.45-70 Recommendation

keithpip · #1 12-12-2011, 02:04 PM

Back in the '70s my brother owned a .45-70 lever action rifle. I believe he took several deer with it. I've been seriously considering buying a .45-70 for myself, the problem is that I have no idea if anyone is even making a rifle in this caliber. Does anybody out there own a .45-70 that they could recommend? It doesn't have to be a lever gun. I would use it primarily for deer hunting. Thanks.

Keith

PDL · #2 12-12-2011, 02:30 PM

Both Winchester and Marlin make lever action rifles in .45-70. Ruger has single shot rifles also in .45-70. You can also find a number of 'Sharps' replicas.

I picked up an 1895 Marlin GBL before Remington took over production of the Marlins. There've been some negative comments about fit, finish, and function of the newer Marlins.

You'd enjoy the .45-70. It can be loaded from mild to wild. And it's effective on most American game.

Sprefix · #3 12-12-2011, 02:42 PM

My .45-70 of choice is a Browning 1886 Saddle Ring Carbine. It is very smooth and has a ladder sight. I enjoy shooting a 2'x3' steel gong at 300 yards with a 405 grain hardcast at @2100fps. This is fairly easy even offhand.

Alpo · #4 12-12-2011, 02:46 PM

I would recommend the Browning 1866, if you are looking for a repeater, and the Ruger #1 otherwise.

I had a Marlin 1895. I don't know what it is about that gun, but it just plain HURTS to shoot.

I've got two Sharpses, a Rollin' Block, a Trapdoor, a #1 and a Browning, and none of them kick anywhere near as bad as that Marlin did. I sold it off quickly.

A10 · #5 12-12-2011, 02:51 PM

I've got a Marlin guide gun and I really like it . It's only painful to shoot when I'm firing the 430 and 500 grain Buffalo Bore hot loads. Standard .405 Remingtons and even the 400 grain CorBon FP PEN are fine. Lots of good articles on the web about folks taking all kinds of dangerous game with these.

tomtheturner · #6 12-12-2011, 04:32 PM

I like my Marlins. Have a 45/70 Guide Gun, and it is really a great woods, brush gun with it's short barrel. I had to get used to its recoil, but it didn't take long, and now it is no longer a consideration. I also have a Marlin 1895cb 45/70 with a 26" octagonal barrel. It will be a lot better for the long shots than the Guide gun.

I don't think that Marlin {Remington} is running their lever action manufacturing line right now, which I don't recommend one of their new ones, over an older used one, anyway. I got one of the new Remington made 1894SS in .357 magnum, and the fit & finish does not compare to my older ones. I have three other older 1894SS models, along with the Guide gun to compare the stainless with, and the new Remington just isn't as good. Also, the front sight was not installed properly from the factory, which broke it, and I had to get a replacement. I will say that their Customer Service was top-notch, and I got a new front sight quickly, with no hassle.

I like all my Marlin levers, and my 45/70 Guide Gun is my favorite. Good Luck with whatever you end up choosing.

Best Wishes,
Tom

WoodsCustom · #7 12-12-2011, 04:44 PM

I've got all kinds of them. Marlins (1895 and 1985 Cowboy), Sharps, Rolling Blocks, Ruger #1's, you name it.

I like them all, shoot, you can even get a TC Pro-Hunter in 45-70. There are MANY choices out there and it will all depend on your buget. If your not picky, you can find a Marlin's for $500, Handi Rifles for WAY less than that. Rugers are $800+, Sharps (Shiloh) are $2000 or so. So it just depends on what your wallet can stand.

I purchased a 1978 Marlin 1895 45-70 (Highly Desireable, no hammer Block Safety) last Friday for $550 in the local Classifieds. If you do get a Marlin, Make sure it says (JM) on the left side of the barrel right in front of the receiver. That lets you know it's an ORIGINAL Marlin.

WC

Stevie · #8 12-12-2011, 06:43 PM

I own the .45-70...an 1881 Trapdoor rifle...you cannot hot-rod it..and it's sort of long and ungainly to tote around...but it is fun to shoot.

Raider · #9 12-12-2011, 07:16 PM

+1 on the marlin Guide gun. Just be sure its made by Marlin. 5 shots cloverleaf at 100 yards.

