45-70 for bush gun any thoughts

[1899b]

Originally Posted by Flight01

Currently in the lever action brush gun phase myself.
Rossi 92 in 357mag for fun and still hunting deer in thick woods.

Now wanting either a Rossi 16” 454casull for flexibility (45lc and 454 full power)
Or the go to 45/70 in a 18” length

Depending on how short you want go, pick up the Rossi 92 Ranch Hand with a 12” barrel and pick up the regular length buttstock for a 92 from Western Gun Parts. Gets you a 12” guide gun and perfectly legal. It’s a nice handy carbine you can shoulder rather than that gimmicky Ranch Hand buttstock..

[freeride]

I just got a 1895 abl. First shot with a 405gr and trailboss I didnt think it ignited properly. It did... but man zero recoil. I just loaded a few more up to find an accurate load. But so far probably my favorite gun now.

Boom.... thud. Definitely a dely even at 60 yards from pulling the trigger until that big chunk of lead hits.

[Flight01]

Originally Posted by 1899b

Depending on how short you want go, pick up the Rossi 92 Ranch Hand with a 12” barrel and pick up the regular length buttstock for a 92 from Western Gun Parts. Gets you a 12” guide gun and perfectly legal. It’s a nice handy carbine you can shoulder rather than that gimmicky Ranch Hand buttstock..

Excellent point. I have the Boyd’s replacement stock for my 357 ranch hand. Also replaced front site with fiber optic and rear site with marbles bullseye site for quick action
Even the Boyd’s extended stock is slightly shorter than a standard 92 and I can tell.
If going to 44 mag or 454 I’d need a regular stock for sure.
Still a rippin load if touching off 300 grains from a 454 in a 12” barrel.

[Jamie Black R/T]

Own a marlin SBL and a GBL both in 45-70

The stainless sbl is my river rifle when out with the jetboat.

The GBL is my bush hunting rifle. Cerakoted black and a low power Leupold on it. No issue shooting 200 yards with it.

I stockpiled 300gr Nosler Partitions when they stopped producing them. Awesome projectile, mix of speed and weight....handloads running just over 2000fps out of the 18" barrels.

The GBL with this load has accounted for 2 bull elk in tight. The last one this past fall was a frontal shot and recovered the bullet under the hide in the back offside quarter. Shot was about 50 yards. Thats some serious penetration.

[triguy]

A bit of topic. Does anyone here use beartooth bullets and if so, where do you get them in Canada?
Thanks for the info.

[Sitting Bull]

I looked hard at the 45-70 and actually had one in a Handi rifle. I ended up choosing a JM stamped marlin 444, I shot a huge black bear 105 yards that went 10yards and dropped . I wanted to be different than everybody else and chose the 444Marlin. I sold that JM as I had it in my mind that I would go down to a 1 rifle hunter. That did not go so wellI missed that 444 so much that I bought a brand new model. Fit and finish was excellent on mine with a real nice trigger. For me the advantages of the heavier bullets in the 45-70 did not matter. I wanted something different and I am very happy with my choice.
I know once you make your decision, you will smile every time you squeeze the trigger.
Make sure you share some pictures.

[stob]

Had a Marlin straight stocked GG and like others with XS ghost Rings I could hit the 200m gong quite regularly... HOWEVER!!! the staright stock sprained my wrist a couple of times with max heavy loads ... i have since gone to 20" barreled mauser in 9.3 x 62 and use 286gr to 320gr ... more than happy ... if you can handle the a straight grip with max loads it will do all you need it to

[Battle Rat]

Keep in mind that the 45-70 has ample energy to kill at 300 yards.
If you know your trajectory, it is not limited to being a bush gun.
How often do we need to shoot farther than 200 yards?

[Smokinyotes]

I have a jm 1895 cowboy in 45/70. It is not my favourite gun to shoot. I find the stock a little uncomfortable and my eyes tend to cross every time I pull the trigger.

[Battle Rat]

Originally Posted by Smokinyotes

I have a jm 1895 cowboy in 45/70. It is not my favourite gun to shoot. I find the stock a little uncomfortable and my eyes tend to cross every time I pull the trigger.

