Does anyone here have experience with this lever-gun?  I've been lusting after a .45-70 for years, and this gun really screams "buy me."  Anyone have one, have a buddy with one, shot one, etc?  Trying to justify the purchase to myself...

I traded for a 1895 GBL this summer.  It is a fun gun.  Lever smoothed out after oiling and working.  Seems to be accurate in the few shots I have sent downrange.

It screamed buy me to me as well, so I did. Bought it in '08, shoots good & sexy as hell.

Have a GBL with XS Sights ghost ring peep sights and a rail with a Bushnell TRS 25 red dot sight, love it.

If you hand load, it's good for everything from bunnies to buffalo...and you'd better, factory .45-70 ammo ain't cheap.

Now that I have one, I dunno how I managed to get along without one for all those years.

I've had a 1895 GBL for past 4 years.  It's a great rifle for close range hunting large game but doesn't really serve other purpose than just to have one.  It's kinda heavy but short and accuracy is decent but not great.

I frequently use it for hog hunting here in South Florida.  It's a good rifle for close range hunting and it has enough power to drop large hogs quickly with good handloads.  Last hog I shot with it was on the base of the head (head/spine junction) and the shot broke the spine dropping the hog on the spot.  Other hogs I've shot with it all dropped with just one shot...never had to shoot twice.    

I have a cpmpact 2-7x32mm Nikon scope on it in the conventional rear position and it works well for me.  I've shot out to 100 yards and with my handload and I've gotten average of 2" groups for 5 rounds.  One problem I have (and many others too) is that the first round impacts about 3" away from rest of the rounds in random direction, thus I only use it out to 50-60 yards.  

I handload all my ammo for this rifle and for hunting purpose I load 375gr WFN-GC cast bullet with enough IMR-3031 to get 1,600 fps.  This load is accurate and hits hard.  For plinking I use 350gr FRN cast bullets with enough Trailboss powder to get 1,000 fps which is almost like shooting a .223 rifle in terms of felt recoil.

Here is a pic of my rifle without the scope.    

My 1895 started as regular 1979 JM marked rifle
 It was cut to a 16.5 barrel DRC ghost rings moly coated trigger job.

It is my favorite rifle by a long shot.  It is not for the recoil shy with +p loads but not bad at all with normal factory stuff.
   If you got the coin go for it you'll love it.
Here is my 1895

I agree as well

    I'm sure you miss it but it's gotta good home.
I actually had it out today up in the mountains . We were looking at some property that's full of black bear tracks.
    I hope to bag a buck or two with it this year

If you have the money for it, go buy it! I just bought one. Its a fantastic gun, very smooth, the coloring is fantastic, and it absorbs recoil real well.

Thanks for the replies.  I think this might be a Christmas present to me this year...a really early one.

My fiance got me one for Christmas/birthday together last year.  I love it,  shoots great and is very versatile.  The Hornady Lever revolution is fairly flat shooting and expands well for deer and other thin hide,  medium game  and you can load it up for anything in North America.

Nothing better than a Marlin lever gun in 45-70
I have a earlier stainless guide gun..love it!

I've owned this one for at least seven years, but I have never fired it.



The only shooting done with it so far is with a camera

I have the 1895 SBL and I love it.



(Disclaimer:  I do not condone disabling any safety devices on a firearm.  This link is provided for educational purposes only.  I can neither confirm nor deny that I have installed this on my Marlin.)



http://beartoothmercantile-2.myshopify.com//products/basic-safety-delete-for-marlin-rifle

Here's a video of me shooting this one.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_wlmolBavQ

+1

GBL had been on my bucket list of guns for awhile, got one for $550 including 60 rounds of ammo