Range Report, Marlin 1895G, .45-70

[Publius1688]

Finally got the funds together, and bought a new Marlin model 1895G lever action, in the awe inspiring .45-70 Government.
After a wallet lifting trip to Gander Mountain for ammo, I went to the range with a box of 325 grain Hornady Lever "revolution" in stow.
First impressions: I like the front site hood, and the rifle is very light for a large bore hunting weapon. Fit and finish is good, of course, this is a Marlin and we've all seen their work.
Recoil isn't as bad as I expected, but it's significant. Shooting about 1.5" low at 100 yards, about a 3" group of four rounds, standing.
Now I'm online shopping around for peep sights. Mostly, because I think they are super-neat, not that I really need them.
Complaints: I'm not crazy about the square lever, but knew that going in.
Has anyone here harvested a whitetail with one of these?

 

[dodge]

I took a doe a few years back with mine and it was bang, flop, dead deer. She dropped so fast the when I brought the rifle back down from recoil I thought that maybe I had missed her. Didn't see her any place until I walked over to check to see if I could find any sign of hitting her and there she laid.

 

[Rob96]

I bought mine in February. It is an incredible carbine. I switched my sights for the ones by XS. Awsome. I am also reloading for it at about $9.00 a box.

 

[Publius1688]

Rob96, are you using Lee dies, or Hornady, or someone else's? I'm going to handload for hunting rounds, and am curious which flavor die is working the best. Do you mind to share your recipe for .45-70?

 

[Rob96]

I am using Hornady dies. The load I am using is the published minimum, 50grs of H322 under a 405gr Remington JSP. I believe the max load is 53grs. of H322.

 

[VA27]

I got mine the first year they were available. It's a ported gun and the ports really work to keep the muzzle rise to a minimum with the heavy loads.

I use H322, also. After trying a lot of different powders H322 seemed to be the cleanest burning, leaving very little unburned powder in the bore.

For full power loads with the 405gr Remington bulk bullet, the 400gr Speer bullet and my RCBS 410gr GC cast bullet I use 51gr because that's what the closest Lee dipper holds. IIRC they run about 1750 over the chrono, more than enough to do the job.

I load a factory dupe load with IMR4227 and the Remington bullet or the Lee cast bullet for plinkin' and introducing newbies to the caliber.

Enjoy the gun!

 

[SwampWolf]

You say you "don't really need" a peep sight but I would argue that mounting a good receiver sight (like a Williams "FoolProof") is the single best thing you can do to make your Marlin a more effective hunting rifle. A good peep sight is much faster than the factory irons your rifle came with.