45-70

[Wet Dog]

I traded a guy a gun I wasn't using for a gun he wasn't using. I got a Marlin 1895 in 45-70. I was always intrigued by the big bore but also a little fearful of the punshment they have a reputation for. Now I'm wondering what the heck took me so long to get one of these!

I've been doing a lot of experiementing with it. 350 gr Hornaday JFP, 300 to 405 gr Aardvark, Oregon Trail Laser-Cast, homecast, TRUESHOT 430g... using AA5744, IMR 4198, 2400, and Red Dot powders. From Mild to borderline wild I've been shooting them as fast as I can reload em... Need to get more brass... Only 60 cases gets shot up pretty quick.

The accuracy is very impressive with most loads. The recoil is just part of the fun. I'm addicted. I've even purchased a second 45-70, a Marlin 1895 GS that I plan to make into a Psuedo Lever-Scout for hunting here on the Wet Side of the Cascades.

Best Jacketed bullet so far: Hornady 350 gr JFP. Literally a one hole cartride at 50 yards with open sights.

Best Cast Bullet. The TRUESHOT 430 gr FP GC pushed to ~1500 fps over IMR 4198 is an easy shooting very accurate round.

Best Reduced Load so far, 11 gr of Red Dot under a 405gr Oregon Trail FP (www.gmdr.com) , 1036fps avg. mild recoil and report, 1-3" groups at 100 yards, <1.25" groups at 50 yards, SD of 7.34. Burns clean. Great fun.

http://bigbored.onfinite.com/

[scr83jp]

When I was shooting a 45-70 in the 70&#39;s my favorite powder was IMRs SR 4759 used some dacron over powder with light loads to keep the powder close to the primer, 405gr linotype cast bullet from a Lee aluminum mold was very accurate.

[jiminpa]

just don&#39;t buy a ruger #1 in 45-70!! i sold my marlin after i got the ruger.i can really load it hot,almost to a 458 mag level.with this rifle you don&#39;t need a second shot!!!!

[larrysogla]

I have a Marlin 45-70 rifle(22" barrel and my buddy has a Marlin 45-70 guide gun(18" barrel). Amazingly, these Marlins will produce 2"-3" groups at 100 yds. all day long with Garrett SuperHardCast 420 grn. +P ammo. This 420 grn. +P ammo will hit 3" high at 100 yds. and will zero at 150 yds. and hit -7" low at 200 yds. Of course practical considerations and real world hunting conditions limit the hunting range to 200 yds. but within 200 yds. they will sledge hammer big game. The Marlin 45-70 loaded appropriately will take care of any big game in North America. I do not plan on going on any Brown/Kodiak/Grizzly bear hunt(I want to eat what I harvest, except coyote and other varmints), but if I were fishing in Grizz/Brown bear country, I would be slinging a Marlin 45-70 or holstering a .44 Mag. revolver loaded with Garrett +P ammo. Those Big Bores loaded with penetrator rounds in +P ammo are confidence builders in life saving situations. You just know they will SMASH bones and keep on going. &#39;Nuff said.
http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-ani.gif

[Widux]

In about 91 I gave up dog sled racing and went to horses for hunting( dumb or what?)-traded a buddy a 44 mag S&W for his 1895 45/70 and had my gunsmith -port it, shorten barrel, put peep sight on and hand checker it- with Arctic finish-- man it&#39;s a beaut- it was my go to gun when hunting on horses when you don&#39;t where or when you&#39;ll meet MR Bruin. Now I use it mostly for black bears over bait and lend it two others for same- it has taken 5 more bears in past 4 yrs. Now working up new loads for hunt in MB next spring.
as for fishing in Grizz land we always told cheechakos to file off sight of their 44&#39;s so when bear put it where sun don&#39;t shine it wouldn&#39;t hurt as much!

[Wet Dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (scr83jp @ Jul 16 2006, 12:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=726865)</div>
When I was shooting a 45-70 in the 70&#39;s my favorite powder was IMRs SR 4759 used some dacron over powder with light loads to keep the powder close to the primer, 405gr linotype cast bullet from a Lee aluminum mold was very accurate.[/b]

I picked up a can of the SR 4759 a few months back and I&#39;ve been very pleased with the results. 28 grains in under a 405gr cast bullet gets me just under 1500 fps, <1" groups at 50 yards (with open sights) and it burns very clean too.

Thanks for the tip! I now have 5 lbs of the stuff! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbs-up-ani.gif http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif

[billt]

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/8449/marlin4570guidegunmk6.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1364/newgunphotos007aj2.jpg

This is my Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70. It&#39;s the ported model. I like the Remington 405 Gr. Jacketed Soft Points with IMR 3031 the best. For cast I shoot the Lyman 552 Gr. Gas Check cast hard from Linotype. They hit like sledghammers. (Those are the loads shown with the BFR). This gun goes nice with my 2 Magnum Research BFR&#39;s. One is in .45-70 as well, and the other is in .500 S&W Magnum. Between these 3 guns, I manage to toss a lot of lead! Bill T.

[arizona hunter]

I know I don&#39;t need a 45-70 (or 450) but if I got one I would like that fancy looking 1895XLR w/ SS barrel. I guess If I hnted black bear in N. MN with my cousing that might be a good excuse, right? Never mind that my 30.06 works just fine.