Marlin 1895/S&W 1854 45-70 Load Gate (Black)

Product Description

RPP Flyweight Loading Gate – Marlin 1895 & Smith & Wesson 1854 .45-70

If you've ever fought a stiff factory load gate while trying to push rounds into your lever gun, this is the fix.

The Ranger Point Precision Flyweight Loading Gate is a drop-in replacement for the factory loading gate on Marlin 1895 and Smith & Wesson 1854 lever-action rifles chambered in .45-70 Government. Designed to make loading faster, smoother, and easier on your fingers, it combines reduced spring tension, increased cartridge clearance, and optimized feed geometry in one simple lever-action upgrade.

The biggest difference is the spring tension. Factory loading gates can require more than 5 lbs. of force to fully open. The RPP Flyweight requires approximately 1.5 lbs., reducing loading effort by up to 70%. No bending, grinding, or spring tuning required.

We also redesigned the gate to provide more clearance for cartridges as they're pushed through the receiver. That extra room is especially noticeable with big-bore, straight-wall lever-action cartridges like .45-70 Government, making it easier to load the rifle without fighting the gate round after round.

Inside the receiver, the feed lip geometry is designed to open smoothly against the next round in the magazine while maintaining positive case-head control for reliable feeding. Smooth, finger-friendly edges also get rid of the sharp bite commonly associated with factory loading gates.

Each RPP Flyweight Loading Gate is precisely CNC machined from solid 7075-T6 aluminum, hand polished, and hard anodized for excellent strength, fatigue resistance, and long-term wear. It's built to handle thousands of loading cycles while maintaining consistent spring tension and performance.

Whether you're replacing a factory loading gate or looking for an easy functional upgrade for your Marlin 1895 or Smith & Wesson 1854, the RPP Flyweight makes a noticeable difference every time you load the rifle.

RPP Flyweight Loading Gate Features

• Fits Marlin 1895 and Smith & Wesson 1854 lever-action rifles
• Reduces the force required to open the loading gate by up to 70%
• Approximately 1.5 lbs. of force required to fully open
• No tuning, bending, or modification required
• Increased cartridge clearance for easier loading
• Smooth, finger-friendly edges
• Optimized feed lip geometry for smooth, reliable feeding
• Positive case-head control
• CNC machined from 7075-T6 aluminum billet
• Hand polished and hard anodized for durability and wear resistance
• Available in black, gold, or clear anodized finishes
• Clear anodized finish closely matches stainless-steel rifles
• Approximately 10–15 minute installation
• Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) approved

A simple replacement for the factory loading gate and one of the easiest functional upgrades you can make to your Marlin 1895 or Smith & Wesson 1854 lever-action rifle.

INSTALLATION 

A couple of good screwdrivers is all that's needed. 

The gun will need to be partially disassembled - just go slow, and remember that each screw needs to return to it's original home, so get a piece of cardboard box, draw an approximation of the receiver on it, and poke a hole in your drawing where each screw can rest until reassembly.

1) Clear the rifle & ensure the chamber and magazine are EMPTY.

2) Unscrew/remove the tang screw from the upper/rear receiver tang, and pull off the buttstock to the rear.

3) Partially open bolt/lever, remove lever pivot screw and slide lever out of the bottom of the receiver (no need to remove bolt)

4) De-cock the hammer with the safety disengaged. Push forward on the hammer spring bridge and pull or push out one side of its groove. This will free the hammer spring 

5) Remove hammer pivot screw, bottom trigger plate screw and side support screws to free the trigger plate from the receiver.

6) Remove the trigger plate / lower tang from the bottom of the receiver (some gentle prying may be needed).

7) Pull the locking lug out of the bottom of the receiver and swing the carrier out of the receiver (no need to remove the carrier pivot screw)

8) Unscrew the loading gate spring (1” behind he loading gate opening) and install the new gate and screw it in

Reassemble in reverse order.