45 70 inquires* 1895 cowboy

tylerjwitty

tylerjwitty

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to those who "have" shot a 45 70 what would they liken the recoill to?

anyone who has tried either the marlin guide or 1895 22" barrel pls submit your review of what you thought of it?

tips for reloading, iron sight up grades, ect ect

* any one selling the 1895 cowboy in 45 70 ..stores or members

is it available?
 
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Only just traded for one recently (my first 45-70) and since I only shoot hand loads I loaded up some 'light' loads and started plinking away last week. If I close my eyes it feels exactly like my 12 gauge with 2 3/4" shells. According to the recoil charts, however, it would be much more 'impressive' in the recoil department with proper hunting loads. Makes an impressive hole in the paper too...
 
It all depends on how much you can take as she will go from mild to wild. As for factory loads, they are quite managable and more of a shove rather than a fast jab that you might get with say a 300 win. I have got a wee bit brave with some handloads and have allmost shaken the fillings out of my mouth, so I save those loads now for the odd bash fest at the range. If you do plan to handload I have found that a 405gr RCBS gas check at around 1400 to 1600 fps will be an absolute hammer on any north american big game.
 
I had the 22" barrel, pistol grip version of the 1895. I only ever fired factory Hornady LeverEvolution out of it and it was easy breezy on the shoulder.
 
tylerjwitty said:
smokeless or blackpowder or can both be used.
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Factory loads produce very managable recoil. Hot handloads can get stout but no one has ever met their demise from recoil.

Blackpowder would be a handloading proposition and you are probably better to stay away from it, theres no advantage and you also have the clean up factor :mad: Stick to smokeless. I'd be tempted into blackpowder if i had a VINTAGE rifle and wanted to keep it period accurate for the sake of history.
 
recoil

One of my work rifles is a Marlin 45-70 with 480 hard cast ammo. I shoot about 10 rnds. a week ( office range day ) just to make sure it shoot where it's pointed. On the same day I shoot 10 rnds of .458 Lott,10 rnds. .12 ga. slugs,12 rnds.,.44 mag. in my 4" Redhawk. The 45-70 is not as much as the .12 ga. The Redhawk is not much fun. Boomer loades my handgun ammo sometimes I think he is trying to kill me.

stay safe
pounder
 
Of the two 45-70's I have 'available', the Pedersoli Sharps I presently have the unlimited loan of is a definate pleasure to shoot. With loads tailored to it's level of strength, cast or jacketed, it's easy to handle and fun to practice off hand shooting with. If I can talk my buddy into letting me give it a 'home' on a permanent, step one is the installation of more appropriate sights.

Pedersoli1874Sharps45-70.jpg


The other is a Marlin 1895GS and with loads it's capable of handling, it can be a little hard on the fingers but it has its place and function. While short, potent and durable, it's not quite the pleasure to shoot repetitively that the Sharps is.

Marlin1895GS45-70.jpg
 
rifleman338 said:
It all depends on how much you can take as she will go from mild to wild. As for factory loads, they are quite managable and more of a shove rather than a fast jab that you might get with say a 300 win. I have got a wee bit brave with some handloads and have allmost shaken the fillings out of my mouth, so I save those loads now for the odd bash fest at the range. If you do plan to handload I have found that a 405gr RCBS gas check at around 1400 to 1600 fps will be an absolute hammer on any north american big game.
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My "go to" load for my Guide Gun is the RCBS 405-FN on 53 gr of WC844 for just under 1800 fps. It's exhilarating to shoot mor than about 20 or so at a stretch.

With my alloy the bullets as loaded weigh 420 gr lubed with Apache Blue and the gas check on, and are hard enough that I've never seen a hint of leading...
 
I have 3 loads for my guide gun, so far. My hunting load is a 420 grain at 1850fps, it kicks hard similar to a 3" 000 buck in my 870. I also load a 400grain hollow point over 12 grains of unique and a 3 ball garrison round over the same, both have no real recoil and are fun for plinking.
 
Its really the shape of the Marlin that makes it seem ike it kicks so hard. Straight grip is the worst. I'm 6'2 and once I added spacer to increase the length of pull that helped a lot. The muzzle jump with the 18" barrel is what gets you though. One time i didnt have a good grip on it in the cold and the hammer actually cut me above my eyebrow.
Thats all hot loads though. With factory remington or leverevolution my wife even enjoys shooting it.
 
If 30-06 was a smack upside the head then 45-70 is a gentle push down a flight of stairs.

The recoil from a guide gun is not that bad at all. More pushy than sharp crack. The shorter barrel will jump a bit if you get sloppy on the grip.
 
A limbsaver recoil pad will turn a 1895 guide gun into a pussy cat!

As for sights, I just installed skinner sights ... need to take it to the range and test it out.
 
marcham said:
A limbsaver recoil pad will turn a 1895 guide gun into a pussy cat!

As for sights, I just installed skinner sights ... need to take it to the range and test it out.
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With the hot loads in my Guide Gun, where the impacting on the fingers discomfort comes from is the straight stock design and matching lever. A pistol grip design as on my 444S, no problem.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
With the hot loads in my Guide Gun, where the impacting on the fingers discomfort comes from is the straight stock design and matching lever. A pistol grip design as on my 444S, no problem.
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Can't say I've ever noticed my fingers getting caught in the lever or any discomfort due to the stock design. But then again I'm used to shooting English stocks, my favorite made in Belgium Browning 20 gauge has the same.
 
marcham said:
Can't say I've ever noticed my fingers getting caught in the lever or any discomfort due to the stock design. But then again I'm used to shooting English stocks, my favorite made in Belgium Browning 20 gauge has the same.
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;)Me to.

JSBorehamEnglishSxS25in12ga.jpg


There's a difference I find between shooting my straight stock english SxS compared to launching a 400gr bullet out of my Guide Gun at 1700 - 1800 f/sec and contenting with the confines of the lever and its impacting on my fingers.

Marlin1895GS45-70.jpg


Again, with the pistol grip configuration and matching curved lever design of my 444S, I don't feel the discomfort on my fingers, especially with any amount of sustained shooting.

Marlin444S444.jpg


I've tried a Marlin in 45-70 with a similar design and the same loads. The difference is quite noticeable and knowing what I know now, my choice would've been for something along that design line VS what I have with the 1895GS:).
 
marcham said:
A limbsaver recoil pad will turn a 1895 guide gun into a pussy cat!
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X2 on this. The "recoil" pad that comes stock is utter s**t! It's more a force multiplier than anything else. Once you replace it you'll see for yourself.

Additionally, I find the pistol grip stock is better for recoil management but I LOVE my straight stock for the clean look.
 
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