Charlie

keith44spl · #10 12-12-2011, 07:18 PM

I shoot a Winchester 1886 (reproduction) takedown custom cut to 20 inches.

Tough son of a gun...

Su Amigo,
Dave

judge · #11 12-12-2011, 08:57 PM

Bought the Marlin when they first came out - fine rifle, very accurate. Put on a Pachmayr recoil pad, dumped the front & rear sight. Installed a Williams adjustable peep sight, and a flat post front sight. I'm too used to the sight picture of revolvers. With the post sight at 6'Oclock hold and poi the same, it would lay them right in there at 100yrds on a bullseye target. The recoil pad is a must for me.

michael thornton · #12 12-12-2011, 09:04 PM

i have a 1878 browning thats a fine shooter took a 8 pt with it saturday!

rburg · #13 12-12-2011, 09:29 PM

I like 45-70s. I've got a couple of the Brownings, B78s. Both have what I like to call "recoil absorbing steel butt plates." They don't work very well at that task. One I've never fired, its a bi-centennial edition and it has the nicest wood I've ever owned on a gun. The Browning folks really knew how to pick it out and finish it. The one I shoot has a scope put on it.

I selected a 1-4 Leupold for the task. Its got long eye relief so you can't crawl the stock enough to get whacked. When I first bought the gun I was undecided about the scope. Then I found the BiCentennial and figured it needed to remain fixed sight. With the scope on the other, its about as accurate as I can test. Over the hood of a truck or using a picnic table, it meets my accuracy needs. Next time you see a Miller Lite can, look at the shield shaped logo. From a rest it can but an entire box of 20 into that shield at 100 yards. The gun has more than enough built in accuracy.

And someplace in my dungeon, I've got one of the Montana Centennial 1886 reproductions. Its a Browning with some unneeded gold inlay. On the plus side, it shoots good, too. The only downside of the long lever gun is its heavy. To hunt with it, you almost need a wheeled carriage.

Which brings us to another point. Bolt guns, lever guns, and even pumps all have a big drawback. The action is 6-8" long. Then the barrel starts. Folks who hunt with the repeaters pay a penalty when they carry those long toms around the forest. The single shots, and specifically the falling block like the Brownings save almost all of that wasted length. If you watch the old guys with their woods guns, they really value the short barrel versions. They out of necessity trade off the velocity of their guns to obtain the short length. Those with the Brownings (B78 or the newer 1885) have it both ways. We get the woods handling along with the long barrel.

Most people with book knowledge will tell you the 45-70 is a short range woods gun. They even suggest it has a range of 100 yards, maybe 125. But back in the calibers heyday, they regularly shot it at 1000 yards. Its not real hard, you've just got to learn how to figure the well known bullet drop tables. Just for fun, shoot yours at the longer ranges. It helps to have a spotter. Call your holdover (in feet) then have the spotter tell you how far over or under you are. You can even see them bounce at longer ranges. Sometimes you'll see the bullet come back up for 3 or 4 skips before vanishing.

You can also use heavy bullets in them (as if 405 wasn't enough). I believe it was Sierra that put out Grand Slam bullets for the 458. Somewhere in my piles of trash is a nice box of 20 of them. They're tungsten solids. Able to penetrate tall buildings at a single bound. Just like DU!

Superflywimpy · #14 12-12-2011, 09:48 PM

I have 3 45-70 rifle's. The Marlin is hard to beat for the money. You can find them anywhere for about 4-500 bucks. Get one that has the ballard style rifling. My micro groove is very picky when shooting lead reloads. With the price of .458 bullets, reloading makes alot of sense. I love shooting 300 grain jacketed bullets at around 2000 fps and will drop 14 inches at 200 yrds. Plenty of punch for what ever you want to hunt. Bear ,you will have to go heavier ,405-500 gr. But shooting those will leave you bruised. What ever rifle you get ,invest in a good recoil pad,get the best you can buy. It will help you to shoot more and get good with your rifle. Single shots are nice,but lever guns will afford you extra follow up shots with out fumbling to load like with a single shot. My other 2 rifles are a 1873 springfield trapdoor and a Navy Arms buffalo carbine which I have not shot yet. It's a rolling block with a 18 inch barrel. Can't wait to try that one. Good luck in your search. Superfly

Andy Griffith · #15 12-12-2011, 10:15 PM

I too like the Marlins, as I do own in the .45-70's little brother the .444 Marlin. The .45-70 is extremely versatile, and can be loaded down or up to serve your purpose.

