Who has a Marlin 45-70?

[Big Al]

I'm interested to see opinions on the Marlin 45-70 Guide Gun. Do they still port the stainless models? How's accuracy, and recoil? Good factory loads?

Thanx in advance!

 

[jacks308]

After firing the full size rifle with 420 grain cast bullets at just over 1600 FPS , I can't imagine useing the guide gun and keeping my natural teeth intact .Have been shooting mostly 350's at 1500 with a Lyman peep sight and it works well . Very good groups , three sho or thirty it doesn't care as long as the cast load is right . Recoil ? If you are into self abuse , load some 420's up to around 1750 or so and touch 'em off while wearing a t-shirt ! Factory stuff is kinda mild in the rifle , I don't know about the snubby .

Jack

 

[J Scott]

I have the blued version with ports. This is an awesome weapon.
The accuracy with mine is outstanding. Mine likes the Winchester Partition Golds or Gold Partitions. The thing is I haven't shot it in nearly a year! What's wrong with me?

Anyway, I have the AO Scout Scope Mount with a Burris 2.75x on top. I'm using Leupold QRW rings. Back up sights are AO (Ashley Outdoor) Ghost Ring. Recoil with this load is no problem.

Hope this helps...


J Scott

 

[pberzk]

Have a blued model with the ports. As above, incredible rifle. I have a Leupold 2x7 mounted on mine, and with Garret's loads, it cuts a cloverleaf with three shots at 100 yds. Pretty substantial recoil with hotter rounds like Garrets or Buffalo Bore though. I happen to enjoy the extra "oomph".

Pete

 

[redneck2]

Go to...

http://www.realguns.com and look under archives of articles. There's a 3 parter on the Marlin. Will answer all your questions

 

[Snake Jenkins]

I own a Marlin 1895 cowboy and love the way it shoots a 405 grain gas checked lead bullet.

Snake

 

[KMKeller]

Have the ported blued version. Own it, shoot it, love it. It's my favorite rifle.

 

[cratz2]

I will be the proud owner of a lightly customized 1895CB in 45-70 sometime later this month.

I've shot a few factory loads through a Guide Gun with the ports. Recoil was mild but I really don't like the idea of a ported rifle. It wasn't as loud as a braked 7mm-08 but still wouldn't want to be anywhere forward of that muzzle when it went off.

 

[Northwest Cajun]

Hi guys
I have a Blued guide gun with the ports also. I LOVE IT!! My loads are Rem 405's and Berry's plated 350's both use the same 55gr charge of Varget. The 350's are moving 1500 and the 405's are a little over 1600. If I switch to RE#7 I can push the 405's just under 2000 fps but I tried that once and it wasn't fun to hang on to.
I'm happy with my Varget loads, I can stay on a piece of typing paper out to 200 yds with both the 350's and 405's. I have the Wild west guns rear sight and a williams fire sight on the front. The recoil pad was also changed out with a Pachmeyer magnum shotgun pad. It makes a world of diference!
Back to your question... The new marlins are not ported. I just checked their web site

Cajun

 

[Big Al]

Kick butt info!

One big question - why did they discontinue porting on the Guide Guns? Was there a problem with it, or was it a financial thing? Does the porting actually help out that much? Should I be looking for a used gun with the porting?

 

[Keith]

They stopped the porting because customers complained of the noise. I suppose that makes sense since most people buy them for simple deer hunting and never need the hotter loads anyway.

Shooting standard loads without porting is no big deal - recoil is something like a 12 ga with slugs. Shooting hot loads is a handfull, but even then it isn't too bad unless you're hunkered down on a shooting bench. Porting reduces that significantly.

I'm on my second Guide Gun. I swapped my blued ported model for one of the few ported stainless models that came out before they quit porting them.

Anyway, these are terrific rifles. Plenty accurate and capable of handling some very mean loads, if you need them. The only criticism is the sights, which are just awful and almost useless in low light or beyond 75 yards or so. Luckily, there are plenty of good after-market sights out there.

