Marlin 1895 45-70 Guide Gun

[H2O MAN]

Please share your thoughts and opinions on the Marlin 1895 45-70 Guide Gun.

I have the opportunity to pick one up, it has the non-ported barrel and improved magazine tube follower.
It also has a SIMS Recoil Pad and a new XS Sights Winged Ghost Ring set installed plus the original items.
The rifle is new and unfired.

Are these rifle reliable?
What are they selling for?

Thank you!

 

[TexasRifleman]

I have had one for a couple of years now. I haven't shot it much but it seems rock solid. I took a deer with it the first year I had it and since then I am not quite sure why I bought it other than it's a neat rifle.

Great round to reload for though, you can do all kinds of things with the .45-70 if you reload.

The gun itself was like $550 when I got mine, the blue models were a bit less. No idea what the XS sights are worth.

I put the scout scope on mine.

 

[BhmBill]

I bought one for about $520 out the door of the Bass Pro Shops a couple years ago. Quite possibly the most well built and reliable gun I've ever used. Picked up an adjustable RedHead sling and case for another $30 or $40. Overall it was about $625 for the gun, sling, case, and 2 or 3 boxes of different .45-70 loads. Mine was the blued model, btw. It was more accurate than I was.

Of all the guns i've gotten rid of, it's the only one I regret selling.

Incredible gun. Absolutely incredible.

 

[H2O MAN]

TR:
I am not quite sure why I bought it other than it's a neat rifle.

That's pretty much why I'm looking at it.


Thank you for the reply.

 

[TexasRifleman]

That's pretty much why I'm looking at it.


Thank you for the reply.

Hey, that's why I have most of the rifles I have, it's always been plenty good reason

 

[Badlander]

I bought my 1895 GS last nov. It is one of my favorites. I paid $600. out the door at A gunshow (NIB) The Winged XS sights are about $120. The Sims pad about $40. The recoil pad is A worthwile addition!!! They are not fun to shoot from the bench. Accuracy is reported to be verry good. I'm still using iron sights with old eyes so I will not be bragging about my own groups.Look At www.marlinowners.com for more info.

 

[H2O MAN]

This is what I'm looking at, as you can tell it's blue.




The sights

 

[BhmBill]

You can't go wrong with one, H20 MAN. Those sights are a lil weird to me, I havent seen them before, but I doubt they have any negative impact on the accuracy

Go for it. If it's used (which I assume it is if from a private party) and in good condition, a decent price would be $400 - $475. They can be had NIB for $525 (minus background check) or so.

 

[H2O MAN]

It's new and never fired.

Another question... will the longer magazine tube from the 1895 SBL fit the Guide Gun?

Two extra rounds in the tube would be nice.

 

[Badlander]

The XS sights are considered to be top shelf. If you buy it and don't like them PM me.

 

[ShadyScott999]

I love mine. Super accurate and really good cartridge to reload

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've got one just like it.

Mine wears a Bushnell 1.5-5x scope. However, when installing the KickEze recoil pad, I drilled a 1" hole in the but and thats where I store the pre-sighted Williams Guide Reciever sight and screws. (just in case).

I plan in a few years (after the economy recovers) to spend at least one summer flying a float plane in AK servicing several outfitters. I plan on keeping it around as bear repellant, if necessary. Maybe do a little hunting if I can scrounge a license and tags....

I paid $400 for mine used in '05. I've taken several deer with it. All have been DRT from one shot. Loads have ranged from an RCBS 300gr FNGC at ~2,000fps to a 405gr HBFN heat-treated to 27bhn and run to 1,900fps over a full case of Varget or IMR4064, and actually my favorite, a Lee 340gr FN over a full case of Trail Boss, or equivalent velocity of (1,300fps) BlueDot or #2400. Dosen't shoot as flat past 100yds, but flattens deer just as well and isn't obnoxious to shoot.

If you reload (you'll really need to with a 45/70), you'll really enjoy the rifle. I do mine. (when I get around to shooting it. Too many guns, not enough time......)

Married to a Massachusetts Yankee, for 30yrs..................(in Georgia)

 

[TexasRifleman]

Another question... will the longer magazine tube from the 1895 SBL fit the Guide Gun?

My understanding is that it will not work.

 

[H2O MAN]

Another question... what is the effective range of this particular barrel and round?

 

[Badlander]

There is A longer mag tube that can be fitted to the Guide Gun But it needs A new dovetail cut in the barrel.

 

[dirtdog13]

I picked mine up when they first came out (mid 90s?). So mine is the original ported model. I have hunted with it every year since. The Remington 405 gr flat points take down a mule deer with authority DRT every time. I was very disapointed in the win 305 gr hollow points. I started using the leverevolutions a couple years ago. They seem to be doing well. Not as much authority as the 405 FP, but way better than the wins.

I put a 4x scope on when I switched to the leverevolutions. Last year I took a cow elk with it at 205 yards. She went 30 yards and dropped.

I haven't looked at the newer ones. What is the improved magazine follower?

