Henry Rifle Forums

Far as I know the idea of the mare's leg rifle came about from the TV series Wanted Dead or Alive and was intended to function like a .45-70 version.
Lots of folk joked about it when seeing the .45-70 in Steve's ammo belt/holster that such a beast would never work.

Doing a bit of looking and measuring with my Marlin 1895 GS and it really isn't a far out idea. Looks like with the barrel cut to 11 inch I would only loose one round of capacity going from 4 in the tube to 3. With one in chamber you would have 4 ready to go. Now 4 should be plenty with 405 gr. bullet going around 900-1000 FPS you think plus quick side gate reloading on the run if needed.

Since you would have to get the ATF SBR stamp for it you can save the factory stock and use a replacement for the cut down mare's leg version and have option of just an SBR with option of a suppressor attached since I have one.

My loads for this would be something like my 11-13 gr. Unique with 405 gr. cast bullets for less recoil.
So for the 200 buck Tax Stamp plus cost of a replacement butt stock you have the real deal as per the classic TV show!

Wheels turning in my head!

Comments anyone?

I like the idea. In the TV show he wore 45-70 ammo even though it was actually chambered in 44-40 although in one episode he shot someone and they dug a 30 WCF out of the guy.

I own six Mares Legs, four Henry rimfires, one Rossi in 38/357 and a Ruger Charger in 22LR. In reality the Ruger is the easiest to shoot because chambering another round is easy. With a lever you can’t hold it up like a rifle to cycle. I’ve always thought a pump action would be the best Mares Leg with a bolt being a close second.

So my vote is go for it.

Might open up that lever loop a bit too or get another that is a larger loop. My Rossi 45 RH cycles really easy especially after the slick up job.

Did a little editing to get a picture of it. I don't know....still on the fence.

How would you use it?

Is that a JM Marlin or a Remlin
I cut down a nice JM 336 in 35R to 16.5", I have no regrets.
But I don't care to shoot that one, nope. Have fun.

RP

Sir Henry wrote: ↑

Fri May 19, 2023 9:23 pm

How would you use it?

Very carefully! Well it would be very handy for a .45-70 for something big in a close encounter. Just cool to shoot with the "milder" loads.
I have shot hot Underwood 45 Colt +P 250 gr. rated at 1450 FPS thru that little light weight Ranch Hand and it wasn't too bad. This Marlin Leg is a bit heavier and remember I did have a BFR with a 5.5 inch barrel in .45-70
BTW....it is a Remlin 1895 but nothing wrong with it and has a slick action.

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Fri May 19, 2023 10:40 pm

Sir Henry wrote: ↑

Fri May 19, 2023 9:23 pm

How would you use it?

Very carefully! Well it would be very handy for a .45-70 for something big in a close encounter. Just cool to shoot with the "milder" loads.
I have shot hot Underwood 45 Colt +P 250 gr. rated at 1450 FPS thru that little light weight Ranch Hand and it wasn't too bad. This Marlin Leg is a bit heavier and remember I did have a BFR with a 5.5 inch barrel in .45-70
BTW....it is a Remlin 1895 but nothing wrong with it and has a slick action.

I bet with it you could go lookin’ for trouble. They are fun to shoot and are more practical to shoot from the hip than you would think. But you already know this with the Ranch Hand.

Watch Ruger/Marlin come out with one after all the ATF paperwork and 200 buck stamp! If made as a pistol you can carry it loaded.

If it were just a simple Form to fill out I would do it but the Feds want everything I did to set up my Trust for the silencer purchase done all over again for a SBR. Another picture and finger prints background check CLEO even though they have all that on file. Just too much damn trouble BUT the actual
work is easy to build it. Maybe Henry or Ruger/ Marlin will try it one day.

My Remlin 336 BL may wind up at 16.5” some day. It is also a fantastic shooter. If your 1895 GS were a JM like mine, I’d say “hell no, don’t even think about It”, but I have no trouble with playing with a Remlin. The value of JMs make them not worthwhile cutting up, unless it’s a bent or rusted up example.

Yep it's a Remlin but a good one. When I went to the shop to check it out they had 6 in stock and I picked the best out of the six. Have had no issues with it so far and it cycles smooth. Just going to leave it as is.

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Sun May 21, 2023 7:51 pm

Yep it's a Remlin but a good one. When I went to the shop to check it out they had 6 in stock and I picked the best out of the six. Have had no issues with it so far and it cycles smooth. Just going to leave it as is.

That last sentence forty, well, it left me with a smile and a sigh of relief. Glad you decided against it.

Rifletom wrote: ↑

Sun May 21, 2023 8:08 pm

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Sun May 21, 2023 7:51 pm

Yep it's a Remlin but a good one. When I went to the shop to check it out they had 6 in stock and I picked the best out of the six. Have had no issues with it so far and it cycles smooth. Just going to leave it as is.

That last sentence forty, well, it left me with a smile and a sigh of relief. Glad you decided against it.

Well it would be an interesting piece but all that redo of the paperwork the ATF has in hand is ridiculous. Roadblocks just to keep the numbers down!