Keith

 

[Big Al]

I think I'll start looking for a stainless one with the porting. I enjoy versatility.

 

[Preacherman]

I agree that doing away with the porting is a step in the right direction. However, they still emasculate the magazine tube... I eventually traded in my Guide Gun on an 1895CB .45-70 with the 26" octagonal barrel and full-length magazine tube. I'm having the barrel shortened to 22", and the mag tube as well, which will give me a faster-handling rifle with the extra magazine capacity I want for dangerous-game situations. The octagonal barrel adds weight up front, where I want it. If only Marlin would bring out a rifle like this, as a replacement for the original 1895, it would be a world-beater...

 

[Wildalaska]

I regularly shoot the Marlin gude Guns (and even shorter ones) with 405s at about 2000fps and 350s at 2150...I find that the ported guns are far more controllable than unported...

I have seen MOA accuracy..

HSM makes a 350 grain Kodiak Bullet load at just under 2000 fps..I consider that to be the best load for any 45/70 out there, bar none...

 

[BusMaster007]

I got the full size rifle.
Still thinking about 'scouting it out'.
Prolly gonna stay a rifle and put on the lower power 1.5-5x20 scope for now, and the Hines QR lever for the Redfield base, ala 'Pilkington', from Brownells.
The rifle has a 'new' Redfield 2-7 Widefield on it now (JAPANESE).
I replaced the front sight hood, too, as I lost it the first time out...

Will be adding the DRC Large Lever Loop, because I like the lines better than the WWG loop. Will also be adding the WWG HD extractor. The trigger is fine for me, 'flop' and all.
I can't wait to try some of the Buffalo Bore and Garrett NUKE LOADS!!!

 

[cratz2]

Yeah, with a short barrel, I have no doubt that the porting helps tame really monster loads but at the same time, they're loud - really loud. Plus I'd be willing to bet that more than 95% of the Guide Guns never see handloads or Garretts or Buffalo Bore ammo. Mostly underpowered factory that punches right through paper and still kills deer and hogs pretty effectively.

 

[Steve B]

The Guide Gun in 45/70 is THE lever gun, imho. I prefer the ported barrel and the recoil isn`t that bad.

For factory loads, you can`t beat what Buffalo Bore offers, but they can be rather stout! Not for the recoil-sensitive.

 

[Rick R]

I just bought one of the blued models without porting. The store that I purchase it at had three with ports and one without. An AR15 with a muzzle brake left me gunshy (pun intended) of devices that leak noise to the sides so I snatched up the portless one.

I fired it today using Remington's 405 gr. Trapdoor safe load and it kicks about like a 20ga shotgun with light field loads. I'm impressed initially with the quality of the Marlin, we'll see how it goes once I start reloading and accessorizing.

Rick

 

[Big Al]

Rick, where ya at in WV?

 

[Rick R]

Big Al

I'm on a Mountaintop

North of Charleston, in Sissonville.

I didn't notice you are in WV, too bad you just missed the 25% off sale at Angler's Roost. That's where I got my GG.

Rick

 

[JShirley]

1895G. Not bad with standard fodder, recoil-wise, and close to MOA w/ Georgia Arms 300 grn SJHP.

Bought the 1895 as well, but sold it when I entered service. I'm sure I'll get 'nuther one, some day.

 

[Northwest Cajun]

JShirley,
The Marksman on Canyon Rd is where I got mine. Mike has the best prices.
Cajun

 

[JShirley]

Thanks. I still have some time; not sure if I'm staying in WA or heading back to GA when I ETS in Nov.

 

[Byron Quick]

Be sure...be very sure

 

[ezoeni]

The 1895GS is best dam purchace in a hunting rifle I could ever have made. The damage this cartridge does is amazing. If you want it to perform really good you should reload your own.

Get the stainless and put a set of AO Sight Systems Ghost-Rings
on it and then if you want get a Lever Scout Mount.