I would NOT cut the barrel on my MARLIN 26" COWBOY 336 45/70 for all the tea in China. NO WAY !!!

Loaded with a 400-420 grain cast bullet over 50 grains of 4895 for about 1700 fps.

There are never enough good old blued and walnut traditional guns around. The current fad is for 'assault lever-actions' and ultra-shorty beeg-bore boomers. When the pendulum drifts back towards well-balanced shootability, lower muzzleblast, etc -- then that 26" bbl nice-hangin' Marlin will be all the sweeter.

Don't get me wrong, that I haven't slenderized, shortened, remodeled etc. I'm just getting to the point I sympathize with easy -goin' & 'original condition'. ;~`)

However, before taking to the hacksaw, file or gunsmith, see what recent utilitarian laminate stock/SS leverguns are out there. I just disposed of a 336XLR .30-30 that was a sweet shooter. But, if I had 'needed' a shorty blaster that was 'proof' against most mishaps, it wouldn't have broken me 'art to have cropped it, Glad I didn't, as it now belongs to a newly-made lifetime member of an old hereditary Adirondack Deer Camp. He's a very happy lad. PS. Every member of that camp is a Marlin owner and user. Kinda neat, that.

I would leave the Marlin as is and get a Guide Gun. You may end up appreciating the 26" tube later, and you will still have the shorter Guide Gun for the brush.

Carry a 41 inch barreled 50 caliber flintlock in the woods for a while and you'll think that 26 inch barreled Marlin is really handy.

I think Marlin should have a short rifle though of about 20 inches

Bob

perfect. I also have a 24" Contender barrel which is just fine but that's not for more than the Elmer Keith load pushing 405 gr. at 1800 fps.

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Sincerely,

Hobie

I can understand how the 26" Cowboy would be pretty long. The standard 20" .30-30 always seemed like the perfect length to me but Marlin doesn't make that in .45-70. They currently catalog 18.5" and 22" models. The 18.5" might be good and would be a little bit more portable. I suppose it might depend on the conditions and circumstances but I might like the 22" model better.

With my son & dad. This is a friend's black bear. Proly why my son has the smirk on his face. He spotted while motoring past farther out than his boat is anchored in the back ground. He anchored up launched his skiff got to shore did the stalk shot the bear... not bad

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Of the Troops & For the Troops