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1955 pre-Texan Marlin 35

Posted: 20 Nov 2020 19:41
by Sarge
The old Marlin 35 came home today. We are about the same age and both showing signs of hard use. It has the early flat-top rear sight, factory bead in good shape and Ballard cut barrel with nice crisp rifling. Pic could be better... I'll shoot it tomorrow if we get a break in the rain.

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Re: 1955 pre-Texan Marlin 35

Posted: 20 Nov 2020 20:11
by Mad Trapper
Very nice find.
And Ballard rifling to.
+guns

Re: 1955 pre-Texan Marlin 35

Posted: 21 Nov 2020 05:08
by GasGuzzler
I have a '51 model in .30-30 WIN, regular stock of course.

Very nice find!

Re: 1955 pre-Texan Marlin 35

Posted: 21 Nov 2020 07:01
by Ranch Dog
I bet it shoots good! Is that a synthetic stock?

Re: 1955 pre-Texan Marlin 35

Posted: 21 Nov 2020 07:50
by Sarge
No RD, it's the original wood. It could stand cleaning up but looks way better than the pic.

Thank you all for the kind comments.

Re: 1955 pre-Texan Marlin 35

Posted: 21 Nov 2020 11:08
by Sarge
I shot the old gun a few times this AM with 200 grain LeverEvolution. A minor sight adjustment put it in the middle of a 7" paper bowl at 100 yards. Casual shooting from sitting position suggests 2 MOA from this load and I generally shoot about twice as well from a rest. I really like it and here's a little better pic.

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Re: 1955 pre-Texan Marlin 35

Posted: 21 Nov 2020 16:16
by Archer
Now that second picture is MUCH better.
Sounds like you've got a good match with the ammo.

Re: 1955 pre-Texan Marlin 35

Posted: 21 Nov 2020 19:59
by Missionary
Nice looking old Marlin !! Good to read it is shooting again.
We also have a couple from the early 50s that will never leave our roost.

Re: 1955 pre-Texan Marlin 35

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 19:31
by Sarge
After seeing about 30 deer and no great bucks, I decided to shoot doe for the pot. 15 minutes after sundown this two year old, with four others and a half dozen spring deer, entered my hayfield from the west at about 230 yards. They kept herding up, but moving closer. With fading light, this one stepped out and eyed the treeline where I was hidden. It was a 130 yard shot across the hayfield, quartering in and I held on the near shoulder hoping to miss the guts.

She rolled at the shot & stumbled 20 yards before piling up. Entrance is visible at the front of the right shoulder. The bullet wrecked that shoulder, took all the plumbing off the top of the heart and exited halfway down the ribcage on the off side. There was a very short and very heavy blood trail. The handload used is a 200 grain Sierra with enough H4895 to start it at 2150 fps.

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Re: 1955 pre-Texan Marlin 35

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 07:40
by Ranch Dog
Very nicely done!