Best 45-70 Lever action rifle?

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DavidB2

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i am considering getting a .45-.75 lever action rifle. I am nervous about spending good money on a new Marlin or "Remlin" 1895 due to past quality control issues. If I get a Marlin 1895 it will be a JM stamped one I buy off of Gunbroker; unless I find a newer quality built Marlin. I have also been looking at the Henry Big Boy or all weather models. .45-.70s. Anyone have suggestions on the Marlins or Henry rifles in terms of warranty and customer service?
 
Chances are Remington has managed to iron out the problems that have plagued Remlins, there seems to be fewer and fewer reports of problems with later production rifles. On a personal note, I've been very happy with my JM XLR. Customer service has been great, including sorting out a user-induced lockup issue and at one point it was my rifle of choice for all overseas hunting trips. No personal experience of Henry rifles, so I can't really compare, but if any conclusions can be drawn from the XLR I wouldn't be concerned about buying (another) Marlin.
 
I believe Remington has made a huge turnaround the past couple of years which includes Marlin. To me it would depend on whether I cared how the rifle rifle was loaded. If Henry 45-70's loaded through the receiver it would be a tough choice. But since they don't Marlin is what I'd get.
 
Just being a smart-ass,but, the 45 75 was chambered in the 1876 Winchester. None of the lever guns at the time had an action long enough to handle the 45 70 (which is what you are after). The 45 75 was a bottle neck designed to give lever guns the same power in a shorter cartridge.

My brother had a new manufacture 1895 and it had a serious issue. With a scope it could not be sighted in. It was about 2 feet low ,at 50 yards, with the best scope/ring combo he could find. The barrel was not straight to the action. It was sent to Marlin and Wild west guns. Wild west (who is a Marlin service center) recommended replacing the gun. Marlin stance was since it could be sighted in with the iron sights it was OK. They did offer to pay half to have a custom sight base machined so that it would have enough elevation. As the fit and finish was not that great my brother sold it to someone that wanted it for open sight shooting. He purchased a JM 1895 and it has been perfect. Slings lead or jacketed bullets with good accuracy.
 
Just being a smart-ass,but, the 45 75 was chambered in the 1876 Winchester. None of the lever guns at the time had an action long enough to handle the 45 70 (which is what you are after). The 45 75 was a bottle neck designed to give lever guns the same power in a shorter cartridge.

My brother had a new manufacture 1895 and it had a serious issue. With a scope it could not be sighted in. It was about 2 feet low ,at 50 yards, with the best scope/ring combo he could find. The barrel was not straight to the action. It was sent to Marlin and Wild west guns. Wild west (who is a Marlin service center) recommended replacing the gun. Marlin stance was since it could be sighted in with the iron sights it was OK. They did offer to pay half to have a custom sight base machined so that it would have enough elevation. As the fit and finish was not that great my brother sold it to someone that wanted it for open sight shooting. He purchased a JM 1895 and it has been perfect. Slings lead or jacketed bullets with good accuracy.

How long ago did this take place?
 
I purchased a new Marlin 1895 (22" version) back in Nov. of 2015. Although anecdotal (sample size of 1), mine is a very well put together example of new production. The wood to metal fit is perfect, the screw heads aren't buggered up, the sights are on straight, the blueing is good and it cycles smoothly (and did since I cycled it in the store). I have since put around 150 rounds through it (mostly 1,175fps 300 gr. handloads, and some 405 gr. Remingtons) and it has run perfectly. If you find one in the store that passes the same tests as mine did, I would think it would be good to go. This is from someone who also has a 2007 production JM 1894C (in .357) that is no better or worse put together than the Remlin 1895 I have.

Henry also makes an excellent rifle. Just a matter of what you're interested in.

p.s. my 1895 is scoped with a Vortex 2-8 on a picitinny rail. I use it mostly to punch paper and steel
p.p.s. the trigger on the 1895 isn't what I'd call a match trigger either. Not unique to Marlin, most any gun can come with a mediocre bang switch. Will stone before spring, or install a WW Happy Trigger kit.
 
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I would look at either a JM stamped Marlin, or a Miroku made 1886 (Winchester or Browning). The Marlins are easier to scope, lighter, and cheaper but the 1886s are stronger guns with a longer effective OAL that can appeal to reloaders.
 
The Marlins are excellent and I have a new production sample that is very well put together.

But the Winchester 1886 is what I'd consider "best". It's the strongest, smoothest and most refined.
 
My Mdl 86 is a .45-90 SRC. There was a Mdl. 86 .50-110 for sale. But it was just too much money.
I've got a Miroku 1886 .45-90 that's far and away my favorite gun and one of the few I really enjoy loading for. It's also cool with .45-70 loads.

