Rifles for Iowa Deer

I question why you are set on 45-70? I use several different handgun caliber carbines for Wisconsin deer, none of them are 45-70. If I thought I really needed something larger than a .44 mag rifle, I would go for a TC in .460(actually used to have a T/C Pro Hunter Katahdin Hunter Carbine in .460). I personally see no need for the abusive recoil, expensive ammo(even when one reloads) and rainbow trajectory of the 45-70 for whitetail deer.

Man, if Illinois would give me that option I'd be looking for a .45/70 Sharps reproduction

45-70 is an excellent hunting round. You can load it as mild or as hot are your shoulder and rifle can stand.

Love my single shots! But if I were buying a rifle for hunting in IA, it would be the long barrel Marlin 1895 (I think they're 24"?). The new ones are Ballard cut rifling and will encourage economical shooting with cast lead and reduced loads. Having said that, don't buy one that you haven't personally inspected and handled.

To many choices in 45-70 rifles to mention.
For ammunition Hornady component brass is the best out there, I like RCBS, Redding, Lyman and Hornady dies. Any 405 gr. bullet loaded to the trapdoor levels found in the reloading manuals will work fine.

I've taken quite a few deer with my Marlin 1895 using handloads with a 400 grain SP and enough 3031 to get 1800fps. It will actually do well at 150+ yards. All my kills, though, were under 50.

I could get excited about a guide gun with a custom loop.

You simply can't go wrong with an 1895. Mine happens to be a JM. Avoid the "older" Remlins. I've seen some rifles that never should have passed QC. However, I hear the new 1895's are quite nice. And the new ones I've seen are.

My current load is:
Starline nickel brass
350gr Hornady RN
51.5gr H-4198
CCI LRP's.

It produces legitimate sub MOA (3 shot) groups at 102 yards off a turkey chair and shooting sticks. It's pretty fun to be able to shoot the cap off a pop bottle at 100 yards with a big bore rifle. And know that exact same load will take anything in North America. Posted a pic of a few of these below.

You can also load a 405gr MBC #1 Buffalo over 14-15gr of Unique and take a kid hunting with it. Still punches a .458 hole clean through any deer.

But I have to be perfectly honest.... For shots <100 yards, you would be hard pressed to beat an 1894 in 44mag. 10+1 of 44mag is serious firepower in the deer woods. Not that I've ever needed more than one shot (so far) with that rifle and the below load.

Starline Brass
240gr Sierra Sportmaster
22.5gr H-110
CCI MPP's

****As always, consult your manuals before duplicating any loads offered from a forum. And make sure, in the case of the 45-70, you use the correct level load for your type of rifle***

drunkenpoacher said:

Marlin actually has an 1895 with a 26 inch barrel but I am leaning towards the 18 1/2 inch guide model. 45-70 is new to me so I am open to suggestions.
Whatever the gun or cartridge, it is good news for Iowa hunters and long overdue.

Click to expand...

Well, the Guide Guns are handy and good looking. Light and 45-70 aren't a good combination for volume shooting and since I shoot Black Powder about 90% of the time with my 45-70s, I would go for the longer barrel. But that's me, not you. Just have good look over any Ilion made Marlin.

Marlin Guide Gun .45-70 ain't a bad choice

Cocked & Locked said:

Marlin Guide Gun .45-70 ain't a bad choice

Click to expand...

I sling my rifle like that too.