thinking of trading in my 14" 12er for 45-70 guide gun

should i make the switch?

  • Heck yes!

    Votes: 19 82.6%

  • hell no

    Votes: 5 21.7%
  • Total voters
    23
jiffydawg

jiffydawg

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
19   0   0
Location
Terrace BC
what do you think, i'm a bush pilot up north way up north sometimes and have been carrying my hp9 for a while now but i am thinking of picking up a ss 45-70 and trying that out for a while. OAL is the same on both and weight would be pretty close

the only con's i could see is for blasting the odd little tasty critter if the need may be also i think the 45-70 might be a bit more durable

opinions?
trying to justify spending 815 after taxes on one of these but its a bit tough (tight cash flow right now)
 
I see no reason to switch away from what you have unless it is proving inadequate. Of course, like any good Gunnut, I'll advise you to save up until you can have BOTH!
 
jiffydawg said:
what do you think, i'm a bush pilot up north way up north sometimes and have been carrying my hp9 for a while now but i am thinking of picking up a ss 45-70 and trying that out for a while. OAL is the same on both and weight would be pretty close

the only con's i could see is for blasting the odd little tasty critter if the need may be also i think the 45-70 might be a bit more durable

opinions?
trying to justify spending 815 after taxes on one of these but its a bit tough (tight cash flow right now)
Click to expand...


yes, without a doubt!!:cool: ...do ya handload?.....larry
 
Should also mention I have a short 870 and have had .45-70 levers. currently, I still have the short 870 and my .45-70 gun is now a Sharps carbine, not a Lever gun :)

the Sharps is SUPERIOR in every way, but probably not ideal for a bear defense weapon unless you can consistently put the gizzly down in one shot...
 
If you reload you can load some shot cartridges for your 45-70. I load them up for my .444 Marlin. They will take a grouse or rabbit 20-30 yds. I take a .410 load data and load it into the brass case. I then put a brass gas check inverted over the shot charge and put a slight crimp on the case. You have to load them one at a time but they are great game getters. You can also load a light load with a single, or up to 3 round balls for small game. There are lots of games to play reloading for a big bore.
 
hey guys thanks for the replies.... as of now i don't reaload and my job tends to be quite transient so i don't really have the option to get set up for it... not yet anyways!

whats a guy like me to do, what are the odds of finding someone on here that would be willing to help me out in that department, ie ship the materials to this individual + something for their expertise and time to get a few hundred made up or finding someone that could do it up for straight cash? does this type of transaction happen?

i have heard that the 45/70's on the shelf don't carry the same 'jam' that they should also what would someone pay for some of this 'specialized' stuff for marlins?

thanks for the imput
 
I have a guide gun, and have had a 14 inch 870, and my vote would be to stay with what you have. A shotgun is much more versitile in the bush than a rifle for daily carry. Shot for birds, buckshot for critters, and slugs for anything bigger that might be a threat. (bears etc) It gives you more "options" so to speak. My 14 inch 870 with a bead, and Winchester Xpert 1 1/4 oz HP's shot 2.5 inch groups @ 50 yards. Plenty good for a defense/ close up hunting gun.
If it were me, I'd buy the marlin, and carry it when hunting season is closed, and defense is your guns main duty...
There are factory loads like the hornady lever revolution ammo that have more jam, and benifit from a new bullet design. Im going to give em a go when available, but Im not convinced the soft ballistic tip is actually going to do anything.
I just cant see something that soft not coming off at how many odd thousand RPM and with the heat generated past the speed of sound. I think the tip is a fad, and will likely not make it to target intact. Polymer tips are hard, and retain shape under stress, but these things are supposed to be soft. this soft mass accelerates at 0- 2050 fps in 22 inches, and its not going to deform, but is soft enough to bend, and not strike a primer? Yeah right.
but as far as factory ammo goes, they are claiming 2050 fps/3032 Ft lbs at the muzzle... A good factory alternative to handloading, and getting more jam.
but I still think the tip is purely cosmetic;);)
 
I have shot a grizzly at twenty yards with factory 45-70 ammo and I can't overstate how disappointed I was with the result(luckily he ran the other way). The 45-70 is a superior choice if you have access to fast non-expanding ammo otherwise stick with 12 gauge slugs. I wouldn't put too much trust in those either, but at least they're going a little faster.
 
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