45-70 is perfect. I've hunted with one since the early 70's and killed tons of deer with it. I love the 405 Remington bullet loaded to about 1800 fps. It hammers everything you shoot with it.
Now if you decide you want an older 1895 Marlin pre safety I have two that are like new that I will part with. PM me if you want one.

Sam

My current (they change fairly often) lever action hunting rifles include ones chambered for the following cartridges:

- .25-35 Winchester (M'94)
- .30-30 Winchester (Mossberg)
- .303 Savage (Sav M'99)
- .32-40 Winchester (M'94)
- .35 Remington (M336 Marlin)
- .356 Winchester (M'94 Big Bore)
- .358 Winchester (BLR)
- .375 Winchester (Marlin 336)
- .38-55 (M'94)
- .444 Marlin (M444 Marlin)
- .45-70 Government (Browning M'86)

Additionally, some of my prior deer/bear hunting lever guns included ones chambered for:

- .22 High Power (Sav 99)
- .219 Zipper (Marlin 336)
- .250-3000 Savage (Sav M99)
- .300 Savage (Sav M99)
- .303 British (M95 Win)
- .308 Winchester (BLR)
- .32 Winchester Special (M'94)
- .33 Winchester (M'86)
- .348 Winchester (M-71)
- .35 Winchester (M'95 Carb)

And there are doubtless others which have slipped my mind for the moment.

Anyway, based on my experiences with those rifles, my number one choice for the use you describe would be another .33 Winchester. It would not be a Marlin, though...it'd be a Winchester Model '86 Extra-Lightweight Carbine.

Nothing wrong with the Marlins (I actually prefer them), and a guy could build a .33 on the Marlin M1895 action, but he might have to stick with short bullets, which would not be my selection.

Having said that, I would quickly add that any one of them from (and including) the .30-30 to the .45-70 would do the job well in the hands of a competent user, though my second choice for my own woods deer/black bear use would be a toss up between the .356 Winchester and the .375 Winchester. Both of them can be found in rifles which were made by Marlin.

My fourth choice (for me only) and one of the easiest to find is the .35 Remington chambered by Marlin.

My own current Marlin .35 Rem is a M336 made in 1954, in NRA Exc.+ condition, and not drilled or tapped for a scope. It WAS factory tapped for a Redfield and/or Lyman micro-adjustable receiver sight. It has a Redfield on it as we speak.



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All of you " 45/70 " fans, should take a look at the " Bullet Testing "
Lots of great info .. !
http://forums.accuratereloadin...43/m/2861098911/p/19

L.M.

35 Remington

Its way under rated.
Very accurate, mild recoil, good penetration, and a good blood trail.
I still have the Marlin I bought in '74 good gun.

quote:

Originally posted by PAPI:
All of you " 45/70 " fans, should take a look at the " Bullet Testing "
Lots of great info .. !
http://forums.accuratereloadin...43/m/2861098911/p/19

L.M.

Some more recent tests with some new bullets designed to run through the Marlins as well, in 45/70.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...3/m/2861098911/p/154

Michael

I love my little 444P Outfitter, which is basically the 18.5" guide gun in .444. Love the round, and the short carbine. This is my brush and hog gun, just can't make up my mind on a sight. Saving for a ghost ring, I think.

I personally would use a .45-70 because that's waht I have.



But to be honest, I think a .30-30 is the right tool for what you're looking to do. Load up with some 170 grain soft points and you'll be able to whack any black bear. If you need to go long range then you can use some of Hornady's FTX loads.

A 30-30 or 35-Remington will kill any deer on this planet if your within shooting range and place that bullet in the vital area.

The .444 Marlin is bigger caliber, faster and flatter trajectory but it also kicks more to your shoulder and face. It is my favorite woods gun for deer or wild hogs. The 45/70 is over-kill for deer but makes a great dark timber gun for elk or moose and bear with the proper bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by Blue Dog:
The 45/70 is over-kill for deer but makes a great dark timber gun for elk or moose and bear with the proper bullet.

I love this particular statement. Bluedog, please define "over-kill" for me. I've been using a .45/70 for years now hunting whitetail deer east of the Mississippi and not one of the deer I've shot has been too dead.....

Don't anyone forget Flat Top's Safari Grade .444.

Shof I'll be your Huckelberry! Now I kill deer all day long with a 30-30 Winchester that belong to my daddy way back in 1951.

However, my .444 Marlin gives me the range to hunt them over these short corn fields or beans fields with my hand loads and it thumps em pretty darn good savy.

However, that 1895 Marlin 45/70 just hammers em deader than a door nail. Yep, it kills bears or moose just as easy as a whitetail deer. The 45/70 is the best dark timber elk gun around in my book. Never had a shot over 75 yards to begin with on elk in the timber.

"OVER KILL"
Now have you ever seen a squirrel that was killed on the road by a car? Now picture that same squirrel getting hit and run over by a MACK TRUCK. It just flattens them like a pancake!

I use hardcast bullets (large metplate)on the bigger (470-plus grains)critters gents and it is awesome on flesh & bones. Yes, you can load it down for deer, as it has way more knock-down power than is needed for deer by times 3 at least. I sure do hope you understand my words now their Shof.

I shoot deer with 150's in a 30-30, works great to 125 yards. Using a 45/70 -- same velocity and double (300 grain) or more than triple with a 500 grain leader ---- you know its gonna hammer a deer at 125 yards or less. Shoot. inside 100 yards rhe old remington green box 405's at 1100 fps have zero recoil and put the smack down on deer--- or black bear.

Blue Dog,

I shoot 420 grain, wide meplat hardcast lead bullets (Garrett Cartridge Co.) as well. All the deer I've taken have been at ranges from 85 to 10 yards. I've been impressed with how well the bullet performs on game, yet how little damage is done to the meat. Shouldn't we be thinking about effective kills and not minimal killing power?

These rounds are NOT loaded down and I'd consider using them on not only whitetail, but black bear, brown bear, elk, moose and anything that has horns and hooves in Africa.

I have both the 35 Remington and the 444 Marlin...like em both. The 35 is a joy to shoot, and a light comfortable rifle to carry. The 444 has enough punch to take just about anything that walks within its ballistic limitations as does the 45-70, or, the 450 Marlin.

quote:

Originally posted by flat top:
I have both the 35 Remington and the 444 Marlin...like em both. The 35 is a joy to shoot, and a light comfortable rifle to carry. The 444 has enough punch to take just about anything that walks within its ballistic limitations as does the 45-70, or, the 450 Marlin.

Update to earlier post: here is my 336D limited 35 remington Guide Gun (1 of 1000)

1895gunner; SWEEEEEETTTTT!!!!!

I've seen some 35 Remmy's shoot some really small groups. They always performed very good on game. Very reloading freindly also.

Cheers, John