I've been out with the husband and noticed he keeps looking at the Henry 45-70 big bore with authentic buck horn sites. He handles the Marlin guide some but seems to like the feel of the Henry I guess or he wouldn't keep going back to look at it. He's been looking at the Henry in 44 magnum and he Rossi. Same thing. He keeps going back to the Henry. He's got a birthday and Christmas coming up. Any pros and cons to these. He just says I'm alright but I know he wants both calibers. Just don't want to buy a rifle he won't like. He is an accurac fanatic so if it won't shoot good it won't last long. The Rossi and Marlin are cheaper guns but only by a $100.00 on the 45-70 but about $175.00 more on the 44. Any ideas of which is better. I'm not a lever action shooter. I want to buy one of each caliber. He also carries his rifles in scabbard on our horses.
Need help buying husband Christmas rifles
- Thread starter Wendyj
- Start date
Dang! I'd say it doesn't really matter.
Buy him the Henry .45-70. Once he's sure it's okay with you to have another rifle he can exchange it for the one he really wants. IMhO the approval is the best gift out there.
P.S. If your store won't allow exchanges of firearms (some don't) then maybe put it on lay-a-way or go with a gift certificate. Again in this case it really might be 'it's the thought that counts'.
Says Dale whose significant other has accused him of having cheap thoughts.
Buy him the Henry .45-70. Once he's sure it's okay with you to have another rifle he can exchange it for the one he really wants. IMhO the approval is the best gift out there.
P.S. If your store won't allow exchanges of firearms (some don't) then maybe put it on lay-a-way or go with a gift certificate. Again in this case it really might be 'it's the thought that counts'.
Says Dale whose significant other has accused him of having cheap thoughts.
There's nothing wrong with the newer Marlin 45-70 Guide Guns:
From an earlier post:
Take a look at my experience here:
(From MarlinOwners - 07-06-2012, 08:00 PM)
http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/45-70-govt/92182-1895gbl-vs-guide-gun-5.html#post1065588
In the FWIW column: I picked up a Remlim GBL about two months ago.
- I like the laminate stock work they did (so did several of the "old guys" amongst my Range Officers)
- I like the oversize lever loop design (as compared to my 39A and `94)
- I like the absolutely flawless feeding of those big 45-70 cases.... smoothest I've ever felt... fast or slow
- I wasn't too keen on the 8½ lb trigger, so I HappyTriggered & re main-springed it to 3½
- The stock iron sights weren't too bad, but I put a WilliamsFP peep on it to establish load preferences.
- (then my mid 60's eyes finally said "...put a lo-pwr Leupold on it, stupid...."
- Finally, I like the way it puts lead (real lead) downrange:
From an earlier post:
Take a look at my experience here:
(From MarlinOwners - 07-06-2012, 08:00 PM)
http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/45-70-govt/92182-1895gbl-vs-guide-gun-5.html#post1065588
In the FWIW column: I picked up a Remlim GBL about two months ago.
- I like the laminate stock work they did (so did several of the "old guys" amongst my Range Officers)
- I like the oversize lever loop design (as compared to my 39A and `94)
- I like the absolutely flawless feeding of those big 45-70 cases.... smoothest I've ever felt... fast or slow
- I wasn't too keen on the 8½ lb trigger, so I HappyTriggered & re main-springed it to 3½
- The stock iron sights weren't too bad, but I put a WilliamsFP peep on it to establish load preferences.
- (then my mid 60's eyes finally said "...put a lo-pwr Leupold on it, stupid...."
- Finally, I like the way it puts lead (real lead) downrange:
Thanks all. Looks like I'll go get the 45-70 tomorrow. The 44 mag was last one they had for now and it sold before I could tell store to hold it for me. They did get some 357 Henry's in. I don't know if he would like that one or not. He always has the 686 smith I got him last year on his side.
I use to collect Marlins and had every caliber lever gun they made at one time but had to sell. That said, I love Marlins and still own a few. They may have fixed the quality issues but once trust is broken its hard to get back.
I have handled a few Henry's and they feel/shoot good and I think they will hold their value.
If he wants a used older JM stamped Marlin, look on Gunbroker.com and find him an older Marlin 45-70. Have it shipped to your local FFL for the background check($3 at my FFL).
I had an older Marlin 45-70 and loved it but my Marlin .444 was my favorite. But the .44mags were just plain fun to shoot, easy on the shoulder and could take deer easily. Ask him about an older model Marlin in that caliber.
And tell your man he has a keeper, any woman that will get her guy a gun is a good one. My girlfriend has bought me a few and spends time at the range with me. Its a great hobby for us to share.
I have handled a few Henry's and they feel/shoot good and I think they will hold their value.
If he wants a used older JM stamped Marlin, look on Gunbroker.com and find him an older Marlin 45-70. Have it shipped to your local FFL for the background check($3 at my FFL).
I had an older Marlin 45-70 and loved it but my Marlin .444 was my favorite. But the .44mags were just plain fun to shoot, easy on the shoulder and could take deer easily. Ask him about an older model Marlin in that caliber.
And tell your man he has a keeper, any woman that will get her guy a gun is a good one. My girlfriend has bought me a few and spends time at the range with me. Its a great hobby for us to share.
My wife does this kind of stuff. Order him the Henry 45-70. He wants a good 45cal brush gun. He also may like the Henry brand and how they are made. A lot of times guns are more than just the gun on why we are attracted to them. Perhaps he has a connection to the Henry 45-70 in his past. Don't over think it. A gun for Christmas is as pure as Ralphy's Redrider BB gun.
