New rifle!! *Range update*

[p_ham]

Finished my custom Marlin 1895 last night. It started out as an 1895XLR in 45-70. Build thread here: https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/working-on-a-levergun.309136/

 

[MarvB]

That my friend is a beauty… amazing work

 

[Jbotto]

I feel I love this rifle, just by looking at that nice slim forend. Marlin made way too many big bulky forends. Beautiful job on a great looking rifle!

 

[rtraverdavis]

It’s just so frickin cool you were able to do all that yourself. It’s beautiful. Going to be a special thing to use it in the field and hand it down through the family.

 

[LuketheDog]

I may need to borrow that for 2 weeks in September...

 

[OntarioHunter]

Looks like something Silver would be wearing in a saddle scabbard. "Who is that masked man?" Beautiful work.

 

[noharleyyet]

Stunningly clean, great optics mount and wood furniture lines.

 

[pabearhunter]

Looking good.

 

[mdhunter]

I am not a lever rifle owner however your build has me reconsidering. Sweet!

 

[Andrewlonghi]

Nice build...

 

[std7mag]

Absolute beauty, P-Ham!!
Well done!
Now for the range report...

 

[Addicting]

That is a absolutely beautiful rifle. Thanks for taking us along for the ride.

 

[p_ham]

First off, thank you all for the kind words. Now to the range report:

EXCUSES!!!
1: I was all hopped up on Mt. Dew
2: I haven't been shooting as much as I should
3: It was cold
4: Low power optic
5: lever action

Ok. Now that that's out of the way, I took the rifle out yesterday with a low pressure load I pulled out of my butt. Velocity was 100fps slower than what it should have been. I didn't estimate engraving pressure correctly, and my fired case capacity was a little more than expected. The results weren't great, I think there just wasn't enough case fill. But the gun didn't blow up and it gave me an opportunity to run some rounds through the action.
I regrouped and changed some numbers around to reflect my velocity. I loaded up 10 more rounds for velocity testing over a 3 grain span.
Velocity ranged from 2560 to 2660fps @ 30 degrees an 30 in Hg. The brake was doing its job, recoil was similar to a .308.
I told myself I would be happy with 1.5" groups out of this rifle, but I think I can do better than that after today's outing. I've got 20 rounds down the barrel at this point.

For the cold bore shot, I had ran a couple patches through and then oiled the bore. I'm using a Wilson barrel and they are lapped at the factory. I've found break in to be minimal.
the bottom right, I jerked the hell out of the trigger. Bottom left, I don't know if it was me or the gun. Either way I think it shows some potential.
I'm excited to try some heavier bullets and slower powders.

 

[nhenry]

First off, thank you all for the kind words. Now to the range report:

EXCUSES!!!
1: I was all hopped up on Mt. Dew
2: I haven't been shooting as much as I should
3: It was cold
4: Low power optic
5: lever action

Ok. Now that that's out of the way, I took the rifle out yesterday with a low pressure load I pulled out of my butt. Velocity was 100fps slower than what it should have been. I didn't estimate engraving pressure correctly, and my fired case capacity was a little more than expected. The results weren't great, I think there just wasn't enough case fill. But the gun didn't blow up and it gave me an opportunity to run some rounds through the action.
I regrouped and changed some numbers around to reflect my velocity. I loaded up 10 more rounds for velocity testing over a 3 grain span.
Velocity ranged from 2560 to 2660fps @ 30 degrees an 30 in Hg. The brake was doing its job, recoil was similar to a .308.
I told myself I would be happy with 1.5" groups out of this rifle, but I think I can do better than that after today's outing. I've got 20 rounds down the barrel at this point.

For the cold bore shot, I had ran a couple patches through and then oiled the bore. I'm using a Wilson barrel and they are lapped at the factory. I've found break in to be minimal.
the bottom right, I jerked the hell out of the trigger. Bottom left, I don't know if it was me or the gun. Either way I think it shows some potential.
I'm excited to try some heavier bullets and slower powders. View attachment 209957

View attachment 209956

Looks like you got yourself a shooter! I may have missed this, but what do you plan to hunt with this beaute?

 

[p_ham]

Looks like you got yourself a shooter! I may have missed this, but what do you plan to hunt with this beaute?

EVERYTHING!
Seriously, I don't care if it's a doe antelope. If I can get a centerfire tag this is going with me.

 

[nhenry]

EVERYTHING!
Seriously, I don't care if it's a doe antelope. If I can get a centerfire tag this is going with me.

I like it! Good luck to you!

 

[WNC2500]

I am excited to follow along with what stories about deer/antelope/coyote/bear/elk that it puts down

 

[noharleyyet]

@p_ham I may have missed, but did you do any receiver body edge polishing? Internal parts polishing...etc.

 

[p_ham]

@p_ham I may have missed, but did you do any receiver body edge polishing? Internal parts polishing...etc.

I took down a couple sharp corners on the reciever and blended the trigger plate to the reciever, I also recontoured the tangs. The internals are all mirror polished, it's as smooth as any '86 I've fondled.

 

[EastTNHunter]

You should be ashamed of yourself, making me drool over this.

Very nice