The one thing that I can say, is take a look at the new Rossi lever action rifles in .45-70. One of the fellows I know that bear hunts with dogs on the NC side got one in stainless and says he likes it so much better than his Marlin- because it is much lighter, the action is very smooth and shoots good.

It's definitely worth a look.

Here's a big long thread on it over at the Marlin site...

RD's Rossi RG4570B

Sprefix · #16 12-12-2011, 11:10 PM

I'm not a fan of the locking system in a Marlin. No offense meant to the Marlin owners out there. The Browning design is heads above in my opinion. If you were to shoot a Marlin and just pull the trigger without holding the lever, the bolt will come back enough to kick the lever open. My 1886 is locked tight when the lever is closed. Yes, who is going to do that, but consider this. The blowback pressure is trying to open the bolt every time it fires. What if you had an overloaded round? Where would the bolt go? The Browning design has two very robust lugs that slide up and lock into place. That bolt will go darn near anywhere but back into your face if it blew up. My Marlin .444 Outfitter was a decent rifle and responsible for deer on Kodiak Island, but the action malady allowed me to turn it loose to a person that would care for the design more than I did. Marlin has been around a long time with little issues to speak of. I just think it is very hard to best J.M. Brownings' levergun designs. Again, JMO.

quneur · #17 12-13-2011, 04:18 AM

I'm thinking 45-70 would be overkill for deer. Guides use it for AK grizzlies or moose. 30-30 is about the perfect woods deer caliber, IMO.

WoodsCustom · #18 12-13-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quneur

I'm thinking 45-70 would be overkill for deer. Guides use it for AK grizzlies or moose. 30-30 is about the perfect woods deer caliber, IMO.

To each their own. I use a 45-70, 45-90, and 45-110 for deer.

I even bump up to a 50 and 58 Cal during Muzzleloader season.

WC

walnutred · #19 12-13-2011, 11:05 AM

Having owned single shot and lever action 45-70s of various makes over the years, if I was looking for a 45-70 now I’d try and find a bolt action. Gibbs made 45-70s using Enfield actions and Hoffmann and others made them using the Siamese Mauser action. For years I’ve contemplated making a left handed rifle using the M95 Hungarian straight pull action. Maybe 45-70 or 348 Winchester.

BearBio · #20 12-13-2011, 11:14 AM

I own several:
1886 Winchester (original) in 45-70
1886 Winchester (modern) in 45-90
Sharps repro
Trapdoor (repro)-sold
1895 Marlin (1970's vintage) -sold

The Marlin did kick a lot but I was young then. Memory failure? The newer 1886 (26") is heavy but nice. Trapdoor, Sharps, & orig 1886-I use black powder loads. Recoil was BAD with the trapdoor carbine.

Take home: I'd buy the 1886 carbine BUT I'd try the Marlin again, before buying.

Gary · #21 12-13-2011, 11:30 AM

I have a Guide Gun in 45-70 with a Leupold M8-4x scope. I really enjoy it. There is something very rewarding about shooting a large caliber round. I did buy a PAST recoil vest to save wear and tear on my shoulder. It is also an easy round to reload for.

kennyb · #22 12-13-2011, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodsCustom

I've got all kinds of them. Marlins (1895 and 1985 Cowboy), Sharps, Rolling Blocks, Ruger #1's, you name it.

I like them all, shoot, you can even get a TC Pro-Hunter in 45-70. There are MANY choices out there and it will all depend on your buget. If your not picky, you can find a Marlin's for $500, Handi Rifles for WAY less than that. Rugers are $800+, Sharps (Shiloh) are $2000 or so. So it just depends on what your wallet can stand.

I purchased a 1978 Marlin 1895 45-70 (Highly Desireable, no hammer Block Safety) last Friday for $550 in the local Classifieds. If you do get a Marlin, Make sure it says (JM) on the left side of the barrel right in front of the receiver. That lets you know it's an ORIGINAL Marlin.

WC

thanks for the information as to the (jm) and no safety...i recently purchased mine for $475 in 98% i did not know this...it was unfired when i purchased....i love it!