i am posting this in two places big bore and lever be cause of the gun.I just got a marlin 1895 xlr ss 45-70 and i want to put a scope on it any ideas. also I picked up some remington 350's and leverution ammo. comments please

I guess it depends on your eyes and the range your planning to shoot. I had a 1895SS that had Leupold vari-v II 2x7x33 which has found its way on a few of my rifles. My newest scope is a leupold vx-III 1.5x5x20 it sits on top a browning blr, it would also sit nice on the Marlin I just dont like big or bulky scopes on lever actions. If you need more magnification look at the 3x9 ultralights leupold has . Good Luck Tanoose

I too have the VX11 2-7x33 on my guide gun & have found it to be excellent

Cheers
Allan

Leupold VX-II 1-4x20mm
OR
Leupold VX-II 2-7x33mm
Good Stuff.

You could also go with quick release rings and use a low variable or fixed scope for brush hunting and then switch to a higher varible as your terrain changes i do this with a couple of rifles . my ruger M77 ultra light 30/06 wears a leupold 2.5 compact for short range and i can switch to a 2x7 when i plan to hunt near some fields.

Good idea being new to the 45-70 what is the longest, safest,range to shoot 100 or 150 yds?I know up close is not a problem.

tr 405, check the ballistic tables and see what you are comfortable with.My 1885 easily gets 1" groups with factory loads. The 300 grain factory @ 1850 fps sighted at 100 yds , drops about 5" at 150 and about 12" at 200yds. You should be comfortable with 150 yds at least.Hotter handloads would be flatter.Certainly here in NY most deer and bear are taken withing 50 yds.I use a 1x4 Leupold ,more to find a hole in the brush.Shoot through an opening ,don't try to shoot through brush as a 45-70 can , like any other bullet , be deflected !! You will quickley get to love the old cartridge !!

Does remington even make a 350gr bullet?

My Marlin 45-70 guide gun wears a weaver k-series 2.5x20mm scope, and I have been happy with it. I hunt mostly in swamps and heavy brush were a 75 yard shot is long, but have taken deer out to 175 yards with no problems.

My mistake RiflemanZ remington 300gr and 325gr for the leverevolution

quote:

Originally posted by tr 405:
Good idea being new to the 45-70 what is the longest, safest,range to shoot 100 or 150 yds?I know up close is not a problem.

With the right load and sighting device the 45-70 is a 250 yard proposition.

Here's mine wearing a Leupold 2.5x compact with Truglo fiber optic sights. I am planning on getting the Leupold QRW rings soon.

I have a Leupold 1.5 x 5 VX III on my Marlin. It seems about perfect for that rifle.

Steel tube Weaver 1X with post and crosshair. Couldn't be happier.

Pentax GameSeeker 1.5x5x20.

All my lever guns, (35 REM, 444 Marlin, 450 Marlin and .45-70) wear one. I have shot thousands of full power rounds under these scopes without issue of any type.

This morning, I'm mounting a 1.5-5.5x32mm Weaver Grand Slam on my 1895.

This may raise some eyebrows, but my 1895SS wears a 4X Bushnell Banner that has failed to come apart under full power loads and is plenty clear for in the woods.My rifle is nuts about 350gr.Partitions as well as the Hornadys over 63 grains of Benchmark.The Bushnell was somewhat of an experiment as I have a bunch of Leupies, a few Burris, some older Redfields and a Unertal or two.

My 22" early production (1972) 1895 wears an All Steel Weaver K4-2 on Redfield base and Leupold ultra-low Rings.

AllanD

thanks to all for sharing but the deed is done.
went with vxi 2-7 leupold looks great will see how it shoots this weekend

I had mine scoped with a IOR 4x32 which I found almost marginal for the usual use I used to give this combo (hunting boars at night), although IOR proved to be a great scope for the price... now I scoped it with a S&B 6x42, reticle 1 (german)for night hunts and use the 4x32 for daylight hunts (both scopes mounted with the QD system for a quick and reliable change) and couldn`t be more satisfied with the results

I have a 2.5x compact on mine and my mate has a Aimpoint Comp ML3 with 2moa dot and I really like that set up it's tempting indeed !!

I have a 1.5-6 on my 444 Marlin and I had a 2x aimpoint on my 45 Blaser.

Those are pretty similar rounds.

I would say in your neck of the woods something between 1-6, 1-5, 1-4, 2.5, 4x, 3x, 2x, aimpoint.

But if you want the ultimate gun to hunt blackbears in twilights you might get a 3-12x58.

I think the ideal scope for a Marlin 45/70 would be a Leupold in 1.5-5, or 1.75-6, or maybe best of all 1.5-5 with the illuminated reticle.