I am wanting a lever gun, and it will be my first. I would prefer a big bore, right away I have been looking at the 45/70, but with reading I am finding that there is also the 444 Marlin, and the 450 Marlin.

Today I was talking with a friend of mine and he said to not rule out the .45 Colt.

So, with the above calibers what are the plus's, or minus's of them? I know the 45/70 has been around forever and is tried and true.

I am wanting a guide gun with a shorter barrel. It will be used for deer, bear, hogs 2 legged threats if the need arises ect...

Whatever caliber I get I will reload for it, so the availability of loaded ammo on a store shelf is not so much a concern to me (but brass is)

I am sure more questions will follow, but at the moment I am curious about what caliber I should be looking at.

Thanks for the help.

Checkout this thread !
http://forums.accuratereloadin...3/m/2861098911/p/154

Lots of info on the " 45/70 "

PAPI

Well I suppose it does depend on what your going to hunt with your lever gun! The 30-30 will kill deer as good as anything in the woods but I like using my 444 Marlin for such hunting.

The 45/70 lever gun with hand loaded hardcast bullets will take on many species of animals including some of those dangerous types. The 450 Marlin is for those who don't want to handload.

Then you have the .357 caliber and the .44 magnum, along with the .35-Remington too.

Go with the 45-70 it will do anything you want to do. In the Marlin 1895 it is a slick light gun to carry. You can scope it if you want and they are very accurate. You can load light practice loads with cast bullets for plinking and heavy loads for big game. Lots of bullets available in this caliber. It is a much better round than the 444 or 450. I have hunted with a 45-70 since the mid 1970s and killed lots of deer,bear and hogs with this caliber. It hammers everything with the right loads.

Sam

Here's another vote for the Marlin 1895, chambered in .45/70. It'll do anything that a .450 Marlin will do, and ammunition/cartridge cases are readily available.

Also, from what I heard, the .450 Marlin is no longer being manufactured and cartridge cases are not terribly easy to come by either.

Now the difference between an 1895 and a Guide Gun? I'd suggest handling both and see what works better for you. I had a Guide Gun (2 actually, one .450 and the other a .45/70). I ended up selling both, then buying the 1895. I just thought the Guide Gun was a little too light in the muzzle.

quote:

Originally posted by G.Hansen:
Don't torture yourself... Your search is over... get a Savage M99EG, in the tried and true .300 Savage and you're done. It will handle anything you put in your sights.

I did some searching around here about the 300 Savage but my skills are lacking and I didnt find much.

You mind enlightening me on this one?

Reason I ask, I was just in our pawn shop in town and they have a model 99 for sale. It looked like it was in good condition, (cobwebs growing in the barrel from what I could tell....) with a scope.

$425

After looking on Gunbroker I am thinking it is a pretty good deal, I am seeing most of them going for around a bill more.

Can you enlighten me on this rifle and cartridge?

If I go look at this rifle closer what are some things to look for? I have yet to buy a used rifle, only new.

Jeez, it's not terribly hard to find information on the .300 Savage. I simply used Yahoo.com and typed in 300 Savage. I got a ton of information on the rifle, the cartridge, ballistics as well as several that are for sale.

Try that and see what you find!

Stick with Marlins. In big bore the 45/70 is likely your best bet. I have the 35 Remington, 45 Colt, 44 Mag, 444, 45/70 and 450 in lever actions (all Marlins).

Depending on what your need is you can load the 45/70 down to a plinking round or up to an elephant getter (literally).

Friend biggenius,

Like 1895, I am partial ta Marlin lever guns, but the John Marlin company aint no more. A heap a folks iz mitey skeptikle of the Marlingtons. [The big company that owns Remington bought Marlin 'n the QC aint satisfied folks yet.] However, I am partial ta Savage long guns too. I got a Savage "embarrasser"......in case one of them "all hat, no cattle" fellas looks down hiz nose at mine cuz he owns a high dollar .308.

I am mitey pleased with my Marlin 336 in 30-30. It will kill all the things you aim ta kill, cept mebbe a big bear. I know folks have kilt bears with 30-30, but I know plenty who want a bit more knock down in case they come upon a really big bear.

Time wuz ever dang pawn shop had a half dozen 30-30's fer $125, but not so any more. I seen a new one in the Sam Walton store the other day....fer $379 plus tax, but it wuz a Marlington. The action looked kinda "scruffy", but it mite be a fine gun.

30-30 store bought ammo is cheap, but likely ta rise az our dollar finds out jest what folks think of this paper money printing.

regards
bearridge


English Bob: Well, actually, what I heard was that you fell off your horse, drunk of course, and that you broke your bloody neck.
Little Bill Daggett: I heard that one myself, Bob.  Hell, I even thought I was dead 'til I found out it was just that I was in Nebraska.

