45-70 - Marin/Remlin/Henry

Duty-Bootie

Duty-Bootie

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North Saanich, BC & Nicola Valley, BC
Hi All.......

I've been looking for a John Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. Few and far between in pistol grip and stainless. Have been offered a Remlin thats polished in all moving parts.

But have also been looking at the Henry 45-70......it it available in Stainless?

For me this rifle has one job. Drop a bear if I get in a bad situation in my Orchards. Most of the time the dogs see them off. So i need 2 rounds max to get the job done.

Anyone out there have experience on polished Remlins or the Henry.

I have a JM 336 in stainless and it's flawless. Just want the same in my 45-70. No questions asked.

Thanks.

RH.
 
You could just buy an 1895 guide gun, spend an additional $200 for a pistol grip lever/tang and stock. Then sell the parts that were swapped. Very easy to do.

Henry's aren't made in stainless.
 
Yes that has been suggested before.......Bears are asleep now and I will not have a use to shoot one before August, if that ever happens. So am happy to sit it out. Xmas is coming and cash is king of course.

Like the Henry but am not sure what to think on the tube feed/load thing.

RH.
 
As far as the Remlin issue,
Polished or not, if you can't handle the rifle in person, I would see if the seller is willing to offer a money back inspection period.
 
All the Henry line is HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY. If you will be toting it about, it's not the best choice.

The Remlins got a really bad rap b/c their 2010/2011 production was atrocious.

Generally they are OK now, though like any maker, the odd lemon squeaks out. Same thing happen with the JM gun from time to time, but people tend to remember the olden times more fondly then they ever were (with guns and everything else in life).

My hands-on experience is that I've owned and worked on a sampling of the worst Remlin guns and I could get them all to run awesome with basic tools and a little knowledge.

In many cases, the guns needed no work at all, especially 2013 and later guns. MUCH better then those made between 2010 and 2012.

WRT polishing - the Remington-made Marlins are no less polished than any post-1980 (or so) JM Marlin. The difference is that the Remington were fit together at the factory by much less experienced workers. As a result, I've seen guns full of sanding residue from when the receiver EXTERIOR was machine-polished. I've seen machining burrs inside the receiver that made the action feel rougher. Neither of these things stop a gun from working, they make it feel clunkier in operation.

I've also seen barrels out of index (slightly - most I ever saw was 4 degrees). This can be fixed for next to nothing at a gunsmith if you bring them a barrelled receiver and have done the disassembly yourself.

Here is my caution: When I know someone else has "polished" a lever gun, I tend to pass on it. Basically always if there is no inspection period (3 days after receipt is reasonable, and buyer eats return shipping). Why? Well youtube is full of "how to" videos for CAS shooters that assume the person who will do the work is experienced at tuning rifles. Most aren't. I've tuned TONS of guns, for myself and for others (for money, though I don't take work anymore - too busy). I have a machine shop, I'm a mechanical engineer, and one of my best friends is a very well known and respected gunsmith, so I have resource for when I hit something I've never seen before. When I fix a Marlin, I know it's fixed right. When someone else tried to fix one and is spinning it on the net, I'm worried I get someone else's attempt where things got botched and I wonder what parts I will need to buy because they filed too much or leaned too hard into the buffing wheel. YMMV.

A smilar note for stocks - Marlin OEM replacement stocks are NOT a drop-in fit. They need to be inlet for a heavy-recoiling gun or you will split the butt at the tang.
 
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The Henry .45-70 is the same weight as the Marlin 1895G....7 lbs. It's the pistol caliber Big Boy Henry that's the porker along with the brass receiver .30-30 model.

;) I'd go the Henry as they are well made and accurate rifles.
 
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If you can find an older JM Marlin that would work just fine... but the Henry is a nice gun and I would choose it over a current Remlin any day... I appear to be one of the few that actually prefer the mag-tube loading over gate loading. My reasons for this are; it is faster to unload, does not damage bullets like gate loading and with a speed tube it is very quick to load... in your case (only needing two quick shots) how the gun loads shouldn't matter... you fill it up before going into the orchard... but unloading when you come out of the orchard will be quicker with the Henry... and your bullets won't get damaged in the process.
 
Duty-Bootie said:
I like all this info.......Many thanks for taking the time to write.

I think I will keep on with my quest for a Guide Gun. I may also buy a Henry........cos why not?
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As a thought, get one in .30-30 and the other brand in .45-70 and draw your own conclusions - that would be a great way to go!
 
I have a 2013 remlin 45/70 SBL model. Not a single feeding issue or any else and loves to shoot every load I throw at it
 
Duty-Bootie said:
I do have a 2006 336SS. Only thing I don't like is the loading port spring is really strong. Loading can be a finger pinching ordeal now and then, so maybe the henry has an advantage there. BUT a Guide Gun in stainless and laminate looks awesome.
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That's very easy to fix.
A motivated 5-yr old can disassemble and reassemble a 336/1895.
They're much simpler than a Winchester 86/92/94 to work on.
 
If you cant find a good 45-70 for bear's
a Pump mossberg 500 with a rifled slug barrel is quite handy out to 100 Yards or less . It will stop a bear dead in its tracks if its coming for you also and arguably quicker to action rounds into.
Just a thought for you is all and you can always change it to smooth bore for bird season :p.

I have both and i wouldn't be afraid(ok id be worried but still confident it would kill it lol) to take a bear down with the 12 gauge with that slug barrel on , easy to handle and fairly accurate within reasonable distance.
cheaper too.

Slug - Slug - slug -Buckshot - Buckshot :p.
 
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