I wish I could get a modern steel .50-110, but they've never made them as far as I can tell :( There's a Turnbull conversion on Gunbroker, but it's $4900 and has a crescent butt. I guess the easiest way to get one would be to buy a Browning 71 and have it converted. Still big $$$. It would be fun to work up the magnum loads for it though.
 
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my 1886 is in 40-82 made in 1892,i reload for it and have killed deer with it. but its darn heavy. with my load it shoots less than 2" three shot groups at 50 yrds. i wish it was in 45-70, but i do have two marlin 95,s and a few single shots. eastbank.
 

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Wow! East Bank that is just incredible. I have never shot a .40-82. That was a favorite Buffalo Caliber. The Buff shooters wanted the deep penetration of the .40-82. They preferred to line up their shots to kill or wound 2 Buffalo with one shot, Recovering the lead was most important.
That 86 is a real prize.
 
Marlin has fixed most of their quality issues that were caused when they moved Marlin to Ilion and layed off the former staff and didn't allow any to transfer.
 
DS, i shoot a 320gr cast bullet with 28grs of RL-7 and cornmeal filler in my 1886. in my 1876 in 45-60 i shoot a 300gr cast bullet with 27grs imr 4198 with no filler. both loads show no signs of pressure at all and cases only need neck sizing. i shoot at orange clay birds at 100 yrds off hand and manage to hit 3-4 out of six, on a good day. eastbank.
 
DS, pictures of the 76 and the 86, the 76 has special order lenth barrel, 30" and is over 10 lbs in weight. eastbank.
 

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The newer Remlins I've seen appear to be quality guns, I'd buy one if I didn't already have a JM 1895.

As far as the Henry rifles go, the Big Boy is too much for a Small Boy, lol. An all weather is on my radar, after it's been out and field tested for a while.
 
I bought 2 Remlins. Walmart was closing out the 1895's. Paid $299 each, plus tax and Marlin had $50 rebate. I've got about $270 in each now.
The higher serial # gun had the smoother action and lighter trigger. I scoped it and have ~200rds through it. It's a tack driver. 1.25moa with 300gr JHP over 46.5gr H4198.
I'd rate it for initial quality better than my '03 M1895GG (JM).
Marlins are back and probably better than before.
#2 is nib. I'll likely trade it for a 1894 .44mag.
 
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Marlins are back and probably better than before.
Thanks for the report. It'll take a while before Remlins of recent manufacture trickle down to my neck of the woods but this is good news. I've kicked myself for giving the XLR to my oldest son ever since Marlin factory was moved and the problems surfaced.
 
Marlin has fixed most of their quality issues that were caused when they moved Marlin to Ilion and layed off the former staff and didn't allow any to transfer.


Are you sure about that statement? Everything I had read was that the employees were given the opportunity to move with marlin, but declined to do so.
 
I just bought a Remlin 336Y and didn't notice the front sight was canted when I picked it up. We'll see how the warranty work goes. I've got a JM 1895 Cowboy that I love shooting - my 9 round CAR (Cowboy Assault Rifle). I recently bought the Henry Big Boy Steel in .41mag and I am impressed by the fit, finish, and accuracy. Loading like a .22 not so much.
 
DS, pictures of the 76 and the 86, the 76 has special order lenth barrel, 30" and is over 10 lbs in weight. eastbank.
Those are beyond believe rifles. They are in wonderful condition. I am so impressed that you hunt and shoot with them. Can you tell me how you came by these classics. Send a PM if you like. Impressive. I use Poly-fl it is much better than corn meal.:)
 
My pick would be the Winchester Model 1886 "Extra Light Weight" Miroku repo, especially if the rifle is to be used for hunting. Mine weighs just over seven pounds with a 22" barrel to which I have mounted a Williams "FoolProof" receiver sight. You'll have to look for a used one because they haven't been made for a while but the typical quality found in every Miroku firearm that I have ever examined is well worth the search. I don't know what they're going for now but I paid $725.00 for a new one ten years ago.
Imo, there's never been a smoother operating lever-action rifle ever made than the Winchester Models 1886/71 and none stronger.
 
D S, i bought the 76 at a public auction along with two other winchester rifles and the 86 at a large gun show from a walk in. my loading data came from the book BIG BORE RIFLES AND CARTRIDGES. the 45-60 is a straight forward loading cartridge, i ground some off of the crimp-seat die(rcbs) to be able to seat and crimp the bullet, imr 4198 with a cast 300gr bullet was the best load in the 45-60. the 40-82(redding dies) took a little work to get it to group and the best load was from MIKE VENTURINO,s data useing RL-7 with a 320gr cast bullet and his recomadation of useing corm meal as a filler. picture is .44 mag-45-60-40-82 and the big bore book and spike buck killed with one of my winchester 44-40,s eastbank
 

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