Marlin 795 LTR

[MINUTEMAN MI001]

Has anyone had any experience with the pre-built Marlin 795 LTR? Would they be with a $200 price tag?

[Kholin]

I bought one of them new for only a little bit more than that a while back.  Served me well (and will be serving my Nephew well when he goes to his first Appleseed this year).   

If memory serves, the only things that were different about them were the Tech Sights, an extra mag, and the sling (and of course, the certificate for a free Appleseed).  It looks Gunbroker has other Marlin 795s generally selling for roughly 100-150, and the Tech-Sights run about $70.  It would probably cost you about as much to build as it would to buy one for $200.

One thing to bring up is that the Tech-Sights on mine (and I saw a few comments by others to this affect) did not have Loctite securing them.  If buying the Pre-built LTR, then I would check the sights, and ensure they are secured so they do not come loose while shooting.

Kholin

 

[MINUTEMAN MI001]

I bought one of them new for only a little bit more than that a while back.  Served me well (and will be serving my Nephew well when he goes to his first Appleseed this year).   

If memory serves, the only things that were different about them were the Tech Sights, an extra mag, and the sling (and of course, the certificate for a free Appleseed).  It looks Gunbroker has other Marlin 795s generally selling for roughly 100-150, and the Tech-Sights run about $70.  It would probably cost you about as much to build as it would to buy one for $200.

One thing to bring up is that the Tech-Sights on mine (and I saw a few comments by others to this affect) did not have Loctite securing them.  If buying the Pre-built LTR, then I would check the sights, and ensure they are secured so they do not come loose while shooting.

Kholin

Thanks Kholin, I appreciate the resonse. Good to know about the Locktite issue. Sounds like a nice lil' rifle. Did you happen to achieve Rifleman with it?

[Kholin]

I didn't, but not for any fault of the rifle.  I purchased a Ruger 10/22 a few months later (the one that was designed by mac66, see http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=43961.0), and decided to use that for Appleseed instead.   

That said, the only time I had where it was not putting the shots exactly where it was supposed to was when the front sight came loose (due to no Loctite ).  Other than that, it was more accurate than I was (and likely still is).  I have no doubt that it could do the job.

Kholin

[MINUTEMAN MI001]

Now, truth be told I'm a bit of a Ruger fanboy. Which rifle did you prefer? I've heard a few mixed reviews externally regarding the anniversary Ruger, but this would be the place to trust when it comes to an Appleseed rifle.

[Kholin]

Either one will work for Appleseed, and I have seen others shoot Marlin 795s at Appleseeds I have attended and do well.  As I mentioned previously, it still shoots better than I do . It really is a matter of preference (and, of course, what you have available)

My personal preference was the Ruger 10/22.  The things that led to that preference:

• Mags tended to stick in the magwell of my 795.
• Two bolt hold open mechanisms can make the 795 inconsistent when releasing the bolt, especially if you are new to it.  (In case you didn't know, in addition to the bolt hold open when the mag is empty, pulling the bolt back, then pushing in on the bolt handle will also hold it back until you pull out on the bolt handle.  This is completely independent of the bolt release lever). 
• You cannot dry fire the Marlin 795 without either a magazine in, or a minor mod to the magazine Lever Assembly
• I didn't like that you could not slingshot the bolt, and the mod to enable this was more than I was comfortable doing for a part you have to reorder through an FFL

Again, none of this was a deal breaker for it, it just made it a little annoying, so it was not my first choice.  As it was consistently not my first choice, it never made it to the firing line of an Appleseed with me (Though it was my backup rifle at a few shoots).

This is not to say I do not have quibbles with my 10/22s as well.  However, they are ones that I could generally customize away, generally for little to no money (Extended Mag Release, slingshot mod, etc).

Kholin

[MINUTEMAN MI001]

Thanks Kholin, I really appreciate your time and assistance! 

[Moylan]

I bought an Appleseed Marlin 795.  It's a great rifle, but I believe the front sight is canted.  The rear sight didn't have enough windage adjustment in it to get the thing properly sighted in.  Then the rear sight broke when an instructor was trying to help a shooter get it adjusted.  I expect that tech sights would fix or replace the thing if I sent it in to them, but I wound up just throwing a scope on it. 

Apart from the sight issues, it's a good buy, especially at $200.  Very accurate and reliable rifle.  It's a bit smaller than a 10-22, I think, and it can be harder for a larger-framed person to get comfortable with.  There are aftermarket stocks for it that would take care of that, but it's an extra expense. 

The modifications that Kholin mentioned will make it a much more simple rifle to run.  Everyone has his own level of comfort with gunsmithing, and if you're not interested in taking a dremel to your rifle, I totally understand that!  :-)  With that said, I am definitely not a very handy person, but I have done the slingshot modification, polished my mag well to allow the magazines to drop free, and removed the magazine safety in my 795 with no problems.  The rifle works great. 

Here's an explanation of the slingshot modification that I used.  (There's a different way to do it, but it's way more complicated and convoluted.)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOvgR7xhAMs

The drop free mags and the magazine safety removal are explained very well in this old post by henschman on the forum.  http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=38980.msg281923#msg281923

I will admit that I wouldn't have tackled these projects if I hadn't had a couple of years to get comfortable with minor gunsmithing on the somewhat less stressful 10-22.  Like Kholin says, if you want to do a slingshot mod on a 10-22, it couldn't be simpler (can just do a drop-in part, or you can do a small and simple bit of dremeling on a cheap and easily-available part).  Getting up your confidence on simpler projects before going after the 795 can be a really good idea, if you're like me, and not especially blessed with skill in the shop.

