Seriously wanting a brush gun!

OP here: Finally traded for this 1971 Texan today. Very much in love!
 

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Very nice.

I'm jealous of the straight grip.
I had to convert mine the hard way. (New lever and some time with cutting tools for the lower tang.)
 
Marlin Brush Gun

Good Choice Darryl: Marlins are the epitome of brush/close range rifles... Let no one tell you differently. And pay NO heed to those who say [that] the.30-30 is no better than a three MOA rifle (DOYLE-12/17/14) They probably can't shoot that well, anyway.:mad: :eek:Your Marlin is capable of MOA if you are, just find the right load and it'll do right by you.

I have three, (two .30-30s, one .444) and will never part with any one of them.

WILL.
 
I am told that the Marlin action has a potential flaw, that how the parts rub together can wear.

Have never even heard that hinted at...
Unless you're talking about THIS, I would also be interested in hearing about what the flaw is.
(Incidentally, I've never had/seen this kind of jam -- but it's out there in the lore. Fairly straightforward fix if it does ever happen though)
 
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On the Marlin "flaw". I think that has been blown out of proportion. I'm not sure what the issues are, two parts wearing in such a manner that after thousands of rounds there MAY be issues and replacement of a part needed. If you are using the rifle for hunting, you might fire 10-20 rounds at the beginning of the season to make sure the sights are okay and then 1 or 2 rounds when you shoot a deer, and then maybe a box or 2 of ammo during the year- so 100 or less rounds per year. It will take 20 plus years at that rate to even think about troubles.
To me it is worth it to have the Marlin with true side ejection and the ability to pull the bolt out and clean the bore from the breech end. When you pull the bolt out the entire inner area is accessible- in other words if it has been raining you can pull the bolt and clean, dry, oil the works- not as easily done with a Winchester Model 94.
I think the Marlin is more accurate than the Winchester Model 94- I've owned both and that is my personal experience. The Marlin 336, at 100 yards: the accuracy is often as good as some bolt action rifles that have not been glass bedded, etc.
 
Ah, yes, the 336 Texan. Very nice. If it were mine, I would put a Skinner or Ashley rear aperature sight on it and forget about scopes altogether. Congratulations on your acquisition of such a nice vintage Marlin.
 
Can you put those aperture sights without molesting it? Hey, I love the saddle ring too. Now all I need is a damn horse!
 
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Can you put those aperture sights without molesting it?

Many people use Skinner sights...They mount in the two rear scope holes...

http://www.skinnersights.com/1895_sight_4.html

Below is my solution on a Marlin 1894...

This is a rear sight from a Winchester Model 68 .22LR that I had in a parts box:

2en55e8.jpg
 
Seriously wanting a brush gun

Everyone has an idea of his favorite brush gun. Tommorrow they may decide to try another one.
I still want to find a Ruger .44 semi auto carbine.
Failing that I have several AR's. The 16 in car is simply too short for shoulder though. May put the standards stock back on the 20 inch.
They are heavier, from memory, than the little Ruger though.
In a lever action an old pre 64 94 and an old Mosberg Lever Action in ..30-30, .35, .444 Marlin or .45 70.
None of them have the pug ugly and inconveient cross bolt safety.
The .94 is the lightest, from memory.
The Rosi and others, including Henry in .44, .45 Colt. I have some .45 Colt carbine load, 350 grains ,for bears ought to be interesting; a pure uncontrollable brute in a handgun.
The only solution, I see, is to buy one of each and more.
 
OOPS!

Another option on the older Marlins (50's to 2011 or so?) is the Williams aperture...

The receivers were factory drilled and tapped specifically for them...

PICT2087.jpg
 
None of them have the pug ugly
and inconvenient cross bolt safety
For what it's worth -- as the owner of several old & new Marlins
from as far back as `55 and as new as `14...

It is silent.
It is positive.
And it is right where your trigger finger can find and disengage it

... I like the cross-bolt safety, big time. ;)



.
 
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The good old classic M94 or Marlin 336 are good brush guns. Maybe it is just me, but I always felt the M94 was too heavy for what it was.....

My brush gun is a revolver. :D
 
My brush combo. Marlin 1894P with XS sights and a S&W Model 69, both 44 magnums.

The 44 mag from a carbine is every bit as effective as a 30-30 out to 150 yards and a good rifleman could stretch that out a bit more.
 

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How do you adjust or know when they are right?
Just run the screw(s) in snug.
Any more, and you're likely to strip the band. They're a known weak point on the Marlins. More recent production rifles have a large thread for the screw and a slightly thicker barrel band, to help alleviate the issue. But, it's still easy to strip them.

On a stock rifle:
The front band should hold the magazine snugly. It shouldn't rattle or move easily.
The rear band should hold the fore-stock snugly. It shouldn't rattle at the band, or more easily. (Though, if fit poorly, it may rattle at the receiver.)
 
Remington M870

Remington M870 police shotgun with sites and slugs.

It hits like Thor's hammer up close.

Probably the gun I would pick to go against a T Rex.
 
Remington M870 police shotgun with sites and slugs.

It hits like Thor's hammer up close.

Probably the gun I would pick to go against a T Rex.

Funny. I hope you never get the opportunity because you would likely be just dinner. One of the things about the Jurassic Park movies that I think is probably true is the pure viciousness of reptiles. And people worry about black bears? :D

I always felt the Remington Model 7 would make a good brush gun. Same goes for the old M600 and M660 as they were fast handling rifles. The caliber is less important other than it needs to be suitable for the game animal you're hunting. No caliber will normally bust through branches and trees that are between you and the target and not be deflected unpredictably.
 
My brush guns for deer;

1st choice-.44mag Super Blackhawk 10.5" barrel, open sights. Easy to carry and easy to handle quickly
2nd choice- 20g Wingmaster with rifled slug barrel with cantilever scope mount and 3-9x40 Nikon Omega scope. Good out to 100yards and plenty of knockdown.
3rd choice- Winnie Model 94AE with XS ghost ring sights. The 30-30 has killed more deer in the woods of North America than any other caliber, hands down, nothing else to say.

Thats just what I have, a lever .44mag or a bolt .44mag would be awesome but I can't afford them.

A shot gun with buckshot is always a good choice too.
 
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