 

[jpwilly]

I am not quite sure why I bought it other than it's a neat rifle

I've looked at these a few times at Cabelas new and used. I want one but don't really think I have any use for it. But it is a well built big bore. Being a lefty another good reason for me to consider one.

 

[Badlander]

The Lever Evolution Ammo I have Says 2050 fps +3" at 100 yds -4" at200 Yds and -28" at 300yds so It falls off pretty quick after 200.

 

[Dr. Fresh]

My next rifle will be one of these. I plan on using it for bear defense on camping trips.

 

[MCMXI]

Please share your thoughts and opinions on the Marlin 1895 45-70 Guide Gun. Are these rifle reliable? What are they selling for?

I bought my Guide Gun last year NIB for about $610 but it's the stainless version so it costs a little more. The blued version sells new for around $525. As for reliability, they're excellent from the factory but with a few "upgrades" they're even better. Options such as a Wild West trigger, Wild West ejector, stainless steel magazine follower, one-piece firing pin, hammer spring kit etc are available. The XS ghost ring sights are perfect for hunting or self defense applications from 0 to 100 yards but if you want pinpoint accuracy then a 1-5X or similar scope mounted to an XS rail is the way to go. I have the XS rail with a Leupold 1.5-5X and XS backup ghost ring sights. The XS rail allows you to mount a "regular" scope far enough forward with the proper eye relief so that you don't get "bitten" when you pull the trigger. I would really like to have a longer magazine tube with two extra rounds but I'll probably leave this one alone and pick up the new Guide Gun once it's available.

Reloading for the .45-70 is the way to go. I'm shooting a 405gr JSP through mine with VV powder. The recoil can be severe with the hotter loads but it's manageable. Accuracy out to 100 yards is excellent and came as a big surprise to me. As for ballistics, the .45-70 requires some extra diligence on the part of the user and you should know what you're getting into. Take a look at the ballistic data below for two common bullets, the 300gr JPP and the 405 JSP. Hurling a brick downrange at under 2000 fps has its limitations, but if you know what they are you won't be disappointed. I would highly recommend a Guide Gun to anyone with one caveat ... think about what you'll be using it for. I imagine that many get shot once or twice at the range and then get left in the safe for years and years because the owner didn't know what to expect or didn't plan well. How often do you see a well-used Guide Gun for sale? If you do buy a Guide Gun, I bet it won't be your last, and if you end up carrying it out in the woods, to quote Jeremy Clarkson "you'll absolutely LOVE it!!"

		                [B]DATA		       POINT BLANK RANGE DATA[/B]	
MUZZLE VELOCITY (fps)		2100	       TARGET	SIGHT-IN	HIGH	LOW
BULLET WEIGHT (grains)		300 JPP	       HEIGHT	DISTANCE	POINT	POINT
SIGHT HT ABOVE BORE (in)	1.5		(in)	(yd)		(yd)	(yd)
SIGHT IN DISTANCE (yd)		50		2	117		72	132
ALTITUDE (ft)			0		4	144		84	166
TEMPERATURE (deg F)		75		6	166		94	192
PRESSURE @ SEA LEVEL (in Hg)	29.53		8	183		104	212
PRESSURE @ ALTITUDE (in Hg)	29.53		10	199		111	231
RELATIVE HUMIDITY (pct)		78					
WIND VELOCITY (mph)		0			
WIND ANGLE (deg)		0				
INCLINE ANGLE (deg)		0				
MAX APPARENT TRAJECTORY (in)	0				
BALLISTIC COEFF			0.199	

				
	[B]			
RANGE	Elevation	Vel	Energy	Time
(yd)	(in)		(fps)	(ft-lb)	(sec)[/B]
0	-1.5		2100	2937	0.0000
10	-1.0		2062	2831	0.0144
20	-0.6		2024	2729	0.0291
30	-0.3		1987	2629	0.0440
40	-0.1		1950	2532	0.0593
50	0.0		1913	2438	0.0748
60	0.0		1877	2347	0.0906
70	0.0		1842	2259	0.1067
80	-0.2		1806	2173	0.1231
90	-0.5		1772	2090	0.1399
100	-0.9		1737	2010	0.1570
110	-1.4		1703	1932	0.1744
120	-2.0		1670	1857	0.1922
130	-2.8		1637	1785	0.2103
140	-3.6		1605	1717	0.2288
150	-4.6		1574	1650	0.2476
160	-5.8		1544	1587	0.2669
170	-7.1		1514	1526	0.2865
180	-8.5		1484	1467	0.3065
190	-10.1		1455	1410	0.3269
200	-11.9		1427	1356	0.3477
210	-13.9		1399	1304	0.3689
220	-16.0		1373	1255	0.3905
230	-18.3		1347	1209	0.4125
240	-20.8		1322	1165	0.4350
250	-23.5		1299	1123	0.4579
260	-26.3		1275	1083	0.4812
270	-29.5		1253	1046	0.5049
280	-32.8		1232	1010	0.5290
290	-36.3		1211	976	0.5536
300	-40.1		1191	944	0.5785
310	-44.2		1172	915	0.6039
320	-48.5		1154	887	0.6297
330	-53.0		1137	861	0.6559
340	-57.9		1121	837	0.6824
350	-62.9		1106	815	0.7093
360	-68.3		1092	794	0.7366
370	-74.0		1078	774	0.7643
380	-80.0		1065	755	0.7922
390	-86.3		1053	738	0.8206
400	-92.8		1041	721	0.8492