Having fired a zillion rounds in both the 30-30 M336 and 45-70 M1895 and reload for both, I will give you my opinion: Yes.

The 45-70 Guide Gun is the very best packing rifle I've ever owned. The cartridge is easy to reload and the power level is respectable for a stubby lever gun. However, it does have a lot of recoil and that means you have to put in some time to gain proficiency. If you don't reload, the ammo selection is terrible and the cost is nutty. You don't need premium bullets, as a great big chunk of slow moving lead is lethal on everything from Great Bears to Weasels.

The 30-30 is a more practical hunting tool. Minor recoil, so you can do the "half a box for sight in and half for hunting" thing. Ammo is cheap for the non-reloader. Cartridge/Carbine combo is lethal on everything from Elk to chickens. For the reloader it is cheaper for components, but the brass has to be trimmed often when loading it towards max.

Marlin makes both in Stainless, which I really like. I have them both topped with Williams WRGS receiver peeps and Firesight fronts. I think it is silly to lard a handy packing carbine with a scope.

The 45-70 makes a big hole in a critter. The 30-30 makes a little hole. Both kill efficiently. If I had shoulder problems, I would go with the 30-30. But I don't

I grew up using a 300 savage and have a real soft spot for them, its a fine cartridge. But frankly the 308 is better. They are nearly identical and the 308 was based on the 300, the biggest difference being that the neck and shoulder of the cases are slightly different. The 308 is better for reloading what with the longer neck. It is also loaded at higher pressures, but you can use 300 savage data if you want to load it down. They are that close to being the same, Ive done it.

These are more of a modern twist on a lever gun and typically have a flatter trajectory then others mentioned. You need to decide if you want that or more of a classic lever.

For bear and hogs Id suggest the 45-70 or 444 of those mentioned in a classic Winchester or marlin design..

Another one you might consider is a 358 Win. I have one in a BLR and I think its the finest woods cartridge ever made. I love mine.. Excellent lever gun for Bear and hogs..

G-luck..

If your looking for a big bore you might want to look around and see if you can get your hands on a 348 Winchester.
I have a model 71 and find it to be a fine rifle.

I just bought my first 45/70 Marlin ,i want to use the 405gr lead bullet wondered if anyone can tell me the bullet mould to get that suits this rifle the best ? i dont really want to experiment alot,just something that works right off if some of the experienced people here could help would be good Thankyou

quote:

Originally posted by G.Hansen:
Soooooo, biggenius...

I think the only real answer that can be drawn from all of this information is... that you need more than one lever action!

Just curious, where has all of this lead you to?

A Savage 99 in .308 (clip-fed)!!

Still looking.....

I checked out that m99 out closer and the barrel was pitted to crap, so I ran away.

I am keeping my eyes open yet. My local gun shop is going to get a 1895GBL in for me to check out when he gets his next shipment in.

Around here levers are hard to come by, and when the shops get one they do not last for more than a day.

I am still keeping my eyes open. I prefer to buy local over online like Gunbroker.

As of now I am leaning towards a 45/70. I already have a 30-06, so getting another 30 cal would be fine in the future, but not at the moment. I can use the 06 for deer if need be. Whereas a 45/70 I can take any were in this country with me and know it will get the job done.

I saw a very nice "middle of the road" pre-buy out Marlin at the Boise Gun Show today. Stainless, laminated stock, 26" barreled 35 Remington. Gentleman wanted $500 for it. 98%.

Rich

Well, I ended up getting my first Lever gun.

It is a 1895 Guide Gun in 45/70

It is a pre Remington, with 30 rounds threw it. It has about everything from Wild West Guns on it, (trigger, large lever, Ghost Ring sight's, Bear Proof Extractor, and a Scout Mount) It came with the empty cases, along with 3 full box's of Leverlution ammo.

Have not had a chance to shoot it yet.......

very good choice!

It's a very good choice. Now you'll have to get a .30-30 Marlin, then another .45/70 but this time in an 1895XL, then.....

quote:

Originally posted by biggenius:
Well, I ended up getting my first Lever gun.

It is a 1895 Guide Gun in 45/70

It is a pre Remington, with 30 rounds threw it. It has about everything from Wild West Guns on it, (trigger, large lever, Ghost Ring sight's, Bear Proof Extractor, and a Scout Mount) It came with the empty cases, along with 3 full box's of Leverlution ammo.

Have not had a chance to shoot it yet.......

Well...

That sounds real nice...

Good choice!

You will love it

Buy some Buffalo Bore ammo and see how well she shoots. Get ready for a little wallop!
Save up and but a Browning 71 in 348 Win. Nice gun as well.