[bigoledude]

Since I lost all of my guns in hurricane Katrina, I've bought replacement guns that are cheaper than the ones I lost. It seems you get what you pay for. The Buffalo Classic barrel is over bored, with bullets wobbling down the barrel. My little Marlin has a twist rate that can't throw a spiral! The bullets are tumbling in flight!

I wonder why Savage can make a less expensive gun where the barrel doesn't suck?

I'm old and have been shooting for many years. I've been lurking here for a long time and, I am amazed at how knowledgeable y'all are. Usually men who've spent the time and learned their stuff, are pretty particular about what they buy.

Really, this is no put-down on you guys, it just amazes me how y'all defend these guns against those who complain about stuff that is absolutely correct. I'm keeping what I have. I am gonna be hand loading all of my own ammo so, I am probably gonna be able to come up with some decent groups. But man, these puppies are lousy right out of the box with just any old factory fare!

I always had to work up loads in order to tighten-up a group. With these guns I gotta work up a load to keep the bullet in the parish! By the time I manage to get these guns somewhat accurate, I hope to be as proud of my Harrington & Richardson's and my little Marlin as y'all are.

But, if I had the money.....

 

[Keith L]

I am sorry to hear of your loss. I know how hard it would be for me to start over loosing the collection of guns I have. Mine have also been collected over a number of years as well.

I suspect most of us defend the guns we have because we like them, and because they work well for us. I can't imagine anyone bragging up a gun that caused the bullets to tumble. In fact I am sure that Marlin would want to know about it. My Marlin easily shoots sub moa after I did a trigger job on it. And it is new enough to have the dreaded crossbolt safety. And I have written several times about how I sold my Winchester 94AE because it didn't meet my expectations (compared to an older one I own.

So please don't think your leg is getting pulld by the folks here at GBO. Not all new guns are junk. And we will tell you if we think they are.

 

[Redhawk1]

Because they work and work well. I have very accurate Marlin lever action rifles. I have not see one that was not a shooter and I have been around a lot of them.

 

[oldtimer]

The problem of quality control is not limited to lever actions. I have had problems with most other actions, not so much as a factor of the type of action, but sloppiness in manufacturing. I have made it a habit to pull down any new gun, if for no other reason than to get out all the junk left in the gun from the manufacturing process. I have seen actions that looked like they were used as trash cans for everything on the factory floor. Most weapons manufacturers are owned by larger companies, so that guns are a minority of the basis of company profits, so the motive is just making money, not in making a quality product. Sadly, we consumers have shown time after time that we do not buy the best product, only the most advertised one.

As for using lever action rifles, especially in light of what I just said, I use them because they are the best choice for the particular of hunting that I do. I like to stalk, and to hunt woody and brushy areas, I am able to shoot them quickly with the necessary accuracy to take game. Any rifle you pick will have limitations. I had a very accurate bolt action 22-250, which was sudden death on groundhogs, but missed a 15 foot shot, because the scope I had on the gun only showed a fuzzy grayish blob as the crosshairs bounced around, the scope being set on 9x. I would have done better with an open sighted, single shot .22 rimfire. If I were to walk to the edge of a big field, then a lever action with a woods caliber and peep sights might be a handicap, but I have attempted a 100 yard+ shot only once for every 10 shots I have taken under 50 yards. So it boils down this, for myself, that lever actions are the right tool for the job.

 

[qajaq59]

I think if I got one with a barrel that was that bad, I'd have been on the phone to Marlin, or any other gun maker, in about 2 minutes.

 

[moxgrove]

You really can't compare the quality control and bore issues of the Handirifles to the Marlins. I think Marlin has made efforts to tighten up things at H&R but the leverguns and 22's are their real bread and butter. They are easy to be loyal to.

 

[454Puma]

bigoledude
What what Savage are you talking about? Bolt gun? And I'm wondering about your Marlin as well? Please explian further.

Just as an example my Savage 110 '06 "package gun" shot .5" groups at 100 yds right out of the box with factory Rem 165 Coreloks!

 

[Sportster]

I guess I'm just lucky, all my Handis and Marlins shoot like a house a fire. The only Savage I own is a Model 24 and I love it. I don't care for most of their (Savage)products.

 

[MSP Ret]

If the Buff Classic 45-70 barrel is overbored call H&R/NEF and send it back to them, if it is a new barrel or gun ask them for a "call tag" so you don't have to pay for any shipping. They have a great customer service department and should take care of it. Although I have not ever heard of a 45-70 barrel from them being overbored it could happen. They really are great with repairs and replacements to their products, one of the best companies out there for customer satisfaction. Just remember, it is the fine people in CS who are going to take care of you, not the people on the line who produced the barrel, so don't be mad at them, and be kind, it really helps. If it's a defect or wrong I am sure they will fix or replace it, for free....<><....

 

[ratgunner]

None of my Marlins ever tumbled bullets.Also from what I've been hearing the Savages are shooting rings around everyone else.Sorry to hear of your losses.

 

[Brithunter]

Hmmm well I have never owned a Marlin, never got around to getting one even though I had a .357 slot on my licence several times and no it's doubtful I ever will. Have friends who have Marlin 1894's in various chamberings and styles and none that I have seen shoot particularly well ??? in fact I doubt I have seen any of the pistol cartridge chambered ones shoot better than 5"+ groups at 100 yards. This always has me puzzled because I know that folks in the US hunt with them so they must be capable of better accuracy than that but I have never witnessed it. Now I find it hard to believe that they could all be poor shots, in fact one of them I know for a fact with his .308 is a very fine shot but with the two Marlins he had (he got rid of the first due to poor accuracy and got a new Cowboy with 24" hexagonal barrel) both were in .44 mag and with either handloads or factory ammunition accuracy was dissapointing.

The best Marlin I have seen and shot was Tony's 1895 in .444 marlin and I have shot that one scoped of course and it would group around 3" or less at 100 yds.

 

[Sportster]

I've never seen a Marlin that shot over 2" at 100 yards. Most will crowd or make MOA with the right factory ammo. I think the pistol calibers are dropping below Mach 1 at 100 yards, and that may account for the larger groups.