[Dirtwater Doc]

That was a nice score. The hammer Marlin SGs are smoother and faster than the 1897 Winchesters; I used an 1898 in Cowboy Action for 5 years. Marlin issued an advisory in 1999 that these SGs should not be shot; so SASS banned them. There were a few instances of the Marlin bolt pin failing with some cases of the bolt flying back but there are far more reports of the 97 Winchesters failing. This happened to me and the bolt locked up and would not open. These old Winchesters and Marlin were called unfairly "widowmakers" but there are no confirmed cases of this.

As with any old gun use low power loads. I still have an unmodified 1898 with a S/N of 77 that I shoot on occasion.

DD