Brockman guide gun

[buckheart]

I have the opportunity to pick up a Brockman Marlin guide gun in 45/70. 18" ported barrel, Brockman sights but it also has the scout style rail with a Millet LER scout scope. Large loop lever, and 2 position sling swivels. It has the bullet trap in it's straight walnut stock.
Anyone here have any experience with such a beast? What's a good price on a package like this? They guy wants 1600.

[coldtriggerfinger]

If it's absolutely dead reliable it might be worth that. Reliability is the big problem with them Marlin's .
When I lived in Southeast the Guide Gun ( marlin 45/70+450 Marlin) were Very popular. So I know of a number of them that were used to kill brown bear. It was common for them to lock up after a shot or sometimes they would eject a fired case . Then the lever wouldn't move. Couldn't close the action.
One part time gunsmith in Hoonah got real familiar with fixing them.
I had one for a short time . Stock Marlin. It was sweet to have around . Short , light and powerful. But it would buck itself open with max or slightly less than max book loads for Marlin's.
If Brockman got any potential problems resolved before they became a real problem. I would say they were good to go.
I'm a crf bolt action guy so I didn't really delve into them.
Traded mine off before I wrecked the finish on it.

[warhawk]

I have a Brockman tuned guide gun. It’s got Brockman lumber on it, kinda gaudy looking, with an XS Scout rail and sights. I’d take $1600for mine in a heartbeat.

goo.gl/images/UWnhh7

[buckheart]

I'm not crazy about laminate stocks either. I know it's more stable than straight wood but the carpenter in me sees a chunk of extra thick plywood when I look at it. This one has a walnut stock. This is an older JM marked gun that I would be shooting cast bullet reloads in. Not sure if it's a microgroove or ballard rifled barrel. I've always heard that cast bullets and microgrooved barrels don't get along. Any opinions on that?
Warhawk - That's a big old pig. Nice shooting.

[axman]

As far as I know the guide guns are Ballard rifling, I had one of the early ones and it shoots great.
The very first 3 shot groups with cast and buckhorn sights were 3/8” at 25yds, 1/2” at 50, and about 7/8” at 100

That was in 1998 and I was 30 and I didn’t believe the old guys that said by 50 I’d notice a big difference in my eyes,

Well 50 came last week and boy how vision has changed.

I might dig it out and compare how it shoots today.

Anyhow they’ll shoot and I had Veral make a 400 grn mold for it and used it on elk in Oregon in 2001 and worked great.

Take care

[jgt]

There is a real easy way to tell if a Marlin has a microgroove barrel. If it says "Microgroove" on the barrel it is a microgroove. If it does not say "Microgroove" it is not a microgroove.

[kooz]

I have been looking at buying a Marlin lever in either a .45 colt or 45/70 . I called Longhunter down in Texas and talked to their head gunsmith for a good hour . They work on tuning these Marlins everyday , and according to him, the current Rem/Marlins are the best they have ever made . I told him I was not a CAS guy and just wanted it for Deer/Elk in the timber and he basically said that he would just buy one of the new ones and see how it is out of the box, probably just need a trigger job . He also added that if I did get one that I should avoid the JM marked guns as they are so poorly machined , says the carriers need a lot of work and some welding up to cycle properly where as the new ones are squared away and need very little in the way of tuning/action work . You can get a new Guide gun from Buds for $559, might be worth taking a shot and saving $1K . Just a thought

www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/41185/Firearms/Rifles/Marlin/Marlin+1895+G+.45-70+Guide+Gun+18.5+Walnut+45

[warhawk]

Wow, exact opposite of everything I’ve heard about Remlins. Sounds like somebody has some guns he needs to sell.

Check with Ranger Point Precision and get a second opinion. Last I knew they quit accepting Remin 1894s as project Guns.

[buckheart]

I've heard the same as Warhawk. I have 3 JM marked guns. 2 35's and a 30-30. The 30-30 was my first center fire and the gun that I got my first buck with. Never had an issue with any of them. I've heard no end of yammerin about the first remlin guns but have also heard that all the issues they had in the transition period have been worked out and they are now good to go. There were 2 remlin sbl's at my cabin for hunting season this year and they both made meat. Made some very large holes in 100 lbs white tails too.
All in all I am going to pass on the Brockman. It's an interesting piece but nothing I really need(neither have the last several purchases been but hey). Here's a look at it.

[kooz]

Jan 26, 2018 20:24:24 GMT -5 buckheart said:

I've heard no end of yammerin about the first remlin guns but have also heard that all the issues they had in the transition period have been worked out and they are now good to go. ]

This my understanding as well, and the same info that I got from the guy at Longhunter . I am probably going to hit the gunshow today , if I see some I will take a close look .

[jgt]

My sister-in-law wanted a rifle so I thought a lever action .357 would be a good choice. I could find no JM Marlins for a realistic price. Gander Mountain had six Remington built 1894 Marlins in .357 that were reported to be Shot Show guns or at least guns they showed to people who buy. They were priced somewhat high, but not outrageous. I took a chance and ordered one. I figured if it turned out to be too bad, I would keep it and keep looking for a better one. When it came, the sights were straight, medal finish ok, wood was proud but not terribly fit. Wood grade and finish left a lot to be desired, but this was to be a shooter so it got an acceptable score. The trigger was lawyerized to over eight pounds. The action was gritty. So...I took it apart and washed a lot of metal dust and shavings from the innerds. Next I had to burnish a lot of razor sharp edges(not before being sliced and diced). Then I worked on polishing and removing any burrs. I didn't want to remove any metal from the trigger or sear so they got polished. I finally got the trigger pull down to around an even five pounds. I did not have the Marlin adaptor for my power custom fixture then so I decided to call that good and shoot it a while before going any further. I did have to drift the front sight a hair to the left for the ammo I had, but that was all. It shot great. I was impressed that the parts and machining inside the rifle was a lot smoother than my 1979 model 1894. I was not expecting that. After minor clean up, fluff and buff, and sight in, the little rifle was smooth and shot well enough for me to feel safe to give it to her. I don't think she has shot it to this day, but one day when she comes for a visit I'll take her out behind the barn and see that she at least gets to know it is a tool, not just a gift. I know this experience was with an 1894 and not the 1895 but, it was a Remington built rifle and not a JM stamped one.