			[B]	DATA			POINT BLANK RANGE DATA[/B]	
MUZZLE VELOCITY (fps)		1745	       TARGET	SIGHT-IN	HIGH	LOW
BULLET WEIGHT (grains)		405 JSP	       HEIGHT	DISTANCE	POINT	POINT
SIGHT HT ABOVE BORE (in)	1.5		(in)	(yd)		(yd)	(yd)
SIGHT IN DISTANCE (yd)		50		2	100		61	113
ALTITUDE (ft)			0		4	125		72	145
TEMPERATURE (deg F)		75		6	144		81	168
PRESSURE @ SEA LEVEL (in Hg)	29.53		8	161		89	187
PRESSURE @ ALTITUDE (in Hg)	29.53		10	175		96	205
RELATIVE HUMIDITY (pct)		78					
WIND VELOCITY (mph)		0					
WIND ANGLE (deg)		0					
INCLINE ANGLE (deg)		0					
MAX APPARENT TRAJECTORY (in)	0					
BALLISTIC COEFF			0.251


[B]RANGE	Elevation	Vel	Energy	Time
(yd)	(in)		(fps)	(ft-lb)	(sec)[/B]
0	-1.5		1745	2738	0.0000
10	-1.0		1718	2654	0.0173
20	-0.5		1691	2572	0.0349
30	-0.2		1665	2493	0.0528
40	-0.1		1639	2416	0.0709
50	0.0		1614	2342	0.0893
60	-0.1		1589	2270	0.1081
70	-0.3		1564	2200	0.1271
80	-0.7		1540	2133	0.1464
90	-1.2		1516	2067	0.1660
100	-1.8		1493	2004	0.1859
110	-2.7		1470	1943	0.2062
120	-3.6		1447	1883	0.2267
130	-4.8		1425	1826	0.2476
140	-6.1		1403	1770	0.2688
150	-7.6		1382	1716	0.2903
160	-9.2		1361	1665	0.3122
170	-11.1		1341	1617	0.3344
180	-13.2		1321	1570	0.3569
190	-15.4		1302	1525	0.3798
200	-17.9		1284	1482	0.4029
210	-20.5		1266	1441	0.4265
220	-23.4		1249	1402	0.4503
230	-26.5		1232	1364	0.4745
240	-29.8		1215	1327	0.4990
250	-33.4		1199	1292	0.5238
260	-37.2		1184	1259	0.5490
270	-41.3		1169	1228	0.5745
280	-45.6		1155	1199	0.6003
290	-50.2		1141	1171	0.6264
300	-55.0		1128	1145	0.6529
310	-60.1		1116	1120	0.6796
320	-65.5		1104	1096	0.7066
330	-71.2		1093	1074	0.7339
340	-77.1		1082	1052	0.7615
350	-83.4		1071	1032	0.7893
360	-90.0		1061	1012	0.8175
370	-96.8		1051	994	0.8459
380	-104.0		1042	976	0.8745
390	-111.5		1033	959	0.9034
400	-119.4		1024	943	0.9326

 

[Maverick223]

The Lever Evolution Ammo I have Says 2050 fps +3" at 100 yds -4" at200 Yds and -28" at 300yds so It falls off pretty quick after 200.

A couple hundred yards is about all the 45-70 is good for anyway (not to say that it cannot be stretched out, but its made for <200yds). It is a great round (especially with Leverevolution or handloads) and a pretty good/reliable gun too. If you get it for under $450.00USD I would say you did alright. Under $400 and its a good deal. FYI: don't use Rem. ammo as its too anemic for that rifle.

I might have to get one of those in SS...that short bbl it makes a great rifle for defense when camping and close in deer hunting...nice gun 1858

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Very solid and reliable guns. My .45-70 is an older one with the ported barrel and fancy wood

I hand load 405 grain Remington bullets for it. I tried the 300 and 350 grain ones but like the 405's best. My hunting is within 125 yards so the big slow mover is not a problem trajectory wise.

 

[TexasRifleman]

My .45-70 is an older one with the ported barrel and fancy wood

Wow that wood is really nice. That's a thousand times better than what is on the current production rifles.

The wood on mine was very disappointing.

 

[Badlander]

So H2O

Did it come home with you?

 

[H2O MAN]

I have found out that it is possible to install a full length
magazine tube and I'm looking into adding a picatinny rail
that will allow me to run a low power scope or red dot optic.

Badlander So H2O

Did it come home with you?

It's going to be a trade for AR kit and cash, we are still working out the details.