45-70

P

psalm7

New member
I have seen where Walmart stores are getting the Marlin lever actions in 45-70 GOV . I did not catch the price but heard they are just under $600 . I like the big levers in .35 Rem , 444Mariln , 45-70 . Ammo is getting a bit steep for the big heavies but not something most shooters would shoot year round .
 
Why wouldn't you shoot it year round? Lots of people shoot them "year round". Cost is not a great factor since most shooters of these guns also reload. They are fairly inexpensive to shoot using cast bullets and powders producing low pressure/velocity with lots of shots per pound. Nothing's cheap to shoot if you're buying all your ammo and with the "shortage" we've had the last several years you're quite limited in shooting if you can't find the ammo. I own several 45-70s in lever guns, high walls, and Sharps configurations. I shoot them year round and they shoot surprisingly well with reloads. You need to get started on reloading if you already aren't doing it.
 
If you can't reload then Hornady LeveRevolution will be the cheapestx about $30. The next cheapest is Magtech, cowboy loads, and they were $40. Winchester and Remington hover around $50.
 
"...Ammo is getting a bit steep..." Reloading is your friend. Best to use cast bullets for fun shooting and jacketed for hunting.
The rifle's price will depend on the model. Cabela's starts at $629 for a 22" .45-70.
 
I have three 45-70's a Trapdoor, Sharps and 1895 Marlin I shoot them all and hand loading is your friend with these everything from mild to wild.
 
How is the Marlin quality these days? I looked over a .45-70 Marlin at a local shop this past Saturday and I liked how it feels (laminated stock model). Didn't pay attention to the price because I knew I was there for something else (another 10/22 with full length stock)
 
While it may appear counterintuitive for such a large round, the .45-70 is actually one of the more versatile rounds around. You can buy commercial hard cast 405 grain FPs and load them light (about 1200) for general plinking and utility, or load them a bit steeper to deal with anything you're likely to encounter walking in the woods. If you're a hunter, there are several slugs available that are excellent for thin skinned game (notably the 300 grain Hornady HPFPs and the classic 405 grain Remington SPFPs). Starline makes excellent brass, which, while a bit dear initially, can be reloaded many times.
 
I reload but never have for the 45-70 . The big % of shooters do not reload . But as many hunters shoot what ever they carry for whats in season and may not even pick up their deer rifle till the next season ammo cost should'nt be that prohibiting . These are nice firearms and for a while they seemed to be getting scarce in the lgs's .
 
The big % of shooters do not reload
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No, it should read "the big % of hunters do not reload". Shooters and hunters have guns in common but shooters fire way more ammo than hunters do. The NSSF says that 98% of ammo sales go to hunters. Shooters are a very small percentage of gun owners who actually shoot a lot.
 
I am surprised to hear of a WalMart that sells Marlin 1895s. The only lever action rifle that I can remember for sale in the last 15 years was a Henry rim fire.

I have seen the Marlin 336W (.30-30) at WalMart but not in the last 15+ years. I am in rural central Kansas, WalMarts in other areas may carry a better selection.
 
Our local Wallyworld sells ammo, but no firearms! Fortunately, with 20 miles or so, we have several of the best gun shops in the country (Bob's Army Navy, Grices-both in Clearfield, Mahoning in Punxy).
 
Well you are in Tennessee so you don't really need a Alaskan Guide Gun.

Let me suggest the Lower 48 Guide Gun.

Marlin Lever Action in .44 Remington Magnum.

It hits harder than a .30-30 under 100 Yards and Winchester White Box Soft points cost about $25 for 50 rounds.

It will drop any hog or bear in your state very well.
 
45/70 Marlin

I'm a Ohio deer hunter and shooter. I load for about everything you can think of
plus a few you can't. Last year we had our first rifle season, limited cals. 38 cal
or larger, straight cased. The law was slow leaking out causing scalping on any
rifle legal in Ohio. A lot of guys bought the Guide Gun, mostly because it's neat
looks. A 45/70 with a barrel this short is a joke. A 44mg will put out about the
same ballistics / 20" barrel. I have a old model 1895 that I used last year. I
just got a old model 1894 / 44 mg that I will be using this year. Hollywood
has made the 45/70 into a long range wonder. It ain't so. When you get good
with the 45/70 you will be "riding the rainbow"
 
I can assure you my Guide Gun is no joke, and shorter barrel or not, it far exceeds the .44 Mag in downrange energy. :)
Denis
 
A 45/70 with a barrel this short is a joke.
A 44mg will put out about the same ballistics
with a 20" barrel....
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Having both, aaaaahhhh....

No:
Code: 
             45-70     44 Mag
              GBL       1894
Barrel       18.5       20.0
Bullet	      405        240
Press       40,000     36,000
Velocity     1,900      1,700
Energy       3,250      1,600
 
I would match either my .45-70 Guide Gun or .444 Outfitter against a .44 Magnum of any barrel length. The .44 is a great round but just cannot match either of these.
 
I got the guide gun in 45/70 but if i could do it over id have gone 444 just for the selection of .430 jhp bullets available. I have a mild 405gr hardcast load i use for desert bumming but those 405's dont want to stop, and i dont like hearing them screamin across the mountain range. It would also be nice to shoot the heck out of targets with cheap bulk 240gr swc's.
 
It seems like the 45/70 is making a bit of a comeback. That being said, I'd check out Henry's line of lever actions. I'm not sure I trust Marlin's new production just yet.
 
Regarding quality, I picked up my first 45-70 this week. Cabela's is having a sale on them. Already have a 1894c from about 10 years ago. The 1895 I got is very well put together. Metal to wood fit is tight and even, sights/barrel are straight and not canted, it cycles smoothly with or without rounds loaded, screws are not buggered up, etc. This is the first 45-70 I've owned, and it is fun. I went to the range today for the first time, and it was illuminating. Shot Rem. 405 gr. JSP's at 1330 fps. Shooting offhand at 50 yards it was nice shooting. Going to the bench with sandbags at 50 yds., one could really feel the recoil as compared to standing. I can't even imagine what it feels like with some 405 gr. round trucking along at 2000+ fps. and 3-4K ft/lbs of energy! I'm going to try and reload for it with some 300 gr. FP rounds moving around 1000 fps. Should be very enjoyable. A really neat gun!
 
I'm going to try and reload for it with some 300 gr. FP rounds moving around 1000 fps. Should be very enjoyable
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For a easy on shoulder load and fairly quiet as well. I use lead 405gr bullets with 11.5gr of unique for 1050 fps. Very easy on the shoulder out of my 1895 guide gun.
 
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