But as a summation, I think the 795 is a great rifle out of the box, and you won't go wrong picking one up. 

[Pine Ridge Puma]

I have had similar experience with the Appleseed Marlin 795.  The windage adjustment on mine is almost to the limit right, but that enables it to be right on the money for accuracy.  My son purchased one also, but there was not enough adjustment on his to compensate for the incorrectly
manufactured alignment of the sights.  He returned his where he purchased it, and Marlin sent a new rifle free, as it was under their warranty.  The new rifle is good.  These little rifles are nice-they are very light and have some nice features that make them really good for Appleseeds-that is what they were intended for, right!!

[Laredo]

I have two 795's.  That's all I shot before I went center fire.  No mods.

I have scored rifleman with both.  I have also scored rifleman with tech sites on one of them.  They are great rifles... Especially if your on a budget.

I will second the loctite issue.

The mags don't drop free... But that didn't stop me from multiple scores over 210. 

I use them for loaners now that my kids and I have graduated to center fire...  They have close to 10,0000 rounds through each of them and I have yet to replace any part.  I later added some custom stocks.....

[MINUTEMAN MI001]

@Moylan + Pine Ridge Puma Sound's like these are nice little rifles. The possibility of a canted sight is concerning, but it sounds like Marlin replaces with no issue?

I will definitely pick up Locktite if I pick up the rifle, that sounds downright unanimous.

@Laredo, glad to hear they are a least Rifleman-capable.

I plan on taking both a .22 (probably going to be the LTR thanks to the input of you fine gents.) As well as an AR;15 for day 2 to my first AS this year.

[airplanejoe]

I'll go out on a limb and state that any new or well maintained rifle is "rifleman's capable", whatever that means. Remember folks "IT'S THE INDIAN AND NOT THE ARROW". Train with a purpose; mastery of the basics will make you "advanced".
AJ

[jmdavis]

@Moylan + Pine Ridge Puma Sound's like these are nice little rifles. The possibility of a canted sight is concerning, but it sounds like Marlin replaces with no issue?

I will definitely pick up Locktite if I pick up the rifle, that sounds downright unanimous.

@Laredo, glad to hear they are a least Rifleman-capable.

I plan on taking both a .22 (probably going to be the LTR thanks to the input of you fine gents.) As well as an AR;15 for day 2 to my first AS this year.

If you are not doing KD at the Appleseed, stick to one rifle, unless it has problems. But assuming that you are familiar with the rifle and it is dependable I would stick with the .22.

[MINUTEMAN MI001]

@Moylan + Pine Ridge Puma Sound's like these are nice little rifles. The possibility of a canted sight is concerning, but it sounds like Marlin replaces with no issue?

I will definitely pick up Locktite if I pick up the rifle, that sounds downright unanimous.

@Laredo, glad to hear they are a least Rifleman-capable.

I plan on taking both a .22 (probably going to be the LTR thanks to the input of you fine gents.) As well as an AR;15 for day 2 to my first AS this year.

If you are not doing KD at the Appleseed, stick to one rifle, unless it has problems. But assuming that you are familiar with the rifle and it is dependable I would stick with the .22.

In that case I may want to stick to my AR, I have about 2500 rds of practice with it, but the .22 LTR would be a brand new purchase. Mostly to save money on ammo cost, and to have a nice little plinker after the AS.

[NJrefugee]

I have the 795 LTR with Tech Sights, and it has been used to shoot many a rifleman score.  The front sight is slightly canted, as are many.  However, on mine there is enough windage to adjust for it, and once it is dialed in there is little cause to mess with it.  I believe you can send it back and have them re-drill the front sight hole in more severe cases.  I also did the mag disconnect safety mod, so that I can dry fire it.  A little elbow grease and some 1000+ grit paper and the mags drop free (most of the time) now.  Finally, I found that the rear sight liked to walk back a bit over time, so I roughed up the dovetail area a little and cranked the screw down very hard after adding some loctite.  That seemed to do the trick.

Using an AR is great as well.  I would highly recommend that you get a few 10-round pmags, as the longer 30-rounders can block your forearm and prevent you from getting your support elbow into correct position when prone.  I found 3 for about $20 total including shipping on gunbroker recently.  You can also experiment with various front and rear sling attachment points.

 

[henschman]

I have a 795 LTR and like it.  I wrote a review of it that covers it's pros and cons here: http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=38982.0

I also did a review of the Ruger factory LTR here:  http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=43961.0

$200 is a great deal for one, assuming it comes with everything they are supposed to. 

[MINUTEMAN MI001]

I have a 795 LTR and like it.  I wrote a review of it that covers it's pros and cons here: http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=38982.0

I also did a review of the Ruger factory LTR here:  http://appleseedinfo.org/smf/index.php?topic=43961.0

$200 is a great deal for one, assuming it comes with everything they are supposed to.

Excellent write up of both rifles, very detailed! Thanks for the links!