45-70 Gov't.

[jrod]

Went to the Raahauge's annual Sportsfair in Norco Ca. yesterday. It's really cool. Most of the major Manufacturers bring their new guns out and for a nominal fee,You can shoot them. I've shot most of the cartridges I can think of over the years, but never got around to trying the 45-70. yesterday I shot the Marlin 1895SBL. It has to be the coolest Lever-Gun ever. It was very accurate and recoil was very tolerable. I think I found my perfect all around Defense Rifle. I definately will be making room in the safe for one! OK,enough rambling for now.Take care everyone and enjoy your weekend,Joe

 

[StrawHat]

big fan of the 45-70 myself but never tried one of the Marlin rifles. I favor trapdoors and other single shots. Considering the ballistics of the cartridge and the lack of buffalo and savage Indians, what are you planning on defending yourself from?

If you are truly considering a lever gun for home defense, why not the Marlin 1894(?) in 45 long Colt. Better recoil recovery for the same caliber.

 

[Maverick223]

I too favor the .45-70Govt., great short range hunting cartridge. Big thump, without a big waste of meat, but I have to agree with StrawHat for defensive use. Unless you are defending against big four legged foes, the 1894 in .45Colt (or other pistol caliber) might be a better choice.

 

[jrod]

I guess all the years I spent in Alaska are still in my head!LOL I plan on moving back when I retire.

 

[mothermopar]

Well, if someone had a bullet resistant vest on.........

 

[Sunray]

"...if someone had a bullet resistant vest on..." They'd get knocked into next week.
"...perfect all around Defense Rifle..." Defense against what? It's a hunting rifle, not a battle rifle.

 

[Maverick223]

Defense against what?

Wait...I got it. It is for when you absolutely, positively, have to put down a Buick...for that there is no substitute.

 

[supercopjason]

"...if someone had a bullet resistant vest on..."


Well I havent shot a vest yet but a 500 gr buffalo bore will crack bulletproof glass and the second one will peak through.

 

[RevDerb]

Just sent my money to a guy on the Michigan Gun Owners web site for a 1986 Marlin 1895 in .45-70. He's going to deliver it to my son and my son will bring it to a family gathering on the 19th. Glad that you enjoyed shooting that one. I'm looking forward to seeing and shooting my new one.

 

[Robert]

I love my Marlin 18985G, though I really want a 1895 Cowboy or GBL. MY G will be doing the Elk work come this fall.

 

[shoot2kill]

That 45-70 will cleanly harvest anything you shoot with it as long as you put the bullet where it should. I've only shot one which was when I sighted in a Marlin 1895 for a co-worker and that rifle could sure shoot. I remember all 3 rounds were touching and 2 of the three were almost in the same hole at 100 yards even if it does make a big hole. I took the target to him to prove that he had the perfect rifle for anything and let him know I wanted it if he ever sold it.

He did sell it later to his best friend (who let him hunt on his ranch every year for deer and elk) talk about a lucky son of a gun, so I never knew about it until after the fact.

 

[MachIVshooter]

It was very accurate and recoil was very tolerable.

Recoil is pretty light with alot of common factory ammo. Step into Buffalo bore or heavy handloads making more than 3,500 ft/lbs at the muzzle, I'm bettin' you'll have a different view of that recoil, when it begins to near 50 ft/lbs. To put it in persepective, common .30-06 loads in a 7 pound gun come back with 17-22 ft/lbs.

I think I found my perfect all around Defense Rifle. I definately will be making room in the safe for one!

It'd certainly work for HD, but overpenetration would be a very real concern. For critter defense, however, it'd be hard to beat. For a light and handy rifle with a quick action and lots of oomph, you pretty much have 12 gauge repeaters firing slugs and the Marlin .45-70.

 

[tcrocker]

I hand cast for mine I use a NEI mold that drops a 464gr bullet. Itdrops deer and hod like lighting. The case is a 30-06 for size ref. The sec pic is a entrance wound on a deer just made a nice hole didn't mess the meat up ether. The last is a pig it took two shots mybad not the rifle. He came in right up under my tree stand and I shot center shoulder. My jaw droped when he cut out of there like he was on fire. I got out of my stand and fount the gas check and I could smell blood didn't see eny tracked him into the swamp about 70yds got up on him and put one right behind the ear notice the two cases in the cuff. I got one earler that year about twice the size and it only took one shot though the shoulder.
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[Tallinar]

If you're looking for a lever gun for home defense, I'd strongly suggest looking into a model 1892 in .357 mag, .44 mag, or .45 Colt. These rifles with a 16" barrel are very handy, and all three of those cartridges are extremely versatile.

