Marlin Guide gun in .45-70...your experience?

J

Jeff/1911

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Hi Guys,

I'm considering buying one of these...:)

A few years back I had a .444 chambered full-sized Marlin that I really enjoyed, and in a weak moment traded it off. Now, I am thinking about giving one of the .45-70's a try; in "Guide Gun" form. If any of you own one or have owned one - could you tell me about your experiences?

Thanks, Jeff/1911.
 
Marlin Guide Gun Experiences

Hi Jeff/1911, I love my guide gun fast handling, fast shooting, and when you change the standard sight with the XS ghost ring rear and front sight it becomes an incredible firearm. You never hear complaints about the Marlin 45.70 gude gun. Well on the old guns with the porting on it people did complain about it being really loud, so they don't port anymore. Get One anyways!
 
Thanks Chicken...yes, I figured the ported ones might have been pretty loud. From where did you get your XS sights? Did you have to order from the U.S. or is there a dealer in Canada for them?

Thanks, Jeff/1911.
 
I love the two guide guns and the one full size 1895 I have. The guide guns are one of each flavour, blue and stainless. 1-4 X 20MM Leupold VX II on the blue one and Brockman's ghost ring setup on the satinless.

Greedy little pig that I am!!

Ricky
 
Hi Jeff, I have a stainless steel Marlin 1895GS 45-70 that I mounted nickle finished two piece Warne scope bases and a Leupold 2-7X Compact scope with Leupold quick detachable rings.

When I don't want my scope on I remove it and install my XS Sights, Ghost Ring Backup rear sight system. You have to replace the front sight post when you first get the backup but that always stays on the rifle.

My favorite powder for the 45-70 is H322 and I use 57grs of it with 300gr bullets, 55grs with 405gr bullets and 44grs with 550gr bullets. Reduce my data by at least 10%......

I had a local fellow do an action job on it and I also installed a Wild West Guns bear proof extractor and tactical light rail. To absorb the heavier recoil I installed a Kick-Eez magnum recoil pad.

If I was going to start again I would probably buy the Marlin XLR stainless steel laminate stocked model and have the barrel shortened to 20 inches and the mag tub extended to fit another round or two.
 
I just bought one of the last 444P Outfitters in the country. (new) This is the outfitter in the great .444 Marlin calibre. It is ported. Check Lever Arms in Vancouver. They have them on sale clearing them out. Marlin dropped the 444P some time ago due to the limited sales vs the .45-70 and .450 Guide Guns.

take care Darryl
 
Sorry for the highjack :redface:
Which calibre would be a better choice for the non-reloader, the 444 or the 45/70?
I've been told that the 45/70 needs to be handloaded to reach its true potential
 
Thank you very much fellows!

Daryl, I am interested in a .444 Outfitter alright, as I love the .444 Marlin cartridge. Hmmmm....decisions, decisions...:D
 
I have an old Marlin 444s with the pistol grip, I really like it. When I was looking for one I was thinking the same thing ... 45/70 or 444. I handload so the 45/75 wouldn't be a problem but when I came upon a 444 for a good deal it followed me home.
Now that have taken 6 deer with the 444 I can honestly say that it does a great job and certainly way less meat damage with the 265gr compared to the old 240 factory loaded pistol bullets that I aquired for the brass (think they use better bullets now)
I may have went for the 45/70 if I didn't already have my ZKK-602 in 375H&H which I take for Moose, Elk, Bear etc.
I guess what I'm saying is if you are going after big or dangerous animals go with the 45 and if you don't handload you'll need to find some of that high test factory stuff that is all over the states. Not the regular trap-door 45/70 pressures stuff. If it's just for deer + whatever and where you may want the added reach go with the 444 it's just that you are limited in bullet weight due to bullet supply and to a slower twist. I know that my 265gr Hornady goes just shy of 2300fps and that's a lot going that fast.

Mike
 
Thanks pac11,

I do handload, and have loaded for the .444 Marlin in the past w/ similar spectacular results. Since I have already owned a .444 though, I'm thinking that a .45-70 would be an exciting new experience!

Jeff.
 
Jeff/1911 said:
Hi Guys,

I'm considering buying one of these...:)

A few years back I had a .444 chambered full-sized Marlin that I really enjoyed, and in a weak moment traded it off. Now, I am thinking about giving one of the .45-70's a try; in "Guide Gun" form. If any of you own one or have owned one - could you tell me about your experiences?

Thanks, Jeff/1911.
Click to expand...

i sure love my 45-70 GG!!:cool: .....it's my only go to gun now!!:D ...i have had mine for about 3 years now and has never let me down!.....i shoot 550 hard cast "crater" bullets using 40 grains of h322(1530fps)from my beast ....here's a 6'2" blacky i shot about 5 days ago!.....larry:)


100_0938.jpg
 
Yes I have they average 1580fps to 1600fps. :cool:

I stopped at that velocity because that's roughly where Garret stopped on his factory loads. I had absolutely no pressure signs of any kind and have shot about 150 of them now.

I find the felt recoil is less with the 550gr bullets @ 1600fps than 400gr bullets @ 1950fps.

That's a nice looking bear. Congrates......
 
I'm wondering about .45-70 VS .450 Marlin. I do handload, so is there any benefit to the "stronger" brass I've heard mentioned used in the .450 Marlin?

Thanks for any info about this...Jeff.
 
I basically had the same options when I was looking at purchasing my 1895GS. I already had a T/C Contender carbine in 45-70 so figured I could get away without having to purchase another set of dies.

I do have to clearly mark the different loads so that I do not shoot the Marlin loads in the T/C. I color the primers of the Marlin loads with red felt marker.

The only difference for me as a reloader was the poor availability of 450 Marlin brass as well as the cost where as the 45-70 brass is everywhere.

Performance is identical between the two chambering as well.
 
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