Calling Marlin guide gun owners...

[MLC]

I haven't shot a 45-70 before and woncered how heavy recoil is in the Guide gun? I'm comfortable with the 30'06 and 180g High Energy recoil, 7 mag no problem, I'm iffy on 3" magnum 12 gauge slugs out of a pump gun.
How does the recoil compare to the aforementioned? I will be handloading and shooting informally but eventually want to use the rifle for hunting.
Any help would be great.

 

[J Scott]

Recoil as you know is subjective. My GG is not bothersome at all...to me.
Shot 20 rounds through it one day at the range off the bench. (Barrel break in). Some of the folks at the www.marlinfirearms.com forum have installed decelerator pads. Probably not a bad idea if you plan on shooting grizzly loads. Anyway it's accurate as heck, very loud and joy to own.

Good Luck!

J Scott

 

[go8dalejr]

When I got my marlin I got a box of pmc ammo to get me going recoil
was very light with these cowboy loads. Then I got a box of remington
300jhp pretty harsh I would not want to fire more than a half a dozen
a day. That said I shoot 3in mag slugs in my 870 and have never been
bothered by its recoil 45-70 heavy loads are worse in my opinion.

 

[mparris71]

I have one of the Ported Guides.Recoil is not too bad out of the GG with most factory stuff. I am here to tell you Warm reloads can be burtal! Shooting factory Remington 405 grain JSP, recoil feels about like 2 3/4" 12 gauge 00 buck to me.

 

[Gordon]

I know you have to sight the gun in BUT I have never noticed the recoil of ANY GUN when fired at an animal! That said the pistol grip 22" barrel does have less recoil and has more to hold on to. The 26 octagon cannon even less of course. 300 grain factory level stuff feels like a 20 gauge HV shell to me. 500 grain Garretts from the Guide Gun get your attention ! A tube full to adj sights is all I'd care to doin one sitting!

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

The 45/70 is a wonderful choise. If you handload, then there is no question you can find a few happy loads. If you do not roll your own, then there are 3 commercially available categories. Cowboy loads are mild pushing a 405 gr lead at ~1,300 fps. Commercial standard loads (for newer guns) push a 300 or 350 gr JHP at 1800-1900 fps; you know you are shooting, but it is not bad. Then the Garrett hammerheads, which are brutal I bought a box and fired exactly 2. Now I save them for relatives or for that african safari.

 

[Preacherman]

A good way to tame recoil is with the 26" heavy (octagonal) barrel 1895 Cowboy model. I have 2: one is left at 26", the other shortened to 22". They also have a full-length magazine tube, with a 9-round capacity, effectively double that of the Guide Gun. The heavier, longer barrel, plus the extra ammo in the tube, add quite a bit of weight up front, reducing recoil considerably.

 

[Kestrel]

Preacherman,

Do you hunt with your 26" model? What do you hunt with it?

I'm kind of thinking of getting a standard 1895, with the 22" barrel. (already have a GG)

Steve

 

[Preacherman]

I mostly hunt whitetail and pigs. The .45-70 is probably overkill on both, but I like lever actions! I don't find the weight troublesome, although in thick brush the 26" barrel can be a bit of a problem. That's why I've had one shortened to 22".

 

[Kestrel]

Preacherman,

(Not trying to pester you...)

What do you think about the Guide Gun vs. the standard 1895, with it's 22" barrel? I have the GG and am thinking about getting the standard model, too.

Steve

 

[Preacherman]

The standard 1895 is a very good rifle: my only beef with it is that it has that blasted short magazine tube. On a lever-action rifle, especially one that might be used for protection against dangerous game, I want a full load of ammo on board! My solution was to buy another 1895 Cowboy and shorten the barrel and magazine tube to 22". Gives me 7+1 capacity, compared to the standard 1895's 3+1 (or is it 4+1? I forget.)

 

[Litefoot]

Amen, Preacherman. I cannot understand why Marlin did not make the GG with a full-length mag tube. I never bonded with my GG for that reason as well as several others (did not like the ports, heavy recoil (to me). I do like the 45-70 cartridge and if I could find a good deal on a Cowboy, I'd have to reallocate some resources to buy one. A lever gun should look like a lever gun...full-length mag tube.

 

[outdoorman63]

marlin

i reload my 45/70's to older lighter loads and the recoil isnt bad with the ported barrel...some of the hotter stuff hurts a little but how much of that do you plan on shooting