Marlin 1895G Sightning Help!

S

San Francisquito Bill

New member
Hi all,

I recently purchased a Marlin 1895G (.45-70) for use while hunting pigs here in Southern California, as well as other, yet unplanned adventures. Our hunt is scheduled for March 27th and 28th, so I went out today to get used to it and sight it in with two loads.

The first load, Winchester 350gr HP, grouped well, but hit VERY low. I had to max out the rear elevation adjustment, and use a high sight picture.

Then I went on to shoot PMC Cowboy 405gr ammo, and the rifle grouped HIGH!

I am no rifle expert, but how does a lighter loaded, heavier bullet shoot higher?

Is this common with the Guide Gun? I may just put a ghost ring sight on it (I wanted to put one on eventually anyway).

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

SFB
 
Was that Winchester JHP? Maybe it's the re-introduced deep-groove rifling, or maybe it's just me, but I've had much better accuracy with my 1895G using alloy 405 or 430 gr rnfp.
 
The heavier bullet, having a longer barrel dwell time, allows the gun to rise higher in recoil before it exits the muzzle. Slow fat bullet loads shoot high. Faster fat bullet loads shoot lower. Fast slim bullet loads shoot lowest of all. Except sometimes. For example, my Marlin 1894C shoots fast 125gr factory loads two inches higher at 25 yards than the 158-grain reloads that I usually use. However, 180-grain factory loads, which are slower and fatter than the 158's, shoot to the same POI. Go figure.
And of course each gun and barrel length is something of a law unto itself.
That 350-grain Winchester load is a good fast one for deer, but but a bit fragile. I'd use a tougher bullet on pigs, with their legendary vitality and thick body parts. The Hornady 350 is a very good all-around bullet for the Guide Gun, if you handload. At 1800-plus fps, it will do for everything, including stepside vans. I can testify it works like a charm on Maine moose and black bears out of a Ruger #1 and Marlin 1895SS.
Re: your intention to put on a 'ghost ring sight': No Guide Gun or other lever gun is complete without a good peep sight and front post set-up. AO, formerly Ashley Outdoors, is the premier set-up these days, but Williams and Lyman make good ones too. That middle barrel dovetail on levers is for a sight blank with your initial engraved on it. :D
 
slabsides,

That's kind of what I thought, but are the sights usually that far off? Mine are maxed out for the 350 grainers. At least the Winchesters. Speaking of which, I don't actually plan on using those for the pig. I have some Cor-Bon 405gr ammo on order, and I'll sight that in next week for the hunt. I just don't know if I can afford the ghost ring sights and installation before the hunt. I'll just have to shoot it and see. The Cor-Bon is heavy/fast, so maybe it'll exit a little faster than the cowboy loads and I'll be able to bring the elevation down a bit.

Has anyone else had this problem wiht the stock sights? Or am I jsut a wimp and not holding the gun tight enough?
 
No fluke. I had a williams foolproof on my 1895G that I had to max out to zero 300gr HP. I thought it was weird, too. Put a nice 1-4X Leupold on it so it doesn't bother me anymore.
 
When I got my 1895SS (old style, Microgroove 24") I had to raise the Williams Foolproof quite a bit to zero the Winchester 1800fps/350grHP, too. I solved the 'problem' by replacing the front sight with an old Redfield Sourdough, slightly shorter than the factory bead original. The Williams now sits comfortably low, and the combination gives the hunting accuracy and sight picture I prefer.
I've never fired a shot with the original rear sight on the gun, so don't know if Bill's experience is typical.
My standard (re)loads are in the 350gr/1900fps and 400gr/1750fps range, and shoot pretty close together with the same sight setting.


A 'scope sight on a lever gun is an abomination :D
 
I sighted in with my Tasco 1.5-4.5x30mm...works pretty darn well, too.

I do plan on going the AO route sometime.
 
Yeah, but Spectre can be a wuss, too. Doesn't have his priorities in order. Keeps spending money on Raman noodles instead of important things like guns, optics, ammo and accessories:)
 
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