2023 Rifle Of The Year: Marlin 1895 SBL

American Rifleman is pleased to announce the 2023 Rifle Of The Year Award goes to Marlin.

by
posted on April 21, 2023
2023 Rifle Of The Year: Marlin 1895 SBL

American Rifleman is pleased to announce the 2023 Rifle Of The Year Award goes to Marlin.

“The NRA Golden Bullseye Awards epitomize what NRA members seek in their shooting and hunting equipment—outstanding performance, innovation and value,” said Doug Hamlin, executive director of NRA Publications. “These are the best new products, truly worthy of NRA members' attention, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all this year’s winners.”

When Ruger bought the intellectual property and hard assets to Marlin at auction back in 2020, it was a calculated risk. The brand is still beloved by many lever-gun connoisseurs, but its reputation had taken a beating in recent years, and Ruger was betting on the belief that it could right the ship and return the Marlin name to a place of standing within the industry. If the first Ruger-made Marlin rifle is any indication, that bet has paid off big.

magazine centerfold Mayodan Marlins man hunting outdoors oryx animal harvest gun review accuracy ballistics mechanical engineering technical writing screenshot of magazine article

"While my successful hunt had already proven that Ruger’s Marlin was accurate enough for its intended application as a short-range hunting rifle, the process of dialing-in the Leupold scope had also hinted at an accuracy potential that was far more than just adequate," wrote American Rifleman's Kelly Young.

According to Senior Executive Editor Kelly Young in his feature “In The Field And On The Range With Mayodan Marlins,” the 1895 SBL re-introduced last year is not a radical departure from the previous design, but it does incorporate a number of internal and external improvements that make a big difference, performance-wise. Some of these include improved thread timing of the barrel with the receiver, a nickel-plated and spiral-fluted bolt and a threaded muzzle. It also proved to be quite a shooter: “The accuracy of the Ruger-made Marlin wasn’t just good for a lever-action—it shot well for a rifle of any kind,” Young said.

While filming American Rifleman’s 'Gun Of The Week' video series with the updated lever-action rifle, staff noted that, “. . .  the action performed flawlessly. The generous section of Picatinny rail is a handy feature from the factory and the rear adjustable sight aperture, with adjustability, blends well with the HIVIZ post front unit that contains tritium for enhanced low-light performance. It is important to note that the included Picatinny rail ranges beyond the stainless-steel receiver, extending onto the barrel to allow for scout-type optic arrangements.”

man holding firing lever-action marlin 1895 sbl rifle indoors white gun range

Young recounted his field use with the Mayodan-made Marlin noting its success. “Loaded up with Hornady’s 325-grain LEVERevolution ammunition, the first shot from the sticks knocked the bull to the ground, where he stayed for close to 30 seconds before surprising us by springing up and running for the hills, and a second hit grounded the hearty creature for good. The 1895’s action had been so smooth in readying that important follow-up shot that I hadn’t even been consciously aware of it until the excitement was over and the oryx was down.”

For resurrecting the Marlin lever-gun, and for doing it so well, American Rifleman award the Model 1895 SBL Rifle Of The Year. For more information, visit marlinfirearms.com.

Latest

Iver Johnson MF20
Iver Johnson MF20

Review: Iver Johnson MF20

It’s no surprise that innovative designs like the Iver Johnson MF20 have emerged; by merging the best features of both shotguns and ARs, this firearm offers impressive—but controllable—firepower while mitigating the scattergun’s usual shortcomings.

6 New Handguns For 2025

Several of the nation's biggest names in firearm manufacturing have released new models ahead of SHOT Show 2025. Here's a rundown of the features that each of them offer.

Boys To Riflemen: Aiken’s Volunteers During The British Attack on Plattsburgh

In September 1814, Americans once again stood against the might of the British military, as their forefathers had done during the Revolution. A small group of teen boys proved their valor in the face of a British attack and earned a special presentation rifle for their efforts.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 20, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

A Gas-Operated M1903 Conversion That Never Was

The U.S. government's never-ending quest for a more effective shoulder-fired arm to equip its military has, naturally, resulted in more prototypes than production models. This semi-automatic Model 1903 Springfield conversion was one such dead-end.

Preview: Burris BTS35 v3

The author joined industry professionals for a coyote hunt that went well into the evening hours using thermal imaging from Burris. Read field notes from that hunt using the BTS35 v3.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.