Convince me to buy a 45-70

josquin said:
The Bullet Barn (www.thebulletbarn.com) offers loaded ammo as well as bullets. I'm not sure how stout their loads are, although they also list Trapdoor loads so the others might be "mid-stout." (I'd think the 390 gr LRNFP-GC would be suitable for hunting. The 525 gr. Postell type would be for BPCR) They have two dealers in AB, The Bullet Bench in Calgary and P&D in Edmonton.



Sigh... there's a showoff in every crowd :p
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This was not an overnight thing friend.
I lurked for years waiting for the correct mauser (remember the awesome deals during the initial LGR beginning?) and the drilling was a life long dream of mine. The bpcr is the only very nice surprize and a very recent one at that.

Cheers!

PS: For smokeless powder handloads in this cartridge I highly recommend IMR-3031. Especially for 350-405 grain bullets.
 
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Albertarookie said:
I've always had a thing for lever guns, but after handling a Marlin 1895gbl at my local Canadian Tire the itch has gotten worse. I have a Savage 16 in .300 wsm and am curious how the recoil of the big bore with that 18.5" barrel stacks up against the short mag recoil. Odds are the rifle the new rifle won't be purchased until after this hunting season, call it my Christmas present to myself. So quick questions: 1, how is the quality of the Marlin guide guns? 2, is there any particular trick to loading for a lever gun? How hard are components to come by? I reload but don't mold boolits (yet) if it's worth it I may take it up. At the end of the day it would be for close in brush hunting and bear hunting. Anything else I should know? Are there other lever options in 45-70 to look at? School me on this one folks as |I am totally new to big bores.
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Own 2 Guide Guns, 1 is the 1895G "blue" version and the other is an 1895GS stainless version both in 45-70 Gvt.
I get 1" 3-shot groups @ 100 yds with the blue Guide Gun with the factory Hornady 325 grain FTX ammo.
The FTX ammo in a Guide Gun is pretty flat and is good out past 300 yards without a whole lot of Kentucky guesstimation.
I have the stainless version sighted in at 50 yards and it gives me 5-shot "keyhole" groups at that range with the HSM "Bear Load" 430 grain hard cast lead ammo I bought at Cabelas in Winnipeg at the old SIR store back when it was $28 per box. Now I see they have it marked up to almost $50 a box. Popped a big Michigan elk in 2010 with the stainess Guide Gun and the Bear Load ammo and it never even took a single step before it dropped dead on the ground.
Both Guide Guns carry Leupold 2-7x28mm "Ultralight" scopes which are very compact and light.

Both the Hornady FTX ammo and the HSM Bear Load ammo are pretty stiff loads and quite frankly THEY KICK and KICK HARD but you know you aren't going to have to track your elk or moose a single step if you do your part.
 
Dorian Gray said:
While i don't have one right now (since I'm running a Rossi M92 in .454 Casull, a 45-70 would be redundant) I do really like the round and Marlin seems to have got their #### together. At least, that's what the gun rags are saying. I was out with a friend about a month ago and he had an SBL with him. I guess it was one of the good ones because it shot like hot damn, had no problem cycling and was a joy to carry and shoot. I think i'll add one to the collection in a few years. I want to make sure Marlin has all it's bugs out of the new production rifles. I got stuck with one of their lemons a few years ago and it was a 1K$ learning experience. Not gonna get phucked again.
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I also have an Amadeo Rossi pre-Br#####h, pre-safety model 92 carbine (20" bbl) in 454 Casull and am pushing 335 grain hard cast lead bullets out of it @ 1925 fps.
In other words it's an "ass kicker".
Very accurate rifle with iron sights.
 
Brutus said:
This was not an overnight thing friend.
I lurked for years waiting for the correct mauser (remember the awesome deals during the initial LGR beginning?) and the drilling was a life long dream of mine. The bpcr is the only very nice surprize and a very recent one at that.

Cheers!

PS: For smokeless powder handloads in this cartridge I highly recommend IMR-3031. Especially for 350-405 grain bullets.
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Just yanking your chain because I'm JEALOUS! That's a pretty fine collection, esp. the drilling. What are the other barrels chambered for?