Ya with no recoil pad I assume, it would rock you.
I loaded some 405s for a buddy with an 1895 with no pad just for my entertainment.

[caltheim]

I've always been interested in a Marlin 1895 45-70...no specific need right now, maybe black bears, but always fun to get a new gun! I like the look of the stainless/laminate SBL, but also like the look of the 1895 with the 22" barrel. Any thoughts? From an accuracy, performace perspective, is there much difference between the 18.5" barrel and the 22" barrel?

[Battle Rat]

Originally Posted by caltheim

I've always been interested in a Marlin 1895 45-70...no specific need right now, maybe black bears, but always fun to get a new gun! I like the look of the stainless/laminate SBL, but also like the look of the 1895 with the 22" barrel. Any thoughts? From an accuracy, performace perspective, is there much difference between the 18.5" barrel and the 22" barrel?

I find that my guide gun is in my hands more than on my shoulder.
I would think a 22" barrel would still feel great to carry.
Velocity wise, you can load a 18" barrel faster than it needs to go.
You can't go wrong with either one.

[Tactical Lever]

Originally Posted by caltheim

I've always been interested in a Marlin 1895 45-70...no specific need right now, maybe black bears, but always fun to get a new gun! I like the look of the stainless/laminate SBL, but also like the look of the 1895 with the 22" barrel. Any thoughts? From an accuracy, performace perspective, is there much difference between the 18.5" barrel and the 22" barrel?

Not much difference in velocity. It'll be pretty well done it's pushing by the end of the shorter barrel. I'll see if I can find some data on it though.

The shorter barrel is likely to be more accurate if any difference can be detected, as the shorter barrel has less pronounced barrel harmonics.

You didn't happen to be looking for one in Hinton about a couple weeks ago?

[Tactical Lever]

Originally Posted by caltheim

I've always been interested in a Marlin 1895 45-70...no specific need right now, maybe black bears, but always fun to get a new gun! I like the look of the stainless/laminate SBL, but also like the look of the 1895 with the 22" barrel. Any thoughts? From an accuracy, performace perspective, is there much difference between the 18.5" barrel and the 22" barrel?

I read somewhere an average of 27 fps/inch. If you check out Buffalo Bore's website, they don't list a very big difference.

Off the site:

Item 8A (430gr. Hard Cast penetrator)

➤ 1920 fps -- Marlin 1895, 22-inch barrel
➤ 1879 fps -- Marlin 1895 Guide Gun, 18.5-inch barrel


Item 8B (405gr. JFN expander)

➤ 2002 fps -- Marlin 1895, 22-inch barrel
➤ 1955 fps -- Marlin 1895 Guide Gun, 18.5-inch barrel


Item 8C (350gr. JFN penetrator)

➤ 2145 fps -- Marlin 1895, 22-inch-barrel
➤ 2060 fps -- Marlin 1895 Guide Gun, 18.5-inch barrel


Item 8D (500gr. Barnes Buster FMJ-FN penetrator)

➤ 1628 fps -- Marlin 1895, 22-inch barrel
➤ 1590 fps -- Marlin 1895 Guide Gun, 18.5-inch barrel


Item 8E (300gr JHP expander)

➤ 2355 fps -- Marlin 1895, 22-inch barrel
➤ 2263 fps -- Marlin 1895 Guide Gun, 18.5-inch barrel

[Rig 44]

I found a good bullet 390 gr gas check cast from Bullet Barn shoots great easy to clean after very accurate not bad on the shoulder either 47.5 grs imr 4198 Rem 9.1/2 mag primer

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Rig 44

I found a good bullet 390 gr gas check cast from Bullet Barn shoots great easy to clean after very accurate not bad on the shoulder either 47.5 grs imr 4198 Rem 9.1/2 mag primer

Just as a suggestion you may want to try the same bullet with 53 grains of Varget and a Mag primer. I bet you find quite a noticeable reduction in kick and very close to the same velocity.

[outdoorthrillz]

I picked up a Marlin 45/70 stainless big loop and love it. It powers through bush, but is a big slow round. I kind of wish I went with the higher velocity 30/30. But its still really good. Kind of like a bulldozer round.

