.45-70 rifle. Henry vs. Marlin

[HardDrive]

I think I'm going to take the plunge and get myself a .45-70 rifle. I want a modern lever action. Can anyone offer any input on the Henry H010 vs. the Marlin 1895? My dad has a Marlin .22 that works well, but I have never owned a product from either company. This gun will be used for whitetail hunting in MI/OH.

Any input appreciated.

.45-70 Lever Action | Henry Repeating Arms

Marlin Classic Model 1895

[J P Stein]

I've has both in different calibers, The Henry is a pretty sunbeach but I didn't like The "tube syle" loading. The Marlin was a 30-30 & with that narrow stock would put a dent in my shoulder. I used the Marlin for hunting back in the day, the Henry (.22 Mag) was for hanging on the wall.

[gsxrken]

I've shot both (the Henry in .45-70 and the Marlin in .35 Rem) and can't say their is a functional difference. I'd give the nod to the Henry from a fit and finish benchracing standpoint.

[Jeff Higgins]

Marlin all the way. I would not own a Henry if someone tried to give me one. Henrys are pretty, I'll give them that, but are poorly made cheap junk. Marlins are (or maybe I should say "were") some of the highest quality firearms money could buy. I say "were" due to some quality problems that Marlin has saddled themselves with since their purchase by Remington and their move from North Haven, Connecticut. They were trying to avoid their high labor costs associated with an older, experienced workforce, feeling they could make up for it with newer, higher tech facilities and machines. In short, they well and truly blew it. They were not even delivering guns for over a year, and when they started, most were returned. Many would not even reliably function. So, avoid the new "Remlins" and buy a North Haven Marlin and you can't go wrong.

[flipper35]

We have a North Haven Marlin 30AS. Great gun and accurate.

[cashflyer]

I have three North Haven Marlins. Absolutely no complaint.

I have not owned or fired a Remington Marlin, so no comment to add on that.
Also, have never owned or fired a Henry. Only looked at them in the stores.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by flipper35

We have a North Haven Marlin 30AS. Great gun and accurate.

We have an older one as well. Love it, especially after we had "Cleetus" tighten some screws a bit.

[winders]

Marlin and Henry .45-70 Guide Guns Compared

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I have no experience with the Henry other than handling and working the actions of several in various shops across the state. I'll say this, gang: Henry rifles are a touch heavier than they ought to be, but the action is damned smooth. Smoother, in fact, than anything else I've ever handled straight from the factory. The brass receiver probably has a lot to do with this.

I did own a jam-o-matic pre-Remington Marlin 1895CB for several years before trading it in on a S&W I was lusting after (read up on the "Marlin jam" if you don't believe me). Never have I been so relieved to get rid of a spoon. Somewhat later I made the acquaintance of a gunsmith who could have fixed it for me, but frankly I prefer to have the S&W (a TR45, for those of you who might care). I've since written off repeating lever actions and am sticking with single-shots.

Post-Remington "Remlin" Marlins are absolute junk. Stay far, far away.

[flipper35]

I know it makes one Marlin owner smile. She has Skinner brass aperture sights on it.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by winders

Marlin and Henry .45-70 Guide Guns Compared

Interesting review. It reads like it was written by a Henry employee. The couple of issues he raises about the Marlin are entirely due to his lack of familiarty and miss-handling. One thing he fails to mention, and a very strong point in the Marlin's favor, is that you do not (and should not) wait until its empty to reload it. You can stuff cartridges into the loading port any time you want, at any pause in the action. Not so with the Henry; it's worse than a detachable box magazine on a modern black rifle.

The other thing he fails to mention is the oft repeated allegations concering soft internal parts on the Henrys, leading to rapid wear and little longevity. The ones I've handled and fired are slick, I'll give them that, but my own personal Marlins are as slick or slicker. It might take harder parts longer to break in...