I have the Henry in 44 and 357. I love em both, but the 357 gets shot more since I also have several of 357 revolvers and only one 44 mag. Ammo for the 357 is more plentiful, especially when you consider you can also use 38 special in it. Its also easier on the wallet, as both 357 and 38sp are more plentiful than 44, if you don't reload.
I can't speak to the Marlin, but i have loved the Henrys. Both are marvelously accurate and great fun to shoot. It's a very stable platform,the heavy barrel swings nicely, and heats up slowly.
I don't mind the buckhorn sights at all. I found them to be pretty accurate, and easy to pick up that gold front bead. I have the gold bead front sight on my S&W 627, so it was a simple transition, even though we are talking revolver and rifle. Like any other firearm or machine, you have to have familiarization time to figure them out. There are after market sights for them, but I haven't felt the need to replace them. As i continue to age, that might change
My favorite thing to do is to throw out one of those orange self-healing boxes or balls, and chase it down range with a Henry. Always turns heads, especially when the guys see a woman having fun with firearms LOL. Plus, they are beautiful and will hold decent value.
I want one in 45-70 to add to my collection. I can see your hubby really enjoying the 45-70, and i bet he (and you) would enjoy the 357, too. He is a lucky man!
I can't speak to the Marlin, but i have loved the Henrys. Both are marvelously accurate and great fun to shoot. It's a very stable platform,the heavy barrel swings nicely, and heats up slowly.
I don't mind the buckhorn sights at all. I found them to be pretty accurate, and easy to pick up that gold front bead. I have the gold bead front sight on my S&W 627, so it was a simple transition, even though we are talking revolver and rifle. Like any other firearm or machine, you have to have familiarization time to figure them out. There are after market sights for them, but I haven't felt the need to replace them. As i continue to age, that might change
My favorite thing to do is to throw out one of those orange self-healing boxes or balls, and chase it down range with a Henry. Always turns heads, especially when the guys see a woman having fun with firearms LOL. Plus, they are beautiful and will hold decent value.
I want one in 45-70 to add to my collection. I can see your hubby really enjoying the 45-70, and i bet he (and you) would enjoy the 357, too. He is a lucky man!
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I know he likes the buckhorn sights. He's took the sight off an old Winchester and bought a buckhorn sight for it. His Henry 45 rifle has buckhorn also. He had a Guide Gun years ago when they first came out with the muzzle brake on it. Best I can remember he wanted a few inches more length in the barrel.
I think it is worth the effort to find an older Marlin,(real Marlin) in 45/70 with the 22" barrel and 1/2 magazine. Good pre remlin quality. That bbl and magazine and pistol grip and shotgun butt plate combine to provide excellent handling and speed for the power of max loaded 45/70. The big problem I have with guide gun are the holes in the barrel to reduce muzzle jump also increase the noise. With the 1/2 magazine, the standard rifle with 22 barrel is perfect. Better under recoil and carries well.
You always get somebody to claim longer is better or shorter is better, but; after close to a century this is the configuration settled on by Winchester for the 1886 (what ever it was called in its final form) offered in the excellent 348. Between 86 Winchester's and current Marlin 45/70 the Marlin has the better weight and balance. The guide gun is, in my not so humble estimation, less than optimum.
You always get somebody to claim longer is better or shorter is better, but; after close to a century this is the configuration settled on by Winchester for the 1886 (what ever it was called in its final form) offered in the excellent 348. Between 86 Winchester's and current Marlin 45/70 the Marlin has the better weight and balance. The guide gun is, in my not so humble estimation, less than optimum.
Might be a bit easier to buy a new firearm than a vintage or used, unless you know for an absolute fact that your husband was looking for a specific gun. With new, you are able to get close to what he says he likes/wants, as far as type (lever, pump, bolt or semi), make and caliber.
STOP!. Potential big mistake; here's why. The thought is fantastic, but if you husband is really involved in guns, he most likely has some very particular (and hard to predict) preferences. There is a VERY slim chance that you will be able to pick out his dream rifle. It's sort of like a husband buying a bra for his wife............... there is plenty of room for error. In other words, his "dream gun" might not be the one he would actually purchase.
Picking out a rifle based on what some guy on this forum says is good or on what you think your husband might prefer is fraught with danger.
Suppose you do manage to get something close to what he wants. He will be so overwhelmed by your thoughtful generosity that he won't want to confess that it's not quite what he really wanted. So he will likely keep the rifle, after all, it's a gift of love. But every time he sees it he will say, "Dang, this thing is perfect except for the caliber/barrel length/brand/stock shape/sights/checkering/or what-have-you."............ you get the idea.
So gather a wad of cash, cut out a picture of what you think he might like, put it in an envelope with a little note telling him that it's a home-made gift certificate. He'll really appreciate it.
Picking out a rifle based on what some guy on this forum says is good or on what you think your husband might prefer is fraught with danger.
Suppose you do manage to get something close to what he wants. He will be so overwhelmed by your thoughtful generosity that he won't want to confess that it's not quite what he really wanted. So he will likely keep the rifle, after all, it's a gift of love. But every time he sees it he will say, "Dang, this thing is perfect except for the caliber/barrel length/brand/stock shape/sights/checkering/or what-have-you."............ you get the idea.
So gather a wad of cash, cut out a picture of what you think he might like, put it in an envelope with a little note telling him that it's a home-made gift certificate. He'll really appreciate it.