thanks to Kelsey for that kick butt name he thought of!!!!!!

[bubbawitha4570]

Here's a pic of the Williams Firesights in "action" as you would see them. This is probably the best that could be done, short of being there when looking through the sights.



I must give superlarge Kudos to my brother in law (Randy Haight) in Helena for taking waayy too much time (much more than I would have taken) in taking these pics, just to get everything perfect. At very least, he is as much a perfectionist with the camera as I am when doing the "gun thing".

[bubbawitha4570]

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:59 pm


Here's a pic of the SBDB fully loaded with the optics.



I needed to do some editing to the original photo so that hunt101.com host would accept it, that is where the white area came in. Once more kudos go go my photographer, Randy. He makes me want to spend money on a camera instead of my gun habit!

The only things that I want to get done yet are a set of quick release rings and get some woodwork done.

[psycho]

Honestly, I didnt know it was legal to own a rifle with a barrel shorter than 18 1/2" I like what you did, but Im not sure I could handle that being that short, and it is just a personal preference more than anything. My barrel is 18 1/2" and feels like a water gun in my hands... I need to find me a shell holder like you have there, and also... Do you know where I can find some gun chaps for the marlin 1895's? I want something to protect the finish when I take mine trekking through the thick vegetated mountains of east Tn.

[bubbawitha4570]

That is the end of the mods for the time being. I have shot my SBDB in competition (levergun shoot at our state governors cup shoot), and can say that after putting about 90 rounds through it of pretty close to full power loads, it can be a handfull. I was tired at the end of the day, needless to say.

It shoots excellent! My only comment is that I am wishing that my front sight would be slightly "smaller" as it pretty much covered most of the steel targets that we were shooting at. Everyone that held it.....loved it. Most of the first comments went along like this: what is that thing/what caliber is it?? When hearing of 45/70, they mostly just went OH!!. One particular gentleman really liked what he held. He instantly seen the benefits (as for what I did the mods for) in the design of shortness. Being a tactics trainer for police/private individuals made some of the mods immediately obvious for him.

I didn't get to shoot it in competition with the scope on, as that would take me out of the running immediately...but I would have loved to do it. Something about the spirit of the game kept bouncing around behind my 3rd brain cell too.... Most guys shooting there would not have liked me to step up to the line with a scope on...

This weekend (26,27 Aug) is my clubs Annual Shoot, and I keep on saying that I'm going to shoot it with the scope on, no matter what. My other half just looked at me and said (always the practical one) why would you pay to shoot and take yourself out of the running for the trophy? Maybe it is just the urge to irritate some of the "old stogies" on the line. Heck, it IS just for fun anyway...right???

[bubbawitha4570]

Doc, I hope that you don't mind me highjacking most of the bandwith with my own postings!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[bubbawitha4570]

psycho said:

Honestly, I didnt know it was legal to own a rifle with a barrel shorter than 18 1/2" I like what you did, but Im not sure I could handle that being that short, and it is just a personal preference more than anything. My barrel is 18 1/2" and feels like a water gun in my hands... I need to find me a shell holder like you have there, and also... Do you know where I can find some gun chaps for the marlin 1895's? I want something to protect the finish when I take mine trekking through the thick vegetated mountains of east Tn.

16" is the legal limit on length of RIFLE barrel. That is ONLY if the overall length of the weapon is legal length. (I'm having a brain fart on that length) But I can say that I'm over that by about 10 inches.

18" is SHOTGUN barrel lengths.

I'm drawing a blank on the gun chaps. There are many options for camo gun tape if you would like to go that route. They all claim to come off without leaving any residue.