LEVER RIFLE:Caliber

Teapot

Teapot

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Hamilton, Ontario; the southern shore of Canada.
I want to buy a Marlin lever rifle I think. I know I want it in stainless steel.

I also know that I will be using it for every type of hunting in any part of Canada. I am partial to the 30WCF due to it's ability to take animals with the minimum of fuss and is not terribly difficult to reload. Reloading does not use up great amounts of propellant and the bullets are cheap.
On the other hand Hornady has come out with some pretty nice calibers for Marlin lever guns.

Can a Guide Gun in 45-70 pretty much be used for everything? I would like to move to the Yukon or NWT/Nunavut one day. So would this be enough rifle for all types of hunting or would it be lacking in range. What about the Marlin Cowboy with a 22'' barrel? I am not sure if the extra four inches would make a difference in range but it certainly would in weight.
Let me know your thoughts on this if you would please. Bullet drop will be an issue I know but this can be compensated for.
 
having shot both the guide gun and the full length .45-70's there is a big difference in muzzle jump and blast between the two when using full power loads. I bought the 22" version for this reason. the few extra ounces didn;t make a big difference
 
If you reload...My choice would be the MLXR in 45/70, if not, it's a toss up....444Marlin, 450 Marlin, 45/70. The 30/30 is a good cal. for deer at short to med. range, has little kick/noise.....if you want to hunt anything bigger or something that could fight back, or at least, lead you over hill and dale wounded, then one of the bigger cals. is in order. If you choose the 45/70 start with factory type loads, you can always load 'em up later.
 
I have a Marlin XLR in 45/70 and it is much nicer than the guide guns to shoot. I've also used 30/30 and .444 models in longer barrel configurations.

I've never really thought the 30/30 or .444 were all that great. They offer average performance for calibers of comparable size, although nothing else is really available in a lever. I wouldn't bother with any of the handgun calibers.

The 45/70 is going to kill anything shot under 200 yards pretty effectively, without holding 4 feet over an animals back. While most people claim to shoot game at 400 yards every time, I never seem to take those shots or am a better judge of distance. Particularly with iron sights.

If you reload or ever plan to, I'd buy a 45/70. Brass is easier to find and hot loads will perform very well. If you don't plan to reload, buy the .450 marlin. Performance for factory loads is superior, although can be more difficult to find.
 
45-70

Hey jjackman, my Marlin 45-70 Guide Gun shoots 7 inches low at 185 with 420 grain cast bullets. So where are you getting this 4 foot over stuff????
You can use it for more than 200 yards too, if you can hit it,it's DEAD
 
If you're going for the big stuff, go 45-70
If you're going to stay smaller than moose the 30-30 is fine. And I've taken moose with the 30-30. One shot kill too, spine shot, bang flop.

The 45-70 will be a heavy beasty to pack compared to the 30-30, the rifle is a bit heavier, and that ammo, is a F>>> of a lot heavier. But the old beasty packs a wicked punch.
Both rounds can be loaded down, and are very versatile. I've taken rabbit with the 45-70 loaded with a 173? grain round ball, and black powder. Did less damage than a 30-30 full house load.
I've shot end to end through a doe with a heavy loaded hard cast bullet in the 45-70 too. That was a memorable bang flop.
Both cartridges have a learning curve when it comes to reloading, their cases are not as forgiving as the more modern ones, and the 45-70 is a powder burner with heavy loads.
 
444 marlin, great round, best power/recoil trade off imho. if the .356 were still available i'd say take a long hard look at that one. don't get sucked in by the 45-70 myth
 
A buddy just bought a Stainless Marlin GG in .450. Very nice to shoot and surprisingly accurate with factory ammo. Hard to find though.
 
lever gun caliber

i use marlin 336cs in .35 rem., 200 grain bullet , at about 2000 f.p.s. , good for deer , bear , moose , at 150 yards or less . your choices of .444 or 45-70 are good , all theses rifles are ment for short range in the bush , with great knock down power . good luck Joe
 
jjackman said:
I have a Marlin XLR in 45/70 and it is much nicer than the guide guns to shoot. I've also used 30/30 and .444 models in longer barrel configurations.
Click to expand...
I see on the Marlin site that the XLR is now offered in 35Rem as well.




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I'm surprised that Marlin would even offer something like the 450Marlin, given the success that they have had with the 45/70. Wouldn't the 450 compete with the 45/70? Why not something like a 375Marlin or 350Marlin using the same case?



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SuperCub said:
I'm surprised that Marlin would even offer something like the 450Marlin, given the success that they have had with the 45/70. Wouldn't the 450 compete with the 45/70? Why not something like a 375Marlin or 350Marlin using the same case?
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Click to expand...

I'm pretty certain the only reason they offer the 450 is for those that do not reload. Factory 45-70 loads are pretty much inemic other than a few small specialy companys. The ammo companys don't want someone blowing up uncle Fred's trapdoor springfield so the pressures are kept very low. As the 450 Marlin is only chambered in modern strong actions they hot rod these loads pretty good!

Tell ya what tho SC I'll agree with you that I'd like to see some more development in the 35 or 38 calbre. I've got a 375 Winchester and its a great round for 30-30 ranges. I like your idea of a 350 Marlin. But let's put it in a tripple 4 case :cool:
 
Telephoned Wholesale Sports in Winnipeg yesterday morning. They had ten Marlin's coming in. I am sending them a cheque today for $789 for the Stainless Steel Guide Gun in 45-70.It will take about two weeks for them to get them in their inventory apparently but I have one of the rifles anyway.
At my range I shot a Guide Gun in 45-70 from a bench. Mistake. It hurt my shoulder. The handloads were quite powerful but very accurate, cloverleafing at 50 yards and most still touching at 100. I guess slow fat bullets have fewer issues in terms of accuracy unlike fast little bullets.
Standing and sitting on the ground posed no problems with pain as I moved with the recoil. Sitting hunched forward is not a good idea though.

I'll post pictures when I get it in a fortnight or so.
 
45-70 guide gun

I bought a ported SS guide gun a year ago. What a hoot!! It is so versatile if
you handload. I've shot everything from birdshot loads to 560gr cast bullets.
You can load plinking loads to Kill Anything That Walks Loads. In short I think
you'll have a blast with it. PM me if you have any Questions.:cool:
 
Hey, Sharpset, I'll be contacting you when I get it and asking about re-loading and "recipes". Now I hope WS does a better job than last time I ordered the same gun: they said they had one and then phoned to tell me none were available. This time they said for sure they have some so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Look forward to getting it.
 
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