If you were going to buy a big bore lever action......

I had 4 different 45-70 dating from 1976 up until a few years ago. They are over rated. I still have the Marlin 44 mag. There is nothing a 45-70 will do that a 44 mag won't do until you get into the "Nuclear" 45-70 loads. And by the time you get to those loads you need something better than 45-70. It's 375, 416, or 458 mag time.

I've seen the two deer with one shot trick done twice with the 45-70.

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I've seen it done with 243.

Even with the problems the Marlins would be my choice.

444 Marlin. There is no question that 45-70 is the better cartridge for chucking enormous hunks of lead. If you plan of hunting bison, moose, or polar bears, 45-70 is the way to go. However, in the unlikely event that you plan to shoot it fairly frequently, maybe shoot deer or hogs, and have a perfectly reliable rifle for defense against creatures large and small, the 444 Marlin is a great idea. Bullets in the 200 - 325 grs range. Can be loaded down to sub 44 Mag levels and loaded up to be a 250 yards deer rifle.

In any event, Marshall Stanton's three part series on the 444 Marlin at Beartooth Bullets is a great read: https://beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/17

Since you already have the 357 then a 44 wouldn’t really fill a new niche. I would feel much more confident in big bear country with a 45-70, and it gives you the ability to download to 44 mag levels for fun shooting. As a bonus, if the zoo animals ever escape then you will be all set.

LRDGCO said:

444 Marlin. There is no question that 45-70 is the better cartridge for chucking enormous hunks of lead. If you plan of hunting bison, moose, or polar bears, 45-70 is the way to go. However, in the unlikely event that you plan to shoot it fairly frequently, maybe shoot deer or hogs, and have a perfectly reliable rifle for defense against creatures large and small, the 444 Marlin is a great idea. Bullets in the 200 - 325 grs range. Can be loaded down to sub 44 Mag levels and loaded up to be a 250 yards deer rifle.

In any event, Marshall Stanton's three part series on the 444 Marlin at Beartooth Bullets is a great read: https://beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/17

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That is certainly a good addition to the discussion. Mine is a single shot, not a lever action, but I am a big fan of the 444 marlin. It gives you the power of 45-70 marlin loads, is much flatter shooting for similar recoiling loads, and gives the option of loading plinking loads with cheap 44 magnum bullets, cast or jacketed. The only hinky part about the 444 marlin is the .431 bore diameter, so cast bullets need to be ordered with the proper diameter. My deer walloping load is a 320 grain gas check hard cast loaded to 2300 FPS. Its a supurb hunting load with many feet of penetration. Drift and drop out to 250 yards is quite manageable. I have been eyeballing a winchester 444 timber carbine for a couple months.

Do you plan on also getting a revolver in 44mag? If yes I would say get a 44 mag Marlin. Shared ammo caliber can be a wonderful thing. And it will save you on setup if you start to handload for both. If no on the 44mag revolver, I vote for 45-70. Sure you can get a revolver in 45-70, but it won't be as pleasurable to shoot in my opinion.

I’m seriously looking at the Henry .41 mag lever. It will make a fine companion to my .41 mag revolvers.

the bfr in 45/70 is pleasant to shoot.

Bighorn in .460 Smith.

Had a .44 Marlin, shot well enough. Boring rig though.
Had BB 94 in .307........worst rifle ever had.
Not really into lever guns........

but if wanting a big one, quality made............Bighorn.
There's a used one in .500 at my LGS.

With 2 45/70 guide guns, a rifle, and a 45/70 BFR I only see one obvious answer. Since you already have the ability to reload, ammunition shouldn't be an obstacle since it's easily loaded to whatever level you want to play with. I cast for mine and that pretty much makes the cost of shooting them a non issue.