[Iron Brew]

Where are you guys finding the bullet barn bullets? I'd kinda like to take a peek before I buy.

I replaced my marlin with the new henry with the sidegate. I REALLY like the fact that I can unload the tube, and cycle the action only 1 time to empty the rifle. The difference between 4 bullets and 6 is a whatever to me. I can't imagine using more than one bullet unless I missed.

I wish there was a ranger point precision dealer in Canada (preferably Alberta). Their cloverleaf picatinny looks excellent for giving a backup sight under a scope, or with a holo, or...

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Iron Brew

Where are you guys finding the bullet barn bullets? I'd kinda like to take a peek before I buy.

I replaced my marlin with the new henry with the sidegate. I REALLY like the fact that I can unload the tube, and cycle the action only 1 time to empty the rifle. The difference between 4 bullets and 6 is a whatever to me. I can't imagine using more than one bullet unless I missed.

I wish there was a ranger point precision dealer in Canada (preferably Alberta). Their cloverleaf picatinny looks excellent for giving a backup sight under a scope, or with a holo, or...

Bullet Barn was bought and production moved to Spirit River Alberta. Website is still active. I have used their cast bullets for decades and the new owner hasn't changed the moulds or style. I mailed a dozen to someone here on AO and he was very happy with the accuracy. Order a box and try them, they aren't expensive and you won't be disappointment. P and D Ent in Edmonton was a dealer, so you can also check there.


http://www.thebulletbarn.com/reloaded.html

[obsessed1]

[QUOTE=Dean2;4267931]Bullet Barn was bought and production moved to Spirit River Alberta. Website is still active. I have used their cast bullets for decades and the new owner hasn't changed the moulds or style. I mailed a dozen to someone here on AO and he was very happy with the accuracy. Order a box and try them, they aren't expensive and you won't be disappointment. P and D Ent in Edmonton was a dealer, so you can also check there.

Bullet barn 405gr hard cast shot very well in my dark 45-70. After trying out the handful Dean2 sent me I drove out to spirit river to pick up a couple hundred. Very nice guy and very good product.

[Iron Brew]

I went and peeked. Is there a reason to get the tlg over the slg?

[yukon254]

I've been using a 45/70 for many years now. Mostly as a back-up gun while guiding, but I have hunted with them a lot too. The JM Marlins were the best of the Marlins. The Winchester 1886s are pricey but very good quality and mine will shoot with the best Marlins. For bullets I use mostly cast. The NOE 350 Ranch Dog design is an excellent bullet and all you ever need.

Now all that being said, imo the 444 is a better caliber. Winchester 444s are hard to find is the calibers only downfall. I have two JM 444s and wouldn't trade them for any 45/70. Again I use mostly cast bullets in them. The LEE 310 plain base is a good bullet, but my favourite is the NOE 265 Ranch Dog design. You wont find these bullets in anything including grizzly from any angle.

[1100winger]

Bought a guide style rifle a few years ago - came with Skinner peep sights. While I have not dropped anything with it, it is a pleasure to pack and shoot. It loves the Leverrevolution, but once I have enough brass I will be using 405 gc cast. Sorta thinking subsonic or slightly faster.
I hunt in two distinct areas, heavy brush and open plains. With luck I might tip over a deer with it this year.

[obsessed1]

Originally Posted by 1100winger

Bought a guide style rifle a few years ago - came with Skinner peep sights. While I have not dropped anything with it, it is a pleasure to pack and shoot. It loves the Leverrevolution, but once I have enough brass I will be using 405 gc cast. Sorta thinking subsonic or slightly faster.
I hunt in two distinct areas, heavy brush and open plains. With luck I might tip over a deer with it this year.

all that hornady brass is shorter than std 45-70 brass to accommodate the gummy tip bullet. If your load ing a std hard cast the case won't line up with the canalure/ crimp groove unless you seat the bullet deeper. You will either have to seat deeper and roll crimp( may effect pressure and proper cycling of the rifle) or seat bullet normal and not crimp or use a lee factory crimp. Just for your information..