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No argument from me about the fascination of powerful rifles. Just be aware that you are generating tremendous recoil forces and should show them respect. Especialy with a scope.

The XS sights have an express style just for the Marlin and should work better than the standard sights. Very fast and traditional looking.

The 500 gr is slow in this gun, in my opinion the 400 gr gives the best velocity to weight. 1800 to 2000 FPS with 400 gr bullet is tough to beat.

I made a new stock for my 1895, I used fairly straight grained dense walnut and left it thicker than normal. The added girth help spread the recoil out but the lines remained the same, plus I added a good Pachmyer Recoil pad. I used the recoil pad to set how wide the but was, the original was a good deal slimmer.

It does not hurt to develope loads for all of the common weight bullets for your rifle, 300, 350, 400, 500. Then you can adjust the rifle to any situation.

Have fun and Remember

BIG BORES ROAR

Hi Steve, I have owned an 1895 since the early 1970's when the new ones first came out.

The 400/405 gr bullets at 1800 to 2000 FPS are serious BIG BORE medicine out of a deer carbine type rifle and must be treated as such.

The recoil is impressive to say the least. Proper form from the bench is to raise the rifle on sand bags until you can sit up straight while aiming. Your back should form a T with the bench, no leaning into the rifle. The best scope I have found with this beast is the Leupold 1.5 x 5 VIII. Large amount of eye relief. When you fire the recoil will pivot you back and keep the scope out of your head. Lean into the rifle and it will pound your shoulder and the scope will have a chance of getting to you.

In the field you must always squarely face your target. if you shoot to the side the power of the recoil will cause the scope to rake the side of your head raw

I highly recomend peep sights or scout type scopes if you load this rifle to it's full potential with 400/405 gr bullets.

As previously posted, you can get the same speeds (1800 to 2000 FPS) with 300gr bullets with out the serious recoil. The animals will not be able to tell the difference but you certainly will. The chances of the scope getting to you are greatly reduced.

This web site shows a fantastic mount sighting concept.
http://www.xssights.com/

As the picture shows, you can have peeps sights and your scope mounted. If you use Leupold quick disconect rings you can take your scope on and off as needed.

Any way enjoy that rifle and remember

BIG BORES ROAR!