Which 45 70 lever would you get
- Thread starter bungiex88
- Start date
Gunplummer
New member
Back around '74 I ordered a 45-70 Marlin at the PX when they were put back into production. I wanted something big to play with and was not disappointed. Winchester 405 Grain bullets really rocked you. I used to play with them but used 300 grains to sight in. At 100 yards it was really, really accurate. So much for those rumors of bullet drop. I had two problems with it. I was hunting in a dry powdery snow and got snow on my gloves. With the finish on the stock, it slipped out of my hands and dropped right into the snow. I sanded the stock and went to oil finish. Another time I was in a really bad snow storm all day. I mean guys walking around with 4" of snow constantly on them, it was coming down so hard. At the end of the day my Marlin was frozen shut from snow getting in the action. I suppose it would have happened to any lever action, I don't know. This gun was definitely made better than any Winchester lever gun at the time. I later picked up a '99 Savage Featherweight in .358 and sold the Marlin. I don't know about now, but Marlin was always a better made lever gun than Winchester IMO.
Brotherbadger
New member
I'd go with the Marlin. I've always had good luck with them and I am used to the location of the safety.
SwwPlayboy
New member
I think everything that needs to be said has been said, but ill give my opinion any way.
I have had this marlin 1895 for awhile. Actually one of the first guns I ever bought, and it took me a long time to find this particular one. It has been my go to hog gun. Never gone after a deer with it. I would suggest a 30-30 if you want a lever deer rifle. Ballistics are better suited for it and your shoulder will thank you.
I have never had an issue with my 1895, it is a great gun. Makes me cringe every time I think about it, but I had a buddy decided he could shoot it with one hand and dropped it, and it was a hard drop. Went over it, cleaned it, still shoots just as good. I am a big fan of buck horn sights, this was my first ghost ring, I tried changing it out to buck horn but I wanted to keep the XS rail, didn't work out. I've gotten use to the ghost ring but still prefer the buck horn. It's been a GREAT gun.
Henry 45-70. I am a HUGE fan of henry rifles, I have collected quite a few over the years. Nothing shoots or feels quite like a Henry. Their 45-70 is one I do not have, simply cause I have my 1895. I have been hoping one of my buddies would get one just so I could handle it and shoot it, but no such luck. One thing I can say about any henry rifle, you cant go wrong, and you will love it.
Good luck.
I have had this marlin 1895 for awhile. Actually one of the first guns I ever bought, and it took me a long time to find this particular one. It has been my go to hog gun. Never gone after a deer with it. I would suggest a 30-30 if you want a lever deer rifle. Ballistics are better suited for it and your shoulder will thank you.
I have never had an issue with my 1895, it is a great gun. Makes me cringe every time I think about it, but I had a buddy decided he could shoot it with one hand and dropped it, and it was a hard drop. Went over it, cleaned it, still shoots just as good. I am a big fan of buck horn sights, this was my first ghost ring, I tried changing it out to buck horn but I wanted to keep the XS rail, didn't work out. I've gotten use to the ghost ring but still prefer the buck horn. It's been a GREAT gun.
Henry 45-70. I am a HUGE fan of henry rifles, I have collected quite a few over the years. Nothing shoots or feels quite like a Henry. Their 45-70 is one I do not have, simply cause I have my 1895. I have been hoping one of my buddies would get one just so I could handle it and shoot it, but no such luck. One thing I can say about any henry rifle, you cant go wrong, and you will love it.
Good luck.
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Super Sneaky Steve
New member
That may be true for the Marlin, but with the Henry you can remove the inner magazine tube and all the bullets safely slide out.
I'd say that makes the Henry more safe.
SwwPlayboy
New member
For what you are describing, Marlin guide gun.
You are gonna want a lever action no doubt, a gun that can handle walks in the woods and some beating up. Marlin can handle all that. That, and they have a wide variety of different styles in a 45-70. Stock color, stainless, matted, large loop, regular loop, wide range of combinations for a good price.
Go on the marlin web site and look through what they have to offer and pick which one you like the best. If you can find it in a store, handle it, make sure it feels right, and its what you want.
Henry is a great gun, there is no denying, but with this being your first, I would go with a cheaper marlin. If it turns out you dont like the 45-70 then youve wasted less money. If it turns out you love the caliber, then after a few years, get the more expensive henry.
