Marlin 1895 SBL .45-70 Government
Model: 70478
Marlin 1895 SBL .45-70 Government
Model: 70478
Full Specifications
Threaded 11/16"-24 barrel: compare big bore suppressor prices.
About This Firearm
The Marlin 1895 SBL is a stainless lever-action .45-70 Government built for guide work and big game in heavy cover. It has an MSRP of $1,619. A Picatinny rail, an adjustable ghost ring and a fiber optic front sight are all fitted, so the irons and a red dot both work on the day it comes home.
The muzzle is threaded 11/16-24 under a factory protector, so a suppressor mount or a brake goes on without machining and the aperture stays usable underneath. An offset hammer spur and sling swivel studs come with the rifle, and the lever loop is oversized for heavy gloves. The rail sits low to keep the ghost ring in use, so a tall ring set will not clear it.
If you're cross-shopping, the Marlin 1895 Trapper has an MSRP of $1,599 and trades a round and the rail for 3.0 inches less overall and a Skinner receiver peep. The Smith & Wesson Model 1854 has an MSRP of $1,399.00, matches the capacity and the muzzle thread, and adds M-LOK slots in the forend, though on a synthetic stock and with no hammer spur in the box. Both of those weigh 0.2 lbs less than this rifle's 7.30 lbs.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Receiver, lever and trigger guard plate are machined from stainless steel forgings behind a cold hammer-forged stainless barrel, which is the build that comes back from a float trip looking the same.
- The loading gate sits on the receiver, so the tube is topped up with the rifle shouldered, not through a plug at the muzzle.
- The tritium ring around the front sight keeps the aiming point visible once the fiber optic has run out of daylight to gather.
- The cross-bolt safety is an extra step on a rifle that already has a half-cock hammer notch, and an easy thing to leave engaged when the shot comes.
- Polished stainless flashes in sunlight, which is why the Marlin 1895 Trapper is finished matte instead.
- Length of pull is fixed at 13.38 inches with no spacers in the system, so a shorter shooter has nothing to take out.
Compatible Ammunition
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an SBL in .30-30?
Yes. Marlin's SBL series lists a .30-30 rifle alongside this one, with the same gray laminate stock and the same barrel length. The bore and the twist are the differences.
Which twist does Marlin use in .45-70?
1:20 right hand, on this rifle and on the rest of its big bore lever guns.
What is the offset hammer spur for?
Reaching the hammer once an optic sits over the receiver. It moves the spur out to the side, clear of the eyepiece.
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