And if you want something unique. Something out there on the edge. How a about a Bishop lever in .458 SOCOM?

dh1633pm said:

I got the 1895G in 45-70. I got mine when I got back from the war in 2003. I shot a deer the first week I had it. You can load it down or load it up. Moose, Pigeon, Squirrel, Wood Chuck, Bear, or Deer all do down with ease.

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I owned one of the first models of the new Marlin 1895s, back around 1974 as I recall. Back then it was made with a straight grip and lever with a slightly curved plastic butt plate. I mounted a Leupold 4X scope on it and proceeded to shoot clover leaf sized groups at 100 yards off the bench with 350 grain JSP handloads. Quite surprised by that.

And, while those other animals that you mention may go down with a .45-70 hit, I discovered that spruce hens go up.
In a cloud of feathers and various other bits and pieces that is.

Matthew Clark said:

I just bought a JM stamped 1895 the other day. As with all the Marlins I own it's quality is fine but they are all JM stamped. Has the quality really gone downhill that bad since Remington took them over?

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When Remington originally acquired Marlin they got rid of all of the old employees (and their experience with them), moved the production, and started producing Marlins with all kinds of problems including canted sights, rough machining, poorly fitted stocks, and functioning problems.
Remlins became poison to anyone who read the forums. Over the years the quality has reportedly improved a lot, but as many say, it's hit or miss. You need to look one over carefully before buying it. I believe that only the ones made before the Remington takeover are stamped with the JM proof mark on the barrel near the receiver.

I noticed recently that Remington Marlin was producing an 1895CBA Cowboy model. It has an 18.5" tapered octagon barrel, full-length magazine, straight grip and lever, nice walnut, and the same Marbles buckhorn sights that Henry Repeating Arms uses on their Big Boy rifles.
It looks like a really handy and well-proportioned little carbine that looks a lot like the revolver cartridge 1894 Cowboys with the 20" barrel. The tapered octagon barrel would lighten it so it would handle much like a round barrel model.
If the quality is actually there, it would be a great little rifle. I will have to take a closer look.

Through a combination of tragedy and luck I have five big bore levers. Dad left me a M94 44 from the early 70s(win). Brother left me a Marlin 44 and a 444. I bought a Rossi 45-70 Rio Grande, and I have a couple 30-30s, a 336 and 94 AE . For fun, either 44. The 444 and 45-70 can be punishing with full loads. My favorite lever gun, a Winchester 92 my brother and I bought in the 60s and had rebarreled to 357. Any would be fine for deer or black bear. The 94 Win is a behind the door gun for home defense. Handier than my AR.

Since, like always, I didn't answer the question but rambled, I recommend the new Marlin 44, in spite of the Rem stigma, and the safety, because of the cut rifling and proper twist. Sorry, Remlin haters.

Old Stumpy said:

When Remington originally acquired Marlin they got rid of all of the old employees (and their experience with them), moved the production, and started producing Marlins with all kinds of problems including canted sights, rough machining, poorly fitted stocks, and functioning problems.
Remlins became poison to anyone who read the forums. Over the years the quality has reportedly improved a lot, but as many say, it's hit or miss. You need to look one over carefully before buying it. I believe that only the ones made before the Remington takeover are stamped with the JM proof mark on the barrel near the receiver.

I noticed recently that Remington Marlin was producing an 1895CBA Cowboy model. It has an 18.5" tapered octagon barrel, full-length magazine, straight grip and lever, nice walnut, and the same Marbles buckhorn sights that Henry Repeating Arms uses on their Big Boy rifles.
It looks like a really handy and well-proportioned little carbine that looks a lot like the revolver cartridge 1894 Cowboys with the 20" barrel. The tapered octagon barrel would lighten it so it would handle much like a round barrel model.
If the quality is actually there, it would be a great little rifle. I will have to take a closer look.

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Thanks for the information. I've only recently started viewing forums. I guess reading gun mags was how I grew up and I enjoy reading them still. Got most of my info from them for a lot of years. I guess I have been fortunate in my purchases to have gotten all good Marlins.