As far as this "Marlin jam", I've heard this for years. I've personally owned Marlins my entire life, and have tens of thousands of rounds through them. Some individual pieces have thousands upon thousands of rounds through them. Never a single jam of any kind.

Marlins have a fantastic reputation. My own lifelong experiences with them support that reputation for me. You can find folks on the internet who will disparrage just about anything (even my good friend Cleetus's work), so take it with a grain of salt.

[red-beard]

What about the Winchester?

Model 1886 Short Rifle, -- Winchester Repeating Arms -- Product Model

I don't own a modern one, but I have a WWII Model 94.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

My own lifelong experiences with them support that reputation for me. You can find folks on the internet who will disparrage just about anything (even my good friend Cleetus's work), so take it with a grain of salt.

You have your experiences, and I have mine. Both of our "stories" are anecdotal and have zero statistical significance with respect to actual Marlin quality (whether good or bad), unless you've owned a measurable percentage of their production. I know I haven't - I've owned one. That was enough for me.

I think we can at least agree that the Freedom Group has ruined a whole lot of companies in the past seven years--Marlin is only the tip of the iceberg.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

You have your experiences, and I have mine. Both of our "stories" are anecdotal and have zero statistical significance with respect to actual Marlin quality (whether good or bad), unless you've owned a measurable percentage of their production. I know I haven't - I've owned one. That was enough for me.

There is a pretty vast body of shooters (Marlin has made literally millions of rifles) who are eminently satisfied with the brand, with many being quite enthusiastic about it. My experiences fall within, and are supported by that norm. It also sounds like maybe I've given them a bit more of a chance than you did. Your approach is akin to buying a new car, having some minor mechanical glitch and writing off the whole brand. I don't think it's a reasonable approach to any product.

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

I think we can at least agree that the Freedom Group has ruined a whole lot of companies in the past seven years--Marlin is only the tip of the iceberg.

Absolutely. They are in it for the money, running on pure momentum for as long as they can before they completely sully those brand names. It's a real shame.

As far as the new "Winchesters", they are beautiful rifles, beautifully made. In Japan. That really bothers me, for a lot of reasons. Don't get me wrong - I own an awful lot of Japanese made stuff - just not an iconic American brand that the very folks who make them cannot own.

[flipper35]

There are many factors. People still think they should get a 1 MOA rifle for $225 with a 3x9 scope. Very few make them like they used to any more to try to meed stupid expectations.

[winders]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Interesting review. It reads like it was written by a Henry employee.

Except that he picks the Marlin......

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by red-beard

What about the Winchester?

Model 1886 Short Rifle, -- Winchester Repeating Arms -- Product Model

I don't own a modern one, but I have a WWII Model 94.

Thats a nice gun, but its also $1400 MSRP.


You guys are kinda scaring me off here. H&R makes a couple single shot .45-70 rifles. I might go in that direction. Their 1871 'Buffalo Classic' is pretty cool, but I worry the 32" barrel will be a PIA in the woods.


H&R Model CR-45LC

[BlueSkyJaunte]

H&R is dead. Freedom Group dissolved them.

I have a Buffalo Classic. It's OK, nothing special--but then it is a budget gun. Length of pull is WAY too short for me, and I'm not exceptionally huge.

[on2wheels52]

I just want to know how big are those deer in MI/O?
Jim

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

I just want to know how big are those deer in MI/O?
Jim

Do want an honest answer, or the story I tell in the bar?

I'm not actually settled on the .45-70. The deal is, that in MI/OH, they are now allowing straight walled rifles. In the past, it has been shotgun only (In MI, you can use rifles in the northern part of the state). The .45-70, while somewhat overkill for whitetail, seemed like a fun option with good range.

Here are my options: .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .38 Special, .375 Super Magnum, .375 Winchester, .38-55, .41 Long Colt, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .45 Smith & Wesson, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .475 Linebaugh, .50-70, .50-90, .50-100, .50-110 and .500 Smith & Wesson.