Looking for a .45-70 lever action rifle. What are my options?

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Hey, I'm looking for a 45-70 lever action rifle. What options do I have here? Older one vs newer ones? What do you have? I reload and I like experimenting with hot loads. I prefer iron sights and won't be putting optics on it. I prefer wood and steel... Thanks!
 
I like the Marlin 1895 Cowboy. Traditional looking and has a long octagonal barrel with full length magazine tube. SWEET!!

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Henry's are a pain in the ass with their tube load. I have one in 44 mag, and if I find a Marlin or Winchester It's gone. I love my Marlin SBL, or if you don't like stainless, the GBL is similar. One thing is that I would go with a large loop. With full house loads the regular loop can pinch the fingers pretty good if you aren't gripping it really tight. I'll be taking my SBL out in about n hour for some range time. One thing I like about the 45-70 is that it can be loaded right down for plinking or right up to Polar bear loads. A 405 gr cast bullet barn bullet and 13 grs of Trailboss makes for a nice shoot all day load that's also inexpensive.
 
Option 1



Option 2 is the Marlin ABL 400-500$ cheaper wants alive has them and will add a rail for only 50$

Option 3 is the a Marlin GG on sale Prophit river for $800 no tax no shipping. Best deal you will find no rail though.

Hot loads Marlin 1895 is the option anything else you are risking yourself and the gun. I have 500gain P+ rounds that will rattle your chiclets nicely gun shoots them like a champ. On my SBL I am waiting for my Vortex red dot to arrive, love the extra long rail so scout scopes and red dots are a viable option.
 
Yep, I'm with BUM.......Either a real 86 or a miroku 86, the Browning or Winchester version. Have had several 45-70s and found the Marlins bite my fingers something terrible..........enough to cause a flinch. Had a pristine Cowboy which is a real looker in my opinion, but couldn't shoot it even with moderate loads........man it bit my hand. Sold it a couple years back but have an original ELW 86 and a full rifle 86 now and they both shoot wonderfully. I must also say the Miroku rifles are some of the finest made leverguns available and rival or may actually be better than the original Winchesters given the advances in metallurgy and the fit and finish of the Mirokus.
 
dogzilla said:
Henry's are a pain in the ass with their tube load. I have one in 44 mag, and if I find a Marlin or Winchester It's gone. I love my Marlin SBL, or if you don't like stainless, the GBL is similar. One thing is that I would go with a large loop. With full house loads the regular loop can pinch the fingers pretty good if you aren't gripping it really tight. I'll be taking my SBL out in about n hour for some range time. One thing I like about the 45-70 is that it can be loaded right down for plinking or right up to Polar bear loads. A 405 gr cast bullet barn bullet and 13 grs of Trailboss makes for a nice shoot all day load that's also inexpensive.
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I have the Henry, and I must disagree with this sentiment. It's incredibly easy to pull the brass tube out and drop some rounds in the tube. Plus add in the fact their is a lifetime warranty and excellent fit and finish and I can't see why anyone would go marlin.
 
I agree with Bum & C - that the Win 86's (vintage or Miroku) are very good but disagree that the Marlin 1895 is inferior. I have all three and have shot more rounds thru the Marlin than I could carry at on time and never been "bit" by the lever or ever had a reason to not to use it.

One drawback of the Miroku is that if you ever want to install any kind of tang sight it is not easy. The tang safety must be removed and a blank be fashioned to replace it and then drilled and tapped for the front screw, as well the original tang bolt is a very fine tread metric specimen that is unattainable on the open market (that I have found anyways). You will need a longer one for the sight base and making one up is the only option I have found. As close as I can come on thread size & pitch is 5mm x.5mm.

The vintage win's and Marlins are a snap to re-sight.
 
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