45-70,444,450???

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This looks like a nice LOW MAINTANCE rifle, wonder if it comes in 450, would be the ticket :D
 
Ok, so it's 45/70 for sure, but now what about barrel length?
Is the 3 1/2" extra barrel on the 1895, worth enough extra velocity to make up for the difference in handiness in heavy bush?
I'm thinking that a guide gun in 45/70 is going to be my moose rifle.The area I hunt is fairly thick with only a couple of open ares, where a shot could be out to 125-150 yds, with most shots around 40-70yds.
Scott
 
str8shot said:
Ok, so it's 45/70 for sure, but now what about barrel length?
Is the 3 1/2" extra barrel on the 1895, worth enough extra velocity to make up for the difference in handiness in heavy bush?
I'm thinking that a guide gun in 45/70 is going to be my moose rifle.The area I hunt is fairly thick with only a couple of open ares, where a shot could be out to 125-150 yds, with most shots around 40-70yds.
Scott
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Once you touch those heavy loads off through a Guide Gun, you will wish you had bought the 22" barrel :D
I would also highly recommend a Limbsaver and extra strong denture adhesive (if applicable) :p
 
str8shot said:
Ok, so it's 45/70 for sure, but now what about barrel length?
Is the 3 1/2" extra barrel on the 1895, worth enough extra velocity to make up for the difference in handiness in heavy bush?
I'm thinking that a guide gun in 45/70 is going to be my moose rifle.The area I hunt is fairly thick with only a couple of open ares, where a shot could be out to 125-150 yds, with most shots around 40-70yds.
Scott
Click to expand...

I have a Marlin 1895GS in .45-70 and really like it but with the heavier bullets and hotter loads, the straight stock grip & lever can be a little hard on the fingers. I think the curved lever and grip of the XLR series would eliminate a lot of that discomfort.
 
It may surprise some but I am a big fan of the 45/70, I have a few...my main hunting gun is a '95 Marlin Cowboy gun w/26" barrel, lace on leather recoil pad, after market large loop lever, using Chambers 480gr WFN GC bullets at 1900 fps. Wouldn't be as comfy with any other gun, except maybe my C.Sharps 45/70, or 50/90 with 595gr. bullets and black powder,or my .45/100 Sharps or............
 
I have tried to understand the love affair for the 444 and it still totally eludes me... ;)

If you want to play with the big boys get a 45-70... :D
 
Why not buy a BLR in 30/06 and get rebored it to 35Whelen?

Way better than all three put together and pointy bullets to boot. :D



.
 
I live in Canada, and I DO handload, my 45-70 will shoot flatter than a 444, with more punch, a bigger hole going in and out, and gives me a wide variety of decent bullets, including cast, Jacketted, and fancy stuff to play with. A truely diverse set of load options too.

Incidently, for those that don't handload, check out the commercial 45-70 loads sold by Garrets
 
444shooter said:
Once you touch those heavy loads off through a Guide Gun, you will wish you had bought the 22" barrel :D
I would also highly recommend a Limbsaver and extra strong denture adhesive (if applicable) :p
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The little bit of extra muzzle weight will certainly help, especially with the hot loads. The extra 3" doesn't make the rifle unmanageably long.

I've got an XLR in 45/70 with the 22" barrel and it actually has one of the nicest recoil pads I've had on a factory rifle. I've shot 20 rounds at a single range session with only a slight bruise the next day. Certainly no worse than a poorly shouldered shotgun would give you.
 
jjackman said:
The little bit of extra muzzle weight will certainly help, especially with the hot loads. The extra 3" doesn't make the rifle unmanageably long.

I've got an XLR in 45/70 with the 22" barrel and it actually has one of the nicest recoil pads I've had on a factory rifle. I've shot 20 rounds at a single range session with only a slight bruise the next day. Certainly no worse than a poorly shouldered shotgun would give you.
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I've done 50 in a session with no shoulder bruise from my 18.5" ported barrel. However the lever on these things takes a bite out of the finger if you try and pretend it's a bench gun for too long. :redface:

Of course those were just 265 grain bullets, factory light mags and handloads. I'm looking forward to playing with some 340's next week. I sure wish beartooth products were available up here.

I'll pick up a 45/70 or 450 some day, but in the meantime I'm going to enjoy sub moa groups from my 444, and be able to shoot it lots. Once I have a 45 caliber levergun, my 444 will be able to look forward to coming home from the range and visiting the other guy in the safe. :p

I certainly don't feel undergunned with anything I'll come across in BC. Any of these calibers will show who is at the top of the food chain. :cool:
 
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