I've heard that 3031 is excellent in the 45-70. (That may be what Bullet Barn uses.) I think I started using Rel 7 because it happened to be avail. at the time and 3031 wasn't.
I'll be pouring some into a few cases later tonight to make up for the ones we shot off on Friday. :)
 
^No problem friend! The drilling is also in 10x10 gauge of 2 7/8 length. That sounds neat, but the added cost is 'really neat' too; IE-The all brass imported hulls from Track of the Wolf are expensive, then one belatedly discovers that ancient BP 10 gauge is Pre-SAAMI Spec, hence one needs $$$dies imported from Buffalo Arms (USA) along with $ shell holder. Then they are too long so I get Sspach to trim them firstly........now it's finding a press with large enough dimensions to fit this special large die and clearance for the uber larger shell holder and a special larger thread form of 1 1/2x14. Both of my presses and a friend's Rockchucker are no help due to one of two conditions, insert inside not comaptible or shell holder will not freely seat in the ram. Redding Ultramag might be my only option when I buy one that is.
Everything related to 10 gauge all brass hulls is freaking cash heavy! That is, until one gets it actually shooting, then the relaoding tools look like a kid's hobby school project! lol.........

Someday I'll get this thing shooting.

Cheers

Yeah, Reloader 7 is another recommended powder. Seems I vaguely remember using this for higher velocity loads with 300 gr copper jacketed bullets with some good results IIRC.
 
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Calum said:
On the flip side commercial 45/70 ammo can be expensive and rather hard to find.
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This is true for sure. My son bought one. It's a beautiful gun but tough to feed until I start reloading for it. $50.00 a box of 20. Leverevolution ammo is apparently cheaper but I haven't found any.
 
broncoo said:
I use a Lee enfield 45/70 conversion favourite load is 10 grains of trail boss and a 405 grain bullet I think it's around 800fps still has enough jam to pass though a 14" pine tree and is about as loud as.22lr
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It's also got enough jam to drop a bison.;)
http://www.bigboreairguns.com/07bisonhunt.htm

I'm on my 6th. 45-70, a Pedersoli 86/71 and can hardly wait to get 'er out on a mission. I'll be using cast 405's at 1100fps. Love those Lee Enfields for conversions.:)
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CreamySmooth said:
Get one and try it. For most people it's a phase and you'll go back to a more standard cartridge. But for some people, maybe you, it sticks hard. I gave it up after I started to get the 2nd 200 yard shot and had to shoot it like a mortar..... After 100 yards they drop like a comet....
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What about adjustable tangs sights? You live in the very heart of BPCR country buddy.
 
I won't try to convince you.
But I have a new 45-70 in the Marlin model 1895.
I would not recommend the short barrled gun, the noise will blow your eardrums out..
The recoil is mild or severe. Depending on how heavy you Load.
If you get a new Marlin they are very good and the quality in impeccable.
I also bought a Marlin 336SS made by Remington, both guns have no flaws or propblems, and they have the best Ballard rifling.
If you buy an 1895, the 1st thing that you do is replace the hockey puck pad with the best recoil pad that you can afford.
10 grains of 700X with a 350 grain lead bullet, is like shooting a 410 shotgun.
With the heavier 405 grain jacketed bullets with a full load you need a recoil pad.
Because of my age I installed a Williams FP receiver sight on my Marlins.
Now I can shoot very well with them.
 
Brutus said:
What about adjustable tangs sights? You live in the very heart of BPCR country buddy.
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The 45-70 and BPCR shooting go together like they were meant for each other and long range shooting can be very addictive.
Many years ago I bought one of the BPCR Brownings when they first came out and I was quite content shooting it @ 100 yards until one day a group of old geezers showed up at the local range and started setting up to shoot their Black Powder 45-70s at 300 yds..... next thing I knew I was hooked.
If anyone thinks shooting a 45-70 @ 200 yds. compares to shooting a mortar, try launching a 600 gr. cast boolit out of one and accurately hitting a target @ 1000 yds.
I've seen it done many times and the results can be amazing.
One day a few years ago I shot a 3" X 4" group at 300 yds. with 15 rounds on target ( Black Powder loads ) perhaps more luck than skill but even so I'm convinced that the old 45-70 can be an amazingly accurate cartridge...
 
