Marlin 1895GS... 45-70... A Couple Questions...

[chad1043]

So I'm looking to add to my collection and have settled on the Marlin 1895GS.. I live in Michigan and don't do to much Long Distance shooting. I'm just wondering what manufacturer everyone uses... I know that some of you reload, I'm not really interested in that right now.

Is there a surplus ammo available? Or cheaper ammo than the main manufacturers? Thanks for any info.

Peace,
Chad

 

[KaceCoyote]

No surplus, and alot've folks are making ammo for them. Buffalo Bore ammunition is supposed to be pretty wicked stuff, powerful and consistant.

 

[mainmech48]

I like Federal "Classic" with the Sierra 300 gr. Pro-Hunter HP. The stock number is 4570AS. Haven't been able to beat it accuracy wise with a handload yet, although the differences with my best efforts so far are really pretty marginal.

I've killed four deer with it in Kentucky and Missouri. The longest shot was 87 yds by laser rangefinder and the closest just under 30. The largest buck field dressed to 168 lbs. All pretty much dropped in their tracks with only one traveling much, bolting about 10 yds before falling.

My '95G is an early model with the factory porting. I replaced the stock pad with a Pachmayr Decelerator. It didn't really need it, as recoil with 300 gr. .45/70 actually seems milder to me than 200 gr. .35 Remington in my old 336. Mostly done in anticipation of working on some 400-450 gr. loads, although I can't really see moose or bison opportunities any time soon.

Very nice woods hunting carbine, and great fun to shoot. Lots of commercial cast bullets for plinking and practice loads, and many suitable powder choices make it easy on the wallet, too.

 

[redneck2]

Is there a surplus ammo available?

Not unless it's left over from 1887.

Lowest cost stuff would probably be at Meijer or Wally World if they have it. Maybe Sportsman's Guide if the shipping doesn't kill you. There's a guy at our local gun shows that has custom reloaded stuff that's cheaper and better than factory.

I know you said you don't want to reload, but when you do decide to, 3-5 boxes of rounds would pay for a complete loading outfit.

FWIW...I have an 1895 and the first thing I did was add a Decelerator pad. Even with loads that are considerably over factory specs (these are Marlin-Ruger only loads) the recoil is not bad at all

 

[Starter52]

Unfortunately the .45/70 is pretty much a reloader's gun. I wouldn't want to pay the factory prices to feed my Marlin 1895.

Coyote's right about Buffalo Bore. Hot stuff. It makes the Remington factory load look like a .30/30

 

[22hipower]

try cabelas -

 

[Bobarino]

22Highpower beat me to it. Cabela's sells a 405 grain round nose flat point round for $94.99 plus shipping for 100 rounds.

Bobby

 

[JNewell]

Unfortunately the .45/70 is pretty much a reloader's gun.

Actually, if you look at the range of loads, there's everything from the trapdoor-level loads to Garrett and Buffalo Bore loads that give the .458 Winchester a run for its money, and quite a range of bullets, from "light" 300 grain loads to 500+ grain loads with about the same terminal ballistics as hitting the target with a Volvo 240 wagon, or maybe better.

I agree with you on pricing issues, but those aren't really different for the .45-70 than other factory loads outside a small number of high-volume loads.

 

[bearmgc]

I think Hunting Shack Munitions is also putting out a factory 45-70 load. They usually have display at many gun shows. While I haven't tried this particular caliber from them, I have gotten their 30-06 and 7mag loads which have been very accurate in my rifles and fine on deer. They do have a website, they're out of Montana. I also like the Remington 300gr and 405 gr, which have worked great in my Marlin. I have used the 405gr on deer as well.
Sportsmans Guide had a sale on the 405's for about $17.00 awhile back. So sales can be found for the looking.

 

[KaceCoyote]

Not to hijack, but one wonders. Do they make magazine extensions for the 1895?

 

[mainmech48]

AFAIK, no mag extensions. If there were, it'd hardly be an easy DIY (doesn't screw in like a shotgun tube mag). It'd also be rather fragile and awkward on a '95G where even one additional round would have it extending past the muzzle.

Marlin makes a "cowboy' version of the '95 with a long octagon barrel and FL mag tube if you want more capacity, but it isn't near as handy in the woods. Of course, you could have one custom-made and fitted, if you're so inclined.

BTW, it might be good to mention that nearly all LA .45/70s have OAL limitations for reliable feeding. Most are pretty "short-throated", too. This can limit one's viable bullet options to about 450 grs.

Many, if not most, of the "big stuff" is geared for use in reproduction or modern SS actions where the chamber throat is generally longer and the OAL issues are pretty much moot.

While the modern '95 actions and repro 1886 Winchesters can handle pressures which considerably exceed what most repro Sharps, Rolling Blocks, and of course Trapdoors can safely handle, they're still a largish step under the Ruger No.1, modern Hi-Wall, or converted Siamese Mauser. If you need or want performance that's rubbing up against the .458 Winchester, stick with one of these.

 

[Dean C]

I have a 1895 Cowboy 45/70 that I got primarily for Bear hunting. After taking it to the range a bunch of times and firing 300gr factory rounds, my bank account (and shoulder) took about the same magnitude of wallop as the targets.

Re-loading is now definately on my "To Do" list.

dean

edit: By the way chad, welcome to the forum.

 

[chad1043]

Thanks Dean... I am loving the input... Michigan needs a longer rifle season..

 

[chad1043]

Main... You use federal 300 Grain... I looked at those and they look like they have a sharp nose... Can you use these in a tube feed? I thought they had to have a flat or blunt tip?

 

[mainmech48]

Chad: The Federal 300 gr. .45/70 loads I have used all have the excellent Sierra JHP. It has a flat nose with about 1/8" of soft lead exposed. Are you sure that the ones you looked at have the same stock number (4570AS)?

All I can say is that I don't generally use spitzer-type bullets in any tube mag. rifle. The lone exception was when I was given several boxes of 150 gr. .35 Remington factory ammo. My 336 became a "double" until those were used up. One chambered, one in the tube. FWIW, I won't use FMJ .357s or .38 Spl.s in my carbines either, no matter how cheaply they're priced.

I have put a lot of RNSP 200 gr. through my .35 Rem. 336 over the years without problems, both factory and handloads. So far, I haven't found a single instance where the primer of a trailing cartridge showed any sign of "dimpling" or hard contact when removed from the mag.

My usual plinking loads use cast bullets, mostly whatever commercially cast LSWC of 158 gr. or more that I've picked up for my .357s. My plinking and practice loads in .45/70 use 300 - 405 gr. cast bullets, depending on what was least expensive at the last show. As long as the meplat is wider than a primer, I don't worry about it. All of my plinking stuff is loaded to very modest velocities, around 1100 f/s, which reduces the possibility of trouble even more, IMO.

 

[chad1043]

So here is my conclusion...

After reading all the posts and replies here and on the marlinusers website, I have decided on the 1895GS .45-.70... I have found that most people eventually move up from the 30/30. So I think I will go with the big bore and hope for some bigger hunts in the future... Maybe I'll get up north and get some Moose...

Chad