Custom Marlin leverguns: big-bores for bear, boar and buffalo

Guns Magazine, Oct, 2002 by John Taffin

Still More Power--.475 GNR

You say you still want more? We have taken care of the black bear and the boar, so how about something for buffalo, namely a custom Marlin 1895 chambered in a new wildcat cartridge? While the cartridge is new to the Marlin, it has been advanced by several wildcatters as it is such an easy cartridge to form. Gary Reeder Custom Guns now offers the Marlin Buffalo Hunter chambered in .475 GNR.

This cartridge is simply the .45-70 case blown out straight to hold a bullet of .475 caliber. Brass is easy to obtain either by using .45-70 cases or better yet ordering properly headstamped and formed .475 GNR brass from Starline. Hard cast gas checked bullets are offered CPBC (Cast Performance Bullet Company), as well as 400 grain jacketed bullets from both Hornady and Speer.

The jacketed bullets are designed for use in the .475 Linebaugh, and a call to Allan Jones of the Speer Technical Staff and editor of the Speer Reloading Manual, confirmed that the 400 grain .475 Speer flat-nosed bullet should be fine for such large critters as elk, caribou and moose. But it is not recommended for the big bears nor for any of the African game that can bite back.

The origin of the Buffalo Hunter goes back a couple of years to Reeder's Alaskan Classic with a 16 inch barrel chambered in .444 Marlin and .45-70. This newer version on the Marlin Model 1895 features a heavy 18 inch barrel, full length magazine tube that holds five rounds and an especially engraved receiver with buffalo on both sides--Cape buffalo on one and American bison on the other.

The action is smooth, all metal parts are beautifully refinished, and the stock is refinished to soft satin luster and fitted with a Pachmayr Decelerator pad. And to show that great minds think alike, this big-bore bear/boar/buffalo blaster is also equipped with an Express Sight Systems Ghost Ring rear sight. Reloading dies for the .475 GNR are available from Redding.

Reeder specializes in custom single action Ruger and Freedom Arms sixguns, single-shot Contenders and Encores, and Marlin leverguns. Many of these are chambered in one of several proprietary wildcat cartridges. He has a well-deserved reputation for providing beautiful custom firearms at less than high dollar custom prices.

Shooting the relatively lightweight .475 GNR from the bench is not what one would call a pleasant experience. Recoil is heavy though not punishing and would probably be hardly noticed when shooting big game. Gas check bullets are a must when driving cast bullets at these velocities. Cast Performance Bullet Co. offers both a 375 and a 425 grain .475 inch bullet of the LBT Long Flat Nose design.

So there you have it. The factory Marlin leverguns, small or large frame, are mighty nice and deservedly popular. If your taste and your budget permit, they can be made even nicer by one of these three talented custom gunsmiths. You may ask which of these splendid rifles was my favorite. The answer is simple--all of them!

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