Well, ended up with a new manufacture, 2016, Marlin 45-70, straight stock 18.5" barrel Guide gun, with Skinner sights, as part of a trade. Took it out to the range to try it out. The newest manufactured Remlins are indeed a lot better finished and function a bunch better than the ones when they first took over.
The ammo fed smoothly, trigger was pretty decent for a lever and the gun shoots real well. I am not a huge fan of the Skinner sights, even after shooting them I prefer a Lyman or Williams peep, but you can't kick at the results you can get with them. Shooting 425 grain cast it did about 1.5" inches and Hornady 350 grain round nose just over an inch at 50 yards. Load for both was CCI LR primers, and 42 grains of Varget in WW cases. Recoil is very tame which makes recovery for a second shot very quick.
Cast
Hornady 350 RN
