Just bought Marlin 1895 45-70

[duckidaho]

I'm excited. I just bought a Marlin 1895 lever in 45-70. I'm going to leave it iron sights - change the factory sights to a ghost ring sight. I have a 30-06 for hunting higher elevation with longer shots for elk and deer, scoped 4X12. The 45-70 will be for shorter range, brushy, forested areas. Light to carry. Quick sight acquistion for elk, deer, bear. 45-70 will take down anything in North America, including grizzlies. I wouldn't take a shot longer than 100 yards with it though. The forested place where I hunted last year, I got my deer at 30 yards. A little worried about the recoil on the 45-70, but when I'm aiming at a live target, you don't anticipate it and flinch. Can't wait to get out and shoot it.

[rice paddy daddy]

I bought a New England Firearms Handi Rifle in 45/70, just because.
I like old time weapons like Single Action Army revolvers, single and double shotguns, so I just HAD to have a 45/70!
Recoil is not really too bad with the 300 grain pills, but the 405 grain out of a 6 pound rifle will get your attention. It's not really bad, 'bout like a 12 gauge.
Unless you reload, it can get expensive, around $50 a box in these parts.
Enjoy!

[docsoos]

Congrats on the new thumper, duckidaho! I have one myself, I KNOW you'll enjoy it!

I used to have an original early 70's model Marlin 1895; alas, it was lost to a burglary, but the replacement I purchased with the insurance funds, an 1895 Trapper with ported barrel, was so much sweeter and lighter than the original!

I had some initial fears about recoil with the shorter weapon, because I had worked up a pet load for the older one (405-grain Speer flat nose, Federal nickel-plated brass, CCI Magnum primers, with 58.5 grains H335 behind it). Happily, the porting took out most all of the recoil, about on the level of a stiff .30-30 load. Knocked a 165-pound whitetail deer on it's side at 135 yards, he never got up. Quite the lead lobber! ;D

Let us know how you like it! :D

DocSoos

[ldsparamedic]

Congrats on your purchase. *I wouldn't discount it just to 100 yards. *I have a buddy who has taken elk up to the 500 yard range with his. *You just have to elevate it more. *Kinda like shootin a howitzer. *I have an 1895G which has the shorter, ported bbl and it is nicer to shoot than my 30-06. *

I reload my ammo and use 300 gr jacketed hollow point bullets. *

You can pick up brass at dillonprecision.com for about 75 bucks for 100.

I picked up a new, Lee loader on ebay cheap. *

-John