You people have INFECTED me!

gonecountry

gonecountry

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Thats it I have officially caught the Big bore lever bug. And I blame it on all of you. Up until a few weeks ago I thought they were cool but then I just went on to other things. But then I happened upon the thread about owning both a 444marlin and a 45-70. well as I followed that thread I found myself spending hours searching and reading about them.

Now its all I can think about, When will I get one? How will I be able to afford one? etc, etc, etc. I even just bought a 270 about 3 weeks ago, I havent fired it yet and complete days go by without thinking about it. Whats wrong with me?

And to top it all off after all that reading I'm still undecided about what to get, there is so many choices. Several calibers, short barrrels, long barrels, blued, stainless, wood, wood with bedliner LOL. It just goes on and on. Im kinda leaning towards the 45-70 but I am wondering how much less power do the factory loads have compared to the 450marlin? I have read they are loaded lighter incase someone decides to stick them in an older weaker gun. Which I understand.

As of right now Im not reloading my own so I will not be able to bring them up as everyone has said is posible. On the other hand the amount of shooting I will be doing the factory loads should be suficient until I do start reloading my own. Which hopefully will be soon. Thanks Jon
 
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Git yourself a 45/70, you know you want one, decide whether you want a modern lever gun type 45/70 or old time singleshot using blackpowder and 500+gr. bullets. If you plan on using only smokeless, and some very heavy loads in the future..get a Ruger #1, more moderate smokeless loads and rain 'em down quick...get a Marlin levergun......Actually that's 3 diff. 45/70s your gonna need....start with shooting factory(light) ammo and save your brass, it's gonna be a long ride!!
 
Good for you :rockOn: .

Both these caliber will do the job, don't know about the 450marlin as I owe a Marlin 45-70 end love it :D , got my first critter (black bear) with it 2 weeks ago :cool: it hit hard.. Even factory ammo will do the job, just won't be at it's best but hey, a 400/405gr slow moving bullet still have a lot of punch within 100yds and recoil is really tolerable, might hit harder with the 450marlin.

What ever your choice, you'll like it.
 
Ok, I will come clean. I actually bought a Marlin .45/70 *gasp*
Gotta see what all the fuss is about ;)
So my opinion is to buy both...
 
It's one of the best infections to have, I too have the bug, but can't decide 444 or 45-70? But it will be an XLR whatever the hole in the end!!
 
Same here. After I saw the pic with the little girl holding that Marlin 45-70posted in another thread, I started to do the online research about it. Well, owing a lever gun is always on my mind as I probably watched too much lone star movies when I was young.

I will be getting the 1895G "GUIDE" STAINLESS on my next purchase. Such a beauty.
 
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To really see the true power and versatillity of the 45-70 you should reload. There are custom loads available from folks such as Garret, however, roll your own shows the true range of abilities.

That said, the black powder equivilent loads offered as factory loads will take down most anything you'd be likely to encounter on this continent.
 
Hi!, I used to had a marlin 1895 with the staight stock, 1972 production mdl, shoot a lot of the big load with it, Kill my first whitetail with it too. But a bubble hit my brain ans sold it, with my ruger 1....!!!! Just get a new 1895 Cowboy, Haven't try yet, but we let you know about it. These Big bore are lot of fun, for me the 45-70 is hard to beat, especially because we can make so many different load with them, but be assure that the good old factory will do everything that caliber can do. Good choice available. Reloading just make it more fun and a real bruiser.

Yves
 
45 70 better way to go

Hi all

I went with the 45-70 since my father has the 444 and I have used it to take a couple of deer with it. I like the 45-70 better for the more choices of leads that can be used. Currently have the guide gun in the take-down version that was completed by Jennings in B.C. and the cowboy model that I only shoot cast leads out of it. Also the 45-70 is easier to use the 21/2" 4-10 shotshell out of it for chickens. It has been the only caliber that I have used that has knocked a moose down and stayed down with a lung shot from all that I have shot, and I have used from a 30-06 to the 375 H&H.
k
:wave:
 
If you're not a reloader (start reloading!), then the 450 marlin is your only real choice. Both the 444 and 45-70 REQUIRE handloads to meet their potential.

But, with these big bores, it doesn't take many boxes of ammo to make reloading economically feasable
 
You will own a Guide gun soon, and a pile of reloading stuff.

Eventually your bench will be cluttered with melting pots and wheel weights, and 50 gallon drums of H4198.
 
Don't waste your time with all this ghey lever action John Wayne mumbo-jumbo. :rolleyes:

Buy a CDL in 35 Whelen and get a proper big game rifle!! :dancingbanana:


.
 
Oh yes the reloading is definatly in the works. I just gotta finish my upstairs, so I can have a good place to set up. The 45-70 still has most of my attention right now but if either of the others pop up and it seems like a good deal you never know what I may come home with LOL
 
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