Take a look at this link, its a list of the many versions of 45-70 that marlin has, along with prices.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...t=1&manufacturers_id=19&pfrom=&pto=&x=38&y=11
Hope this helps.
You are gonna want a lever action no doubt, a gun that can handle walks in the woods and some beating up. Marlin can handle all that. That, and they have a wide variety of different styles in a 45-70. Stock color, stainless, matted, large loop, regular loop, wide range of combinations for a good price.
Go on the marlin web site and look through what they have to offer and pick which one you like the best. If you can find it in a store, handle it, make sure it feels right, and its what you want.
Henry is a great gun, there is no denying, but with this being your first, I would go with a cheaper marlin. If it turns out you dont like the 45-70 then youve wasted less money. If it turns out you love the caliber, then after a few years, get the more expensive henry.
Take a look at this link, its a list of the many versions of 45-70 that marlin has, along with prices.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...t=1&manufacturers_id=19&pfrom=&pto=&x=38&y=11
Hope this helps.
Super Sneaky Steve
New member
Have you considered getting a .45 Colt chambering? I know the Henry can fire Ruger Only loads, as most modern .45 Colt rifles can. Should be plenty of power for any animal and you won't take such a beating on our shoulder.
Hornady makes magnum hollow points in .45 Colt designed to penetrate at higher velocities.
Hornady makes magnum hollow points in .45 Colt designed to penetrate at higher velocities.
I bought my new henry less than 20 days ago. I didn't really need a 45-70 because on this side of the" pond "there is nothing really more dangeros than two legged beasts. But I was intrigued from the wide range of reloading charges offered by this venerable caliber and may be the possibility to take one of the monster hungarian wild boars in East Europe.
I choose the Henry initially because I was scared by the gremling quality complaints. Then I started to know better Henry and dont'regret at all my choise. Gun is all steel, and thought as possible (on site is states that can take any load, buffalo and grizzly too). Is fine made (to me) and has a marvelous stock wood selection. I have no great experiencewith leverguns but I shoot many bolt action new and historical. Henry lever system seems me silky smooth from day one. But the most important features of this rifle is the customer service. I wrote them two times ascking questions and ad in both cases ahad immediate answer. Plus I had a smarth email conversation with the Company's President Mr Anthony Imperato (Family owned company) ho did take personally care of my problem. I had an issue with sighting an they send me immediately two spares for free and plus they offered a full refund if I dislike the gun: offer that I have refused. Before this experience I did barely know there still was a Henry rifle on the market. Now I can state that I met the best customers oriented company in my whole life experience.
thatt'all because, as said, I dont' feel experienced enaught to judge a levergun, but I like it
I choose the Henry initially because I was scared by the gremling quality complaints. Then I started to know better Henry and dont'regret at all my choise. Gun is all steel, and thought as possible (on site is states that can take any load, buffalo and grizzly too). Is fine made (to me) and has a marvelous stock wood selection. I have no great experiencewith leverguns but I shoot many bolt action new and historical. Henry lever system seems me silky smooth from day one. But the most important features of this rifle is the customer service. I wrote them two times ascking questions and ad in both cases ahad immediate answer. Plus I had a smarth email conversation with the Company's President Mr Anthony Imperato (Family owned company) ho did take personally care of my problem. I had an issue with sighting an they send me immediately two spares for free and plus they offered a full refund if I dislike the gun: offer that I have refused. Before this experience I did barely know there still was a Henry rifle on the market. Now I can state that I met the best customers oriented company in my whole life experience.
thatt'all because, as said, I dont' feel experienced enaught to judge a levergun, but I like it
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PatientWolf
New member
In a .45-70, I'd look at either the 1895 SBL (would probably see what I could do to reduce that HUGE rail on top) or the 1895 GSBL. I like the durability of SS with the black finish, but prefer the look of a wood stock.
Although not a lever gun, have you considered a single shot? It will be lighter and shorter, perfect for carrying through the woods. An NEF or H&R single shot will have the quality of guns costing 3 times as much. Don't think they kick hard like everyone says. They are about as bad as a 12 gauge with slugs. Regardless of which gun you go with, if you don't handload look into Hornady LeveRevolution. They tend to be about $30-$32 a box verses everyone else's $40-$60. They are loaded a little hotter than standard ammo but not by much and any safe modern gun should be fine.