45-70 thoughts

[mwunsch]

I do declare my next gun will be a 45-70. I'm thinking a marlin with the 18.5" tube that also holds 6 rounds. I See buffalo bore has Barnes bullets on steroids. I'm thinking iron sights for close encounters with piggies and bear. Anyone with experience with this gun? Thoughts are appreciated guys.

[Hamsterbear]

Have Marlin 1895G stainless steel, made by Marlin JM stamped bbl., XS iron sights- my favorite rifle.
I also love handloading for this, and you should as well because ammo is quite pricey, and rolling your own brings the cost down significantly.
Watch Hickock45's videos on the Marlin guide gun on YouTube- you'll want to run out and buy one tomorrow!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRvCC8ugCAw

and chapter 2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq8NmOF1csk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq5G2CB8kdg

He's my favorite Youtube gun channel, he's probably done a video on every firearm you can think of

[Frotz]

A relative of mine has a vintage trapdoor Springfield wallhanger that'll probably never be shot again. I'd like to get something like that sometime. How hot of a load could a vintage trapdoor Springfield handle?

[koehn,jim]

I have the Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70 and its a nice weapon. Full house loads can be a bit painful if you shoot very many in a session. It will however knock down anything you are hunting. I like it.

[Tom-ADC]

I have three 45-70's and shoot them all an older Marlin 1895, H&R Officers Model Trapdoor & a Sharps.
I limit the Marlin to 450 grain or less, the Trapdoor to 405 grains both smokeless and BP, the Sharps 500-535 grain mostly BP.
The Marlin handles everything well and it only takes a couple of rounds to convince you the proper gun hold is important especially with the heavy bullets recoil can be stout!
The 45-70 is very reloader friendly!!.

[ENDO]

45-70

I too have a Marlin 1895 stainless, 405gn reloads, kicks like a mule.....I love it.

[mwunsch]

Cool, not too concerned about recoil. I shoot a .300 win mag and only feel recoil at the range. (Funny how you don't feel recoil when a pig is in the scope) I'm looking for a short rough and tumble brush gun for big things.

I know I should hand load but I don't.

[MJB]

Short range yes but it's also great for 200yd shots if your good with iron sights. Seen 2 elk go down with one heart shot both were 220-260yds hornady ammo in 1886 Winchester

[Sunday]

45/70 manly recoil well proven for over 100 years and there as noted hot loadings.

[Carcassonne]

45-70 thoughts

I do declare my next gun will be a 45-70.

I think the 450 Marlin is better in most regards except for ammo availability. That is where the 45-70 beats it hands down.

The problem with the 45-70 is the thin brass wall. It is very easy to damage the brass. You have to be careful when reloading making sure that the mouth of the brass is center in each die. A little bit off center and the lip of the brass will get bent over. That is easy to do on a progressive when the shell plate turns and shakes the brass.

Factory SAAMI spec 45-70 ammo is rather weak. Modern leverguns like the Marlin 1895 can handle the same pressures as the 450 Marlin. If you want a lighter 450 Marlin load that matches older 45-70 velocities, just handload your own. Both the 450 Marlin and 45-70 barrels have the same rifling twist rate, so they will have similar accuracy for similar bullets and velocities.

Note: It appears that Marlin no longer has the 450 Marlin on their website. I think Hornady made this happen because Hornady sits on their rear end and can't keep up with demand for 450 Marlin brass. The 450 Marlin is a proprietary cartridge, and only Hornady is licensed to make it - since they invented it with Marlin. When the patent expires, we may see more brass companies making 450 Marlin brass. If that happens, I am sure we will see more rifles in that caliber.

444 Marlin is a nice caliber that has a cult following. I have one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.444_Marlin

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[mwunsch]

I think the 450 Marlin is better in most regards except for ammo availability. That is where the 45-70 beats it hands down.

The problem with the 45-70 is the thin brass wall. It is very easy to damage the brass. You have to be careful when reloading making sure that the mouth of the brass is center in each die. A little bit off center and the lip of the brass will get bent over. That is easy to do on a progressive when the shell plate turns and shakes the brass.

Factory SAAMI spec 45-70 ammo is rather weak. Modern leverguns like the Marlin 1895 can handle the same pressures as the 450 Marlin. If you want a lighter 450 Marlin load that matches older 45-70 velocities, just handload your own. Both the 450 Marlin and 45-70 barrels have the same rifling twist rate, so they will have similar accuracy for similar bullets and velocities.

Note: It appears that Marlin no longer has the 450 Marlin on their website. I think Hornady made this happen because Hornady sits on their rear end and can't keep up with demand for 450 Marlin brass. The 450 Marlin is a proprietary cartridge, and only Hornady is licensed to make it - since they invented it with Marlin. When the patent expires, we may see more brass companies making 450 Marlin brass. If that happens, I am sure we will see more rifles in that caliber.

444 Marlin is a nice caliber that has a cult following. I have one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.444_Marlin

.

I was really looking into the browning lever rifle in 450 marlin actually and that was my first choice. I looked at the takedown pistol grip, but as you. Said, ammo especially lead free looks hard to come by. It looks to be around 175 extra fps than the 45-70

[mwunsch]

So I pulled the trigger so to speak and jailed a Marlin 1895 with the 18.5" barrel today at Oak Tree Gun Club. Bummer is no one has any lead free bullets in stock. I ordered a box but ill see how long it takes. I bought two boxes of Winchester silver tips to sight in and practice but lead free is a different story. So I guess I'll see what happens. I ordered the Barnes triple shock 300 grain and will see how long it takes and will keep the iron sights unless someone convinces me otherwise. Was possibly thinking red dot sight but I like the idea of iron sights that are hard to f$ck up.

[JagerDog]

Hornady makes a lead free 45-70 cartridge using their Monoflex bullet.

[Tradhunt]

I have always wanted a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 just never broke down and picked one up.

A few months ago picked up a 1895M 450 marlin and love it. It's my go to gun for camping and hunting/backup gun. Something that is more then enough to handle anything you come across here in the US among other places.

I still want to pick up a 1895gbl 45-70 but I'm more then happy with my 450 marlin. I just wish Hornady would get off the pot and put it back into production. If not that release the patent so other companys could take over it.

I don't know why they dumped it as it's the perfect round for those that don't reload and want a factory hot round. I have several boxes of factory ammo and will reload them as I go.

[Tom-ADC]

So I pulled the trigger so to speak and jailed a Marlin 1895 with the 18.5" barrel today at Oak Tree Gun Club. Bummer is no one has any lead free bullets in stock. I ordered a box but ill see how long it takes. I bought two boxes of Winchester silver tips to sight in and practice but lead free is a different story. So I guess I'll see what happens. I ordered the Barnes triple shock 300 grain and will see how long it takes and will keep the iron sights unless someone convinces me otherwise. Was possibly thinking red dot sight but I like the idea of iron sights that are hard to f$ck up.

I have these on all three of my Marlins, Williams FP this one has target knobs. I'm a old guy and really like these.