45-70 lever-show me yours!

my only issue is I'm worried about the wood stock in winter time
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Curious why you would be worried about wood in the winter time? Wood stock guns have been around a long time and with just a little care are pretty durable.

My 45-70 isn't a lever gun but I love my Ruger No. 1. Accurate, reliable, fun to shoot even with its wood stock. :) The stock has made it through a few Kentucky winters without issue by the way.
 
I've had several 45/70s, most were original single shots. I have a Marlin 1895
that I've had for 40yrs. In last couple years have got a lot more serious on
45/70 and other straight cases cartridges because of Ohio's new rifle deer
season. The biggest mistake I made was to scope it, had been shooting Lyman
reciever 66 on it for years, going back to them for next season. I'm shooting
300g JHP over max load IMR-3031. Not a pleasant load to shoot of the bench.
To add to that I peeled about 25% of the "extra" wood off the 1895. Pic is
1895-45/70, Marlin 375w, Marlin 1894-44mg. Ohio Deer Rifles.
 

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My shorterized Remlin- came flawed from the factory in Ilion, and they refused to address the ridiculously canted front sight issue. I had it chopped to 14.5", and a sight-brake threaded and permanently welded on to reach 16.25". Finished out with matte black Gun-kote. It is a savage little beastie.





And with glass
 
That sure looks like a sweet gun to carry, but given a choice a little more barrel, pistol grip is more my speed. But you sure made a silk purse from a sows ear, no question. the OP, mentioned recoil as a concern, so; I think he would be best served with conservative advise. I have no problem with a 458 Lott, but; this is not about me.

For the OP, asking for nice shooter, with less recoil, still comes back to the1895 Classic model:

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/bigbore/1895.asp

photo_1895.jpg


Lets give the guy a break and get him off on the right foot.

And once again, any remlin, should be purchased from bricks and mortar retail after a careful inspection. If the sights are crooked or the action rough, it is on the OP for not checking.
 
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With modern hot loads it is a legitimate big game cartridge. But with recoil in the 458 WM range. If someone really wants to shoot big stuff a 375 is much more effective, and with much less recoil.

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There is no factory load 45/70 shot in a normal 22" pistol grip marlin that recoils anywhere close to any 458 mag gun. Not on this planet. The 375HH is hard to say as in a good rifle that does not kick much either and in a light gun it can be rough. They are both manageable enough. the 4570 certainly can be much milder and more fun than a full loaded H&H.

I consulted the recoil nomograph as found in the Handloader's Digest 8th Edition and the formula given in the Lyman Reloading Handbook, 43rd Edition to determine the "recoil energy" and the "recoil velocity" figures for the three cartridges in question (.45-70 Government, .375 H&H Magnum and the .458 Winchester Magnum) and found the following information:

Cartridge (Bullet Weight @ MV), Weight of Rifle, Recoil Energy, Recoil Velocity

.375 Mag (235 @ 2700), 9.0 pounds, 29.5, 14.5

.375 Mag (270 @ 2690), 9.0 pounds, 36.1, 16.1

.375 Mag (300 @ 2530), 9.0 pounds, 37.3, 16.3

.45-70 (300 @ 1800), 7.0 pounds, 23.9, 14.8

.45-70 (350 @ 1900), 7.0 pounds, 37.9, 18.7

.45-70 (405 @ 1330), 7.5 pounds, 18.7, 12.7

.458 Mag (400 @ 2050), 9.0 pounds, 41.7, 17.3

.458 Mag (500 @ 2100), 9.0 pounds, 62.3, 21.1
 
QUOTE: "...A properly stock light wt 1886 would make a nice gun. A light wt 86 is still a heavy brute and most if not all the repro have a miserable crescent steel butt..."

I've had a Winchester Model 1886 "Extra Light Weight" repo (Miroku), chambered in .45-70 Govt., and having a 22" barrel, since 2005. It is "properly stocked" with a shotgun-style butt, which makes the felt recoil relatively mild in my estimation-certainly nothing approaching the .458 Magnum's recoil as some seem to believe. I mounted a Williams "Fool Proof" receiver sight on mine (as I have on several other rifles I hunt with) and the set-up does make for a very "nice gun" indeed.
 
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I'm a bit of a Marlin Big Bore lover. I collect Guide Guns mostly in 444 (Outfitter), 450 Marlin & 45/70. Here are a few of mine.



I reload for everything I own and shoot mild & wild, jacketed and lead. All of my Guide Guns & Outfitters are factory ported and built between 1998 & 2002.

1895gunner
 
Marlin 1895

I also like leverguns. My .45-70 Guide Gun is one of the newer NY Marlins but it is a great shooting rifle. I have seen some poorly finished (both metal and wood) new Marlins but mine is every bit the rifle that my 444P Outfitter is.

622bf9c6-c8a0-4880-b7ca-54abd6be1c5b_zps4e4a1e62.jpg


Outfitter on left is ported, Guide gun on right is not. Myself, I don't have any issues with ported barrels.

Group pic taken before I bought the Guide Gun with an older Bushnell scope on the Outfitter. The rest look the same.

PA152103.jpg


For those who are interested L-R
1. Marlin 336C .30-30 Win
2. Winchester 94 SRC .30-30 Win
3. Mossberg 472 .30-30 Win
4. Winchester 94 Classic .30-30 Win
5. Marlin 336SC .32 Win Special
6. Marlin 336C .35 Remington
7. Winchester 94 XTR .375 Win
8. Marlin 444P .444 Marlin
 
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"gearhounds - that's a sweet little rig you have there.

Any more information you can share on the Gun-Kote?"

Missed this- apologies- I had a shop down in Texas called Ranger Point Precision do all the work, including the Gunkote finish. Gunkote is a very durable spray and bake finish similar to Cerakote, and has been used by the military for years. The matte black compliments the snarly looking muzzle brake nicely and takes away any reflective giveaway. Since 45-70 does not lose that much velocity per inch of barrel removed, the relative short hunting distances in the east made chopping it this short an easy decision. I have .308's for any longer shooting I might do.
 
Well, it's chambered in .45-90, but since that's just .45-70 only 20 better I'll play anyways :D

1886.png


It's a Browning 1886 re-worked by Turnbull. Since this photo I've swapped it out for a Skinner peep sight.

With full power loads, it will drive a 405 grain Kodiak bonded, Barnes Buster, or Punch Bullet at about 2120 ft/s with a full case of H322. That's not quite as hot as the hottest .458 win mag loads, but it's enough nothing on the other end will ever know the difference.

With the recoil pad and shotgun stock it's pleasant to shoot.
 
Here ya go.....

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Not a good pic, but you get the idea. Much like others suggested, mine is a pistol grip, half mag, full size 22" barrel model. Shot everything from mild black powder level loads (300 grain bullets at 1600) to Hornady stuff (325 grain at 2200) and the recoil is not bad.
 
Y'all have a buncha funny-looking rifles with the lever underneath. My .45-70 is built on a No.4 Enfield action with the lever on the side where it belongs...
 
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