.45-70 over 12ga. slugs?

[kennygarza]

I'm hoping some of you could tell me if or why I should go with the .45-70 over 12 ga. slugs. I'm thinking of picking up a Marlin Guide Gun, but I need to justify if it will give me any better performance over slugs from a rifled barrel. This will be my hog/sometimes deer gun, and also my fantasy Alaska gun. I also have a .30-06 I guess I could always use for that.
Thanks in advance for any info.
KG

 

[Cosmoline]

At ranges inside 25 yards a Brenneke slug will work as well as a hot .45-70 slug. However, the .45-70 has a lot more range than any shotgun slug and will be more accurate over that range. Shotgun slugs slow down fast.

 

[355sigfan]

In theory the 45 70 with the right bullets has better penetration potential. I prefer the 12 gauge system because its easier to fire rapidly vs a lever action rifle. I use my Vang comped 870 with my surefire light, MMC nightsights, 3 point sling, side saddle, pistol grip speed feed stock ext. Basically my work shotgun. I am used to it and the light is nice if you hear things going bump in the night when your camping.
Pat

 

[charger]

If you pic up an 1895 in the full 22" you'll be a lot happier than hauling a slug gun around. That first 75 + yd shot you dont think your going to get but some day do,you'll love the feel of that 350 gr slug leaving at 2100 +

 

[MCgunner]

If I lived where I needed it, a Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70 and stainless steel would reside in my cabinet. Handy to tote, more penetration than a slug when using hot loads with heavy bullets, more range, more useful. I don't find lever guns "slow" either and firepower has never been high on my list of necessities in the outdoors. I guess, if a bear is on you at 10 yards, you'd wanna pump as many as you could into him real quick like, but in hunting or normal hiking situations, I'd rather have the .45-70. You can load those things up in a Marlin to lay down some real hurt on a big animal and you can do it at 150-200 yards if you're hunting. Even if all I'm after is self defense, this would be my choice over a shotgun. I'm not sure I could be any faster with my pump and slugs anyway considering I'm pointing about 12 o'clock after torching off a slug in the thing.

However, I could buy a 20" turkey barrel or slug barrel for my mossy and be pretty well armed in the woods, switch to the 28" tube for hunting. The 12 is very versatile and I'd trust a slug against a bear when the chips were down. It lays down some impressive energy numbers up close.

 

[m14rick]

45/70 for me

I prefer the Marlin in 45/70, but my guide gun doesn't fit me well. The straight stock doesn't feel as good as a pistol grip stock, like the 1895 rifle has.
My Guide gun, blue finish with the ported barrel and Ashley sights is available for sale or trade on a Ruger #1 or Marlin 1895 in 45/70.

 

[MCgunner]

Preference I guess, I'm used to a straight stock. Marlin used to offer the 336T, straight stock version. I always assumed the T stood for Texas, or maybe Tennessee? Friend had one in .44 magnum, pretty good small thumper. I'd have preferred .30-30, but I could never convince him of that.

I've got a little Rossi M92 saddle ring carbine (took the stupid saddle ring off, rattled too much) in .357 mag. I'd like another lever gun someday.

 

[redneck2]

Would depend on which slugs you're using.

If it's the older pure lead Foster type, then the .45-70 will have noticeably more range and probably accuracy

If you have a rifled barrel and the newer high velocity sabot slugs, then it's probably real close to a toss up in terms of accuracy and ballistics. IIRC, some of the new slugs are in the 1,900 fps and 400 grain range, which is about identical to a loaded up 45-70

I have both, and either would be fine

 

[kennygarza]

Yeah, the slugs would be the sabot type fired from a rifled barrel. You guys are giving me some much appreciated info. Just trying to weigh everything out cost and performance wise before I come to a decision.
KG

 

['Card]

Depends on the terrain where you're hunting, and what you're doing, I'd say.

If I'm beating through laurel thickets and heavy cover trying to get a big buck up and moving, I'd probably take the 12-gauge with slugs. In those kinds of conditions you're probably only going to see the target for a few seconds, usually within 15-20 yards, and a lot of times you'll be shooting through brush. The 12-gauge would definitely have an advantage there, and it has the added plus that when you hit a deer with a slug, tracking him down isn't usually much of a problem - either they drop on the spot or they leave a blood trail like a four-lane highway. That can be a pretty big factor to think about when you're hunting in that kind of country.

If you're stand hunting or you're in the kind of terrain where longer shots (100-200 yards) are going to be the norm, then the .45-70 is what you'd need - but to be honest? If that's the kind of hunting you're going to be doing, I'd think the .30-06 you have would be a better choice than a .45-70 anyway.

 

[MCgunner]

I'd think the .30-06 you have would be a better choice than a .45-70 anyway.

Awe, don't pop his bubble. He NEEDS a new gun!

 

[osteodoc08]

Nothing like the good ole 45/70 when you whomp a deer under 150 yds. My father shot a deer with one when I was younger and still hunting by his side. That 150 lb doe seemed to flip over backwards! I love the nostalgia of the 45/70 as well. Nothing like a good lever action in 45/70 (or even 30/30 for that matter). However, the fact of the matter is that the 30/06 in a good bolt action is arguably the best gun for all of N. America's big game.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Both are great choices for close range Whitetail and Boar... avoid the ported barrel, you don't need it. makes a lot of noise, bleeds some velocity off an already short barrel. The 45-70 definitely has more range. Both are fast handling in close quarters, the edge to the pump gun up close.

Which is why my dad bought a Remington 760 Carbine in 30-06 as his first deer rifle... mimics the action of the 870 he grew up with, plenty of range.

Later in life he's bought several Marlins and they are a hoot to shoot... esp with 405 gr Remington bullets.

If ranged shots (100+yards) were an option I'd take the 45/70 over the slug gun but I wouldn't feel undergunned with either.

 

[Smoke Rizen]

If it's for hunting I'd say the .45-70. For a large critter deterant, I carry an old Mos.500 W/18 1/2" barrel,pistol grip,and sling. Load 2-0000 buck,1 slug,1 0000,and finish W/a slug. You should be able to get off 2-4 of those on a 30yd. charge. Shoulder,eyes,eyes,mass,mass. But hope you never need it. I like the scatter gun cause it's out of the way when fishing. I also have a .444 Marlin lever that would work, but gets in the way streamside.
I carry a 1911 around here, the Mossberg is left in Ak.