School me on long range rifle and cartridge choice.

[jethunter]

Define 45-70 Marlin...If it is a 24 or 26 inch barreled "cowboy" you already have a gun that can easily compete with any SS at long ranges, just put a LR Vernier back sight on it and slide a Lyman or similar MVA front sight into the dovetail ...same sight as your going to use on any SS at further than 150 yrds. You can be doing what you want with equal results for less than 1/2 the expense.

I agree the Marlins will shoot right with the single shots, but they may not be compatible with many of the long, RN, high BC bullets typically used in long range shooting.

 

[Hiwatt]

Now that the subject has been raised I'm very interested to learn what nitro loads might be used in a .45-90 or .45-100. As I mentioned, we DO shoot long range .45-70 and so on here in UK, but only with black powder loads.

Here's the UK chapter, if anybody is interested................http://www.ssbpcrc.co.uk/

The most popular smokeless powders to duplicate BP loads are 5744. IMR 4198 and RL 7. I have used 5744 in my 45-90 Highwall but used cotton for filler. Some use cream of wheat. Much more fun to shoot BP and do a bit of cleaning.

 

[fingers284]

I agree the Marlins will shoot right with the single shots, but they may not be compatible with many of the long, RN, high BC bullets typically used in long range shooting.

Yes, when a long nosed heavy slug is used, they won't feed through the magazine but they can be fed one at a time (turns it into a SS i guess LOL) through the ejection port. The thing here is that once fed in and chambered they have to be shot or bolt removed to unload if not shot. I have shot lots of 450 gr long nosed slugs thru mine and they stabilize perfectly. I have never shot the 535 gr Lovern style through it tho, the seating depth might have to be adjusted to chamber in the Marlin free-bore.