I also own a Pedersoli 86/71 Premium Grade and a Miroku Winchester 1886 Extra Light in 45-70 both of which I'm going to sell on the Epps website.
I find the Guide Guns so much handier for the kind of hunting I do and nothing is slicker than the Marlin 1895 action.
The 1895s are also so much easier to strip and reassemble for maintenance and cleaning. A six year old could do it.
If you've ever completely stripped down and reassembled a Winchester 1871/1886/1892 action rifle you'll know what I mean.
John Browning who designed the Winchester actions was a genius but John Marlin made his action for the rest of us that aren't geniuses.
Nothing wrong with either the 86/71 or the 1886 EL but they are safe queens as I usually have one of the Guide Guns out in the field.
 
colombe said:
I won't try to convince you.
But I have a new 45-70 in the Marlin model 1895.
I would not recommend the short barrled gun, the noise will blow your eardrums out..
The recoil is mild or severe. Depending on how heavy you Load.
If you get a new Marlin they are very good and the quality in impeccable.
I also bought a Marlin 336SS made by Remington, both guns have no flaws or propblems, and they have the best Ballard rifling.
If you buy an 1895, the 1st thing that you do is replace the hockey puck pad with the best recoil pad that you can afford.
10 grains of 700X with a 350 grain lead bullet, is like shooting a 410 shotgun.
With the heavier 405 grain jacketed bullets with a full load you need a recoil pad.
Because of my age I installed a Williams FP receiver sight on my Marlins.
Now I can shoot very well with them.
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I own 3 Marlin rifles, 2 Guide Guns in 45-40 Gvt and a model 336C in 35 Rem.
Many of the guns that came off the assembly lines at the new Remington/Marlin Illion, NY factory for the first 2 or 3 years after Remington bought Marlin were nothing but junk.
The new ones made in the last year or so are probably better than the guns made in the old Marlin plant in CT as the Ilion factory is equipped with modern CNC machining equipment.
My two Gude Guns and the 336C are probably the slickest and most accurate leverguns I own or ever have owned.
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
It's also got enough jam to drop a bison.;)
http://www.bigboreairguns.com/07bisonhunt.htm

I'm on my 6th. 45-70, a Pedersoli 86/71 and can hardly wait to get 'er out on a mission. I'll be using cast 405's at 1100fps. Love those Lee Enfields for conversions.:)
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Some of the Pedersoli 86/71s have had feeding/cycling problems.
My 86/71 took a bit of polishing and a few adjustments after I first bought it before it would feed/cycle properly.
Hopefully yours won't be one of the problematic ones.
 
I love my marlin 45/70 it's great to know if you ever need to use it for animal defence there aint much walking this earth that will need a 2nd shot from it.
 
Kevan said:
...I was quite content shooting it @ 100 yards until one day a group of old geezers showed up at the local range and started setting up to shoot their Black Powder 45-70s at 300 yds..... next thing I knew I was hooked.....
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Was that out at the Mission range? I remember a couple of old guys (well, maybe in their 70s; I have to be careful now that I'm past 60) who would come out from Surrey(?) in a VW camper and "make a day of it". And yes, they could shoot! Wonderful fellas. One of them passed away a few years ago, unfortunately.

I haven't been up to the rifle range there for a while because it has become so busy, unless one is lucky enough to hit a lull.

:) Stuart
 
wmd said:
I love my marlin 45/70 it's great to know if you ever need to use it for animal defence there aint much walking this earth that will need a 2nd shot from it.
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:agree:
Alaskan guides used to chop down the stock 22" barreled 1895s in 45-70 to make them quicker pointing at short ranges and handier to carry on planes, in packsacks.
They were used in Alaska as back up guns for guided bear hunts in case the client made a bad shot and a charging brown bear needed to be put down.
Brown bears can weigh upwards of 1500 pounds so a pizzed off one charging you at 30 mph needs to be STOPPED IMMEDIATELY if not sooner. The guides loaded them with rounds that pushed heavy hard cast lead bullets from 350 to over 500 grains. My favorite load pushes a 430 grain hard cast lead bullet at 1850 fps.
Then in 1998 Marlin decided to make a factory stock Guide Gun with a 18 1/2" barrel.
The first ones had ported barrels which I didn't like so I didn't buy one at that time.
I currently own 2 Gude Guns, one a 1895G (blue version) and a 1895GS (stainless steel version).
The 1895GS is a first run from the fledgling Remington plant in Ilion, NY that was so bad outta the box that I practically rebuilt it over the course of the winter of 2010.
I got it for a winter project from an extremely disgruntled first owner for $250 after he'd tried to get if functional without success. It wouldn't even cycle ammo when I first held it in my hands.
The 1895G is a new production version which was as smooth as a baby's backside NIB.
 
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