 

[MCMXI]

yesterday I shot the Marlin 1895SBL. It has to be the coolest Lever-Gun ever.

I would have to agree with you on that but good luck finding one. I just found a 1895SBL online this morning but it has the walnut pistol grip stock and doesn't have the XS Lever Rail ... . I didn't know that Marlin was offering them in that configuration. Anyway, I have a pair of Marlin '95s and they're simply amazing rifles. I definitley plan on adding an SBL to my collection if/when they're available.

 

[Greg Koziol]

Excellent choice.. be advised that factory ammo is down loaded due to risk of people loading them in old school 1800's rifles. Get yourself a box of buffalo bore, grizzly, or garretts. Leave the factory stuff for plinking and home defense or predators. your gonna find that the .45-70 is the best all around hunting/defense rifle for the American free man... you can hand load 250 grainers if you want at 2500fps plus for coyote, predators, and self defense. 300 grain hollow points good for predators also and deer as well as home defense... you can load it from 1800fps to 2300fps with the 300 grain depending on what range and what kinda recoil your gonna want to tolerate. Same with the 400 grain, I just bought a box of buffalo bore 405 grain soft points clocked at 2000fps... big and fast medicine for any game animal in north america, and throw a 400-500 grain solid and your good for Africa... or Kodiaks. HAve fun with it... its the best all around gun ... you can use iron sights, short range, moderate range, dangerous game defense, night hunting coyotes and hogs, home defense, its just a very versatile tool

 

[Greg Koziol]

Check out my marlin 1895 22"

you can take a stock marlin 1895 and customize the **** out of it to make it the ultimate all around rifle... this is what I did to mine, maybe it will give you some ideas.

Extended the magazine tube holds 9 cartridges now
home made lever wrap.. gonna get a glove lever from wild west guns soon
wild west guns bear proof extractor.. stronger extractor for heavier loads
aluminum magazine follower
xs lever rail
fiber optic front bead
tru glo red/green 4 reticle 30mm red dot
pachmayr f990 heavy caliber recoil pad
home made tri rail mount which will be getting a laser and high power flashlight during certain hunts and home defense
Gonna add a nice sitting style bipod
Also thinking about getting putting a cartridge trap in it

 

[StrawHat]

Greg Koziol

Excellent choice.. be advised that factory ammo is down loaded due to risk of people loading them in old school 1800's rifles.

Another way of looking at this is the factories still load to the original ballistics which were more than enough to get the job done. At black powder velocities a proplerly cast bullet will completely penetrate a whitetailed deer, which is the largest game I have hunted. I have heard the same cartridge will penetrate larger game such as elk, moose and buffalo but have no personal knowledge of that. Boosting the velocity increases recoil and doesn't give much in return.

 

[Greg Koziol]

You could be right, you could be wrong... only way to tell is to go back in time and find out! I think that the main reason they download them is not because they want to mimick original ballistics... that is definately a significant be part of the reason, but they also do it to reduce law suits from someone blowing their face off from shooting an antique

 

[eastbank]

my highwall browning 78 scoped with a older weaver T-6 and a 300yd group with a large cast bullet. i shoot regulaly at 300yds and a few friends shoot at greater distances with the 45-70. a fun calibure to shoot at long ranges and to hunt with if you know your range as the big bullets do drop alittle out there. eastbank.

 

[Asherdan]

Glad to hear I'm not the only guy who went to Raahauge's, gave them a buck for some range rounds and then went down to the store and bought an 1895 (or variant).

And a 1894 44RM

And a GP100

And a CZ452

And a Marlin XL7

And a...you get the idea. I take my time researching purchases and since most shops don't have the ability to let you run a rifle on a range out here when you're thinking the next one out Raahauge's is a great way to put your hands on everything all at once and make a decision.

Good Luck!

 

[Maverick223]

eastbank, that sure does look familiar (sans scope)...

 

[eastbank]

maverick, my rifle has a curved butt plate and kicks like blue blazes if i load it up, i have shoot some very heavy loads out of it,the rifle takes it but my shoulder doesn,t. i have several high and low walls and my favorite is a browning 1885 low wall in .260 its a little easier on the shoulder eastbank.

 

[Maverick223]

maverick, my rifle has a curved butt plate and kicks like blue blazes if i load it up, i have shoot some very heavy loads out of it,the rifle takes it but my shoulder doesn,t.

I'm not a big fan of the curved butt plate model, it looks great but accentuates recoil. The OEM pad on mine seems to tame recoil fairly well, even with my nuclear loads. If I were you, I'd consider a slip on pad.