I’m browsing but thinking about a mares leg in 45/70 maybe a build?

For a 'build', unless you put a 16" barrel on it, it would be an illegal cut down rifle. The only way you could legally build one with a barrel shorter than 16" would be:
1. to find an action that has never been assembled into a rifle. I doubt any of the lever action manufactures will sell you a new action without the stock and barrel.
or
2. start with an BATFE-exempt pre-1899 antique action

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

In 44 mag or 45colt I guess too much red tape to get one in 45/70.

Shoot one before you buy.

A friend if mine refers to choppers as ruined motorcycles. I have a feeling I know what he would call a mares leg.....

I'm sure they are fun for a while, but I don't see one holding my attention for long. Just my opinion.

The guy in the video, he mentions shooting a gong but I didn’t hear any metallic rings or such. Sounds like he missed? But maybe I just zoned out after I heard the word “zombie”.

I would rather carry a long barreled revolver.

Caliber doesn't matter. A cut down rifle is a cut down rifle.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

I have one in 44 magnum. Its fun to shoot as a novelty but provides no real purpose to hunt or carry. In pa., it's licensed as a handgun.

cgt4570,
He is saying he will just buy a legal 44mag/45colt that are readily available instead of building or holding out for a 45/70

I think buying one in .44 or .45 is a smart move. It is already classified as a handgun by the ATF. Remember, Steve McQueen's "Mare's Leg" was not a .45-70 even though he carried .45-70 rounds in his belt for show.

In the current political climate I think if you want one get it now. With the number of AR-style "handguns" out there the "gummint" and the haters are going to be looking for things to ban. Rifles that are born as handguns will soon be in their sights, you just watch and see.

A factory made mares leg is a handgun. You cannot change it, like replacing the handle with a full size shoulder stock. Will be an illegal SBR. Can't cut down a full size rifle's shoulder stock and barrel to make a mares leg. Illegal too.

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Just a shooter

FWIW I've got the Rossi in .357 and it's fun gun.

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BCCI Life Member #2068

I have a full length black leather duster perfect for a mares leg ccw carry?

Another solution in search of a problem?

I agree that it would lose it's novelty attraction in a short amount of time. I have a factory Lever gun with a 16.25" barrel ( full stock) in .35 Remington that is an absolute blast to play with. But it still hunts good too. (1963 Marlin Maruader) Unfortunately my phone is not allowing me to upload the photos right now.

I'm thinking about taking one of my 30-30's down to the same size, just because it handles so well. The ability to shoulder it is important to me. I admit, a mare's leg looks badazz, and Steve McQueen made it work. "As seen on TV"

You could apply for a Form 1, pay your 200 bucks for a Tax Stamp and then shorten the barrel. It wouldn't be something I would be interested in doing, I will stick to other SBR projects, but it is possible to legally build one.

^^^^what he said. Looks cool, but that's about it, IMO. I read one Mare's Leg evaluation that said, regardless of how it's created, you're taking a handy lever action carbine (such as a '92 Winch/clone) and converting it into a clumsy handgun.

My '94 16" bbl Winch "Trapper" is also a keeper.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. And the Henry Mare's Leg is in the $1,000 neighborhood!?

Shoot it first is good advice,had a Marlin lever gun in .44 Mag that kicked like a mule , worse than a shotgun.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

A useless firearm...........

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S&W Accumulator

I'd hate to pull the trigger on one in .45-70 . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Go buy a 460 or 500 S&W and be done with it. Close to the same ballistics and designed to hold onto and the recoil going into your arms, then your body. A Mares leg in 45-70 would be difficult to aim fire and brutal to hold onto without holding the stock to your shoulder. Holding it to your shoulder would be brutal too. A light 45-70 rifle isn't a fun gun. Friend of mine had a light single shot with a steel butt plate. Painful. Look at somebody's arms move firing a 460 or 500.

It could be done, but, shouldn't.

Especially the second time, when you know what you’re in for.

^^^^what he said! I discovered this when shooting a buddy's .44M Marlin carbine. Ouch! Seems the straight-line stock with narrow buttplate is the reason. Who would have thought a .44M caliber carbine would kick worse than a .44M handgun?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Here in WA it is illegal to carry a loaded long-gun in a vehicle, so the so-called useless handguns have some purpose. An AR15 cannot be carried loaded in the car, but an AR15 pistol can be.

As to the mare's leg, I enjoy mine in .44 magnum.

Attached Images

Lever2.jpg (183.6 KB, 36 views)

Henry has one ready made in several calibers, including .44 mag.
Ready to roll and no legal issues unless you are in California or one of those
other gun unfriendly states.

I'll stick to my Winchester Trapper in .357 vs a Mare's leg ....... and my 20 gauge Mossberg 510 youth model (3+1) vs it's Shockwave.........in either case I won't look as cooool but will be able to hit my target beyond 5-10 yds.

THIS IS AMAZING!!!

Simply amazing. I don't quite know how these people in power figure this stuff out.

Crazy laws i can own a full auto Thompson but can’t own a semi auto.

If you really want a .45-70 handgun, a Thompson-Center would be a viable and legal option. But it's not a repeater nor a Mare's Leg. Every time I see those MLs at a gun show I have to wonder who would want one and why. Same for those pump shotguns with the sort-of pistol grips.

BTW, having a pre-1899 cartridge rifle or shotgun doesn't mean that you can chop the barrel to less than 18" (shotgun) or 16" (rifle) and still be legal. It will still be a NFA fiirearm unless in an obsolete caliber for which ammo is no longer available.

Mares Legs are cool looking but serve little practical purposes. Too short to use as a rifle and to big to use as a pistol so it's sort of betwixt and between. A nice conversation piece and cool if you want to try out for the Josh Randall part - lol....

Clearly you've never jumped out of the car with one with a purpose. They can be a decision changer . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Nope, and I don't plan to.

One of my friend bought one in .357,shot once and bought a full lenght stock;he can now hit what he aims it at.
In 45-70;I hate to think what it'll do to your anatomy.I got a 13# Sharps and a 7# Ruger no 1.The little Ruger loaded with 425gr at 1800fps will cause you to visit your dentist if you shoot it with your mouth not tightly close;that thing will really rattle your fillings loose!

Too much Wanted Dead or Alive Josh Randall made it look like it was easy to hit his target. I agree with others try before you buy. It is at best a novelty, if it were legal to build one from a rifle I might just for nostalgia's sake build one out of a 22 lever action. A 45-70 would just plain hurt to shoot unless you are a reloader.

It IS legal. You just gotta pay a 200 dollar tax for the privilege.

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I always take precautions