I have owned several 45/70's over the years. I like how the round usually works on hogs and deer at close range. I have shot several hogs with it, this last year, shooting a Browning 1886 saddle ring carbine with a William's receiver sight. I love the 86 action, but decided I would like a scoped option, and recently purchased a new Marlin in the same configuration as above, except mine has a green painted over laminated stock, and William's open firesights on it. Mine is stainless but it's a blackened stainless and actually looks like it's blued.
Mine was purchased from CDNN and was a demo model that they had on sale at reduced price, so I got it a couple hundred dollars cheaper. I love the green stock, and the fact that is actually stainless but looks blued, however, I don't really care for the Williams fire sights, although they will work, however I think I will change them out for same sights and rail option as the OP has on his rifle. Mine has the big lever also, which I kinda like but takes a little getting used to.
I am not going to scout scope it however, and will be adding a 1 to 5 low powered variable of some flavor. I think Marlin has come back a little from the first days of the buyout but my action is a bit rough and I will be slicking it up a bit in the future.