I guess I haven't seen that one yet but by your description I agree that would be handy.
Happy shooting!

I vote 45-70.

Because, they are just cool!

I have a JM stamped 44. They are pretty nice. Inside 100 yards it will put down pretty much anything up to an elk. However, I mostly shoot lighter loads at the range. It is easy to reload for and with cast bullets it is inexpensive as well.

Am I tempted by a 45/70? Sure. But it won't do anything my 44 won't inside 100 yards and beyond that I am probably using a 30-06.

If you buy a Marlin, get a JM stamped one. Also consider a Rossi. They aren't as slick out of the box, but they are well made and can be slicked up.

45 -70 , exploit the strengths and avoid its weakness. While a 45-70 light load kind of does what a 44 magnum does (at significantly lower pressure) when cranked up a little puts all handgun calibers to shame (perhaps not the 500 mag, but its similar). The case is large so you wont get a large magazine, if you want that get an ar platform in one of the new chamberings that emulates 45-70. Difference here is versatility, trailboss under a 400+ grain cast bullet will pass through quite a bit. The 45-70 will do anything the 44 mag will do, the 44 mag cant do half of what the 45-70 does at considerably lower pressure. Thats just my opinion in it.

As for this,

jmr40 said:

They are over rated. I still have the Marlin 44 mag. There is nothing a 45-70 will do that a 44 mag won't do until you get into the "Nuclear" 45-70 loads

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Sir , you may have owned 45-70 rifles but you dont understand the application. If you believe that a 44 magnum can push a 440 grain bullet at 1300 fps (yes, thats trapdoor suitable) i would love to see it. How about a 500 grain, hows the 44 do with that? If you consider trapdoor loads nuclear i guess our definitions differ some.

Obturation said:

If you believe that a 44 magnum can push a 440 grain bullet at 1300 fps (yes, thats trapdoor suitable) i would love to see it. How about a 500 grain, hows the 44 do with that? If you consider trapdoor loads nuclear i guess our definitions differ some.

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OK, but how many deer do you need to shoot through at once?

PapaG said:

Since, like always, I didn't answer the question but rambled, I recommend the new Marlin 44, in spite of the Rem stigma, and the safety, because of the cut rifling and proper twist. Sorry, Remlin haters.

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I'm not sure what you mean when you refer to the "proper twist". All of the .44 magnum 1894 models still have that same slow 1:38" twist, just like they always have since the 1960s. The Marlin 1894 in .45 Colt also has the 1:38" twist, which is odd considering how much slower .45 Colt factory loads are. Only the 1894 Marlin in .357 Magnum has the faster 1:16" twist.

The .44 magnum Henry Big Boy models in brass or steel also have the same slow 1:38" twist as the Marlin 1894 .44 magnums.
However, their .45 Colt models are all the proper 1:16" twist, as are their .357 magnum models.

Also, both Marlin and Henry use cut rifling, and Henry Big Boys have a great reputation for accuracy.
My experience with my 1894 Marlin Stainless in .44 magnum with Ballard cut rifling was that it also had excellent 100 yard accuracy.

brewer12345 said:

OK, but how many deer do you need to shoot through at once?

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Folks shoot more than deer.

Obturation said:

Folks shoot more than deer.

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Can't be that many bison hunters left.

Matthew Clark said:

I just bought a JM stamped 1895 the other day. As with all the Marlins I own it's quality is fine but they are all JM stamped. Has the quality really gone downhill that bad since Remington took them over?
Haven't handled a new one in years, I kinda like buying used guns best.
Would value your honest opinion if you have experience with them, thanks.

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Used is fine, but I worry if that used, older Marlin might need to be sent in for work. Their customer service is Taurus levels bad, but they don't take as long to ship back. The reason why is because they don't do anything and it's easy to get nothing done fast if you consider 3 weeks of nothing fast.

Any newly made Marlin is no go.